In 1998, when this page was written, I knew very little about Charles Mitchell. With the help of a very kind lady in America, I was finally able to trace him and some of his descendants to Montana, U.S.A. You may like to read the contents of this page before reading the 2012 updated information.
What happened to Charles Mitchell, the third youngest son of Jacob and Mary Mitchell, is something of a mystery. His siblings, in their letters, were frequently asking for Charles' address and lamenting the fact that they had not heard from him. Perhaps the clearest indication we have of what was happening in Charles' life is contained in the June 1882 letter from his cousin, John McGlashan.
Earlier, in 1874, the New Zealand letters had made reference to "Charles, his young wife and daughter". It appears that Charles (like his brother George) was married under the surname Mitchellson, which delayed the finding of details of his marriage. In fact, Charles Mitchellson was married to Marion Brown Cossar at Douglas, Lanark on October 26th, 1871. Their first child, Eliza Tennant Mitchell, was born on February 23, 1872, and their son, Jacob Mitchell, was born on August 22, 1873. There was an apparent break-up of their marriage prior to 1883. What is known is that Marion was offered her passage to America by her brother. Whether Charles accompanied her or not, we do not know. The only clue, was that at some period Charles was living at an address in Toronto, Canada.
I have only one letter written by Charles Mitchell. The reference in the letter to, "Agness time is up at the school" was confusing to me, as Charles and Marion did not have a daughter named Agnes. However, subsequent research showed that Agness, born August 8, 1863, was the illegitimate child of Marion's sister, Mary Cossar. Note that in the 1881 Census, Marion Mitchellson was enumerated in the houshold of a niece named Agnes Stubbs!
A second letter, also printed below, from D.E. Dinwoodie, makes reference to Charles and Marion. Later research has shown that Eliza Tennant Mitchell was left with her Aunt Margaret (Mrs. Dinwoodie, nee Cossar), and that Jacob Mitchell was staying with his maternal grandparents in 1881. So we know the location of Marion and the two children when the 1881 Census, but where Charles Mitchell was at that particular time is still unknown.
Glasgow 23 1882 Dear Father and Mother. I write you these few lines to let you know we are well. Hoping this will find you both the same. I was up seeing the wanes last Saturday week. They were looking well and getting on at the school. It is now the Term and I think we will shift to Motherwell as we have given up our house here. Houses is very dear of rents and taxes and it will be easier for us getting a house in Motherwell cheaper and it will be better than Glasgow for the 2 wee wanes, and Agness time is up at the school. So she is leaving and I would like to have the 2 home and it will be better for all. So it's going to take me hard enough scraping to square up my rent here and flit so if you would be kind enough to lend me 2 Pounds I will pay you it honestly back in a month or so. Father, if you be kind enough to send me it I will remember you as I have now no other one to ask it from and 2 would put me all right.
I have been working at the masoning here since I saw you. But I think I could get same thing more steady in Motherwell if I once was settled there. Now, father, if you could send the 2 Pounds by Friday morning as Friday is the day we will have to flit. I wrote to William but he has not wrote me back since, so I have not heard from him at all. Hoping to find you both well and hope to hear from you by return. I will conclude by sending our kind love.
Your son and daughter, C & M Mitchell.A further letter, which may form part of the puzzle:
Sandilands Street, 31st January, 1884 Your letter of last week to hand. The children are at school and doing well. We do not know anything of Charles. He was in America the last time we heard of him.
Marion is still in America, has a good situation and is much respected. We had a letter last week and she is well and never was better off in her life.
Your letter was handed over for the children to reply.Yours truly, D.E. Dinwoodie
There is one further letter, written to Jacob and Mary by a grandson, Jacob. It is now certain that the writer was Charles and Marion Mitchell's son, Jacob .
Muirfoot, August 10th, 1885 Dear Grandmother and Grandfather, We received your letter and were glad to see by it that you were both well. As for my letter, I don't remember writing it. But I can remember well of visiting you at Leith and gathering shells down on the sand shore. We are both well and trusting this may find both of you enjoying the same great blessing. I remain, your affectionate grandson, Jacob Mitchell.
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© 1998 by Irene Mitchell marrcoll@yahoo.ca
Last updated: 1999-01-10