Richard, If your MITCHELL wasn't able to read or write and the names were written as the enumerator 'heard' them pronounced. Hence, MITCHELL, MITCHEL, MITSHELL,..etc. I have found my mother's name written several different ways. I don't know why as the whole family was literate. I guess no one thought to check the spelling that the enumerator wrote down. My husband's ancestor had 4 different spellings as he could not read/write. His wife left a good paper trail because it took her 3 years to get her pension. She had to get several people to testify/write that they knew this man was the same person. Sometimes initials are hard to read if the handwriting isn't very good or if it is quite fancy with a lot of loops and curves. I have found ages varied also. One man had PA as to where born, next time was Un Known, and the third time was Kentucky. This is the one that married 3 times and all wives named Mary. There are several wiser peoples on this list, maybe they can help you also. Shirley Rosecrans volunteer; Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness" http://www.raogk.org/ "in helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us. "