Greetings All. I forward FYI a message sent to me today as an example of how wide spread our Census campaign is known. While this letter is from Cape Town, South Africa it is only one example of support received from virtually every 'Western' country in the world. Happy Hunting. Gordon ----- Original Message ----- From: Mitchell To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 8:20 AM Subject: Canada Census Committee Hello Gordon This is a brief genealogical letter to you all the way from Cape Town, South Africa. Please keep up your good efforts to open up Canadian Census and other on-line records. What this permits is unbelievably powerful ...... In the 19th century, 4 Irishmen with the surname of "Mitchell" studied medicine at Glasgow University in Scotland, graduating from ca. 1818 to 1898. All 4 were from the same townland, and were probably closely related -- as you know, Irish records of that period are few and incomplete. However, thanks to the power of the internet -- and the resources available through it, and the many willing helpers, librarians, archivists, etc -- descendants of 3 out of these 4 are now working together, on a story that should be called "The Doctors' Thread". These were: Dr Samuel Mitchell (1795 - 1865), the first medical doctor at Wallace, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia Dr John Mitchell (1803 -- 1877), the first medical doctor at Merigomish, Pictou County, Nova Scotia Dr James Alexander Mitchell (1876 -- 1933), South Africa's first Secretary of (Public) Health The 4th doctor was Dr William James Mitchell (ca. 1842 - 1887), later of Unionville, Toronto, who I have still to track down. There were many other doctors who studied at other universities. All in all, we have information on 20 medical doctors (all Dr Mitchell's), all family with roots in the same townland, and spreading from the North of Ireland to Scotland, England, Australia, Canada and the USA. There may also be links to the 19th century American Dr Silas Weir Mitchell, who was one of 7 doctors in 3 generations. This kind of global reunion of families and the combining of research and scholarship is possible because of efforts such as your campaign. My very best wishes and sincere thanks Adv. Dave Mitchell Cape Town