Leonard was born in 1692, and baptised on 7 May 1692 at St Hilary, Cornwall.  He was a merchant residing in Marazion. As a renowned member of the community, he was appointed three times Mayor of Marazion, in 1718, 1719 and 1721.  Leonard was described as a merchant.  His status can be clearly seen for he was able to leave his six sons well provided for in his will.  Four of them were left £280 each (£75,000 today), Robert was left £180 (£50,000 today) together with some land, and the residue of the estate was left to his eldest son, Oke.  His daughter Jane was to have £300 but “in case she marries Walter Thomas of Scilly who served his time with John Hill carpenter, I only give her £5 (£1,300 today)”.  This provision was never queried for Jane died after the will was written but before her father. His widow, Grace, died twelve years after her husband.  She, as many others in Marazion, left some money to charity, in her case £16 to poor widows in the town, as well as other charitable bequests.  The possessions mentioned in the wills of both Leonard and Grace, including a best tea kettle, a dressing table with glass, a diamond ring, a silver ladle, a swing-looking glass and a silver snuff box, her clothes and books suggest a family living in some style. Leonard Millett of Marazion owned both seines and drift nets and later stated that because he and the others had been unwilling to contend any further with St. Aubyn, they had agreed that he should have a decree against them “for the recovery of the tithe and they had since paid tithe for all pilchards taken in the codds and meased in the sleeves of the seines, also for pilchards taken in drift nets and for all hook fish taken by them”. It is known from a dispute concerning non-payment of tithes for fish taken that Robert’s merchant son Leonard once had fishing interests so he could have inherited the vessel Prosperous from his father Robert. 3 Leonard married first Jane Millett (1692-1730), daughter of John Millett (1666 – 1744) and Joan Davis (1670 – 1731), on 23 June 1716 at St Hilary. Leonard married second Grace Millett (1708-1757) on 8 June 1731 at St Just-in-Penwith. They did not have any children.  Leonard died in December 1740 at Marazion aged 48. He was buried on 25 December 1740 at St Hilary. See: The Humphrey Davy Link.

Leonard Junior’s birth date is uncertain, but it is believed to be c1649.  As the grandson of Peter Millett, a capital inhabitant of the Marazion, it is perhaps no surprise that he was elected Mayor of the town. Records of the dates vary but a roll of Mayors of Marazion displayed in the town’s council chamber, shows Leonard Millett serving in the years 1679 and 1683. In 1663 Leonard married Wilmot Dunstan. Children: Leonard died in 1686 and was buried at St. Hilary.

Robert Millett was the eldest son of Leonard Millett and Wilmot Dunstan. Robert’s will held at Cornwall County Record Office shows his occupation as a mariner which covered fishermen at that time.  It is known from a dispute concerning non-payment of tithes for fish taken that Robert’s merchant son Leonard at one time had fishing interests so he could have inherited that same Prosperous from his father Robert and later sold it. Robert was Mayor of Marazion in 1694. Robert married Margaret Oke (1673 – 1712) There are big questions over how and when Robert’s death occurred. Even though it had been thought he died at sea (see below) there are no records to support this other than hearsay. It is believed he died in 1707. Robert who was by occupation a mariner was recorded in 1694 as mayor of the small town of Marazion located by road over 280 miles (450 kl) from London so by 1707 it was not likely he could have become a naval officer and holder of the important position of Secretary of the Commander-in-Chief of the English Fleet In the book An Historical Survey of the County of Cornwall Vol.2 1820, mentions Robert as the son of Leonard Millett who lived in Marazion in the time of Charles II as “one of the brave but unfortunate naval officers who were lost with Sir Cloudesley Shovell on the Rocks of Scilly, 22nd October 1707. Tony Millett, the Millett family genealogist from New Zealand has done a lot of research. He writes: “Robert Millett, Mariner, was probably not the Secretary of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell – if so, his death date is not known, although it must have been before 1708, and was possibly prior to 1706.  His wife may have been Jane Hill — see his will admon dated 29 April 1708, which refers to wife Jane.  St Hilary Burials 1700-1709 states that “Millet, Robert, of the town, son of Jane, widow” was buried on 3 March 1706. “ Tony provides five well researched reasons why he, and other researchers, believe this is not the case. He documents these on his website, tonymillett.tripod.com/myths.html.

Leonard Millett c1590 – 1631 Leonard, son of Peter Millett, was born around 1590, though we cannot be sure.  He was a merchant living in Marazion.   Leonard’s spouse is unknown, but we do know he had 4 children. Children: Leonard died about 1631. The 1590s was the decade of Queen Elizabeth I and in which Oliver Cromwell died. England was in the midst of the Anglo-Spanish war. In Cornwall, Spanish forces sacked and burned Penzance and Newlyn, as well as other villages in the area. Picture: A painting by William Halsall of the Mayflower, which carried colonists to the new world in 1620 (Image: Pilgrim Hall Museum/Wikimedia Commons). After the Mayflower had departed from Plymouth on 16 September 1620, it is thought the ship weighed anchor in England for a final time. This stop was Old Newlyn Bay in Cornwall.