Person:Mary Mitchell (91)

The estimated date of birth of Mary Mitchell is guesswork. Her father's will calls her his second daughter. In the will dated 14 Feb 1771 (recorded Augusta Co, VA), John Wilson names Elenor Wilson as his eldest daughter, and Elizabeth as his youngest daughter. Rev John Craig, of the Tinkling Spring Church in Augusta County, VA, baptized Elizabeth, daughter of John Mitchell, on 6 Mar 1747 at North Mountain. So Mary Mitchell being the second daughter was born before 1747. Harry E Mitchell compiled a genealogy of this family entitled The Mitchell-Doak Group, History, Biography, Genealogy, published 1966, giving a birthdate of the oldest son of John Mitchell, Thomas, born 23 Sep 1732. The source of this birthdate is not given. The births of John Mitchell's other children named in his will have been estimated (by Harry Mitchell and perhaps others) as Robert, ca 1734; John, ca 1737; Eleanor, ca 1740; and James, ca 1742. So utilizing these estimated birth years, the birth of Mary can be conveniently fitted between James and Elizabeth, say 1744-1745. Based on land records in Lancaster Co, PA, and Augusta Co, VA, John Mitchell appears to have moved to Augusta County by 1747. Rev Craig's baptismal records for the years 1740-49 have been published by Howard McKnight Wilson, The Tinkling Spring, Headwater of Freedom, 1954, and microfilm of the original is available from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The baptism of only one of John Mitchell's children was recorded by Rev. Craig. Therefore, Mary Mitchell's place of birth is assumed to be Lancaster Co, PA.--Bill Wright 21:32, 28 February 2010 (EST)