Robert Mitchell (abt. 1827 - 1882)

Born about 20 Jun 1827 in Greenock West, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Rea) Mitchell — married 11 Jun 1861 in St Phillip's Church in the Parish of Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Descendants

Died 1 Nov 1882 at about age 55 in 17 Waterloo Road, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Robert Mitchell was born on about 20 June 1827 in Greenock West, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He was the only son of Robert Mitchell and Agnes Taylor.

He was Christened on 14 July 1827 at West or Old Parish, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland^[1].

His father Captain Robert Mitchell, who was a Master Mariner, passed away in 1838 at sea.

In the 1841 England Census, Robert Mitchell (aged 13) was recorded living with his widowed mother Agnes Mitchell (50) and his two sisters Catherine Mitchell (15) and Agnes Mitchell (10) at St Paul Square, North Side, Liverpool, Lancashire^[2].

By 1861, Robert Mitchell (aged 32 and a Commission Merchant) was still living with his 73 year old widowed mother Agnes Mitchell, now at 6 Sugnall Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Also in the household was 22 year old house servant Mary Lampson,

Intended marriage Date: 4 June 1861 - St. Philip, Liverpool, Lancashire, England^[3]

At the age of about 34, Robert married 24 year old Sarah Rea (the daughter of Henry Kean Rea and Sarah Radcliffe) on 11 June 1861 at St. Philip's Church in Liverpool. His occupation was recorded as Book Keeper. The Witnesses were (?) Dempster and Hannah Rea (the Bride's sister). Notice of their marriage was printed on page 7 of the Liverpool Mail dated 22 June 1861:

MARRIED

On the 11th instant, at St. Philip’s Church, by the Rev. T. Whalley, Mr. Robert Mitchell to Sarah, second daughter of Mr. Henry Rae [sic].^[4].

His new father in law was Harbour Master at the Liverpool Docks.

They went on to have six children.

His mother Agnes passed away on 30 April 1870.

By the time the England Census of 1881 was enumerated on 3 April 1881, Robert Mitchell (aged 53) was recorded as the head of the household at 17 Waterloo Road, Litherland, Lancashire, England:

1881 England Census:
17 Waterloo Rd, Litherland, Lancashire, England^[5]:

His brother in law Albert Henry Burwell died on 9 September 1882 at Sea, in command of the steamer Kansas at the age of 49.

Less than two months later, Robert Mitchell passed away on 1 November 1882 at his home, Cambridge Villa in Liverpool, Lancashire at the age of 55, after suffering from Peritonitis for 20 days, and Intestinal Obstruction for 12 days^[6]. The informant was his son Robert Henry Mitchell, present at his death. Notice of his death was printed on page 6 of the Liverpool Weekly Courier dated 4 November 1882:

DEATHS.

MITCHELL- Nov. 1, at his residence, 17, Waterloo-road, Waterloo, aged 55 years, Robert Mitchell, son of the late Capt. Robert Mitchell, of Greenock.^[7]

Obituary

The following Obituary for Robert was printed on page 1 of the Liverpool Albion dated 4 November 1882:

DEATH OF A LIVERPOOL MERCHANT.

It is with feelings of deep regret that we have to announce the death of Mr. Robert Mitchell, of Messrs. J. H. Schroder and Co., bankers and merchants, at his residence, Cambridge Villa, Waterloo. It is only about twelve months ago since Mr. Pickering, of the same firm, died, and now another familiar face will be missed from the 'Change. The deceased gentleman had been ailing for some time, but was not confined to bed until last Sunday week. The following night the crisis was reached, and since then he has, it was believed, been slowly recovering. On Tuesday night, however, the disease developed itself, and on Wednesday he expired. From nowhere will Mr. Mitchell be so much missed as from Waterloo; for he was to that village what the late Mr. Torr was to Liverpool. He was a prominent member of St. John's Church, the assistant superintendent of the Sunday School, the hon. sec. of the Waterloo Dispensary, an ex-president of the Literary Society, until recently a member of the Bootle Choral Society - in fact no concert or meeting was complete without his genial face and kind and helpful hand. The deceased gentleman leaves a widow and six children to mourn his loss.^[8]

His funeral service was held at St. Luke's, Crosby and he was buried in the churchyard there^[9].

Funeral Report

THE LATE MR. ROBERT MITCHELL.

On Saturday afternoon the funeral of Mr. Robert Mitchell, of Waterloo, took place at St. Luke’s Church, Crosby. The sacred edifice was filled with the friends and acquaintances of the deceased gentleman. As we have previously stated, the deceased gentleman was a member of the well-known firm of Messrs. J. H. Schroeder and Co., merchants and bankers, Rumford-place[1]. He died after a short illness on Wednesday last at his residence, Cambridge-villa, Waterloo-road, Waterloo. He had lived in that neighbourhood for nearly twenty years, and was, among his other works, identified with most of the charitable and philanthropical schemes in the locality. The service on Saturday was conducted by the Rev. Canon J. Herbert Jones.

