David Mitchell | William Mitchell

William Mitchell

William was born at Forfar, Scotland on November 4, 1842. After his arrival in Australia he met and married Mary Ann Lithgow in September 1875. Mary Ann was born at Coleraine Country Derry Ireland on June 30, 1850. Initially, they lived at Steels Flat, probably running the property owned by his brother David Mitchell. Later the family moved to Jancourt, south of Cobden in the Western District. This property was also owned by David Mitchell but when the property was subdivided, William purchased the homestead and several hundred acres of the estate.

William died on November 3, 1906 aged 64 years at Jancourt and Mary Ann in December 1923. Both are interred in the Camperdown Cemetery.

They had nine children:

  1. Gertrude born May 11, 1876 at Steels Flat and died November 14, 1951.
  1. Andrew John born November 21, 1877 at Steels Flat and died at Wangaratta on February 2, 1952. He married but had no children. His obituary said he initially lived at Camperdown where he “followed the family tradition in a love for horses, and trained winners at Moonee Valley, Williamstown, Warrnambool and other centres.” He moved firstly to “Stewarton” Yarrawonga Road before moving to his home in Phillipson Street, Wangaratta. [1]
  1. Robert James was born on October 19, 1879 at Steels Flat and died on October 2, 1954 at Tandarook in the Western District. He married Grace and has a son Peter.
  1. William Albert was born at Steels Flat on October 17, 1881. In 1917 at Wagga Wagga he married Isabella F Reid. They had a daughter Flo (called Wissy or Cissy). [2]
  1. Ethel Elms was born at Bethanya Station, Benambra north of Omeo Victoria on August 6, 1884 (Reg No 22456) and died at Whittlesea on February 12, 1980. On August 18, 1915 Ethel married Charles Wilson Towt[3] Charles died at Camberwell in 1946 (Reg No 2607) and Ethel in 1980 at Bentleigh. [4] They had one child:
    1. John William born February 25, 1917. He married Mary Cameron Taylor (Billie) in 1943.[5] He died on September 10, 1972 at PANCH hospital. [6] John and Mary had 3 children:
        • Peter John born December 10, 1945 who married Judy and lived at Mt Hope, Whittlesea. They had three children Cameron John (b. April 5, 1973); and twins Stuart Alexander and David Charles born May 25, 1975.
        • Margaret Helen born October 25, 1948.
        • Barbara Mitchell born June 16, 1951.
  1. Leslie born at Jancourt Station on April 26, 1887 and died on June 23, 1970. In 1929 he married Jean and they had two daughters:
    1. Helen who married Tom Davies of Wagga Wagga.
    2. Marion who married George Commins of Darlington Point near Griffith in New South Wales.
  1. Maud Evelyn was born on January 2, 1889 at Jancourt Station and died on September 24, 1993 aged 94 years. In 1923 she married Frederick Brown Lithgow. The son of Lilydale pioneer John Lithgow who was born in 1863 and died on April 13, 1944. They had one son:
    1. John Frederick who was born in 1925 and died on July 6, 1991 at the family property Flowerfield, Coldstream. In 1959 he married Elizabeth Stocks and they had three children:
      • John Douglas born in 1960.
      • Julie born in 1962.
      • Amanda born in 1964.
  1. Alice Melba was born on September 21, 1890 and died on September 21, 1982. In 1925 she married John Clifton Christopher. They had a daughter Mary born in March 1927.
  1. Hester Mitchell born ca 1892 died March 9, 1928 aged 35 years and is buried with her parents in Camperdown Cemetery.

Family Links

References:

[1] Chronical Despatch, Wangaratta, February 5, 1952.
[2] Marriage Registration No. 8038.
[3] Birth, Death and Marriage Reg No. 7363.
[4] Charles Towt’s death Reg No 2607.
[5] Births, Deaths and Marriages Reg No 9985.
[6] The Age death notices September 11, 1972.

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Nellie Melba Museum

Contact Details:
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Email: [email protected]

Share your info with us:
[email protected]

Our home is the Old Lilydale Court House:
61 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140
Hours of opening:
By Appointment only:
Fridays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays to Mondays 11am to 4pm.
Sundays are preferred.
Closed Public Holidays

Nellie Melba Museum

Contact Details:
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]

Nellie Melba Museum

Contact Details:
Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]

Our home is the Old Lilydale Court House:
61 Castella Street, Lilydale 3140
Hours of opening:
By appointment only:
Fridays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays to Mondays 11am to 4pm.
Sundays are preferred.
Closed Public Holidays

Share Your Information
with Nellie Melba Museum!

Sue Thompson: 0475 219 884
[email protected]