Email to family...

I got a great response back from my email to Jim B. concerning the Mitchell DNA latest results.

Jim M's DNA results came in yesterday and shows a match to me -- although not exact -- but close enough to convince me that indeed we are indeed Mitchell descendants from Shatteen as we have been claiming all these years. So I am a happy camper today! DAD

P.S. Forward my out-bound to Jim B. to Matt w/ a cc to Graham. I wanted Matt to be able to pick up the James Mitchell research should I something unexpectedly happen to me.

In that vain I want to make sure Matt has all my electronic files concerning Amelia County too. So that is my next focus is to gather that info together and pass it off.



-----Original Message-----
From: Jim B.
Sent: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 8:10 am
Subject: RE: Got A DNA Match to Another Amelia Co, VA Mitchell

Ron;

This is great news;

I descend from Thomas son of John, and can give you more info on our family. Per the DAR application for John MITCHELL (m Obedience VAUGHN), John was born in England, and got to Virginia in time to be in the RevWar.

Attached is an outline of the family

Jim

From: Ron Mitchell
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 5:37 AM
To: Jim B.
Subject: Got A DNA Match to Another Amelia Co, VA Mitchell

From Ron Mitchell DNA Kit 15119 Code: B4025


Jim, Just wanted to share some news. I recruited a 2nd cousin with a different grandfather to test. Yesterday I received notice from FamilyTree DNA that his partial results were posted. He has 24 posted with another 13 pending.

But more exciting to me was notification a few weeks ago of another DNA match that is tied to Mitchells in Amelia County.

The match is with Donald Edward Mitchell (Y37) [email removed].

He just recently did the DNA test and his results were posted only about 4 weeks ago. The email address shown is actually that of Donald's mother who is their family genealogist. When his match appeared on my list, I quickly sent out my family history information to that email address and found out that it belongs to Ann Mitchell of Tennessee. I was most pleased that Ann has also traced her ancestry back to Amelia County, VA. I was very familiar with her John Mitchell, 1758-1836, married to Obedience Vaughan. For a time, that couple was one of my candidate parents for our Shatteen C. Mitchell, 1802-1867. Later, Shatteen's parents were proved to be James Mitchell and Mary Ann (Polly) Craddock. I have done some research on John and Obedience in the last few weeks and will attach what I have on them in a Word Document. This information I obtained literally in the last couple of weeks.

This is exactly what I was hoping that the DNA would be able to tell us. Bottom line: While I don't know how we are related to John Mitchell, the DNA testing shows that my James shares a common ancestor with John, possibly father or grandfather. I am very pleased that the DNA testing has paid off for me after many years of waiting for some meaningful results. Have a great week end! -- Ron Mitchell


----------
Attached to the email was a document called Mitchell Outline.doc


Thomas MITCHELL Sr bc1700 England; d 1746 England; mc1727 Mary COLTHERD 1701-1755 England (William+ )
1. Thomas MITCHELL Jr c1727-<1768 England; m 1752 England Jane HETHERINGTON 1732-1810 England

