Mitchell Family History
It was during the era of steamships in Maryland when people crossed the Chesapeake Bay from the Eastern Shore to the Western Shore. A young man named James Arthur Mitchell came to Wetipquin along with his friends and a man called Samuel James Chase of Wetipquin. He was 13 years old. Most young boys were usually apprenticed to the person in charge of them. The steamships sailed weekly on the Nanticoke River from Baltimore to Sandy Hill Landing in Wetipquin.
James Arthur Mitchell was born on December 12, 1881, in Washington, DC. He had worked at the Baltimore harbor and often swam there along with his buddies. He was reared by his grandmother, Mary Mitchell of Washington, DC. Her home was located on Seventh and G Streets in Washington. He traveled back and forth to see her until she passed away in 1923. He was a lover of sports, and baseball was one of his favorites. He usually umpired most of the games that were played in the community. He often rode a bicycle around the community and occasionally went to the movie theater. The people in the community called him Arthur.
Arthur was a waterman by trade. He worked on the dredge boats for weeks at a time. On December 23, 1902, he was joined in holy matrimony to Leola Desalon Robinson at Friendship. The minister was Zora B. Dashiell. She was born on July 3, 1883, in Wetipquin. Her parents were J. Edward Robinson and Mary Lucinda Hull Robinson of Wetipquin. There were ten children born to this union:
Minnie Ray Mitchell (1902)
Robert Charles Mitchell (1903)
Marceline Mitchell (1906)
Amos Arthur Mitchell (1908)
Mabel Leola Mitchell (1910)
Launia Mitchell (1913)
James Lober Mitchell (1916)
Agnes Blanche Maria Mitchell (1923)
Leroy Mitchell (1928)
Lillie Mae Mitchell (November 3, 1927)
Arthur and Leola became active in the life of the church. She sang in the senior choir, and he attended Sunday school; often, he could be heard explaining the scriptures in the adult Bible classes. They loved reading the Bible and many other books. Leola was a homemaker, rearing her children and some of her grandchildren. Most of the grandchildren called her "Granny." She planted her garden and raised livestock. In front of the home, she had her flower garden with many types of flowering bushes. She preserved and canned vegetables and fruit for the winters.
Arthur Mitchell passed away in July 1941. After his death, Leola continued to work in the church, singing in the choir for morning worship, attending Sunday evenings and midweek services faithfully. She was very close to her sisters, Sarah Jane Robinson Wright and Lillian Ann Robinson Ennis. She would often visit them. One of her nieces, Naomi Wright Camper, who was a minister, often carried her to visit other churches when she was called to be a guest speaker. A cousin and dear friend of hers, Bertha Seldon Morris, sang in the choir beside her. Leola sang until her health failed her. Granny lived to see five generations in her family. She passed away on December 29, 1965.
Second Generation
Minnie Ray Robinson was born on March 7, 1901, in Wetipquin. She attended Wetipquin Elementary School and was a member of Friendship. She spent most of her younger years at her grandparents' house along with her favorite cousin, Levi Robinson. Minnie Ray was joined in holy matrimony on March 30, 1918, to Noah Elijah McCoy. He was born in January 1896 in Washington, DC. His parents were Charles Henry McCoy and Mary Virginia Moore McCoy. From this union, there were three children:
Lillian Dorene McCoy
Mary Elsie McCoy
Charles Henry McCoy
The McCoys' property was located between Stephen Cook and Friendship Parsonage on the corner of Lankford & Wetipquin roads. Elijah McCoy passed away circa 1943 in Wetipquin and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.
After his death, Minnie Ray moved to Newark, New Jersey to live. Her home in New Jersey became a haven for family members seeking more education and better employment. She would help anyone who needed help or a place to live. Her second marriage was to Richard Doughty of New Jersey. During her marriage to Richard, they purchased property in Wetipquin and built a home in Jesterville, Maryland. Later, she remarried Heard Warren of New Jersey. Upon her retirement after working many years, the Warrens moved to Jesterville. She became an active member of Elsey United Methodist Church and the Household of Ruth Lodge in Wetipquin. Minnie Ray Robinson Warren passed away on March 27, 1991, and was buried in Elsey Church Cemetery. Her husband, Heard, passed away a few years later.
