Mitchells of Taunton

[Cate]

Trying to find info on the family of John Mitchell, postman, of Taunton. In the 1841 census aged 45, he is listed with his wife, Mary aged 45, daughters Jane 15 and Mary 10, son John 13 and mother Mary aged 80. The census was taken in the Parish of North Curry(Tything of Knopp) whatever that means!

I particularly want to follow up son John MItchell who would have been born about 1828. He moved to Wales where he married a Jane Davies in Merthyr Tydfil in 1862. His occupation then was a boatman.

If anyone can find the family in a later census I would be very grateful.

Many thanks
Cate ( in Australia)

[buttonmoon]

Hi Cate, I've found them in the 1871 census in Cardiff, living at no.40 Hill Terrace, St John's


John Mitchell 42 born Taunton, Somerset a lodger and         
?Steridor/Stermidor
Jane 34 born Cheltenham, Glouscestershire

living with

Philip Fletcher 42 born Cardiff, Glam a ?Steridor/Stermidor
Jane 36 born Bristol
John 5 born Cardiff adopted son
John Jenkins 26 born Cardiff a lodger with no occupation
Joseph McCarty 26 born Tipperary, Ireland a lodger and mason
Ann 21 born the City of Cork

RG10/5358
50
19

All the best
Kate.

[Cate]

Thanks Kate - I really appreciate the information.
I wonder if John's occupation is stevedore since he was a boatman on his marriage certificate.

I'd love to know what happened to him between the 1841 census and 1862 when he was married.
 
thanks again for you help
Cate
 

[buttonmoon]

I think this may be him in the 1881 census living at 16 Salop Street, Penarth, Glam

John Mitchell 50 (married) born Taunton, Somerset a boarder and dock labourer

living with

Mary Clark 33 born Newport a charwoman and a widow
William 9 born Penarth, Glam a scholar
Catherine 8          "           "           "
John 7                  "           "           "
Richard 2              "           "           "

RG11/5289
42
81

I've found a death cert for a Jane Mitchell, aged 40 in 1881


Jane Mitchell
September 1881
Cardiff (1837-1974)
11a
143

could this be her? as I've found the same John Mitchell in the 1891 census living at no.10 Stamwell Cresent, Roath, Glamorgan

John Mitchell 60 born Taunton, Somerset a general labourer
Mary 45 born Newport, Monmouthshire
Mary Lewis 75 born Ireland mother-in-law and widow
William Clark 20 born Penarth a dock labourer
John Mitchell 18 born Cardiff          "         "
John Clark 17 born Penarth           "         "
Richard 12                   "       a scholar

RG12/4402
115
2

could he have married Mary Clark after Jane died maybe?
could John Fletcher, adopted son of Philip and Jane be the John Mitchell in the 1891 census? bit of a mystery, I shall keep delving though.

All the best
Kate.

[buttonmoon]

I don't think the Fletcher John in the 71 is the same as the Mitchell John in the 1891 as I think I may have found Jane in the 1881 with a son John

Jane Mitchel 46 born Merthyr, Glamorgan a boarder, charwoman and ?widow
John 7 born Merthyr

living with

Lancelot Wood 64 born Cardiff a labourer and widow
Catherine 18                     "      a dressmaker
Mary Jane Williams 24       "      a charwoman and niece
Lancelot J 4                       "      grandson
Frederick G 5 monthes      "            "

What do you think? I can't find this Jane or John in the 1891 census.

Kate.

[Cate]

Kate
You are doing a great bit of detective work!

John Mitchell did marry Mary Clark - she was my great grandmother.

The Catherine Clark you see on the 1881 census was my grandmother.

The John Mitchell aged 18 you see on the 1891 census is my grandfather - he married Catherine Clark. I have their marriage certificate. My grandfather was born in 1871/2 so he can't be the John Fletcher on the 1871 census who was 5 at the time of the 1871 census. My grandfather's surname was actually  Parlour but he was known as MItchell  while he was living with John Mitchell who was his uncle.

I think my grandfather was living with his aunt Jane Mitchell - his parents died when he was an infant - but if that is Jane's death in 1881, grandfather must then have gone to live with his uncle John Mitchell.

I think the best thing is for me to apply for Jane's death certificate - that will authenticate my theory.  I think she was born in about 1838 according to her marriage certificate so she should have been 43 if that is her death in 1881 - however a few years out is not unusual.

I really appreciate your help - you've certainly helped me to fathom out some of the family mysteries.
Regards
Cate

Have just read your last post which you added whilst I was writing this - that would make sense as the census was taken early in the year and you said Jane's death was listed in the September quarter. So John would have gone to live with his uncle who must have taken up with widow Clark before Jane's death - as you noted, Jane Mitchell is calling herself a widow in 1881 so could have been separated from John.

Again the ages are out a bit but I don't think we should be put off by that.

There is light at the end of the tunnel!
Many many thanks
Cate

[buttonmoon]

I'm finding it quite difficult to find John in the 51 and 61 census'. Do you have any of his family in either of these?

Kate.

[Cate]

No - sorry Kate.  As I said, I don't know what happened to him or his family before his marriage to Jane in 1862. They were married at Merthyr Tydfil - they were both listed as living at Adam and Eve Court, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan.  Unfortunately, I don't have access to the 51 or 61 census.
Thanks so much for looking.
Cate

[buttonmoon]

I've found John Mitchell the postman in the 51 census

John Mitchell 58 born Creech St Michael, Somerset a post office messenger
Mary 57 born Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset

living St Mary Magdalen, Taunton

HO107/1922
723
42


Kate.