In the year 1863, when George Mitchell (aka Mitchellson) was 20 years old, he married Mary Lawson at New Stevenston, Parish of Bothwell. Why George opted to be married under the surname Mitchellson is not known.

Marriage #625/2/51 Holytown, Lanarkshire. 1863 August 28, at New Stevenston Parish of Bothwell
after banns according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland -
(sgd) George Mitchellson, Locomotive Engine Cleaner, bachelor 18 years, Address Muirmad Road, Parish of Bothwell
Father: Jacob Mitchelson, horse keeper, Mother: Mary Mitchelson ms Crosbie
(sgd) Mary Lawson, farm servant, spinster, 20 years, Address: New Stevenston, Parish of Bothwell
Father: John Lawson, farm servant, deceased, Mother: Margaret Lawson ms Burns, deceased
Minister: Hugh Jeffrey, Minister of Free Church, Holytown
Witnesses M. Waddell jr and John McGlashan
Registered August 31 1863 at Holytown, Registrar Wm Richmond

Between 1863 and 1871, George and Mary had 5 children - Mary, born in 1863, John in 1864, Jacob in 1866, Margaret in 1868 and George in 1871. The children are mentioned in the letters that George wrote to his parents during the years of his marriage. The letters were written from No. 26, Caledonian Place, Motherwell, and it is at this same address we find the family when the Census was taken in 1871. The Census-taker recorded their surname as 'Mitchelson' and listed, in addition to the family, two lodgers named Andrew Brownlie and Alexander Whiteford.

In the 1881 Census, the family was enumerated at No. 84 Caledonian Street, Motherwell. Three of the children (Jacob 14, Margaret 12, and George 10) were still living with their widowed mother. Surprisingly, there were 2 more children listed - Andrew Mitchell, age 2, and Christina Mitchell, age 1. Andrew Brownlie, one of the lodgers from the 1871 Census, was still a lodger in 1881. Subsequent events reveal that Andrew Brownlie was Christina's father, and in all probability he was the father of the child Andrew Mitchell as well.

On 31st December, 1890, a double-wedding took place. Mary Mitchell (nee Lawson) married Andrew Brownlie. On the same day, her daughter, Maggie Mitchell, married Thomas Law. Thus, when the 1891 Census was taken, the 'Mitchell' household was reduced to three in number: Andrew Brownlie, head of household, Mary Brownlie, his wife, and Christina Brownlie, daughter, age 11.

In addition to his birth record, the only evidence of Andrew Mitchell's existence is his presence in the 1881 Census. There are, however, 2 points of evidence that Mary Mitchell (nee Lawson) was Christina's mother: (1) Christina Brownlie's 1901 marriage to Alexander Stott records her parents as Andrew Brownlie, Engine Driver (deceased) and Mary Brownlie, formerly Mitchell, m.s. Lawson. (2) Christina followed the naming pattern and named her first daughter after her mother. (Mary Lawson Stott, born 1902)

Here is what we know about the children of George and Mary Mitchellson:

• Mary Mitchell married Robert Nicol in 1884, but sadly, she died of puerperal fever in 1885 after giving birth to her son, Robert. The child died too.
• John Mitchell died in infancy.
• Jacob Mitchell was fatally injured in a work-related accident in 1884 when he was just 18 years old.
• Margaret Mitchell married Thomas Law in 1890 and they had at least 7 children.
• George Mitchell's whereabouts are unknown.

With each passing year, more records of births, marriages and deaths are being indexed and made available to researchers. Beyond certain cut-off dates, viewing the actual images on-line is not permitted, but we can make certain inferences based on naming patterns and locations. Here is an update on Maggie Mitchell (daughter of George & Mary, and wife of Thomas Law).

Margaret Law, nee Mitchellson, widow of Thomas Law, Steelworker, died at No. 39, Forgewood Road, Motherwell on August 9th, 1937, at the age of 68 years. The Informant was her son, James Law.

In 1920, her daughter, Mary Lawson Law married James Paterson Robb, a railway brakesman. at St. Andrew's Manse in Motherwell. Mary's parents were given as: Thomas Law, Stationary Engine Keeper, and Margaret Law, m.s. Mitchell. The witnesses were Charles Paterson Robb and Janet Cumming Law. Possible children are:
1921 ROBB, JAMES PETERSON M DALZIEL /LANARK 639/00 0500
1924 ROBB, MARGARET PATERSON F DALZIEL /LANARK 639/00 0160

In 1926, another daughter, Margaret Mitchell Law, married John William Graham, a coal miner of Calder Place, Bothwellhaugh. Again, the marriage took place at St. Andrew's Manse in Motherwell. Margaret's parents were given as: Thomas Law, Engine Keeper, and Margaret Law, m.s. Mitchell. The witnesses were Samuel Meek and Christina Brownlie Law. Several possible children are listed:
1930 GRAHAM, MARGARET MITCHELL F BOTHWELL /LANARK 625/01 0081
1933 GRAHAM, MARION LAWSON F BOTHWELL /LANARK 625/01 0148
1935 GRAHAM, MARY LAW F BOTHWELL /LANARK 625/01 0151
1937 GRAHAM, THOMAS LAW M BOTHWELL /LANARK 625/01 0159

While the 1870 death of Margaret Mitchell Law or Graham is listed in the Statutory Index, permission to view the certificate is withheld.
1970 LAW, MARGARET M Not Permissible GRAHAM F 65 MOTHERWELL AND WISHAW /LANARK 628/00 0097

It seems likely that descendants of George and Mary Mitchelson may still be living in the area at this time, and hopefully they will view this page and make contact with the writer.

Now read the letters written by George Mitchell: http://users.uniserve.com/~imitchel/george.htm

March 2009