The Doctors' Thread
The Story of the Mitchells of Killymallaght
The earliest trace I have been able to find is in a document
dated
Either the same man, or perhaps his son, also "David Mitchell of Killymullogh"
is listed as a Presbyterian Householder at Killymallaght in 1740. The 1740 list also includes John Mitchell at
Tirkeeveny, Josias Mitchell at Drumcorran, and James Mitchell at Bogagh.
Scotch-Irish and Presbyterian the Mitchell's were, of
this there can be no doubt. As Mary
Kerr, wife of Thomas Mitchell of Drumenny, wrote on
"Now for Mitchell. Three brothers came from Scotland over 200 years
ago settled in Glendermott & a good part of Donagheady, men strong of
body & fleet of limb, tall & stalwart like the oldtime
Highlanders, ......"
Certainly there were Mitchell's in
"on
the side of the opposite hill to the south-east, marked by a school-house, lies
the townland of Killymallaght, where, says a local tradition, a massacre of the
Protestant settlers by a band of the ruffianly and atrocious followers of Sir
Phelim Roe O'Neill, occurred in 1641."
A further indication of our Scottish roots can be
found in Simington's "Civil Survey
of co.
"Wee finde that David
Mitchell, Scotts protestant, hath an Estat in fee semple on two Belliboes
belonging to the abovešd Robt Stewart called Annaghgini & Crivagh at the
yearely Rent of fower pounds".
This was the famous Lt.Col. Robert Stewart, later
Governor of Londonderry, who commanded the Laggan Army that was out in force
against Sir Phelim O'Neill in 1641 – 1642, and it would be fair to assume that
this David Mitchell had received his lease in exchange for military services
rendered "to the Crown". (It
is noteworthy that another sub-lease from Lt.Col. Robert Stewart was held in
the same area by his own brother, Sir James Stewart.)
Picking up the story again at Killymallaght, I have
found three Mitchell to Mitchell land transfers. The first is dated
"made Between John Mitchell of Killymalagh in the parish of Glendermott in the
Liberties of Londonderry of the one part and Robert Mitchell son to said John Mitchell of the other part
whereby He the said John Mitchell
hath Assigned Transferred and Set over unto the said Robert Mitchell ......... all his the
said John Mitchel’s right Title
and interest of in and to all that parcel of Land then in his possession
situate in the town Lands of Killymalagh,
and Tirkeveny, in the Parish of
Glendermott and Liberties of Londonderry aforesaid together with all the Houses
and buildings thereon: Subject however to the payment of the yearly rent of ten
pounds five shillings and eight pence ...."
A witness to this transfer was Alexander Mitchell, who
was presumably John Mitchell's brother.
This same Alexander Mitchell witnessed the second
memorial -- of this I am sure, as I have personally handled the original
parchments -- dated 16 August 1811 (confirmed on 2 May 1815), whereby:
"Samuel Mitchell for the considerations
therein did assign and make over unto his Son James Mitchell All that third part of the dividend of the Farm and
Parcell of Land in Kilemanagh situate
lying and being with in the Manor of Goldsmiths Hall in the County of
Londonderry from the date thereof during the residue of the Lives therein
mentioned with benefit of Renewal subject to a third of a Dividend of the Rent".
It therefore appears likely that at least
John, Samuel and Alexander Mitchell were brothers.
The third memorial is dated
"David
Mitchel of Killymalagh
in the County of Londonderry Senior of the one part & David Mitchel Junior his son of the
other part whereby the said David
Mitchel Senior for & in Consideration of the sum of Fifty pounds
sterling for Love & Affection & for the other Considerations therein
mentioned Did Grant Bargain Sell Assign & make over unto the said David Mitchel Junior All that part of
the Town & Lands of Killymalagh
aforesaid containing fourteen Acres be the same more or less as the same was
then held by Lease under William Warren Esquire situate in the manor of
Goldsmiths Hall in the County aforesaid".
As one Mrs Martha Salyer (who
was the daughter of Hamilton Young of Killymallaght and his wife, Sarah
Mitchell) wrote in the 1860’s or thereabouts, describing her childhood in
Killymallaght …….
“We
lived on the slope up the hill from the county road, about a half mile: and
just above us lived James Mitchell of the “Hill”, and below us lived James
Mitchell of the Lowertown. My
grandfather’s name was James Mitchell too:
so that when he was alive there was a whole tier of Mitchells. Along past the school house towards Derry was
what was called the “
Most
of the inhabitants of Killymallaugh that counted for anything were either
Mitchells or McKinlays. ........ By the
time I came along, the McKinlays and the Mitchells were so pretty well mixed
that it was really necessary when time came for one of them to marry, to go
outside for them to select a partner, "just from among the folks" if
he didn't want to marry his second or thirty-second cousin. ...... "
In 1835, the Ordnance Survey for Glendermott Parish states
that David Michel, the Schoolmaster of the
"one
fifth less in atendance comparing 10th July with 10 Decr. cause small children
unable to cross fields & thos of the poorer Classes for want of sutable
winter clothing. Mr M. has a writing
school allso. these nights schools is a
comon practise with all Country schoolmasters Farmers servants & small farmers
sons generaly atend these schools & are chiefly indebted to them for their
information both in writing and arithmetic".
Also that:
"The
sunday school held in Killymallaugh established in 1824 conducted by D. Michel
never has been visited by any clargey man in the parish."
This school was established in 1823. In the 1832 Ordnance Survey Memoir, it is listed as having 60 pupils -- 52 Presbyterian, 5 Roman Catholic and 3 other denominations. Master: David Mitchel or Mitchell, Presbyterian. The actual schoolhouse was described as "in the loft of a barn" (or "on the left of a barn"?). David Mitchell was schoolmaster there from 1824 until at least 1835.
Just starting -- more to follow ....
Dave Mitchell
mitch@pixie.co.za
