Experience Mitchell (abt. 1602 - bef. 1689)

Experience Mitchell migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 2, p. 1270) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

This person is an ancestor of President William Howard Taft, President H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush ^[1]

Experience Mitchell

• Origin: Leiden, Holland
• Immigration: 1623 aboard Anne
• Residences: Plymouth, Duxbury by 1639, Bridgewater between 1684 and 1689
• Marriages: 1) Jane Cooke, 2) Mary Unknown
• Death: before 14 May 1689 (inventory taken)^[2]

Uncertain Origin

• Although the marriages of suggested father Thomas Mitchell are well documented, his children are not. We do not have a record of the birth of Experience Mitchell, Constant, wife of John Fobes (who called Experience brother in his will) or Thomas Mitchell whose son wrote letters to Thomas in New England.
• Robert C. Anderson profiled Experience in his Great Migration Begins series, and he estimates Experience was born about 1603 (based on estimated date of marriage). He makes no mention of parents proved or unproved.^[2]
• Lora A. W. Underhill suggests that the father of Experience may have been Thomas Mitchell (born 1566) who removed from Cambridge, England to join Rev. Francis Johnson's church at Amsterdam.^[3] Thomas Mitchell was married twice, and it is unclear which wife was the mother of Experience. On May 9, 1606 at Amsterdam, Thomas Mitchell, "the widower of Maria," was married to Margaret Uochin (Digehin).^[3] Underhill placed the birth date of Experience at 1609, therefore making him a son of Margaret, but if he was born in about 1603, as Anderson believes, he may have been a son of the first wife, Maria.
• Underhill based her suggestion on that of earleir researchers, Rev. Henry Martyn Dexter and his son Morton), who says: "Thought to have been fath. of Experience Mitchell, who came to Plym., N.E., in 1623, and, possibly, ..."^[4]
• A Genealogical Profile of Experience Mitchell which was written in collaboration between Plimouth Plantation and the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. (A Genealogical Profile of Experience Mitchell) give credence to the belief but quote: "Experience is believed to be the son of Thomas Mitchell who lived first in Amsterdam ... and then moved to Leiden."
• None of these researchers gives a reason. Is this based solely on the similarity of names and the fact that Thomas Mitchell was apparently the only Mitchell in Amsterdam?

He possibly was the son of John Mitchell and Margaret Clark. NO CONTEMPORARY SOURCE HAS BEEN CITED FOR HIS PARENTAGE OR Birth IN 1609 ^[5] Another possible mother for Experience was Margaret Williams.^[6] Parents have been removed from the top section of the profile in accordance with WikiTree procedures.

Birth: 14 May 1609, parish of Duke's Place, Aldgate, London, England, sourced by Ancestry trees.

Immigration

Experience Mitchell came to Plymouth Colony from Leiden, Holland in 1623; he sailed aboard the Ann. She was the third ship, a vessel of 140 tons.^[3] Arrangements had been made for her to bring 60 passengers and 60 tons of goods.^[3]

Experience was a young man at the time of his migration. He was granted a parcel of eight acres in the division for those who came over on the Anne, albeit in partnership with George Morton.^[3] Although we do not know his exact age, this seems more likely for a man of twenty than a lad of fourteen.

Experience became a Freeman by 1633. His occupation was described as planter. It is believed that he was literate, as he signed his name and owned books. He served on juries and as a surveyor of highways. He was involved in various land transactions, as recorded in the colony records. ^{[citation needed]}

Family

The Cooke family were also passengers on the Anne, and Experience married Jane Cooke about 1627. He and Jane had three children: Elizabeth, Thomas, and Mary. After Jane's death he married as his second, perhaps about 1640, to Mary, whose last name is unknown. Experience married Mary Unknown, She is sometimes called Mary Molton, apparently without evidence. Five children were born to Experience and Mary: Sarah, Jacob, Edward, John, and Hannah.

Duxbury

In 1631, Experience sold his home at Plymouth to Samuel Eddy and removed to Duxbury.^[3] A group of the most prominent families were also making the move: the Bradfords, Cushmans, Aldens, Cookes, and Brewsters.^[3]He was Surveyor of the Highways at "Duxborrow" in 1639 and 1640.^[7]

Additional Biographical Notes

Experience Mitchell was one of the forefathers, (a name usually applied to those, who arrived in the three first ships) and came over in the third ship, the Ann, in 1623 "to Duxbury, where he purchased Wm. Paybody's house and farm 1650: he was an original proprietor of Bridgewater, but sold his share or proprietary right to Thomas Hayward ; he came to Bridgewater late in life, with his son Edward ; while at Plymouth he lived at Spring Hill, so called, and at Duxbury he lived at a place called Blue Fish River : at Bridgewater he lived at a place called Joppa, where his descendants still live : he d. 1689 ae. a. 80 ; his will dated 1684 : he was at Leyden with the Pilgrims and left a brother Thomas, who lived and died in Holland. He had a share in the first division of Lots at Plymouth in 1623, and . of the..livestock in 1627; it is supposed be m. Jane, D. of Francis Cook for his first wife : the wife of his old age was named Mary, but her family name is not ascertained."

