Homer Charles Melville Mitchell
~ Family Coat of Arms ~
Our known ancestors, beginning with the Rev. Morris Mitchell, a Methodist Episcopal Preacher, born in Montgomery Co., Maryland, 1762, are a proven mix of English, Irish, Scottish, and German. The probable origin of our family prior to Rev. Morris can be traced through a quote from a Polk County, Missouri history book dated 1888: "The Mitchell family traces its ancestry to three brothers, who came from England in the 1750’s." Evidence that surfaced in November, 1997 via family records of Morris’ wife, Elizabeth Hoosong/Hussung, indicates that Morris’ parents were John Mitchell and Sarah Mahurin of Massachusetts.
This present coat of arms is derived from the typical Scottish and Irish "Mitchell" arms of two or three centuries ago. The assorted Mitchell family arms of that era, through those of present day, appear to be variations on the basic black shield (or "arms"), adorned with three gold diamonds (mascles), intersected by a gold band (fess). The draped cloth (mantle) around the arms was traditionally black and gold. The family crest (above the knight’s helmet) usually differed from branch to branch of the same family surname, or clan, in order to distinguish one from the other. Crests often denoted the family’s allegiance, status, trade, profession, or personality of its head of household.
This Coat of Arms, based upon the extinct arms of the Mitchell family of Thainston, Aberdeen Co., Scotland, 1766, was unofficially established by Donald G. Mitchell in San Francisco, CA, in 1991 for the Homer Charles Melville Mitchell branch of the Morris Mitchell Clan.
The following changes have been made to distinguish it from numerous other Mitchell coats-of-arms:
MANTLE - It has been changed from black to royal blue and magenta for purely esthetic reasons (Blue, signifying "loyalty or truth" ; Magenta, signifying "calm in the face of danger").
ARMS - SABLE (black) [Repentance, Royalty]MASCLES - OR (gold)[Purity, Valor] The mascles Have been filled in with royal blue for purely esthetic reasons.
[Mascles (def.) - Armor was fastened to this piece, and so affixed to the shield that was carried into battle. A family that made armor or a knight that wore it, was granted this symbol]
WAVY FESS - OR (gold) [Fess (def.)- Associated with the military girdle and belt of a sword. A wavy fess indicated travel across a body of water to participate in a battle or campaign.]
CREST: PHOENIX IN FLAMES, PROPER - I chose this as the family crest to recognize the significant period residence of the Homer Mitchell family in Phoenix, Arizona (1920’s - 30’s), to denote my residence when this coat of arms was established (San Francisco, whose city symbol is the Phoenix), and for the customary significance of the bird, "eternal re-birth from the ashes."
MOTTO: "NULLA PALLESARE CULPA" - "To turn pale at no crime."
This article submitted by Donald G. Mitchell, San Francisco, CA
Published and © October 5, 2002 by Betty Naff Mitchell