A* John MITCHELL 1763 England-1840 Wd 1836 Montgomery Co, VA; m 1786 Amelia Co, VA Obediance VAUGHAN >1765 Amelia Co, VA->1838 Montgomery Co, VA (James + Ann HILL)
-1769 Amelia; RevWar: Fife Major VA, PNSR-1810s; 1815-24 Botetourt; Montgomery Co, VA
1. Nancy H MITCHELL c1787->1836; m 1807 Amelia Co, VA Robert FOSTER
2. Elizabeth P MITCHELL c1788->1836; m 1808 Amelia Co, VA Levi DEATON, Jr
3* Thomas MITCHELL 1791 Amelia; d c1866; m 1817 Botetourt Co, VA Margaret SNIDER 1800 Botetourt-1882 Roane
-1840-50 Floyd Co, VA PPTL: Thomas MITCHELL
-1850 Floyd Co, VA; Census: Thos MITCHELL 58 farmer b Amelia; Margaret 49 b Roanoke; Susan S 31 b Roanoke; Thomas P 20 farmer b Montgomery (m w/i yr); George W 17 (?19) b Floyd (m w/i yr); Mary O 15; Nancy A 12; Charles F 10; Margaret E 6; all b Floyd [W.Dist#15,p377:#753] [NB Roanoke=1838 fm Botetourt]
-1860 Roane Co, VA; Census: Thomas MITCHELL 68 farmer, RE 1800, PE 150, b VA; Margaret 59; George W 27; Charles F 20; Margaret 17; George W 3; John W 2 [last 2 grandchildren? – see A3E6] [RoxalanaPO,p571,#203]
-1866 Roane Co, WV Will 1 Feb 1866: Thomas MITCHELL: wife Peggy; Sons & Daughters: John A, William V, Granville P, Samuel S; Henry S; James V; Thomas S; Mary C; Nancy W and Margarett E; George W & Charles F executors. Probate 16 May 1866.
A. Granville P MITCHELL b c1818; d aft 1866? remained in Virginia.
B. Susan S MITCHELL b 1819 Botetourt [FL5]; died a spinster at seventy-two years of age.
C. James V MITCHELL b c1821; d aft 1866?; married and remained in Virginia.
D. Henry S MITCHELL b c1822 VA; m Mary HARMON; bought the Doty Tanyard in Spencer, Roane Co, WV
1. Mary MITCHELL m John “Pat” MURPHY, who was Spencer’s best blacksmith, a merchant a few years and died here
2. James M MITCHELL m Mary E. CROUSE from Fayette Co
A. Martin MITCHELL, now (1926) in the motion picture business in Detroit;
B. Wallis MITCHELL;
C. Minnie MITCHELL, a school teacher;
D. Joseph MITCHELL
E. Ruth MITCHELL
F. Daisy MITCHELL 1890-1891 Roane Co, WV
3. Nancy “Nannie” Jane MITCHELL, m 1876 Charles C CLEAVENGER (son of Bailey & )
A. Robert W CLEAVENGER,
B. May CLEAVENGER
C. Bertha CLEAVENGER
D. Carrie (known as “Dock”) CLEAVENGER
E. Nell CLEAVENGER
F. Mason CLEAVENGER
4. Harriett MITCHELL b Floyd Co, VA
5. Julia A MITCHELL b Roanoke Co, VA
E* William Vaughn MITCHELL 1824 Botetourt-1895 Roane Co, WV; m a1844 Ellender “Ellen” UNDERWOOD c1825 Franklin Co, VA-1915 Plant City, OH ; 1850 Floyd Co; 1860 Roane Co
-1850 Floyd Co, VA PPTL: Wm V MITCHELL
-1850 Floyd Co, VA; Census: William MITCHELL 27 laborer b Roanoke; Ellen 25 b Franklin; Elizabeth 5 ; Robt/Roth 3; Lewis 3/12; ch b Floyd
1. Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” MITCHELL b 1845 Floyd Co, VA[FL5]; Spencer; m John HUFF (son of Mose (or Anthony) HUFF),
A. Albert HUFF
2. Robert M MITCHELL b 1847 Floyd Co, VA [FL5]; never married
3. Lewis M MITCHELL b 1850 Floyd Co, VA; m 1877 m Nannie R CONRAD, of Reedy, Wirt Co, WV (Jacob&Abigail)
A. Esther B MITCHELL b 4 Aug 1878.
B. Oakland Kenna MITCHELL b 7 May 1880, who lives at Reedy, in Roane County
C. Rufus MITCHELL lives at Parkersburg, West Virginia
4. James H MITCHELL b 1853
5* Charles Thomas MITCHELL 1854 Roane-1898 Kanawha Co, WV; m 1878 Roane Co, WV Sophia Eunice BUTCHER 1856 Roane Co, VA-1939 Point Pleasant, Mason Co, WV (John )
A. Wilda Vernon “Gid” MITCHELL b 1880 Walton, WV; m 1907 Roane Co Dr. James “Jimmie” Isaac JUSTICE
1. James Vernon JUSTICE 1908-1908 Roane Co, WV
2. Charles Theodore JUSTICE b 1911 Louisville,KY; UPI; m 1936 Greenup Co, KY Ruby JORDAN
A. William Theodore JUSTICE b 1937 Kenova, WV
B. Wilda Sue JUSTICE b 1944 Phoenix, AZ
C. Melissa JUSTICE
3. William Mitchell JUSTICE b 1915 Baltimore, MD; d 1931 Logan
4. Gordon Nolan JUSTICE 1916 Roane Co, WV-1994 Jacksonville, FL; m Helan Dean FLOWERS
A. Jewell Eunice JUSTICE b 1942
B. Icie S. MITCHELL 1882-1884 Roane Co, WV, age 2y 5m 6d
C* Blanche Olive MITCHELL b 1885 Walton, WV; clerk in a Charleston bank; m 1907 Monroe, MI Ira Stump BARTLETT 1869-1919 Spencer, WV
1. James Vincent BARTLETT b 1917 Pt Pleasant; m 1941 Betty Vars BAKER
A. James Vincent BARTLETT, Jr b 1943 Hanover, NH
B. David Mitchell BARTLETT b 1945 Troy, NY
D. Verna Ellen MITCHELL b 1887; m 1904 Spencer, WV Samuel A SIMMONS b 1881 Roane Co, WV
1. Charles Edward SIMMONS 1905-1906
2. Richard Lincoln SIMMONS b 1908 Spencer, WV; m 1932 KY Sarah Elizabeth NEASE b 1912 Charleston, WV
A. Edward Carlton SIMMONS b 1935 Charleston, Kanawha Co, WV
B. Elizabeth Ann SIMMONS b 1938 Charleston, Kanawha Co, WV
E. Clyde Talmage MITCHELL b 1893 Charleston, WV; linotype man, m 1921 Bluefield, WV Daniese HOLROYD
1. Anna Jean MITCHELL b 1929 Logan Co, WV
6. George W MITCHELL 1857
F. John A MITCHELL b c 1825
-1848-50 Floyd Co, VA PPTL: John A MITCHELL
G. Samuel S MITCHELL b c1827; d aft 1866?; remained in Floyd Co, VA, teacher of vocal music; during war, 1861-5, went South
-1848-49 Floyd Co, VA PPTL: Saml S MITCHELL
H. Thomas Pride MITCHELL b 1830 Montgomery [FL5], 1m a1850 Harriett HARMON; 2m Miss COMBS; no child; she died
1. George Washington MITCHELL b 1856, long of lower Harper District, m 1880 Mary S. M. HOPKINS.
A. Hoyt MITCHELL
B. Homer MITCHELL
