My grandfather, Robert Mitchell
Robert Mitchell was the oldest son of Thomas Baird Mitchell and Helen Parker French, born on 26 September 1886 in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was named for Thomas' step-father, which shows great respect for the man who married his mother and adopted him. Like the earlier Robert, this Robert had no middle name. I'm going to call him "Robert Mitchell II" to eliminate confusion. Since Thomas and Helen were married June 4, 1886, I guess you could say he was a wee bit "premature". (More on the coverup of that problem later) Robert was never listed on a Scotland census, since they left Scotland before the 1890 census, but he spent his early days in Galston on Henrietta Street.
The Mitchell Family Sails to America
Robert was 18 months old when he, his 8 month old sister Margaret and his mother, Helen boarded the Ship "Devonia". They sailed down the Firth of Clyde from Port Glasgow and crossed the Atlantic to the Port of New York, landing on March 26, 1889. Imagine Helen's bravery travelling alone with 2 small children to join her husband in a new land. Voyages lasted about 1 month, and during that time they would have little space of their own, little fresh water and ate whatever food they would have brought with them. Travellers risked diseases carried by other people and bad food and water. They survived the trip, and were met by the welcoming arms of Thomas to escort them through the new sights and sounds of America to their new home in Paterson, New Jersey.
More Kids!
Guess they must have been glad to get together again, for between 1886 and 1906, Helen gave birth to 12 bairns. (See Thomas & Helen's Family) The picture was, unfortunately, fused to the glass of the picture frame and Robert fared the worse with his face cut thru by a crack in the glass. The picture was taken around June, 1897. Seated from L-R are Thomas Sr., Thomas Jr., William, Infant John and Mother Helen.
Standing are the children: Robert, Helen, Margaret and Adam.
Another Move
As Thomas' experience and status in the Paterson Lace Mill increased, he became management material, and in 1892 he was offered (we hope) a better job with the Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Company. The Mitchells are listed in the phone directories of Paterson from 1891-1893, at 108 4th Avenue. If they moved in 1894, the family was comprised of mother, father and 5 children. Helen was the first child born in Wilkes-Barre.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
My sources show the location of their residences and the growth of their family.
- The 1900 census shows them living at 405 Washington St. in Wilkes-Barre's Ward 16: Members of the household were: Thomas Mitchel 37; Ellen Mitchel 37; Robert Mitchel 13; Margaret Mitchel 11; Adam Mitchel 10; Thomas Mitchel 8; William Mitchel 7; Helen G. Mitchel 5; John Mitchel 3; Mary E. Mitchel 9/12.
- The 1910 census shows them at 314 N. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre's Ward 1; The household is: Thomas Mitchell 47, Robert 23, Ella 47, Margaret 21, Adam 20, Thomas 20, William 17; Helen 15; John 14; Jessie 8; James 6. (Note that Mary Elizabeth is no longer listed as she died May 14, 1904.
- The 1920 census shows them at the same address and there are major changes in the household as Robert and Margaret,Thomas, Adam and Helen have all married and moved out. William fought in World War I and was seriously damaged by nerve gas in the trenches. He returned from the war living, but spent the rest of his long life in a Veteran's Administration Hospital.
The household is now: Thomas Mitchell 57; Helen Mitchell 57; Jessie Mitchell 18; Jimmie Mitchell 16 - A major change had occurred by the 1930 census, though they are still living at 314 N. Main St.: Helen passed away in 1925, and her sister, Janet French Ferrans Zwickl, moved back from Colorado to take care of Thomas. Jimmie, the "baby", is still living at home, working at a movie theatre nearby. The household is now: Thomas Mitchell 67; James Mitchell 26; Janet (French) Ferrans Zwickl 64
Of the 12 children born to Helen and Thomas, 2 were to die young, 1 died at birth (stillbirth?) and 1 (William) was to live most of his life in a Veteran's Home. The last child was born when Helen was 46. Those that died in Wilkes-Barre are all buried in the Hollenbeck Cemetery. They are not yet in the indexes for the cemetery on findagrave.