The names of his children as appears from his will, deeds, and other written documents, were Thomas, John, Jacob, Edward, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah and Hannah. Thomas first had land of his father at Dartmouth, but relinquished it again to his father 1669, who the same day conveyed it to Jacob. There is no farther account of Thos. Elizabeth m. John Washburn 1645. Mary m. James Shaw of M. 1652; who d. 1679; and left a daughter Mary. Sarah m. John Hayward. Hannah m. Joseph Hayward. ^[8]

Land & Property

On 08 January 1679/80, Experience Mitchell transferred land at Bridgewater to Edward Fobes. The deed was witnessed by John² Soule and Jonathan² Alden, their signatures all shown.^[9]

Last Will and Testament

Experience Mitchell' s will was probated 4 September 1689.^[10] He died at Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts before 14 May 1689 when the inventory of his estate was taken.

Experience Mitchell's Will:

• These are to publish and declare to all whom it may concerne that I Exsperience Mitchell now living in the Towne of Bridgwater in the Collony of new Plimoth being through the Mercy of God of sound Judgment and memory do Ordeine and make my last will and Testament in manner following: viz: into the hands of God I Comend my sperit beleiveingly Resigneing up my soule into the everlasting armes of Gods mercy father Son and holy spirit: my Body to bee decently Interred at the discretion of my executor and other Christian friends: and for my outward estate I do will that after all my Just debts and funerall exspences be paid: my lands and other moveables be disposed of as followeth

• Imprimis I give to my Son Edward michell after my deseace all my lands both upland and medow lying in the Towne of Duxborough at the place where I formerly dwelt as appeareth by deed: and if it shall please God so to order that my wife mary michell shall survive me: I Require my Son Edward to take Care of her for her Comfortable subsistence during her life: provided that she will live with him at Bridgwater: but if she rather incline to live at Duxborough: I then Order that halfe the rent of that land at Duxborough shall be to my wife during her life and after my desease my Son Edward shall have the sole dispose of it as to the letting of it out for the house; I acknowledge it to be his: allso the bed and bolster two pillowes on paire of sheets and two Blankets which are at my son Edwards and we made use of; I give them to him after our desease

• as for my Son John I have formerly given him his proportion of land and my will is that he rest satissfied therewith, which was foure score acers of upland and foure acers of medow lying at namatakeset within the Towneship of Duxborough: this is the full of what I intend him as to land only there are severall moveables in his hand at present which are mine: of which one Cow a short Gun and a small Iron kettle

• I Give unto my Granson Exsperience: and the remainder I give unto my son John as [for my] land lying in the Towne of Middlebery;

• I give it to my Daughters Mary Shaw Sarah Hayward and Hannah Hayward and to my granson Experience Mitchell the son of my son John, to be equally devided betwene them

• farther I Give to my daughter Mary Shaw twenty shillings to Hannah Hayward [forty shillings in Currant] pay: and if my stocke stand I give to my granson Thomas Mitchell one Cowe and to my grandaughter mary michell one Cow I leave the dispose of my grandaughter mary michell with my Son Edward and Joseph Bartlet:

• as for the rest of my moveables and chattels I Bequeath them to my son Edward michell whom I appoint and Ordaine sole executor of this my last will and Testament revoking all other wills and Testaments Whatsoever Witnes my hand and seale this fift of December 1684
• Signed and Sealed Experien michell
• in the presence of (Seal)
• Thomas Hayward
• John Haward

• Leiut Thomas Hayward and Ensigne John Haward the within named witnesses appeared before the magistrates of the County of Plimouth at Plimouth September the 4th 1689 and made Oath that they were present & saw Experience Mitchell deceased above named Signe Seal & Declare this Instrument as his last will and Testament & that to the best of their understandings he was of Disposing mind & memory when he so did.
• Attest Saml Sprague Clerk
• [On the back of the will]
• The written will is Entered and [Recorded in the] County Booke of Wills and Inventoryes: page 44

pr Saml Sprague Clerk Experience Mitchell his Will: 1684?

