Born: (Jan-Mar) 1834 in Sparkford, Somerset to John Mitchell and ??? ???

Married: 22nd December 1857 @ Bristol Register Office to Ann Hodges

Children: Charles James Mitchell, Amelia Ann Mitchell (later: Hunt) (b.1865), William Mitchell (b. Jan-Mar 1870 d. <1902) and Albert Edward Mitchell (b.Oct-Dec 1871 m. Apr-Jun 1898 to Lily Georgina Pain?)

Died: 5th June 1902 in Portishead

Buried: Portishead

James and Ann's wedding certificate shows them both aged 23 and working as policemen at Bridewell in Bristol in 1857. Hopefully the Force Historian at Avon & Somerset Police will be able to tell me more about them.

It seems that after leaving the police they owned and ran a pub in Portishead called The Albion and eventually owned 3 cottages (Cypress Cottage, 1 Albert Villas and 2 Albert Villas, all in High St. Portishead) which were left to the children and grand-daughter Frances Amy Mitchell.

Although it looks incorrect (misread or a typo by the transcriber no doubt), the 1881 census entry below is confirmed by Amelia and Albert being mentioned in James's will and all the ages being correct, however neither William nor Charles James are mentioned there which suggests that they had both died before 1902.

We have his marriage certificate and will.

1881 Census entry:

        Dwelling:       8 High Street
        Census Place:   Portishead, Somerset, England
                   Mar Age Sex	Birthplace
    John MITCHELL   M   47  M   Somerset          (ACTUALLY JAMES)
        Rel:    Head
        Occ:    Publican General Provisions
    Ann MITCHELL    M   48  F   Portbury, Somerset
        Rel:    Wife
    Amelia MITCHELL     16  F   Portishead, Somerset
        Rel:    Daur
    William MITCHELL    12  M   Portishead, Somerset
        Rel:    Son
        Occ:    Scholar
    Albert MITCHELL      9  M   Portishead, Somerset
        Rel:    Son
        Occ:    Scholar

(Plus Charles James Mitchell who appears to have been serving on the vessel 'Indus')

1901 Census Entry:

        Address:    High St., Portishead, Somerset
        Source:     RG13  Piece 2357  Folio 37  Page 17  Schedule 102
                   Mar Age Sex  Birthplace
    James Mitchell  M   67  M   Somerset Sparkford
        Rel:    Head
        Occ:    Naval Pensioner
    Ann Mitchell    M   67  F   Somerset Slapton
        Rel:    Wife
    Frances A Mitchell  14  F   Somerset Portishead
        Rel:    Grand-daughter
        Occ:    School teacher
    Stanley J Mitchell   7  M   Somerset Portishead
        Rel:    Grand-son