I’ve written before about Nancy Henderson Dove, who I believe was the sister of my great-great-great-great-grandmother Patsey Henderson. Last night, I happened upon another reference to Nancy in the February 1871 will of her last husband, London Mills.

In the first item, Mills devises to his “beloved wife, Nancy Mills (formerly Nancy Henderson and then Nancy Dove)” a life estate in most of his property. If only everyone had been so precise in identifying their legatees.

Mills’ estate file yields a 6 March 1872 account statement from C.G. Cox for medical services throughout 1871, including, on 15 May 1871 “One visit to wife & adjusting thigh fracture,” a brutal injury for anyone then or now, but especially a woman who was perhaps 70 years old at the time. Cox treated Nancy twice more in the next six weeks, then provided medical attention to someone named Eliza, and finally to London himself for a fever near the end of July. Nancy survived her injury, as she appears in the account of the sale of London’s property on 24 February 1872, purchasing two sheep and some geese.

In the 1870 census of Richlands township, Onslow County: Lunen Mills, 80, farmer; wife Nancy, 65; and Eliza Mills, 13; Jesse White, 21; Wiley Dove, 18; Lucy Bowen, 84; and Gatsey Dove, 44. Next door: farm laborer Lewis Mills, 36; wife Minerva, 45; and children Caroline, 8, William, 6, and Henry, 4.

Eliza Mills was the Eliza named in the medical bill, as well as the “Eliza White (daughter of Manerva Mills)” named in London Mills’ will. Manerva Mills and Jesse White, son of Manerva Mills are also legatees.

Minerva was Minerva Dove, daughter of Nancy Henderson and [presumed] Simon Dove. Lewis Mills was her second husband. Her daughter Caroline lived long enough to be memorialized in a death certificate: Caroline Manervie Canady died — June 1942 in Richland, Onslow County. Per her death certificate, she was born 26 December 1861 in Onslow County to Louis Mills and Manervie Dove and was the widow of Louis H. Canady.

In the 1880 census of Richlands township, Onslow County, Nancy Henderson Dove Mills’ descendants lived in a cluster around her. In household #375, eldest son Durant Dove, 75; wife Rosanna, 35; and children Phillis, 19, Elizabeth, 17, Jonas, 3, James W., 1, and George R.H., 1 month. In #376, Nancy Henderson, 90, knitting, and daughter Gatsey Dove, 60. In #377, Lewis Mills, 47; wife Mernervia, 55; [her] daughter Elisa Henderson, 21; their children Caroline, 18, Edward F., 17, Lucy, 15, and Hastenquickly, 14; plus Eliza’s son David J. Henderson, 3. In #378, Durant Dove’s son Lewis Dove, 46; wife Polly A., 35; and son George Savage, 9.