2. John W MITCHELL b 1857 Floyd Co, VA: went to Oregon and is believed to have died in Portland of that State.
(H) Thomas P MITCHELL 2m 19 Nov 1863 Roane Co, WV Angaline CAMP b 1845 (Waren & Eliza)
-1863 Roane Co, WV; Mar; 19 Nov 1863: Thomas P MITCHELL 34 (Widower) Roane Co, s/o Thomas & Margaret m Angaline CAMP 18 b Giles Co, VA res Roane Co d/o Waren & Eliza
(H) Thomas Pride MITCHELL 3m 6 Jul 1865 Roane Co, WV Nancy EDWARDS (John + Lidia)
-1865 Roane Co, WV Mar 6 Jul 1865: Thomas P MITCHELL 36 (Widower) Roanoke Co, VA res Roane Co s/o Thomas & Margaret m Nancy EDWARDS 30 Mercer Co, res Roane Co, d/o John & Lidia
3. Charles MITCHELL b 1866 m Elizabeth Margaret SANTEE; four sons, two daughters
4. Sarah Jane MITCHELL.
I. George Washington MITCHELL b 1832 Floyd [FL5,R6]; m 3 Mar 1863 Roane Co, WV Sarah GREATHOUSE b 1838 Harrison Co, VA
-1863 Roane Co, WV Mar 3 Mar 1863: George W MITCHELL 31 b Floyd Co, VA res Roane Co, s/o Thomas & Margaret m Sarah GREATHOUSE 24 b Harrison Co, VA, res Roane Co, d/o John & Catharine
1. John S MITCHELL b Jun 1865
2. William MITCHELL b Jun 1867
3. Nancy MITCHELL S b Jun 1869
J. Mary O MITCHELL 1835 Floyd Co, VA[FL5]; d 1881; m 1859 Roane Co, VA Elijah WAGGONER 1834 Lewis Co
-1860 Roane Co, VA; Census: Elijah WAGGONER 25 farmer b Lewis; Mary O 25 b Floyd; [RoxalanaPO,p571,#204]
K. Nancy A MITCHELL 1838 Floyd Co, VA [FL5]; m 1854 Gorden FARLEY b 1835 Logan Co, VA; of Rush Creek
-1860 Roane Co, VA; Census: Gordon FARLEY 26 farmer b Logan; Nancy H 32 b Floyd; Matilda Isabel 7 b Jackson; Margaret M 5 b Jackson; Sarah A 4 b Roane [RoxalanaPO,p571,#206]
1. Matilda Isabel FARLEY 1854 Jackson Co, VA [R6]; d 1873
2. Margaret M FARLEY b 17 Jun 1855 Jackson Co, VA
3. Sarah A FARLEY b 8 Nov 1856 Roane Co, VA
L. Charles F MITCHELL b 1840 [FL5,R6]; died in the Union service of the War of 1861 to 1865.
M. Margeret Elizabeth MITCHELL b 1844 Floyd Co, VA[FL5,R6]; m 1882 Roane Co, WV Elijah WAGGONER b 1834 Lewis Co
4. Martha “Marthy” MITCHELL 1794 Amelia-1860; m 1830 Montgomery Co, VA Enos GOODWIN bc1790 PA
5. Sarah “Sally” MITCHELL c1797/8 Amelia-1882 Tazwell Co, VA; m 1819 Botetourt Nathan DEATON c1799-1867 VA
6. Obediance MITCHELL 1800-1872 Floyd Co, VA; m 1835 Montgomery Co, VA John N BEAMER
7. Fabius L MITCHELL 1803-1863 Floyd Co, VA; m 1835 Botetourt Co, VA Mary Anne STOVER 1815-1887 Floyd Co, VA
-1845-50 Floyd Co, VA PPTL: Flabius L MITCHELL
8. John MITCHELL, Jr c1804-1882; m 1835 Mont Co, VA Lydia CHAPMAN c1811-Floyd Co, VA
-1848-49 Floyd Co, VA PPTL: John MITCHELL (T son)
9. Ellen MITCHELL c1806->1836; m 1835 Mont Co, VA John ROBINSON
10. James V MITCHELL 1808->1836; m 1828 Botetourt Co, VA Rebecca STOVER