Robert Charles Mitchell, the second child, was born on September 7, 1903, in Wetipquin. It was the same year the new church (Friendship) was built, and the old building was used for the parsonage. Robert was very talented and hardworking. He was a carpenter, mechanic, waterman, and sports person. Robert was an excellent swimmer; he could swim across the Nanticoke River from Sandy Hill to Tyaskin. He was a lot like his father and played baseball at some of the games that he umpired. He fished, oystered, and worked on dredge boats. He built several houses: one in White Haven, one or more in Quantico at the Creole plant where he worked, and his own house. He also helped his brother James with the construction of his house. The two brothers were very close; there were not many times when they were not together. They would often work on a car all night to rebuild the motor, take brakes apart, or try to solve whatever the problem was.
In 1923, he married Lola Joseph, daughter of Thomas Henry Joseph and Lucy Wright Joseph of Wetipquin. Robert and Lola had one daughter:
Cleo Mitchell married Arthur Lowry
Brenda Cleo Lowry
Linda Lowry
Verma Lowry
His second marriage was to Myrtle of Dorchester County. One child was born of this union:
2. Valarie Mitchell
Willam Mitchell
George Mitchell
Valarie Mitchell
Pairlcla Mitchell
His third marriage was to Ocie Mae Wilson. She was born in Head Creek. Her parents were Millard John Wilson and Mary Elizabeth Fields of Head Creek, Maryland. After the death of her mother, her aunt Ocie M. Wilson, who lived in White Haven, Maryland, reared her. Seven children were born of this union:
3. Leon Amos Mitchell
· Vantta Mitchell
· Terri Mitchell
· Darline Mitchell
4. Phyllis Freda Mae Mitchell
· Samatches Mitchell
· Beverly Mitchell
5. Robert Charles Jr. Mitchell
· Patrick Mitchell
· Robert Charles Jr. Mitchell III
· Kesha Mitchell
6. Stanley Lemuel Mitchell
· Stanley Terrance Mitchell
· Terrance Mitchell Ramotla
· Geraldine Mitchell
· Rodney Mitchell
· Sienna Mitchell
· Lathsa Mitchell
· Angeletek Mitchell
7. Wayne Mitchell
· Wanetta Mitchell
· Wayne Mitchell
· Derrick Mitchell
· Christian Mitchell
8. Dianna Mitchell
· Wayland Mitchell
· Marvelette Mitchell
9. Yolanda Loretta Mitchell
· Ricky Butler
· Anjanetter Butler
10. Lonnie Martin Mitchell
A baby boy named Leroy, died three days after birth. Robert spent his final days in the home of his daughter, Yolanda. He passed away in May 1988.
Marceline Mitchell died at the age of 15.
Amos Arthur Mitchell was born on August 22, 1908. He attended Wetipquin Elementary School, went on to Salisbury, MD at Salisbury High School, graduating in 1928. He lived a number of years in Newark, NJ before moving back home. He owned a garage and a school bus. Amos was a leader of the 4H Club and the Boy Scouts. He also supervised the community playground. He was one of the founders of Shore Up Inc. as well as president of the Community Organization for Progress.
Children:
Arthur Nelson Mitchell
Linda Mitchell
Arthur Mitchell
Darren Mitchell
Dariene Mitchell
Terrance Mitchell
Valerie Mitchell
Ivy Mitchell
2. Iris Mitchell
3. James Amos Mitchell
Brian Mitchell
Stephanie Mitchell
4. Edgar Mitchell
Allen Mitchell
Douglas Mitchell
Mabel Mitchell Gattis, the 5th child, was born on March 25, 1911. She received her education in Wetipquin and Salisbury, MD. She joined the church at an early age, serving as president of the Usher Board, member of the Senior Choir, Young Adult Counselor, and president of the Methodist Women. Aunt Mabel was a member of the Household of Ruth #3008 as well as Past District Most Noble Governor of District House of Ruth #27 for the State of Maryland. Aunt Mabel's favorite hymns were "May the Work I've Done Speak for Me" and "He Knows How Much You Can Bear."
