Christopher Mills was born in Longton, Staffordshire, England on 7 September 1860.
He was the son of Richard Mills (b. 1829), a wheelwright, and Eliza Lloyd (b. 1828), both Staffordshire natives who had married in late 1855. Christopher had seven known siblings: Felix Lloyd (b. 1857), Herbert (b. 1859), Alfred Lloyd (b. 1862), Eliza Ann (b. 1864), Richard Hatfield (b. 1867), Oliver (b. 1868) and Gertrude (b. 1871).
Christopher and his family appear on the 1861 census living at 10 Middle Cross Street (?), Longton, Staffordshire. By the time of the 1871 census the family were living at 89-91 Ward Street, Longton and Richard Mills was by now described as a carpenter and joiner. The 1881 census would see another shift of address, this time to 66 Queen Street, Stoke-on-Trent. Christopher would be absent from this census but would have returned home by the time of the next census in 1891 when they were living at 62 Queen Street and a 30-year-old Christopher, who was unmarried, was described as a butcher.
He was married in Staffordshire on 26 December 1892 to Selina Ellen Kemp (b. 1864), a native of Fenton, Staffordshire. The couple would have two children, a son Alfred John (b. 27 October 1895; died 1976) and a daughter Frances May (b. 13 May 1900; died 1980), both born in Fenton, and the family appeared on the 1901 census living at 5 Chapel Street in that village. Unfortunately, Christopher was widowed in 1903 when his wife died aged only 39.
(Courtesy of Dave Leach, UK)
When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, Christopher gave his address as 94 Albert Road, (Chapel, Southampton). His last ship had been the St. Paul. As assistant butcher he received monthly wages of £4, 10s.
Mills was rescued (some researchers place him in collapsible C). A letter from a relation of Chris Mills survives. Written in the days following the sinking it mentions the uncertainty of knowing whether or not he had survived (read transcription).
(Courtesy of Dave Leach, UK)
He later returned to England and resumed his career at sea, signing on to the Oceanic on 29 May 1912.
Christopher Mills died in Southampton on 5 December 1930, newspapers reported at the time that he had a premonition of his death.
He was buried in Hartshill cemetery (also known as Stoke cemetery) Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England (Block 111, Row 8, Grave 19).
Comment and discuss
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Hello all mr c mills was my wifes great great grandfather please search c.mills for profile and items .But does anybody out there have any more infomation on this man or liz woodhead who also contributed to his page. Thanks Dave Leach
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HI all My mistake the C stands for christopher and not charles sorry Dave Leach
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