Robert Henry Mitchell (1864 - 1911)

Born 22 Jan 1864 in Speake, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Eva Clarice (Gray) Anderson — married 25 May 1910 (to 1911) in Holy Trinity Church, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand

Died 22 Sep 1911 at age 47 in Park Road, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

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Harry Mitchell migrated from England to New Zealand.

Biography

Robert "Harry" was the son of Robert Mitchell and Sarah Rea. He was born on 22 January 1864.^[1]

In the Census records of 1871 Robert was aged 7. He was living with his parents and two siblings Katherine and Edward in Waterloo Road, Litherland, Lancashire. Also in the household were two servants.

In the 1881 census the family were still living at 17 Waterloo Road. Harry was now 17 years of age (no occupation recorded). Also in the household was his grandmother Sarah Rea, aunt Hannah Rea and one servant. His father was a Cotton Merchant.

17 year old Harry may have been indentured as an Apprentice in the Merchant Navy on 25 June 1881. The term was supposed to be for 5 years, but he was discharged on 9 March 1882.^[2]

His father Robert passed away on 1 November 1882 at the age of 55. The funeral took place at St. Luke’s Church in Crosby, Lancashire.

In 1886 Harry emigrated from England to New Zealand along with his brother Edward and his cousin Albert Edward Burwell, departing from London on 16 March 1886 and arriving into Auckland on 25 June 1886 on the barque "Akaroa". They were also in the company of an Alfred Roebuck (a London Chap 2nd Cabin passenger). While en route to New Zealand Mt Tarawera erupted and buried the Pink and White Terraces and many people lost their lives beneath the ash.

After their arrival in Auckland Harry and new pal Alf Roebuck went ashore to look for "a house or somewhere to go into", and came across a friend of a friend's who had engaged a board and lodging for them at 18/- a week, which they could not refuse; although they thought the price steep. The house was in the suburb of Parnell and "very prettily situated but up hill nearly all the way" and it tired their legs. They stayed there two weeks and were very comfortable.

Harry managed to secure employment painting for a couple of days - he tried to get on to one of the comic illustrated papers and took his log around - apparently he was very good at this but it is unknown how successful he was at securing employment in this field.

Alf subsequently got a "good billet", just in his line too - wholesale drapery. Edward got a job keeping a little produce store - hay, straw, bran, oats etc in Newmarket, 1 pound a week and some commission (he was boarding in Newmarket also).

Harry's cousin Albert was finding it difficult to find employment, but had soon lined up farmhand work in the New Plymouth district. When it was time for Albert to leave, Harry and Albert caught the train down to the Onehunga wharf where the boat "Gairloch" was due to set sail at 3 p.m. Harry waved Albert off, waving for as long as they could still see each other, and then Harry caught the 5 o'clock train back to Auckland.

Harry and Albert kept in regular contact via mail, and Harry also kept in touch with the family back home via his letters.

Harry's mother and siblings also emigrated from England to New Zealand.

In a letter written in July 1887 Albert mentions Harry being involved in a "Surgical agency business" in Auckland. By August 1887 Harry was thought to be "gum digging", possibly in the Kaipara area. He was still there in October 1887 but apparently "not making his tucker" although he should have been doing very well financially! Alf Roebuck passed away about this time. By November 1887 Harry was back in Auckland (he could only make 4/- or 5/- a week over his tucker so couldn't stay). He was expecting to hear from a man in Gisborne who was going to get him on a sheep run. Apparently this employment offer panned out and is the last mention of Harry in Albert's letters home.

His brother Edward died in 1901 at the age of 36.

Harry spent some time in Waihi where he was on the Waihi Gold Mining Company's survey staff, and also occupied the position of drawing instructor to the Waihi School of Mines.

He married Eva Clarice Gray on 25 May 1910 at the Holy Trinity Church in Otahuhu, Auckland, the Service was conducted by Frank Gould, Officiating Minister. The Witnesses were K. Smales, Farmer of East Tamaki, and Mary Violet Gray of Symonds Street, Onehunga.

They had no children.

Sadly he passed away the following year on 22 September 1911 at the age of 47 after suffering from a Cerebral Tumour for 8 months, and Syncope. He underwent an operation three weeks prior to his death.

Last Known Residence Address: Park Road

Last Occupation: Draughtsman

Obituary

New Zealand Herald, 23 September 1911, Page 4, COUNTRY NEWS:

Mr. Harry Mitchell, whose death occurred at the Huia Home, Grafton Road Auckland, was a resident of Waihi, where he had lived for many years. For some time past the deceased had been on the Waihi Gold Mining Company's survey staff, and also occupied the position of drawing instructor to the Waihi School of Mines. Mr Mitchell, who was widely known and respected here, leaves a young widow (daughter of Mr. Wyn Gray, of Onehunga).^[3]

Burial

24 September 1911 - Purewa Cemetery, Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand. Location: Block E, Row 31, Plot 24^[4]

Headstone inscription:

ROBERT HENRY

Dearly Beloved Husband of

Eva C Mitchell

who died 22 September 1911

Aged 47 Years

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:261C-HWP : 1 October 2014), Robert Henry Mitchell, 1864; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,"
2. ↑ The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Collection: Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Index of Apprentices; Class: BT 150; Piece Number: 47 Ancestry.com
3. ↑ http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZH19110923.2.11&cl=&srpos=0&e=-------10--1----0--
4. ↑ http://www.purewa.co.nz/view/?id=41092

• http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZH18860510.2.10

• NZ BDM Marriage Records Online: 1910/5730 Eva Clarice Gray and Robert Henry Mitchell https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search

• NZ BDM Death Records Online: 1911/801 Mitchell Robert Henry 47Y https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/185424941/robert-henry-mitchell), memorial page for Robert Henry “Harry” Mitchell (22 Jan 1864–22 Sep 1911), Find a Grave Memorial no. 185424941, citing Purewa Cemetery, Meadowbank, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand ; Maintained by Linda Prole (contributor 49254308) .

Census Records

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBNF-5VZ : 24 July 2015), Robert H Mitchell in entry for Robert Mitchell, 1871.

• "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27L-KSCZ : 19 August 2016), Robt Hy Mitchell in household of Robert Mitchell, Litherland, Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales census,"