Thomas James Mitchell

b. 5 August 1778, d. 22 November 1843
  • Thomas James Mitchell was born on 5 August 1778 in Harris County, Georgia, or Dinwiddie County.
  • He married Mary Wood, daughter of Solomon Wood and Elizabeth Eason, on 7 February 1803 in Jefferson County, Georgia, at Wood Plantation, and Mary's sister Elizabeth married Thomas' brother John.
  • Thomas James Mitchell and Mary Wood appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1840 in Montgomery County, Alabama. Other (counted but unnamed) members of the household apparently included Thomas James Mitchell and Thweatt Eason Mitchell.
  • Thomas James Mitchell died on 22 November 1843 at age 65 in Montgomery, Alabama.
  • A biographical sketch of Thomas James Mitchell appears in W. G. Robertson's 1892 Early Settlers:
         Dr. Mitchell, one of these early settlers, was a man in fine circumstances, and was prominent and popular in his vicinity. His plantation was situated on the river, and he lived on one of these tables and was surrounced with every comfort of life. His wife was the daughter of Solomon Wood, sister of Major Green Wood, and grand aunt of Dr. M. L. Wood, of Montgomery. Mrs. Mitchell was one of the noblest women of her day; she was loved and respected by rich and poor for her great charity and kindness. To show the great love the people had for Mrs. Mitchell, at one time a runner came and reported that the Indians were marching to attack the whites, the whole country was in a state of excitement, and the wife of one poor fellow was hanging on to him and crying, and he said to her, "Be quiet; I know I can't take you to Heaven, but I can take you to Mrs. Dr. Mitchell." That man thought if he could get his wife and children to Mrs. Mitchell, they would be free from the tommy-hawk and scalping knife.
         They had a large family of children: Solomon, John W., Red, Columbus, Thomas and Thwett were the names of their sons. Martha, Mary, Louise and Sarah were the names of their daughters. Solomon never married; John W. Married Rebecca Burch, a beautiful girl, daughter of John Burch in the Mt. Meigs neighborhood. Red died quite young. Columbus married a daughter of Phillip Fitzpatrick in the Line Creek neighborhood. Martha, the oldest daughter, married Young Ware, who lived but a little while, and then she married Bennett Griffin. Mary married John Thrasher, a splendid young man. Louise married William Fitzpatrick, and Sarah, the youngest, married a Mr. Cook. Capt. John W. Mitchell, of Mt. Meigs, and Phillip F. Mitchell, of Snowdoun, are grand sons of Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell.
         Recollections of the Early Settlers of Montgomery County and Their Families, by William G. Robertson. Montgomery, Alabama: Excelsior Printing Company, 1892. Reprinted Montgomery Alabama: Society of Pioneers of Montgomery, 1961.
  • On 27 November 1805, Solomon Wood signed the following will:
         In the name of God, Amen. I, Solomon Wood, being of good health and sound memory at present, thanks be to God for it, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, and also that it is every man’s duty to settle his affairs, do make, constitute and appoint this to be my last will and testament, that is to say, first I will bequeath my body to the dust and my soul to God, Who gave it, in hopes that He who formed me will have mercy on me.
         Secondly:- I will and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth, six negroes to be her choice that are not named in my will, four horses and they to be her choice of all my stock, fifteen cows and calves, one yoke of steers and six steers for beef and all the hogs, sheep and geese.
         Six feather beds and furniture, including all household furniture to be hers forever and at her disposal with the plantation whereon I now live, with the tools belonging thereto to be hers during her natural life, also my stage wagon.
         Thirdly:- I will bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth, four negroes, to wit:- Black Jenny; Cuffy, a fellow; Rachel, a girl mulatto and Delilah. One horse, bridle and saddle with one hundred and fifty dollars, ten cows and calves, one feather bed and furniture and household furniture equal to what has been given her sisters.
         Fourthly:- I will and bequeath to my three sons, namely, Green Wood, Mark Red Wood and John White Wood, all my lands and negroes, namely, Tony, Murphy, Bob, Guilford, Jim (a mulatto), David Turner, Dad Wright, Godfrey, Betty, Black Rachel, Patty, Jule and Fannie and three feather beds and furniture, thirty cows and calves and three horses, bridles and saddles to be worth one hundred and fifty dollars each and the said property is to be equally divided between them at Green's ariving at twenty years of age, also five hundred dollars for their education.
         Fifthly:- I will and bequeath that after my just debts are paid the remaining part of my property to be equally divided between my children, namely: Nancy, Polly, Elizabeth, Green, Mark Red, and John White.
         Sixthly:- I make and constitute and appoint Willis Brazial, Thomas Mitchell and Green Wood to be my executors of this my last will and testament.
         In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal, dated in Jefferson County, and State of Georgia, this the 27th day of November, 1805. (signed) Solomon Wood.
         Signed, sealed and acknowledged before us the day and year above written, Stephen Durowzeau and John Cowart.
  • Last Edited: 8 Jul 2014

Family: Mary Wood b. 27 November 1785, d. October 1858