Weymer Jay Mills

Born in Jersey City in 1880, Weymer Jay Mills was an American author and editor who wrote both novels and nonfiction. Reliable archival material from the Historical Society of Princeton says he was a descendant of the poet Philip Freneau, lived in Jersey City and New York City, and produced books along with a number of magazine articles.

Mills wrote across a mix of subjects, but much of his work returned to American history and romance. His books include Historic Houses of New Jersey, Through the Gates of Old Romance, The Ghosts of Their Ancestors, and Caroline of Courtlandt Street. He also worked with older historical texts and letters, helping bring early American voices back into print.

That blend of storyteller and researcher is what makes his work stand out. Even when he was writing about buildings, family histories, or colonial society, he aimed for color and narrative momentum rather than dry summary. He died in 1938.