Chapter 3
The Story of Jacob Mitchell
In the Twentieth Century..............
At the beginning of the 20th century, we find William and Jane Mitchell and their family living in Troon, Scotland. Of their 4 daughters, Jane ("Jean") was the only one to marry. She and her husband, Andrew Walker Hannah, had no children. The other sisters remained single, hinting that their beaux had gone off to serve in the 1914-1918 War and had not returned.
The Mitchell family continued to live at 1 Portland Street, Troon during the first three decades of the 20th century. For a period after that, they lived at Logan Drive, Troon, before removing to larger accommodation at 95 Templehill, Troon. When the Mitchell sisters moved to 95 Templehill, they were accompanied by sister Jean Hannah and her husband, who had separate living accommodation (a sitting room and bedroom) on an upper floor. This was occasioned because of Jean's frail health. Andrew Hannah worked at the railway. Sisters Mary and Ina went out to work each day (Mary to Brown's shoe store on Portland Street and Ina to Longridge's on Ayr Street). Tina (pronounced "Teenie") and Jean stayed at home to keep house and prepare meals.
Mary ruled the family with a rod of iron. This was not surprising since, at the age of 21, she had had to take charge of the home and the 3 younger ones on the death of her mother. Jane Marshall Burnet died at 1 Portland Street, Troon, on Monday 11th November, 1907 at the age of 48.
William Alexander (the youngest of the family) served as a Private in the R.A.M.C. during the 1914-18 war. He was wounded by shrapnel and hospitalised in France on 3rd October, 1917. Bill married Jeanie McConnachie at the Pearce Institute, Govan, on January 15, 1926. Jeanie (or Jean as she was called) was the elder daughter of Michael McConnachie and Margaret McConnachie (ms Watson) of 5 Mathieson Street, Govan. They had 4 children.
Following the death of Jacob and Mary Mitchell (1886-1887), the New Zealand families had gradually dropped off correspondence. Eventually contact was lost. Around 1918, Mary Mitchell in Troon, on behalf of her father, advertised in New Zealand newspapers for any members of the Hugh and Janet Muir, John and Elizabeth Runciman and John and Janet Mitchell families to get in touch. As a result of this, descendants of all three families in New Zealand once again started a correspondence with their cousins back in Scotland. This correspondence continued during and after the first World War, and from it much is known about the New Zealand descendants of Jacob Mitchell. Read all the letters or follow the link to the family in which you are interested.
Now, in 1999, letters are still being written back and forth between Mitchell descendants in Scotland and Canada, and descendants of the three New Zealand families, now spread to a number of other countries.
Update: In August 2000, the writer traced descendants of Catherine Mitchell living in Stranraer, Scotland, and later that month, descendants of William Mitchell and Catherine Mitchell met for the first time in Stranraer.
Perhaps in the future contact will once again be made with descendants of Jacob Mitchell's other children:
- Charles Mitchellson and his wife Marion Brown Cossar
- George Mitchellson and his wife Mary Lawson
- John Thorrat and his wife Ellen Girvan
Return to Table of Contents
© 1998 by Irene Mitchell. imitchel@uniserve.com
2000-10-09