Parish Register Help 1795/6 - Birth of John Mitchell in Shotts

[idmmdi]

I am having difficulty finding any birth details for John Mitchell, the 1851 census for Lesmahagow, says he was born in Shotts, Lanark. His age then gives a date of about 1795/6.

I am also looking for his death details: he likely died in Lesmahagow before 1855 and certainly after the 1851 census. (I know he is listed as 'deceased' on his son's marriage certificate in 1856).

He married in 1818 Marion Scott, she also died between the same years John died.
Thanks.

Ian

[Little Nell]

I can't find a John Mitchell for the 1841 census (but I was only using FreeCEN, which is not yet complete.)  I've also checked BVRI which is supposed to include Shotts baptisms for that date, without any luck.

Was his son James?  And was John a smith?

An inventory for a John Mitchell, smith of Boghead in Lesmahagow is listed (date 5 Feb 1855) in the Testaments section of ScotlandsPeople.  It is only 1 page long, but with that date, you may find a death certificate.  (Always supposing he is your man, of course.)  If it is, you get his parents names as well from the certificate!

Nell

[idmmdi]

Thank you very much, it was the right person and gives the date of death 20/12/1854. it's a lovely document to see.
The statutory deaths available on Scotlandspeople only runs from 1855, how do I now go about finding his death certificate? I'm a bit new to this.

[Little Nell]

I'm glad it was the right person!

Unfortunately there are no "certificates" as such before 1855 - pity he did not survive for another two weeks!

Unfortunately the burial register for Lesmahagow seems to stop in 1844  but  there may be a memorial inscription, -  that is likely to be the best you can get.  You may find mention of him in the Kirk Session records, which are held by the National Archives for Scotland, but they are not online.  You may not be able to get much more detail than you already have.    The OPR for Scotland often have patchy coverage of burials - for exact coverage, see here:

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/famrec/hlpsrch/opr-cov.html

As far as finding his birth details are concerned, you could try the baptisms on ScotlandsPeople, a pay per view site, and the official site for Scottish records, including census.  The 1841 census entry may also help, perhaps if you find an elderly person in the household - they might be one of his parents or a relative.

Do you know if he had any siblings?  A death certificate for one of them (provided it is after 1855) may help there.  Lateral thinking!

Nell

[idmmdi]

Thank you again for your help.

I've tried the Scotlandspeople site for his birth without success, I have also found him in the 1841 census, but it's just wife and children.
I also don't know of any siblings, and there is nothing in the document you led me to, that gives any clues as to family other than his children I have found so far listed on 1841 and 1851 census.

I'll keep a note of your other suggestions, and I'll try to follow them up.

Ian

[idmmdi]

I just thought I would pass this information on in case it helps someone else:

I had no luck with the GRO for John Mitchell's death pre 1855. But a visit to the online shop of the Scottish Genealogy Society

http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/acatalog/Lanarkshire_MI.html

showed they have a large book of pre 1855 Monumental Inscriptions for many of Lanarkshires cemeteries.

Lanarkshire MI - Lanarkshire Upper Ward. Pre-1855 MI. A4, 403pp.

In it I found the transcribed inscription from a Lesmahagow stone: with the date for John Mitchell's death, his trade, his wife's date of death and his father's name and age and date of death, along with the initials only. of his mother. Most of this was unknown to me by other methods of searching.

Ian

[GordonD]

Thanks for posting the link Ian. That should come in very useful to me!

Gordon

[Mousey]

Hi

I have just stumbled across this post and I may have some info that may help.

I have been tracing a Mitchell family back to Shotts Iron Works. On the 1841 census the family is shown as:
James Mitchell 15
Margaret Mitchell 15
John 14
Jean 12
Helen 10
William 4months

James is an Iron Molder at the Shotts works. His statutory death record on Scotlandspeople shows his parents to be William Mitchell, coalier, and Helen Brown. Another fantastic website, www.shottshistorygroup.co.uk, has free online records showing that William and Helen married in Shotts 24/9/1820. The same site shows William dying in Sept 1830 and Helen in Jan 1837. This explains the family group on the 1841 census. There are also records of charity payments made to William Mitchells "weans". On Feb 12 1837 there is an entry that states a payment of 4 shillings was made to Wm Mitchells weans at Shotts Iron Works per the UNCLE of said weans.

I hope you are staying with me.

James calls his first child after his father, William. He goes on to have the following children:
Margaret 1843
Andrew 1845
John 1848
Helen 1852
James 1854
Jean/Jane 1859
Marion
Alexander 1861
Robert 1866

On the 1871 census there is an Andrew Brown living with John Mitchell (1827) and his family in Boghead.

I think it is possible that the John Mitchell in this post could be the UNCLE mentioned in the charity payment.

OR another example of how easy it is to make mistakes in family history by jumping to conclusions.

Unfortunately, it is unclear who the parents of William are as there are several candidates.

Any thoughts?

Marie

[idmmdi]

Thanks very much for the information, it really helps.
I've sent you a PM.

PP