To the family...

I scanned an ID card that Mom found recently. It was from a time when I served as a Senate Page in Sacramento one Spring Break. (Back then we called it Easter Vacation). The ID is dated April 1955. I was 14. The photo is a school photo probably taken in Sept 1954. Yes there was a year called 1954.

Email to Family...

I am loving the New FamilySearch.Org. I was able to look up John Mitchell, 1758-1836, and wife Obedience Vaughan, 1765- on NFS and found a wonderful family group -- 19 children 7 boys and 12 girls. Now there a goal for you kids. Can you beat that? Graham/Angie? I know the Mitchell family is competitive.

Guessing on the 1758 birth date, John must be an older cousin or possibly an uncle to our end-of-line James Mitchell, 1772-1804.

And yes there must be some other LDS genealogist working this Vaughan line because the temple work has been done for all the Mitchell/Vaughan children and she sealed to spouse but no work done for John himself based on the one record I am looking at. The first one I saw for John and Obedience. Her line extends to her paternal and maternal grand parents. All temple work completed for them as well. Interesting.

See isn't NFS great.

Another genealogy victory. I have been working sporadically since we returned from California in early August on piecing together Mike Bradford's (Sue Christiansen Mitchell, ...Bradford -- my sister-in-law's husband) line back to William Bradford, Colonial Governor of Massachusetts, 1621-1633. Almost had it done too. At last think I was close. Now with NFS tool available, I entered Mike's grandfather's name, Samuel Case Bradford into NFS and walla the whole line appeared back to Governor Bradford. Just that fast. Amazing!

I am now feeling some responsibility on learning to handle such a powerful tool. Amy Anderson underscored the need to eliminate duplicates and claim records that pertain to my family as my own. That is a feature of NFS. A lot of it is un-sourced with any specificity and one has to look at the data and determine was I the source of this info in the database. If so there is a procedure to declare that you were the source. This will come in handy when others want to collaborate and discuss research differences.

Email to Matt and Brittany...

I very excited about the new DNA match I have on the Mitchell line. Coming to grips with the James Mitchell issue and his connection to other Mitchell's in Amelia County is the one issue I have set aside until I worked some other issues. I believe now is the time to address this issue as a priority research issue.

Matt, As I recall you have done the most thinking on this one. So maybe we can work together to come to an understanding about the Mitchell Amelia connection.

One strange thought is that with the confirmation through DNA of some relations to John Mitchell that I claim the whole batch as kinfolk and do the temple work for all of them.

Mom, in fact, thinks we may have already done all the Mitchell marriages of record in Amelia County that could have been potentially Shatteen's parents. For example, she believes we already did John and Obedience.

I need to refresh myself on what data we have. I know we have the whole set of early records from Amelia County, including marriages, deeds, wills, & miscellaneous court records. The family went together and got them for me for Christmas one year. In know I have typed notes on them too.

Do you have access to the new Family Search program there in Utah? We are suppose to have it right now. Gee, I wonder if there is any connection of this Mitchell issue coming to the fore right now and the roll-out this week in our area of new Family Search. WOW! Spooky, huh?

Ron

Email to Ann...

I and my father were stuck actually the generation before for 40 or more years with James' son Shatteen C. I will have to look at the material again in Mary Mitchell Clarke's book, Shatteen Coker Mitchell, 1802-1866 but it may include a discussion of John and Obedience as possible parents of James. Years after her book was published Mary Clarke found the settlement of an inheritance suite in Laurens, SC abt 1842 as I recall. In any event a court decided who should get what and it laid out beautifully all the family relationship including Shatteen's parents and siblings. But John and Obedience marriage date made them good candidates to be possibly my Shatteen's parents. There were others in the Amelia County marriage records that see also seem plausible candidates as well. I know there is another older James in Amelia County that could be my James father or grandfather. No documentation that links these people. That is why I am trying the DNA route too.

I just recruited another cousin from a different grandfather than I to take the test. We are awaiting his results. I have another Mitchell cousin from still a different grandfather that I am thinking about recruiting but he lives in Houston and may have more pressing issues on his mind right now with "Ike" and all.

But this is wonderful to have this match with another Mitchell line that can trace its roots back to Amelia County. There are a lot of Mitchell's there back to 1735/1750 or so. Just don't know how they are connected. But with our DNA matches we at least know our two lines are related. Please thank your son for testing.

Email to Jim...

Here is the email that helps explain some recent break-throughs on finding Renny Belew's origins through combining DNA results and use of traditional genealogical information. The DNA matches pointed us to other genealogical researchers who had relevant information that we would have never found otherwise.

