William Mitchell, 3X-grandfather
William Mitchell
b. 15 Sept 1784
d. abt. 1855
The text of William Mitchell's birth registry of 17/09/1784 states: "Sept 17th , 1784 was baptized William Mitchell lawfully Procreat betwixt John Mitchell in Oxenshaw and Margart Merry his spouse" (source; OPR Births 613/0020 0097 Sorn)
Oxenshaw is the name of a farm north of Sorn, where his father was an employee, and where the family had a worker cottage. This farm is still in operation, and, a large, successful dairy farm as recently as 2007, owned by John Paterson.
William and Janet Fraser
Janet Fraser
bapt. 21 July 1791
d. bef. 1832
On Feb. 8, 1814 William and Janet were married in Muirkirk. Their marriage certificate reads: Mitchell/Fraser: William Mitchell farm servant Lightshaw and Janet Fraser in this Parish were regularly proclaimed in this Parish Church in order to marriage and married at Burnside Muirkirk upon the 8th February (1814). (source: Scotland's People O.P.R. Marriages 607/0020 0245 Muirkirk)
To take a walk around Muirkirk, go to this site: community walks To take a walk around the Mitchell's homeland-
View Larger Map visit this site and follow the A70 (Manse Rd/Bridge St.) to the right. You'll come to a large industrial area off the road to the left- that was the Muirkirk Ironworks; Ashieburn (of the photo) is before that, on the south side of the road.
A bit about Janet Fraser
Janet's birth was registered by her father James Frazer/Fraser; James was married to Janet Currie (Curry) who was born 28 October 1766 in Stevenston. The couple had 9 children, but few survived childhood. Janet was the 3rd born named Janet.
William remarries
In 1841 William Mitchell is listed in the census as living in Muirkirk on Glasgow Road. William has remarried and the family is now: William 60; Jean 50; Adam 8; Andrew 2. WIlliam's occupation is cartwright (oxen?).
John Smith (64), laborer and Janet McMicken 15, domestick are living with them.
William married Jean Hillows (Hillas?) on 25 April 1832 in Cumnock, where Jean was born in 1791. I'm assuming that Janet died soon after or during the birth of Robert, their last child.
Robert and Janet Frazer Mitchell's family
- Jean "Jane" born 6 March 1814, Muirkirk (Married Andrew Hannah)
- Alexander born 7 September 1815, Muirkirk (Married Margaret McPhee)
- John born 25 June 1817, Muirkirk
- Janet born 20 August 1819 at Ashaburn, Muirkirk
- James born 25 October 1823 at Ashieburn, Muirkirk
- Jean or "Jane" born 1825 (don't know if only one Jean survived?)
- George born 12 May 1827 at Ashaburn, Muirkirk
- Robert born 1 November 1829 at Ashyburn, Muirkirk
William and Jean Mitchell's Family
- Adam born 14 March 1833 in Muirkirk, seems to have survived
- David born 10 December 1834, not on 1841 census
- Andrew born 18 July 1838