Person:John Mitchell (152)

Dr. John Mitchell was the son of Robert Mitchell by his first wife, Mary (Chilton) Sharpe. He was born in 1711 and “spent his early years in the family home on the banks of Morattico Creek.” [Jett, 125]

He was sent to Scotland for his education and may be identical with “Scotus-Americanus” when he received a master’s degree in 1729 from the University of Edinburgh. He returned to America in 1731 as a “Doctor of Physic”, practiced medicine in Lancaster County for about two years and then moved to Urbanna in Middlesex Co, VA.

Eventually, he returned to England where he made the famous “Mitchell Map” of North America, which is on display in the British Museum and is said to have been the basis for the Treaty of 1873 and the U.S. - Canada border.

Though best known for this map, he was also a noted botanist.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 “Mitchell Family Bible also Containing Lewis Family Entries,” Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, V
   1280.
2. ↑ Will of Robert Mitchell, in Lancaster County, Virginia Will Book
   14:212, 236.

   Written 12 Jul 1748. Proved 9 Sep 1748, Lancaster Co., VA
   Son Robert: land whereon he now lives in Richmond County that I bought of Mrs. Belfield
   Son John:
   Son Richard: plantation whereon I now live [Lancaster County], land in Richmond County, and land in Northumberland County.
   Daughter: Eliza, wife of Moore Faunterloy
   Daughter: Judith Mitchell
   Daughter: Sarah, wife of Thomas Chinn
   Daughter: Frances Mitchell
   Grandchildren: Robert, Thomas, Rawleigh and Mary Chinn, children of daughter Sarah.
   Sister: Sarah Pitman.
   Wife: Mentioned but not named.
   Executors: Sons, Dr. John Mitchell, Robert Mitchell and Richard Mitchell
   [WB 14:212]
   
   WB 14:236, [Date needed] Susannah, wife of Robert Mitchell, dec., renounces legacy.

3.   Jett, Carolyn H. Lancaster County, Virginia, where the river meets the bay. (Lancaster, Virginia: Lancaster County History Book Committee : Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library, c2003)
   125.