Joe and Sam are cousins who are believed to be both direct male-descendants of Peter Belew, son of Giles Belew and Judith Chastain. Judith is daughter of Pierre Chastain, the co-founder of the first French Huguenot settlement in Virginia established in 1700 along the James River, near present day Richmond. Pierre was both governor and physician.

-------------------

To: Joe B.
Subj: Re: From Ron Mitchell abt BELEW Family History

Joe,
Thanks for getting back to me. I sent the same email to Sam, who quickly took me up on the offer to test. So I ordered a DNA kit for him last Monday. He should have received it by now or if not in the next day or two. So you are off the hook. I believe it is sufficient that only one of you need to test.

We (speaking of myself and Helen B. with whom I work closely) have had what we believe to be a significant break through in the last 10 days. This is in part because of the DNA project we initiated about 2 years ago. The essence is that we have had correspondence with two researchers on non-Belew lines that show DNA matches with Renny's direct male descendants. The two lines are Pruett and Farmer. Both have researchers that in recent days have pointed us to Thomas Pruett of Halifax County as the key.

Marcia McClure on the Pruett line identified Thomas Pruett as possibily the common ancestor for the DNA matches. Thomas had a son named Renney reportedly born about 1729. Thomas was married to Mary Chastain, daughter of Estienne Chastain. A "Thomas Pruett" also stood up in court in Amelia County for Judith Chastain, dau of Pierre Chastain, on the charge of having a bastard child. So the Pruett's and Chastains seemed to have a close relationship.

Here are some details of the case.
20 April 1739 - Church Wardens of Raleigh Parish vs. Judith for having bastard child. Amelia Co. VA OB 1, p70. (Thomas Prewitt security for this one). The date 1739 seems a little late vice b. abt 1729 for Renny. One or the other of these years maybe incorrect. Both years are fascinating, however 1729 is one year after Giles Belew reportedly died. 1739 is one year after, according Belew family tradition, Renny Belew was born. In any event, it is fascinating that Judith Chastain and Thomas Prewitt are linked in this way. Who knows how long they were associated with each other.

Seems that Thomas Pruett and his family moved to Halifax County, VA where they show up frequently on the records there starting about 1759. In a set of land transfers, Thomas deeds on the same day in 1759 150 acres to each of three sons, Renney Pruett, Abraham Pruett, and his son John Farmer. Hence, the DNA connection with the Farmer line is also explained.

Marcia claims that Renney Pruett seemed to have disappeared from Halifax County, about 1776, never to be located again. Interesting, our 20 first record of Renney Belue appears in 1767 in Anson County, NC. Anson County, which is due south of Halifax County. Halifax borders NC on its northern border while Anson county borders SC border on its southern border. Renny subsequently moved to the area that is now Union, SC.

Could it be that Renny Prewitt/Pruett and Renny Belue/Belew are in fact the same person? That currently is our working hypothesis. Or could it be Thomas Pruett fathered a child with Judith Chastain Belew, who retained his mother's married name and whose first named was Renny? All very interesting. In any event, the DNA results and matches we have so far are pointing us to Halifax County and adjoining counties in the 1766-1766 period and to the Pruett family as a link to my ancestor Renny Belew's origins. We also believe the Chastain family could be somehow involved.

So I am most anxious to see if Sam's DNA test sheds any more light on this mystery. Won't know until Sam tests and his results are analyzed. Once Sam mails his sample to the Houston headquarters of FamilyTree DNA Co FTNA will sends the sample off to the Arizona lab for analysis. It is anticipated that 6 to 8 weeks will lapse before the results are returned to Sam. I will be notified that the results are in at the same time. Helen's and my experience is that the eight weeks of waiting will seem like an eternity.

