What year did John W. Mitchell, b. ca. 1818, died 1880;come to Texas and from where did he come?

Question

My great-grandfather, John W. Mitchell was born ca. 1818 in Virginia and died in 1880 in Hood County, Texas. He was the father of 20 children and was married 3 times. He received a land grant with Peter's Colony and it is located in Collin County, Texas. We first found him in 1846 running with peace officers near Grand Prairie, Texas. They were chasing Indians who had stolen some horses. We can not get him out of Texas. We do not know the maiden names of his first wife, Martha, who died in 1849, nor his last wife, Sara Jane, who later married Robert Haughey. His second wife, my great-grandmother, is Mary Wood and she died ca. 1869, in Hood County, Texas. This has been a real brick wall for our family. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

If your info born in Virginia is correct,what are you asking??

Comments

John W Mitchell is listed in Census records as being born in Virginia and Tennessee. We are supposing that Virginia is the right one because it is the first one we found. Family lore is that his father or grandfather owned the Mitchell Covered Wagon in Richmond, Virginia. We have not been able to verify this as of date.

I got a message on here saying that he was listed as a single man in Virginia in the 1840 Census. I am not sure which county that was listed. I will have to check it out a bit.

We are also trying to find out who the parents and siblings are.

 

Thanks for your help,

Johnnie Mitchell Watts

Answer 2

He is listed in the 1840 census for Virginia AS A SINGLE MAN. The 1850 census has him in Texas. His OLDEST CHILD, daughter E.J. is listed as 5 years old and born in Texas. His wife is listed as MARY  AGE 23  BORN IN ARKANSAS.  As a note from history, my waybacks went to Texas from Virginia in the spring of 1844. Texas had been accepted for statehood and the Southern Democrats wanted to build a following for its admission to the Union in 1845. Large land grants were assigned [free land]

Other than the Census, a land deed may give you a more specific date if he homesteaded..

Comments

Thank you for your comeback! What county did you find John W Mitchell in the Virginia  1840 Census? Johnnie Mitchell Watts