Series 2. Genealogical information [MSS 2/241-03]

As is evident from the papers in Series 2, S. Weir Mitchell took a keen interest in genealogy and spent considerable time researching his family history. (For information on Mitchell family genealogy, consult Appendix A.) Mitchell's genealogical research involved collecting and studying his ancestors' papers and corresponding with distant relatives. Subseries 2.1 contains the papers of physician Alexander Mitchell (1766-1804), S. Weir Mitchell's grandfather; included are several letters and his 1799 list of balances. Also present is correspondence concerning the possible friendship between Robert Burns and John Mitchell, Mitchell's great-grandfather. Series 2 contains correspondence and miscellaneous papers of John Kearsley (d. 1819), S. Weir Mitchell's great-grandfather. Also present is genealogical information concerning the Henry family, Mitchell's mother's side of the family; included are letters from Mitchell's grandfather, Alexander Henry (d. 1847), and genealogical information pertaining to the Fitz-Randolph and Snowden families. Present in Subseries 2.4 is correspondence with Bessie Symons, Mary Hay, and Howard F. Hay concerning the link between the Mitchell, Symons, and Penn families. Finally, Series 2 contains miscellaneous correspondence concerning genealogy and an essay, "Adventures and misadventures in the wilds of Virginia" (1860), the author of which is unknown.

1788-1912

MSS 2/241-03 Series 2