Francis Henry Mitchell

Son of David Mitchell and brother of Rowland, Samuel, William and John Mitchell MP (each of whom q.v.). His wife was the daughter of James Johnstone and Mary Beckford, and almost certainly sister of James Johnstone (q.v.) awarded compensation for the Whitehall estate in Jamaica. He was the richest of his generation of the Mitchell family, leaving over £200,000 at his death in 1891, and apparently the most distant from the slave-economy (no claim has been found for him in the compensation process, although there is reportedly evidence of him as a mortgagee with his brother Rowland Mitchell of the Mears estate which had belonged to their father David): the sources and destinations of his wealth have yet to be fully traced, but he is known to have been an investor for 40 years in a nail-making firm in Wales.

1. In 1841, F. H. Mitchell aged 46 was living in Upper Wimpole Street, 'merchant' with Frances aged 35 and 5 children aged 1 to 16; in 1851 he was at 12 Upper Wimpole Street, 'fundholder' with wife Frances aged 50.

2. Will of Francis Henry Mitchell late of 12 Upper Wimpole Street who died there 02/08/1891 proved 05/10/1891, personal estate £203,998 3s 4d.

3. Of his sons and executors, Frank Johnstone Mitchell (his co-partner) left £83,574 in 1913; Arthur Charles Mitchell £159,140 in 1917; Herbert Leonard Mitchell (an Army officer) left £336,562 in 1919; William Rowland Mitchell left £153,613 in 1925; and Clayton Mitchell (an RN commander) left £198,240 in 1927.

The Yale University Collection of Latin American Manuscript ('Yale Manuscripts') Reel 14 'Abstract of mortgage of the Mears Plantation in the Island of Jamaica. from John Mitchell to Roland [sic] Mitchell and Francis Henry Mitchell'; Gwent Archives, Cordes (Dos Works) Ltd records 1835-1957, http://www.gwentarchives.gov.uk/media/21567/d169-d372-cordes-dos-works-ltd-mss.html [accessed 17/08/2018].

1. 1841 and 1851 censuses online.

2. National Probate Calendar 1891.

3. National Probate Calendar 1913, 1917, 1919, 1925 and 1927.