Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Mitchell, James Rattray |
Born |
1829 |
Birthplace |
Stirlingshire, Scotland |
Places of residence |
Scotland Smith's Falls area, Leeds County Griersville, St. Vincent Township Sullivan Township, Wellington County (Sullivan later in Grey County (1847+) One James Mitchell at Concession 3, Lot 3 (1865-1866 Gazetteer) One James Mitchell at Concession 8, Lot 3 (1865-1866 Gazetteer) "Maple Grove Farm" (part Lots 6 & 7, Concession 3, Sullivan Township belonged to James Rattray Mitchell and wife Margaret |
Father |
Thomas Mitchell (b. 1806, Stirlingshire, |
Mother |
Isabella Mitchell (nee Rattray, m. 1826) |
Nationality |
Scottish-born |
Notes |
James Rattray Mitchell was a resident of Sullivan Township, Grey County, in the 19th-century. He was the eldest son of Thomas Mitchell and Isabella Rattray, who had emigrated with their family to Canada in 18__ (1834?). They had settled for a while in the Smith's Falls area, and Thomas Mitchell had been at the Battle of the Windmill. In 1841, Thomas came to what would later become Grey County, and settled briefly at Griersville. Owen Sound in 1843 was a cedar swamp with just a few dwellings. Thomas Mitchell was engaged in a job to chop trees between Rockford and Mr. Frost's Corners. In 1847, Thomas sold his 200 acres in St. Vincent Township and relocated to Lots 8 and 9, Concession 2 (later was the Thomas Gamble farm). James Rattray Mitchell had been born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1829, near the site of the Battle of Bannockburn. He settled in Sullivan in 1847. He married Margaret Ferguson in 1851. In the 1861 census of Sullivan Township, Grey County, Canada West, James and his wife were both 33 years old. Their daughter Isabella was eight, Ann was 7, Thomas 5, Margaret was 3, and Mary was 1. There was no close Presbyterian Church in the early days, so members of the Thomas Mitchell family used to travel up to Owen Sound to the Presbyterian church at the top of Union Street hill. Later on when Rev. James Cameron was established at Chatsworth, then there was a closer Presbyterian Church. The village of Johntown (Chatsworth) was in their area of Sullivan. There was a John Mitchell working as a Labourer at Chatsworth in the 1865-1866 Gazetteer. In the 1871 census, James Mitchell of Sullivan Township was 42 years old. He was a Farmer, and his family was Presbyterian. His wife Margaret was also 42. Their children then were: Isabella (age 18, b. Ontario), Ann (17), Thomas (15), Margaret (13), Mary (11), James (9), Alexander (6), William (4) and Grace (2). Also in the 1871 census at another farm was James Mitchell (age 68, b. Scotland) and his wife Mary Mitchell (age 66). They had been listed in the 1861 census as well. They were Free Church Presbyterians. There were other Mitchells in Sullivan Township as well. In the 1881 census, James Rattray Mitchell was ___years old, and his household included: ________________. In the 1880 H. Belden Illustrated Historical Atlas, there was an entry for "Mitchell, James, Farmer. He owns 90 acres of Lot 3, Concession 3, worth $5,000. Was born in Scotland, 1826. Came to county in 1856. P.O. Chatsworth" (used the Chatsworth post office). This source also has some other Mitchells mentioned. In an 1890 Farmer's directory, James Mitchell, a freeholder who used the Chatsworth post office, was at Lot 7, Concession 3. He died in 1___, and is buried at ____________. |
Occupation |
Farmer Presbyterian |
Publications |
THE HISTORY OF SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP 1850-1975, pp. 280-281 re the Mitchell family Henry Belden'sILLUSTRATED HISTORICAL ATLAS, 1880, has some brief info re the Mitchells of Sullivan Township Smith, W. W. GAZETTEER & DIRECTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GREY, 1865-1866 (Sullivan Township section) |
Role |
Farmer |
Spouse |
Margaret Ferguson, m. 1851 |
Children |
5 girls, 5 boys: Isabella Mitchell, m. Alexander Pringle, she was born in Canada West, was 8 years old in 1861 Ann (Annie) Mitchell, m. Malcolm Rutherford of Leith Thomas Mitchell, m. Wilhelmina Rutherford Margaret Mitchell, m. Robert Lynn Mary Mitchell, m. W. A. Chisholm James Cameron Mitchell Robert Mitchell, m. Martha Carnahan John Mitchell Alexander Mitchell William Mitchell Grace Mitchell (m. W. S. Bannerman) Archibald Mitchell (died in infancy) Ellen Mitchell, m. R. McClelland |
