Hi List. I'm disappointed that there does not seem to be any records available for Ratho, during the time that John Mitchell (stone mason) was creating his family. John's oldest son was Joseph Mitchell, born about 1695. He had a son named John born 1700. Both son's attended Edinburgh University. John b 1700 died at age 19 in January 1719. There was also at least one other son in the family, who raised his family in Fife. A descendant of the family, William Mitchell was known as a preacher, son of a farmer at Duniface, Fife. I read a letter he wrote in 1797, and gave his location as Duniface Fife. My reason for writing, is to ask if there is any way to gain access to the Ratho records for the period of 1690-1737 Joseph was known to have died in 1737, he lived as a poet in London, however I'm wondering if he was buried in London or Ratho, I can't really find records for either. Joseph did have a daughter named Charlotte, born about 1723 in London. Thanks in advace Tammy Mitchell

Tammy: Are you certain that John's sons attended Edinburgh University? It would be highly unlikely that the sons of a tradesman would be accepted at University. More likely, they would follow in their father's footsteps, and be stone masons. Eileen > I'm disappointed that there does not seem to be any records available > for Ratho, during the time that John Mitchell (stone mason) was creating > his family. > > John's oldest son was Joseph Mitchell, born about 1695. He had a son > named John born 1700. Both son's attended Edinburgh University. John b > 1700 died at age 19 in January 1719. There was also at least one other > son in the family, who raised his family in Fife. >

Hi Eileen, Yes, I'm sure. John was a very popular stone mason, good at his trade, and worked for both farmers and Heritors in Ratho and surrounding Parish's. He did work for the Earls of Stair, and Lauderdale. It is believed that it was thru this type of patronage that John was able to send his children to school. The oldest of his son's was Joseph Mitchell Poet of Ratho. Most have his dates as 1684-1738. I have recently recieved a document from the Edinburgh University, that has John Graham, schoolmaster of Ratho for a span of 40 years, placing his birth at 1695 and death at 1737. I believe the reason that most people put his death at 1738 is because apparently there was an announcement in Gentleman's Magazine on 2 Feb. 1738 that referenced Joseph's death.(I have not seen this reference). Joseph went to school to be a man of the cloth, he studied philosophy, and the arts. The arts won. He became more of a 'political writer' in London, as he tried to write in favor of various politicians of the time, in hopes of receiving monetary gain. I've seen that the records are available for Ratho, for other time periods. However the exact time period that I'm interested in is 1690-1737 and from what I can tell on IGI, there are no films of records for this timeperiod, neither on Scotlands People. I'm wondering if anyone will know where I can get to records for these years. I have the Vital Records British Isles 2nd edition, and there are no records on there for this time period. I know there was at least 3 sons, and I know there was at least one sister, because the term sister was used in one Josephs poems. Thanks for replying, and giving me the chance to explain. Tammy Eileen Herkes wrote: > Tammy: > > Are you certain that John's sons attended Edinburgh University? It > would be highly unlikely that the sons of a tradesman would be > accepted at University. More likely, they would follow in their > father's footsteps, and be stone masons. > > Eileen > > > >> I'm disappointed that there does not seem to be any records available >> for Ratho, during the time that John Mitchell (stone mason) was creating >> his family. >> >> John's oldest son was Joseph Mitchell, born about 1695. He had a son >> named John born 1700. Both son's attended Edinburgh University. John b >> 1700 died at age 19 in January 1719. There was also at least one other >> son in the family, who raised his family in Fife. >> >

hi Tammy, the Gentleman's mag can be very misleading from the way they arrange their dates. It's clear that in some cases they have only received entries some months after the event. I haven't seen your man's entry in their mag but i do have another which I'll send you off list. You may or may not have come on it before. it agrees with your mason dad and his uni education. le durachd Fionnghal > I believe the reason that most people put his death at 1738 > is because > apparently there was an announcement in Gentleman's > Magazine on 2 Feb. > 1738 that referenced Joseph's death.(I have not seen this > reference).