Part of the Massachusetts Biographies Project
The Mitchell Family
The Mitchell family of Bridgewater, intermarried with the Hoopers, is one of the oldest and best known in southeastern Massachusetts.
(I) Experience Mitchell, the first of the name in the New World, is entitled to be classed amonng the "forefathers" a name teachnically applied to those who came over in the first three ships. He came over in the third ship, the "Ann", in 1623. He sold his place in Plymouth to Samuel Eddy in 1631, and removed to Duxbury, where he bought a house and farm in 1650. He was an origianl propietor of Bridgwater, but sold his share of proprietary right to Thomas Hayward, and did not come to Bridgewater till late in life, when he was accompanied by his son, Edward. He located at a place called Joppa, where many of his descendants made their home. He died in 1689, aged about eighty-one. He married for his first wife, it is supposed, Jane Cook, daughter of Francis Cook. His second wife was Mary (last name not known). He was the father of eight children, four of whom were sons.
(II) Jacob Mitchell, third son of Experience, was married in 1666 to Susanna Pope, of Plymouth, daughter of Thomas Pope. He was a carpenter and an ensign, and he settled in Dartmough, now Fairhaven. In 1675, at the commencement of King Philip's war, he and his wife were both fatally wounded by the Indians in the early morning hours as they were on their way to the garrison to join their children, who had been sent on the evening before. They lived to reach the fort, but died of their wounds. Their children, Jacob, Thomas and Mary, came to Bridgewater and were cared for by their uncle Edward. In 1696 Mary married Samuel Kingman, her two borther marrying his sisters.
(III) Thomas Mitchell, son of Jacob, married Elizabeth Kingmans, and became the father of eight children, five sons and three daughters. He died in 1727, and his wife in 1733.
(IV) Timothy Mitchell, son of Thomas, was born in Bridgewater in 1700. He married Deborah Packard, daughter of Nathaniel, and she died in 1744, the mother of five children, of whom Timothy was lost at sea. The father died in 1733-the same year as his mother.
(V) Thomas Mitchell, son of Timothy was born in Bridgewater. He married Keziah Swift, of Plymouth. He was a soldier in the Revolutiion, holding the rank of major among the officers belonging to General Thomas's regiment, who were commissioned May 19, 1775; also was first major, Col. John Thomas's regiment, list of officers (year not given-probably 1775). His name appears on the pay roll as major with Col. John Thomas's list of staff and field officers of Capt. Josiah Hayden's company, for September and October, 1775, dated "Camp at Roxbury, engaged April 19, 1775." He died in 1776, on account, perhaps, of exposure in his army life. He was the father of seven children, and his eldest son, Timothy, took quite an active part in the Revolution, serving to the close. He was known as Capt. Timothy Mitchell, and he settled in Vermont.
(VI) Thomas Mitchell, son of Maj. Thomas, was born in Bridgewater in 1765. In 1797 he married Mehitabel Alden, daughter of Capt. Joseph and Bethiah (Carver) Alden, the former a captain in the Revolution and a direct descendant of John Alden, the "Mayflower" Pilgrim, and the latter a daughter of Eleazer Carver, a sister of Dr. Eleazer Carver, a surgeon in the Revolutionary army. Mr. Mitchell located in Enfield, Mass., where he died. Jane Mitchell, daughter of Thomas and Mehitabel (Alden) Mitchell, married (first) a Hayward and (second) Mitchell Hooper, becoming the mother of his children, mentioned elsewhere; she died Dec. 30, 1891, aged eighty years, and was laid to rest in Mount Prospect cemetery.
Source:
Representative men and old families of southeastern Massachusetts: containing historical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families, Vol. 1. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1912. p. 287-288.
Children of (V) Thomas Mitchell and Keziah Swift:
Lusanna, b. August 29, 1762
Thomas (VI), b. June 13, 1765
Calvin, b. August 3, 1767
Timothy, b. August 31, 1758
William, b. August 16, 1760
Luther, b. September 13, 1769
Zilpha, b. August 6, 1772