WILL OF FRANCIS MITCHELL - 1779-1842

In the Name of God Amen

The tenth day of June in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Two.

I Francis Mitchell of Bowling, in the parish of Bradford in the West Riding of the County of York. Spinner of Worsted Manufacturer, being sick and weak of body but of sound mind and perfect memory thanks be given unto God, do hereby make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.

And as touching such wealthy estate as it as pleased God to bless me in this life I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First I will all my just debts, funeral expenses and charges of proving this my Will be fully paid and faithfully discharged and after payment thereof and every part thereof. I will that my beloved wife Hannah Mitchell continue to live in the house and have the land which I now occupy and also the use of all my household Furniture, Farming Stock Cattle and all implements for farming purposes to have and to enjoy during the term of her natural life or for as long as she remains my lawful Widow. But should my Executors hereinafter named at the time be convinced that the proceeds of the said Far, Farming Stocks are not sufficient comfortably to maintain my said wife during her life or widowhood then I will that Five Shillings per week be raised out of my other effects for her better maintenance and support.

And further I will that at the decease or the termination of the lawful widowhood of my said wife that the whole of my Machinery and other effects of what kindsoever or wheresoever situate be valued and equally divided among my Four Sons Henry Mitchell, Squire Mitchell John Mitchell and Reuben Mitchell and my Four daughters Nancy the wife of John Womersley - Sarah the wife of Isaac Fieldhouse - Tabitha the wife of John Midgley and Mary the wife of Edward Harker and the offspring of my daughter Susannah deceased late wife of Martin Sutcliffe which said grandchilden shall have one share equally divided among them.

But I will that division of my said effects be done in manner following  That is to say when the whole is valued if my four sons before named think proper to take the machinery at such valuation then I will that they pay one share yearly to my daughters and grandchildren which said share shall be divided among them that my daughters have equal parts and my grandchildren one part divided among them.

But if my said sons do not think proper to take the Machinery then I will that my said effects be forthwith divided and I will that my Executors layout the several shares belonging to my daughters to the best advantage. I will that as my sons have proven to pay only one share per year that they pay Bank Interest for the time being for the shares remaining in their hands till all my daughters shares and the shares belonging to my grandchildren br paid. But if my sons do not take machinery then I will that my grandchildren each receive their respective shares when they arrive at Twenty One Years of age but I will that the interest be paid half yearly during their minority towards their maintenance.

And further to my Executors hereafter named have proven to lay out the various shares belonging to my daughters in the best manner in the safest way and so as to realise the surest income. I will that my said daughters have the interest arising from such shares paid to them half yearly and at the decease of my said daughters I will that their shares be equally divided among their offspring as they arrive at the age of Twenty One years of Age, to have, to enjoy and to dispose of as they think proper. And further should any of sons or daughters die before my said wife then I will that the share or shares of such shall be equally divided among their children.

But should any of my sons or daughters die before my said wife without issue then I will that such share or shares return and be equally divided and my other effects among the survivors. And, further at the decease or termination of widowhood of my said wife I will that my son Reuben enter upon the land and house which I now occupy but not before a valuation has been made of the land, farming stock, cattle, implements husbandry and household. Furniture which said valuation money shall be divided as my other effects. And further I will that my two sons Henry and Squire take my position at the mill as joint partners in my room also I will and do nominate and appoint my four sons Henry Mitchell, Squire Mitchell, John Mitchell and Reuben Mitchell joint executors of the my last will and testament, hereby making void all former wills by me at any time made and I testify and confirm this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year before written.
Francis Mitchell

Signed, sealed, published and declared
by the said Francis Mitchell to
be his last will and testament who at
his request in his presence and in the
presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses

William Firth and George Fieldhouse
Bradford
Will of Francis Mitchell late of Bowling P. Bradford,
Diocese of York. Worsted Spinner. Deceased.
23rd December 1842 under 3,000 pounds.

I hereby do testify on the 9th day of December in the year of our Lord 1842, Henry Mitchell of Manchester Road Horton, Squire Mitchell of Bowling, John Mitchell of North Bierley and Reuben Mitchell of Bowling aforesaid all in the Parish of Bradford in the County of York, Worsted Spinners, the sons the joint Executors names in this the Last Will and Testament of Francis Mitchell late of Bowling aforesaid in the Diocese of York. Worsted Spinner deceased, here sworn will and duty to execute and perform the same: and that the whole of the goods,chattels and credits of the said deceased within the Diocese of York do not amount to the value sum of three thousand pounds.

Sworn under 3,000 pounds
Witness my hand Exchequer Samuel Redhead Surrogate

"Clogs to Clogs in Three Generations"...
"Clogs to clogs in three generations" is an old joke illustrating the rapid rise and fall of families engaged in the Wool Trade. But some of these "Millocrats" were such pillars of local society that their names, and their firms, seem likely to endure forever. They often rose from humble beginnings, like the Mitchell family Bowling, to become large employers - staunch church or chapel goers as a rule - and because of this, the kind of men on whom public office usually fell.

When Bradford's first steam spinning mill went into production, three Mitchell brothers, Thomas, Francis and John, were in business as stuff makers in domestic premises at Bankfoot. Soon after 1819 Francis and John set up as worsted spinners in the mill built by E.C. Lister in Manchester Road, and in 1834 Thomas, along with a partner, occupied "Dick Smith's Mill" almost next door.

From William Cudworth's book "Histories of Bolton and Bowling", Published 1891:

Referring to Prospect Mill:

"Mr Smith occupied the old mill as a worsted spinner until his failure in 1829, when Messrs Joshua Wood and Co and others took rooms in it. In 1834 Messrs Turner and Mitchell entered into occupancy of the premises as worsted spinners. The parties to this firm were Messrs George Turner and Thomas Mitchell, the latter being the father of Abraham and Joseph Mitchell, who, under the firm of "Mitchell Bros.", acquired the property by purchase in 1854, on the dissolution of partnership of Turner and Mitchell. In their hands both the premises and business have been largely developed, and as mohair spinners the firm has acquired a great reputation. Frank and Johnny Mitchell, as they are familiarly named, occupied the adjoining mill in Horton township, erected by Ellis Cunliffe Lister, Esquire. They were brothers to the above named Thomas Mitchell."