William MITCHELL was born 7 May 1847 Blairoch, Parish of Glencairn, Dumfries the natural son of Thomas MITCHELL and Agnes HEWETSON. In the 1851 Census record for Carronbridge, Parish of Morton William’s mother’s name is spelt Agnas HEWITSON and his name is recorded as William HEWITSON. William travelled to New Zealand sometime before June 1866. In Scotland he had used the surname HEWETSON but from the time of his emigration he took his father's name and became William MITCHELL thenceforth.
On 5 June 1866 William MITCHELL and Ameila Annie HERRING were married at the Clarendon Hotel, Waihi Crossing, Geraldine, New Zealand. The Marriage Entry in the records of the New Zealand Registrar-General’s Office describes William MITCHELL as 20 years of age, a labourer and bachelor. The same record describes Amelia Annie HERRING as 24 years of age, a dressmaker and a spinster. (There is an age discrepancy in this record.) Amelia was born in 1843 Wapping, Surrey. She left England on 28 August 1864 on the "Eastern Empire" and arrived Lyttleton, New Zealand on 4 January 1865. She is listed as having travelled in the single womens' quarters as Amelia A Herring aged 25 years.There is an another discrepancy in the age recorded and the date of birth. Her occupation was listed as "Milliner" and she travelled on Promissory Note Number 302 dated 24 August 1864.
William and Amelia MITCHELL established a business selling drapery from a horse and gig for some years before moving to Ashburton. A successful drapery and clothier business developed in partnership with Henry Cranaway TURNER. The Mitchell and Turner building still stands in Burnett Street, Ashburton with the initials M&T and the date 1874 prominent in the arch of the building. The size and nature of the building attests to the success of the enterprise.
Extensive land purchases, leasings and sales were undertaken by William and Amelia both in town and rural sections of Ashburton from 1879 to 1887. The electoral roll for Coleridge in 1879-80 lists William MITCHELL as a leaseholder and in the Ashburton electoral roll for 1880-81 as "freeholder storekeeper". In 1881 William MITCHELL is described as a "Farmer" in Land Registry records.
Family of William and Amelia Mitchell
John T MITCHELL married Edie BEAU. Childrden:
Doris
Melville
Mervin (?Milton)
Clifford (?),
Clarence(?).
William
Stuart MITCHELLMelville
Mervin (?Milton)
Clifford (?),
Clarence(?).
Richard Henry MITCHELL married Barbara LAW. Children:
Rewa
Belle
Stuart Law
Inez Dulcie
Ronald
Stuart Law
Inez Dulcie
Ronald
Robert Alexander MITCHELL
Charles Hewitson MITCHELL married Helena DOBBS. Children:
Elfreida Anne
Patricia Hewitson
Patricia Hewitson
Nellie Sophia MITCHELL (died aged 10 months).
William MITCHELL Snr died on16 February 1886 in Ashburton and was buried in the Ashburton Cemetery.
Amelia Annie MITCHELL died 26 March 1923 at her residence in Redcliffe, Christchurch and was buried in Ashburton Cemetery next to her husband.
The funeral notice for Amelia Annie HERRING appeared in the Ashburton Guardian 28 May 1923 page 4. It detailed the whereabouts/residences of her five sons at the time of her funeral – William (on a business trip to America), John T (Christchurch), Robert (Gisborne), Richard (Sumner) and Charles (Sydney, Australia).
