David Dunbar Mitchell
(1852 - 10 June 1924)
- James Mitchell (21 June 1850 - ?)
- David Dunbar Mitchell (1882 - 10 June 1924)
- Mary Ann Mitchell (c1855 - ?)
- William Mitchell (20 May 1857 - 9 Apr 1941)
- Jane Mitchell (26 Feb 1859 - 29 June 1940)
- Charles Mitchell (12 Mar 1861 - 1909)
- Joseph Mitchell (26 Mar 1863 - ?)
- Edward Alexander Mitchell (1 Jan 1866 - 1942)
- Rachael Inglis Mitchell (9 Apr 1868 - ?)
- Isabella Smith Mitchell (18 July 1871 - ?)
- Clementina Barnet Mitchell (18 July 1871 - ?)
David's childhood was spent in Logie Pert, Angus, Scotland. The 1861 UK census indicates that 8 year old David was a student at the time. The family's address was given as Mid Hill of Craigo which was a farm of 50 acres. David's father employed a 32 year old man and a teenage boy to help him on the farm.
On 9 December 1880, David (28) married 24 year old Mary Ann Archibald (21 Dec 1856 - 1 Feb 1911) in Marykirk, Kindcardineshire, Scotland. Mary was the daughter of farmers. Her brother was James Archibald II (1851 - 21 July 1910), a ship-builder (and later on, a farmer).
The 1881 UK Census shows that David and Mary Mitchell lived in Fettercairn on a 140 acre farm at Midmains on Balfour where they employed three men, including two of David's teenage brothers, Charles (19) and Joseph Mitchell (17), and a servant girl.
David and Mary's only child was born in Fettercairn, Kincardineshire:
- David Mitchell (4 Mar 1882 - 8 Aug 1955)
The 1891 UK Census shows the Mitchell family still residing on their Fettercairn farm. They employed three men and 21 year old, Betsy Bruce (c1870 - ?) the eldest daughter of Mary's older sister, Margaret.
In 1901, the UK Census shows that David and Mary Mitchell, and 19 year old David Jnr were still farming in Fettercairn. Shortly afterwards, David Jnr immigrated to New Zealand. He may have been enticed there by his maternal uncle, James Archibald II who had immigrated c1882 and lived with his family on a small farm in Parkhurst, Helensville. It is highly likely that David Jnr spent some time with the Archibalds before venturing out on his own.
Mary, David's mother, died on 1 February 1911 in Brechin, Angus, Scotland. She was 54. It appears that David Snr immigrated to New Zealand shortly after her death, to join son David Jnr.
The New Zealand Censuses of 1914 and 1919 lists David Snr as living and working as a farmer in the hills of Bombay, Franklin, South Auckland. It is assumed that David Jnr worked on the farm too.
David Jnr met his future wife, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Carter (16 Feb 1878 - 12 May 1969) in Bombay. She was one of thirteen children born to English immigrants, Henry Carter (7 Mar 1841 - 29 Apr 1919) and his wife Mary Ann Bragg (1843 - 1910). Henry and Mary Carter had settled in New Zealand in 1865, voyaging out on the ship Bombay, shortly after they were married. Several families from this ship became pioneering settlers in Williamson's Clearing which was later renamed Bombay, after the ship that brought them safely to their new country. Lizzie was born in Bombay.
In 1901, the UK Census shows that David and Mary Mitchell, and 19 year old David Jnr were still farming in Fettercairn. Shortly afterwards, David Jnr immigrated to New Zealand. He may have been enticed there by his maternal uncle, James Archibald II who had immigrated c1882 and lived with his family on a small farm in Parkhurst, Helensville. It is highly likely that David Jnr spent some time with the Archibalds before venturing out on his own.
Mary, David's mother, died on 1 February 1911 in Brechin, Angus, Scotland. She was 54. It appears that David Snr immigrated to New Zealand shortly after her death, to join son David Jnr.
The New Zealand Censuses of 1914 and 1919 lists David Snr as living and working as a farmer in the hills of Bombay, Franklin, South Auckland. It is assumed that David Jnr worked on the farm too.
David Jnr met his future wife, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Carter (16 Feb 1878 - 12 May 1969) in Bombay. She was one of thirteen children born to English immigrants, Henry Carter (7 Mar 1841 - 29 Apr 1919) and his wife Mary Ann Bragg (1843 - 1910). Henry and Mary Carter had settled in New Zealand in 1865, voyaging out on the ship Bombay, shortly after they were married. Several families from this ship became pioneering settlers in Williamson's Clearing which was later renamed Bombay, after the ship that brought them safely to their new country. Lizzie was born in Bombay.
On 19 April 1915, David Jnr and Lizzie attended the wedding of David's first cousin, James Archibald II (31 Aug 1882 - 3 Sep 1958), to Louie Keymer (15 Sep 1881 - 17 Dec 1981). David had the honour of serving as the best man! The wedding was held at the bride's parent's home in Birkdale, Auckland. In the family portrait below, Lizzie is seated first on the left, and David is seated fifth from the left, next to James. (This is the only known photo of them.)
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Family portrait taken at the wedding of James Archibald III and Louie Keymer, 19 April 1915. Lizzie Carter is seated on the immediate left of the picture and David Mitchell Jnr is seated fifth from the left. Photographer unknown but possibly W Short of Wilton Street, Grey Lynn. (Photo courtesy of S Ringrose) |
During the war years, David Jnr was put on the New Zealand Army Reserve Roll. Fortunately he was never called up to serve.
David Jnr (31) and 36 year old Lizzie married on Wednesday, 28 June 1916, at the bride's home in Bombay. Lizzie's youngest brother George, and older sister Mary, served as witnesses to the marriage. Their marriage record can be seen below:
David and Lizzie appear to have had no children.
Lizzie's father, Henry Carter died in 1919. He was buried at the St Peter's in the Forest churchyard (Church of England), Bombay.
David Snr died on 10 June 1924, aged 72, and was buried two days later at St Peter's in the Forest, Row G, Plot 291. His wife, Mary was remembered on the gravestone although she predeceased him and was buried in Scotland. The following funeral notice appeared in the Auckland Star Vol LV, Issue 137, 11 June 1924:
MITCHELL. - On June 10, at his late resi-
dence, Bombay, David Dunbar, beloved
husband of Mary Ann Mitchell. Funeral
will leave above address, Thursday, June
12, at 2pm.
Another funeral notice appeared in The New Zealand Herald, Vol LXI, Issue 18733, 12 June 1924. It read as follows:
MITCHELL. - On June 10, 1924, at his
late residence, Bombay, David Dunbar,
dearly-beloved husband of the late Mary
Ann Mitchell; aged 72 years.
The funeral will leave the above address
for St. Peter's Cemetery, today (Thursday),
at 2 o'clock.
The New Zealand City and Area Directories for 1926 show that David Mitchell was farming in Bombay with his son, David. (NOTE: This seems odd as David Snr had passed away two years prior, and also because we believe that David Jnr had no children!)
David Jnr died on 8 August 1955 at 15 Prospect Terrace, Pukekoe, Auckland. He was buried in the St Peter's in the Forest churchyard. Lizzie died in Selwyn Village Hospital on 12 May 1969, aged 91. She was also buried at St Peter's in the Forest where her husband, parents and some siblings were laid to rest. A photo of their gravestone can be seen here.
Sources of Information
- Family held records courtesy of G J Bland
- Ancestry.com
- Papers Past
- A Low
- Photo from S Ringrose
Last updated 2 December 2022
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