Experience Mitchell's Inventory: [Plym. Co. Prob. I: 45] A; Inventory of the estate of Experience Mitchel of Bridgwater, taken by Ensigne John Haward and Thomas Hayward the 14 of May 1689^[10]

Death and Legacy

Experience passed away in 1689 in Bridgewater, Plymouth.

Children

The children of Experience Mitchell were:^[11][12]

By his first wife Jane (Cooke) Mitchell:

1. Elizabeth Mitchell, b Plymouth abt 1628; m Plymouth 6 Dec 1645 John Washburn, son of John Washburn
2. Thomas Mitchell, b Plymouth abt 1630. Believed by some to be the same man who appeared on Block Island by 1678.
3. Mary Mitchell, b Plymouth abt 1632; m1 Plymouth 24 Dec 1652 James Shaw, son of John; m2 John Jenny

By his second wifeMary (Unknown) Mitchell:

1. Sarah Mitchell, b Plymouth abt 1641 (she was abt 90 in Dec 1731); m by Apr 1661 John Hayward
2. Jacob Mitchell, b abt 1643; m Plymouth 7 Nov 1666 Susanna Pope, dau of Thomas Pope; may have died by 5 Mar 1677/8 when his siblings were appointed guardians of his children.
3. Edward Mitchell, b abt 1645; m1 abt 1668 Mary Hayward; m2 Plymouth 26 Aug 1708 Alice Bradford
4. John Mitchell, b abt 1650; m1 in Duxbury 14 Dec 1675 Mary Bonney' m2 Duxbury 14 Jan 1679/80 Mary Lathrup; m3 Duxbury 24 May 1682 Mary Prior
5. Hannah Mitchell, b abt 1662; m by 1682 as his third wife Joseph Hayward.

Sources

1. ↑ Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Anderson, Robert Charles, Experience Mitchell (Vol I-III, Pages 1270-73) The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database accessed February 6, 2015: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Underhill, Lora Altine Woodbury, Descendants of Edward Small of New England, and the Allied Families, with Tracings of English Ancestry: Volume 1. (Pages 354-442) Cambridge: Riverside Press, January 1, 1910, GoogleBooks.com accessed February 6, 2015
4. ↑ Dexter, Henry Martyn and Dexter, Morton. The England and Holland of the Pilgrims. Boston, New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1906 p. 625
5. ↑ Information as submitted by Dave Mitchell, Wednesday, February 5, 2014.
6. ↑ Better source needed
7. ↑ Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. "Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England." p. 141
8. ↑ http://dunhamwilcox.net/ma/bridgewater9.htm
9. ↑ Bowman, George Ernest, "A deed from Experience Mitchell to Edward Fobes with the Autographs of John Alden, Jonathan² Alden and John² Soule," Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 7(1905):1-3. Link on Google Books. Link on Archive.org.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-J8JM : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1686-1702 and 1849-1867 vol 1-1F > image 29 of 490; State Archives, Boston.
11. ↑ Anderson (1996), p 1272
12. ↑ Wood, Ralph V., Jr., Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Francis Cooke, Vol. 12 (Rockport, Maine: Picton Press, 1996), p. 35-37.

See also:

• Banks, Charles Edward. The English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers. Genealogical Publishing Co., 1962. p. 151. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
• Pulsifer, David. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England. Deeds, &c. Vol. I. 1620-1651. 1861. pp. 5-6. Link to pages at hathitrust.org. (Establishes immigration on the Anne and grant of land in 1623)
• Burges, Walter H. John Robinson, Pastor of the Pilgrim Fathers. Williams and Norgate, London, 1920. p. 257. Link to page at archive.org. (Establishes presence in London with Southworth prior to emigration to New England)
• Bradford's History "Of Plimoth Plantation" from the Original Manuscript. Boston, 1898. p. 86. Link to page at archive.org. (Establishes presence in London with Southworth prior to emigration to New England)
• Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England. Press of William White, Boston. 1855. Vol. 1, pp 4, 10, 27, 47, 53, 57, 58, 71 - 73, 90, 95, 141, 155, 156, 165.see at hathitrust.org.
• Wood, Ralph V., Jr., Mayflower Families through Five Generations Volume 12, Rockport, Maine: Picton Press, Revised Edition, 2011 p. 29-37.
• Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009. p,93.
• http://dunhamwilcox.net/ma/bridgewater9.htm
• Mayflower Births and Deaths, Vol. 1 and 2 Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Clemens, William Montgomery Mitchell Family Magazine Volumes 1-2, published 1916. Reference page 42
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anne_and_the_Little_James
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34766157 NOTE: No headstone
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/L5FQ-8ND