Children:
Vivian Loretta Gale
Geraldine Gale
Chappelle Stanford
Howard Stanford
Launia Jones Mitchell was born on November 17, 1913. She also attended grade school in Wetipquin. She attended high school in Nanticoke and Salisbury, Maryland. Launia was a member of Friendship United Methodist Church and held offices on the usher board, United Methodist Women, and Commission of Stewart. Aunt Launia was Director, District Right Noble Government for the Household of Ruth #3008 in Wetipquin and #27 for the State of Maryland.
Children:
Jacqueline Mabeline Jones
Glendora Jones
Charlene Gates
Norman Gates III
Kaye Gates
James Lober Mitchell was born on May 9, 1916, and married Pearline Winola Taylor, born on September 12, 1922. James received his education in Wetipquin and Salisbury, MD. He attended CC Camp on the Western Shore and served in World War II in England, France, and Germany. He worked for over thirty years at Peninsula Goslee Co. in Salisbury, Maryland. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10159, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, District #14 Household of Ruth, and District #27 of Maryland. He was a member of the Methodist Men of Friendship United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Trustee Board of Friendship.
Children:
1. Joyce Priscilla Mitchell (January 8, 1942)
Children:
Sylvester Douglas Mitchell (June 20, 1956)
Rebecca Marrella Burrell (August 3, 1960)
Warren George Burrell Jr. (January 1962)
Christopher Dwight Burrell (February 18, 1964)
Calvin Eugene Burrell (September 7, 1965)
2. James Mitchell (born February 21, 1943)
Treasa Savage
Allen Mitchell
Stephon Hutt
3. Jerome Russell Mitchell (August 27, 1946)
children:
Jerome Russell Mitchell Jr.
Jennifer Mitchell
4. Ronnie Taylor Mitchell (April 21, 1949)
children:
Ronnie Taylor Mitchell Jr.
James Maxwell Mitchell
5. David Eugene Mitchell (March 2, 1952)
children:
Detoya Mitchell
D. Malissia Mitchell
Danelle Mitchell
6. Linda Desaline Mitchell (February 2, 1954)
children:
Craig Mitchell
Kevin Mitchell
7. Bryant Charles Mitchell (February 15, 1956)
Agnes Mitchell Wilson, born August 13, 1923, in Wetipquin, MD. She is a member of Friendship United Methodist Church, serves as president of the Communion Steward, and is a member of the usher board. Aunt Agnes attended school in Wetipquin, junior high school, and senior high school in Newark, NJ. She retired from Coldwater Seafood Inc. in Cambridge. She is a member of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, a member of the Household of Ruth #3008 where she was Worthy Recorder, and a member of the District Household of Ruth #27. She traveled extensively with the Odd Fellows all over the United States.
Children:
Millard Wilson
Monika Wilson
Karen Wilson
Theresia Wilson
Melton Butts
Carlton Butts
Daniel Butts
Lannell Butts
George Butts
Constance Wilson
Laverne Wilson
Collette Wilson
Frenzella Wilson
Cordie Wilson
Lillie Mae Mitchell Nutter, the 10th child, was born on November 3, 1927. She married Wayland Nutter of Jesterville. She lived in Wilmington, Delaware for 30 years, where she was a member of Union AME Zion Church. She served on the Pastor's Aid and Communion Steward. She was a member of the Sigma Gamma Phi Sorority where she held several offices. She moved back to Jesterville and became a member of Elzey's United Methodist Church. She is a member of the United Methodist Women and Treasurer of the Get Up and Go Club. Aunt Lillie Mae attended Wetipquin Elementary School and Salisbury High School. She graduated from Maryland State College, now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She taught Special Education for 25 years in Frankford, Delaware. Aunt Lillie Mae also traveled extensively in the United States as well as Africa.
Children:
Arsenus Nutter
Arsenus Nutter Jr.
Heather Nutter
Willa Nutter