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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: jason 20 on Sunday 05 December 21 23:48 GMT (UK)

Title: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: jason 20 on Sunday 05 December 21 23:48 GMT (UK)
Evening all,

Whilst clearing out my grandmothers loft we came across this bible from 1885.

Apart from struggling to see the chaps name, we believe Harry Torry?

I did a quick search of John Mitchell's in Doncaster at the time and there seems to be a quite prominent footballer who played for Doncaster Rovers and Newton Heath.

Is there any way of discovering if this John Mitchell was the same guy who went on to play professional football?
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: GR2 on Monday 06 December 21 00:10 GMT (UK)
1881 6 Gladstone Terrace, Balby with Hexthorpe, Doncaster

Henry Torry, 40, engine fitter at works, b. Newark, Nottinghamshire
& family

1891 still an engine fitter and living with family in Hexthorpe Road, Doncaster

1901 foreman millwright

1911 his wife is a widow
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: heywood on Monday 06 December 21 10:09 GMT (UK)
There is John Mitchell information so it looks very likely. It mentions his job with the Railways.
He moved to Newton Heath in 1885 - long before Manchester United  :)

1891 3251/87
John Mitchell, 29 yrs Professional footballer b Doncaster.
Bertha Mitchell 24 yrs
Ada M 4 yrs

Amended - link did not work
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: heywood on Monday 06 December 21 10:23 GMT (UK)
Marriage 1885 St Anne, Newton
John Mitchell, 25 yrs Joiner - father Charles deceased.
Bertha Dancer 20 yrs father William

This fits with 1881 4692/ 135/12
John Mitchell 20 yrs Joiner b Doncaster with mother Ann and siblings

1871 4718 /119/14
With parents Charles and Ann
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: heywood on Monday 06 December 21 10:29 GMT (UK)
It is a lovely tribute and I hope it is him  :)
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: andrewalston on Monday 06 December 21 10:47 GMT (UK)
In 1881 there don't seem to be any other John Mitchells in the Doncaster area who would be either working for the Great Northern Railway or playing football.

The Plant Works department would have included joiners. There's a lot of woodwork in railway buildings!
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: heywood on Monday 06 December 21 10:49 GMT (UK)
My husband began his joinery apprenticeship at the Newton Heath plant- much later I must add  ;)
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: KGarrad on Monday 06 December 21 11:57 GMT (UK)
Newton Heath FC nearly went bankrupt in 1902.
Rescued by 4 local businessmen, and renamed Manchester United.
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: heywood on Monday 06 December 21 12:14 GMT (UK)
Quote from: KGarrad on Monday 06 December 21 11:57 GMT (UK)
Newton Heath FC nearly went bankrupt in 1902.
Rescued by 4 local businessmen, and renamed Manchester United.

I mentioned United in my post via a link which then didn’t work. I then amended my post but on rereading, it didn’t make sense so have amended again. ::)
Thanks for the extra info  :)
Title: Re: Help with this old Bible, and was he famous
Post by: Tickettyboo on Monday 06 December 21 12:20 GMT (UK)
This page looks like an enquiry to Doncaster Rovers may produce further info?
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2019/july/hall-of-fame-vote---1880s/

Boo