William Mitchell

b. circa 1787, d. 12 April 1856
  • William Mitchell was born circa 1787 in Hancock County, Georgia.
  • He married Martha Hill on 22 November 1808 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
  • William Mitchell and Martha Hill appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Macon County, Alabama. Other members of the household included Martha H. Slatter.
  • He was a farmer, according to the 1850 census.
  • William Mitchell became a widower at the 4 March 1851 death of his wife Martha Hill.
  • Mary Wood Mitchell wrote on 5 October 1852, in a letter to her niece Lizzie Green Wood Powell, "I expect you hear from our Ga kin, as they speak of you all in their letters. Solon Mitchell left here this day 3 weeks. Said he thought he should bring Sister here to look out a place to move to. If they can't suit themselves here they will go to Texas. S. says he will move & Sister will go with him. The great rain this summer completed the ruin of their land. I hope they will find a place near me. Green Tailor & many others are moveing off. Mrs Abercrombie intends selling out & moveing to Florida. I am looking for Sister, as Solon and W. Mitchell speak of going to Texas in Nov And they are to come here first. Solon thinks Sister would be pleasd with the Barton place. Eason says if she wants it she shall have it. As you dont see your cousins you cant know what good boys they are unless I tel you. I think they are alike in many things. Solon is in fine healt[h], has fattened & looks much better than when you saw him. He says he has learnd to govern himself, has found out the worth of his mother. He used to be peevish. Sister speaks of him in her last letters as her noble good Son. The boys both see[m] anxious that Sister & I should spend the remnant of our days near each other. Sister is obliged to move some where, or I should not expect her here. I try not to be too much elated but keep two strings to my bow -- if one wont work I,ll [t]ry the other. I have many blessings, no doubt as many as I deserve."
  • On Wednesday, 1 December 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Wm & Solon Mitchell started in the stage for Alabama." Likely William was the brother of Solon's father John Mitchell.
  • Evelina Wood wrote on 5 March 1855, to her daughter Lizzie Powell, undergoing treatment for cancer in Murfreesboro, Tennessee: ". . . Did Mr William Mitchell go to Murfreesboro? Your Aunt Polly wrote us she thought he would go. . . ."
  • Lizzie Wood Powell wrote while being treated for cancer by Dr. R. W. January in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to her mother Evelina Wood on 10 March 1855, ". . . Old Mr. Mitchell is more than a match for me, he complains all the time. he got some medicine from the Dr. & would go home. Julius tried to get him to stay, but he was affraid of dying from home. he says he'll return in two weeks, the Dr. could have cured him if he had remained, but a cure is doubtful now. . . . Julius Mitchell said Cousin Charles had gotten back from Texas, & would return with cousin Malinda in May. I expect we will be able to leave by that time. . . . "
  • William Mitchell died on 12 April 1856.
  • Last Edited: 20 Nov 2012

Family: Martha Hill b. 25 October 1791, d. 4 March 1851