The funeral cortege consisted of a hearse and fourteen broughams. The coffin was of polished oak with black mountings, and bore the inscription “Robert Mitchell, aged 55, died 1st November, 1882.” Tender hands, as a loving mark of respect of the departed one, had placed wreaths of immatelles and fresh flowers upon the coffin. Among those present in church and at the grave side were Messrs. R. H. Mitchell, E. R. Mitchell, E. H. Mitchell, sons; Mr. Alick Miller, nephew; Baron Von Schroder, and Mr. J. Savoys, partner; Captain Miller, Captain Green, Captain Dugald; Revs. S. C. Armour, J. B. Richardson, R. Love; T. Dickson; Dr. Limrick, and Messrs. Roberston, Taffley, Turner, Saml, Smith, Hunter, Fergusson, Moffatt, Fishwick, Mackenzie, Collins, H. L. Bower, Nickson, J. Brown, Allsop, N. C. Jellico, and W. Bowers. The arrangements connected with the funeral were entrusted to and satisfactorily carried out by Mr. Wm. Rimmer, undertaker, of Wellington-street, Waterloo.

The vicar of St. John’s paid a tribute of grateful respect to Mr. Mitchell’s memory in his sermon on Sunday morning. He referred to the fact that he had been a member of the congregation ever since the church was opened in 1865, and a member of the voluntary choir from that time to the day of his death. He spoke of his labours in connection with the Sunday schools, of which he was superintendent for some years, and a most efficient and devoted teacher almost to the last. Mention was also made of the active part he had taken in all the meetings held in St. John’s Schoolroom, at which he was a constant and most welcome speaker; and particularly in connection with the Church of England Temperance Society, in which he took a deep interest. His cheery words of counsel and encouragement will long be remembered by those who heard them, and his presence and countenance will be sorely missed. For many years he was the active treasurer of the Waterloo dispensary, and did much to place its finances on a satisfactory basis. Indeed there are few good works connected with Waterloo in which Mr. Mitchell has not taken a prominent part. The Rev. J. Brooke Richardson also referred to the subject in the evening, and gratefully acknowledged how much he had been personally indebted to Mr. Mitchell for kindly sympathy and encouragement on many occasions.

At a meeting of St. John’s Church council held the following evening a resolution was passed expressing the deep sense which all the members entertained of the loss they had sustained, as well as of the sympathy with Mr. Mitchell’s family in their bereavement. It was also resolved that an effort should be made to erect a memorial window to his memory in St. John’s Church. Subscriptions towards this object will be received by the ministers and churchwardens or any other member of the church council.^[10]

His Will (with one Codicil) was proved on 27 November 1882 at Liverpool by Peter Robertson of Lydia-Ann Street in the said City, Oil Manufacturer, his widow Sarah Mitchell of 17 Waterloo Road, the Relict and Thomas Saffley of 25 York Terrace in the said City, Bolt Manufacturer, the Executors. His Personal Estate was valued at £2,040 15s. 10d.

His widowed wife Sarah and their children emigrated from England to New Zealand in the years following his death.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTNT-MHC : accessed 9 April 2015), Robert Mitchell, 20 Jun 1827; citing , reference 2:18J7X3M; FHL microfilm 1,041,063.
2. ↑ England and Wales Census, 1841: Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ2R-Q6Q : 30 October 2015), Robert Mitchell in household of Agny Mitchell, Liverpool, Lancashire, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census,"
3. ↑ Marriage: "England, Cheshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1606-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FB24-3ZW : 8 December 2014), Robert Mitchell, 04 Jun 1861; citing St. Philip, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, item 1, Cheshire Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,894,982.
4. ↑ Liverpool Mail dated 22 June 1861, Page 7 (requires subscription to view)
5. ↑ England and Wales Census, 1881: Index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XQ6F-ZC2 : accessed 14 March 2015), Robert Mitchell, Litherland, Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales census,"
6. ↑ Death: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JXB-CJ5 : 31 December 2014), Robert Mitchell, 1882; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,"
7. ↑ Liverpool Weekly Courier dated 4 November 1882, Page 6 (free to view)
8. ↑ Liverpool Albion dated 4 November 1882, Page 1 (requires subscription to view)
9. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/233855562/robert-mitchell : accessed 9 November 2021), memorial page for Robert Mitchell (1827–1 Nov 1882), Find A Grave: Memorial #233855562, citing St Luke Churchyard, Great Crosby, Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England ; Maintained by lindylou631 (contributor 49254308)
10. ↑ Obituary from a Newspaper clipping of unknown source found in a Ship's Diary belonging to his brother in law Albert Burwell

See also:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Luke%27s_Church,_Great_Crosby

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBNF-5V4 : 11 December 2017), Robert Mitchell, 1871.