I hope my meandering response gives you some idea of the excitement I am currently feeling and great anticipation I and Helen have. Our sense is that we are coming very close to bringing the whole issue of Renny's origins to a close. Have a most wonderful week,

Truly yours,
Ron Mitchell



-----Original Message-----
From: Joe B.
Subject: RE: From Ron Mitchell abt BELEW Family History

Ron, I got your phone messages and just saw this, after returning from a two week trip. This sounds very interesting. I am going through 1,000 emails this morning and will get back to you shortly.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
To: Joe B.
Subject: From Ron Mitchell abt BELEW Family History

Joe,

As background I spoke to you last March about our two Belew lines. As I recall you trace your Belew line back to Solomon Belew, who may be descended from Peter Belew, the only know legitimate son of Giles Belew and Judith Chastain. My line goes back to Renny Belew who settled in Fairforest, Union Co. SC/

We have had a very exciting break through this week.

We believe believe we have strong evidence now that my ancestor Renny Belew’s is connected to Giles and Judith but his biological father being Thomas Pruett, who lived subsequently in Halifax Co, VA. He in fact had a son Renney Pruett, who we believe may have moved south to North Carolina and then to South Carolina where he was known as Renny Belew. This is based on connecting some dots through a DNA surname project.

I am asking you to participate in a Belew DNA surname project at no cost to you.

I want to purchase a DNA testing kit for you this week. I have received some financial support that I have been waiting for that puts the cost to me of the DNA kit into my comfort zone. This is in the form of a deeply discounted price now being offered by the FamilyTree DNA (FTDNA) company and that is valid through the end of August. What I would need from you as your consent to purchase the kit which I would have sent to you. Follow the20directions on the kit and return the kit to the FTDNA company. That is all.

If you have any question please contact me by email or telephone. My telephone number is [removed]. I need to hear from you before I order the kit. The FTDNA offer ends Aug 31st. So I need to hear from you before then.

I would really like to know where Peter and Solomon Belew fit in this whole picture.

I am attaching a file that has three parts. The first part gives you my Mitchell DNA results so you can see what the results look like. Also the second file is the URL to the Ballew DNA Project website. If you click on the area labeled Web Format Printer Friendly version of the matched and no-matched groups, this brings up an enlarged table of DNA results for all the participants in the project. I would hope you would consent to have your results posted in this table. I am curious into what group your results would fall. To me it is worth the money for the kit to know that.

-- Ron

Email to several genealogy friends...

Some Clarifications:

Edgar Harper Mitchell came to Texas in a huff, possibly because it became clear that the Mitchell plantation in Griffin, GA known as Double Cabins, would be left to his father's third wife -- the city girl that was not much older than some of Shatteen's older children. It was said Edgar mounted his horse in anger and did not stop until he reached eastern Texas.

In fact, Double Cabins was inherited in its entirety by Shatteen C. Mitchell's eldest son, John Henry, 1833-1912. Double Cabins was then left to John Henry's adopted daughter Leonora (Nora) Mitchell, 1867-1938. She married James Walker, 1864-1944. Double Cabins is also known as the Mitchell-Walker Home and today is a bed and breakfast operated by a grandson of James Walker.

I have visited the house my self as well as other Mitchell cousins. The latest that I know of is Nancy M. who stayed at the home last October with her husband Ted. Then Shirley N. visited Double Cabins at the time of the Olympics held in Atlanta, GA. That same day by happenstance, my brother Robert Mitchell also visited Double Cabins. Long story short my brother Robert (Bob) and Shirley were married a year or two later. So Shirley born a Mitchell became a Mitchell once again.

One more tidbit, from the Factual Fiction portion of Mary Mitchell Clarke about Shatteen C. Mitchell, 1802-1866 it mentions the child of his name sake was born after her father died at Winchester, VA. Shatteen C. Mitchell, Jr. was killed at the Battle of Third Winchester, Sept 19th, 1864. His daughter Shatteen C. Mitchell was born Dec 27th 1864 and was affectionately known as Aunt Shattie. She died in Oct 1959. Well within most of our life times and not before she past down what she knew of her Mitchell family so we would know of our rich family heritage. And yes I agree that some may think that I am rather obsessed with this family history stuff. Quilty as charged! - Cousin Ron Mitchell