Robert Mitchell
my 2X great-grandfather
Robert Mitchell was the last of 8 children born in a poor croft named "Ashieburn" near Muirkirk, Ayrshire on November 1 ,1829. 
Robert's Parish Birth Registry
Muirkirk's parish registry for 11/1/1829 reads: "Mitchell: "William Mitchell and Janet Frazer, (at) Ashyburn, a son born 1st Nov and baptized 15 of Nov. named Robert."
Robert's Childhood
We can only imagine how difficult Robert's childhood was. Born into a large poor family, crammed into a small croft,living west of the village of Muirkirk, where Robert's father was a farmer. The picture shown is the actual ruin of "Ashieburn", which gives an idea of the size of the cottage and the beauty of the location. It looks very much like it did in 1830, I'm sure. Sheep are grazing near the stream that flows next to the cottage. Muirkirk in the 1830's was much more active than it is in modern times. A railroad ran into town to transport materials between the ironworks and the seaport at Ayr. An ironworks was just a bit farther outside of the village and produced iron ore for manufacturing. You can visit this location now at google maps! Back out and you can see the village of Muirkirk.
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Robert's mother died soon after his birth, for we know that William remarried a The elder Margaret Mitchell and George are Robert's aunt and uncle, his father William's siblings. Robert has lived with them since before the 1841 census, probably moving in with them after his mother died and his father remarried on 25 April 1832 to a Jean Hillas (Hillows). I have not been able to find Janet's death certificate or gravestone. Jean then bore William 3 more sons in quick succession: Adam in 1833, David in 1834, and Andrew in 1838. Many of William's first children would have left home by then, but room and food was probably scarce. Robert was sent to live with his father's siblings, Margaret and George and to learn the profession of handweaving in the bigger village of Galston.
The 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871 censuses show Robert living with them and probably helping them survive with his meager income. Margaret, Robert's aunt, was born in 1811, a considerably younger sister of William. Her occupations are listed as variously muslin sewer or weaver (1841), cowfeeder or herder (1851-1881). Often the villagers mingled their herds and one person took care of these animals in their shared grazing near the village. George, Robert's uncle, was somehow handicapped, labelled an "embecile at birth", maybe he merely had Down's Syndrome, but he was never able to support himself and his sister Margaret was responsible for caring for him. Robert was probably a gread help to Margaret, but his need to support this family made it impossible for any chance at schooling or a carefree childhood. Robert has an occupation of "cotton weaver" by the time he is 12.
Censuses for Robert
- 1831 Census (there was no census yet, but we know they were living at Ashieburn near Muirkirk, Ayrshire, because Robert was born there in 1829.
- 1841 Census: lived at Wallace St in Galston and was a cotton weaver. His household is his father's siblings Aunt Margaret (30) and his Uncle George (45, a pauper); Robert 12 and Jean Murdoch 63 pauper; Alex Paton 5.
- 1851 Census: lived at 9 Henrietta St., Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland; still living with Aunt Margaret 41, Uncle George 53 (Pauper), Robert 21, (George?)Jean Campbell, lodger (pauper), 73. Robert's listed as a cotton weaver.
- 1861 Census: still living at Henrietta St., Galston with his Aunt Margaret 50, Uncle George 64. Robert is now 31 and a cotton handloom weaver.
- 1871 Census: (593/00 010/00 013) Parish of Galston, 20 Henrietta St (evidently divided into flats.,
Robert Mitchell 40, Margaret 28, Thomas B. 8; next flat and a boarder is Margaret (66) & George (74) and next flat as boarder is Matthew Taylor (76) - 1881 Census: 20 Henrietta St., Galston, Ayrshire: Maggie Mitchell 76, Margaret 38; Robert 51, Matthew Taylor 80 (boarder, retired letter carrier)
Robert Marries
On December 29, 1865, Robert married Margaret Baird, a spinster with an illegitimate son. Thomas Baird was 3 when his mother married, and Robert adopted him, whether thru legal proceedings or in name. At any rate, when Robert died on 23 May 1884, Thomas, his stepson, was a witness at his death. Robert's cause of death was a "rectal fistula" which he'd had for 30 years. Robert died at the age of 54, leaving his wife of almost 20 yearsonly 42 years old. Robert looks very dour in this picture we have of him, but he must have had an open heart to take a fallen woman and her illegitimate son into his life and provide for them. By 1881 these 3 family units live in a flat at the same address, possibly each group having a room. Two rooms have 1 window. This was important because the number of windows was taxed, and also indicated a bit higher status. Matthew Taylor, the boarder, lived in a windowles room. Matthew was a retired postal carrier and his rent payments would have helped the family make ends meet.
Robert's Profession
See the page about the weaving industry for more on Robert's profession and way of life. A very interesting short film about weaving is here. Robert was a "cotton" handloom weaver, not a tartan weaver. He'd have been weaving bedspreads, window curtains, clothing fabric. His loom would have taken up much of the space in their flat, and there would have been the constant "clack, clack" of the heddles lifting and the shuttle being thrown all day long as Robert worked.
Robert's Short Life
Robert died on 23 May 1884. On his death certificate we gain some confirmation of details about his life, The text of Robert’s death certificate:
"Robert Mitchell, cotton-weaver; married to Margaret Baird; died on May 23 1884 at 7:30 PM at Henrietta Street in Galston; Male, aged 54 years; Father: William Mitchell, farmer (deceased); Mother: Janet Mitchell, M.S. Frazer (deceased); cause of death: Rectal Fistula (for about 30 years) and chronic cystitis."
(signed)Thomas Mitchell, step-son, present;
Registered on May 24 in Galston.
Thomas Mitchell, now age 22, had lovely, well-formed handwriting! This was also presents a clue that he was adopted by Robert. Robert left his wife, Margaret, or "Maggie", a widow at age 42. As far as I know she did not remarry, and I haven't been able to find her death date. Thomas followed in his step-father's profession, becoming a cotton-loom weaver also. See more on Thomas.