William Mitchell & Rena Rawls

3- great – grandparents of R A Holloman III

William Mitchell 1780 – 1854 | his parents
& 1802 Rena “Renney” Rawls ca 1783 – aft 1854 | her parents
of Bertie County, NC


This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!


William Mitchell married 11 Jul 1802, Bertie Co NC Rena “Renney” Nichols [Rawles?]. John Willeford, bm. George Gray, wit. bond # 3267 – Ancestry.com

William Mitchell was born in Bertie County in 1780, son of Cader Mitchell who died in 1813 and his wife Elizabeth Jenkins.
Renny was born ca 1783 and died after her husband who died leaving a will in Bertie County in 1854.

Children of William Mitchell and Renney Rawls:
1. Zachariah Mitchell ca 1803 – aft 1870 Illinois [either Alexander or Saline Co]
in 1850 Census , Surry Co NC; in 1860 Greene Co TN; in 1870 Saline Co IL
married ca 1834 Lucinda Thompson? ca 1810 NC – 1862 Greene Co TN
married 2nd Greene Co TN 1863 Mary Ann [Polly] Hale Gray Johnson Pickering ca 1845 –
2. James Mitchell ca 1805 – 1876
married Marie E
3. Reddin Mitchell
4. Wright Mitchell 1810 –
married 19 Dec 1827 Martha Ann Outlaw 1814 –
5. William Watson Mitchell 20 Dec 1810 – 12 Sept 1897
planter, civic leader, philanthropist; founder Chowan College (1848), Ahoskie Baptist Ch

MitchellWW1

WW Mitchell
portrait hangs now at Chowan College
photo by Shirley

married 4 Oct 1832 Martha C. Williford ? – 1 Nov 1832
married 17 Jun 1834 Martha E. Mitchell 7 Jun 1819 – 6 May 1845
married 2 Dec 1845 Mary Elizabeth Winifred Mitchell
18 Apr 1824 – 18 Sep 1895
6. Riddick P Mitchell
7. Sarah Mitchell bef 28 Aug 1817 –
8. Elizabeth Mitchell bef 28 Aug 1817 –
9. Dr. Henry S Mitchell ca 1825 – aft 1876 without will
physician
married Bertie Co. 11 Nov 1852 Mary J. Burden ca 1827 – bef 1870
William D Mitchell, bm and wit. Shadrach M Moore wit
10. Elizabeth Jane Mitchell ca 1828 –

NOTE: Alfred Mitchell, age 18 living with his uncle William Mitchell in 1850.

Info, Pictures, and Notes compliment of Shirley Wersinger
Marriages of Bertie County, NC trans by Fouts.

James Jenkins and wife Winnie apparently had no children and left their property to the children of their double nephew, William Mitchell. James was brother to Elizabeth his mother and Winnie was sister to Cader Mitchell, his father.
James Jenkins’s will: 28 Aug 1817 proved Feb Term 1820 Bertie County
NCHGR 2- 523
– wife Winnie
– James Mitchell [son of William and wife Renny]
– Wright and Reddin Mitchell [sons of William]
– Lodwick Jenkins
– Elizabeth and Sarah Mitchell [daughters of Wm.]
– William and Riddick P Mitchell [sons of Wm.]
– Zachariah and James Mitchell [sons of William]
– Patsey Oliver
– Wm. Mitchell and Lodwick Jenkins – EXS
Test: Zadock Mitchell, Edward Wilson, Josiah Wilson

Info, Pictures, and Notes compliment of Shirley Wersinger
Marriages of Bertie County, NC trans by Fouts.

William Mitchell’s will:
In the name of God, Amen, I William Mitchell of Bertie County and State of North Caroline being of sound mind and perfect memory blessed by God And knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die Do make and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and form following {viz}
Item 1st I Lend unto my beloved wife Renny during her natural life one tract of land whereon I now live Containing two hundred acres together with all my houses thereon all my household and kitchen furniture And also three negros, viz, Daniel, Esther and Francis.
Item 2nd I Give and devise to my beloved wife Renny one Horse and one Horse Cart wheels and gear, Two Cows and Calves, Ten head of Hogs, Ten head of sheep, her choice in each case, Fifty dollars in cash, one thousand pounds of Pork, Forty Barrels of Corn, Three Thousand pounds of Fodder, Twenty-five pounds of sugar, Fifty Gallons of Molasses, Five Bushells of Salt, Two Thousand Herrings and all the cotton and flax on hand by her freely to be possessed and enjoyed for ever.
Item 3rd I Give and devise to my daughter Elizabeth Jane Mitchell Two negros, viz Sally and Francis and their increase if any to her and her heirs and assigns forever. Also I Give and devise to my said daughter Elizabeth one Feather Bed and furniture being in the possession of my wife until her death, Two Cows and Calves Two sows and their pigs, Two Ewes and Lambs To her her Heirs and assigns for ever.
Item 4th I Give and devise unto my nephew Alfred Mitchell one tract of land that I bought of Jonathan Harmon by refferance to said Harmon deed the Boundaries will appear to him his heirs and assigns for ever.
Item 5th I Give and devise to my son Henry S. Mitchell Four negros viz Polly, George, Daniel and Esther and their increase to him said Henry his heirs and assigns for ever also I Give and devise to my said son Henry my houses and land I now live on after the deat of my wife, together with all my adjoining lands not heretofore given away to him said Henry his heirs and assigns for ever.
Item 6th I leave one negro Bryan and all my remaining property of every description not heretofore disposed of to be sold by my Executor and the money arising therefrom to be appropriated to the payment of all my Just debts after which should there be any remaining I Give it to my son Henry S. Mitchell and Elizabeth Jane Mitchell to be equally divided between them to them their Heirs and assigns for ever.
Finally I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons William W. Mitchell and Henry S. Mitchell my Executors to this my last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said William Mitchell do hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven. William Mitchell [seal]
Signed sealed and acknowledged in presence of Willie Dunning, L. J. Jenkins
State of North Carolina Bertie County Court May Term 1854
This last will & testament of Wm Mitchell decd was proved in open court by the oaths of Willie Dunning and Lod. Jenkins the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. At the same time, William W. Mitchell, one of the Executors therein named, qualified as such by taking the required oath, Wm P. Ginley, Cler

Neil Mitchell, a descendant of Wright Mitchell
Will of William Mitchell, recorded in Bertie County Will Book G, Page 515 to 517; photocopy provided by the North Carolina State Archives.
1850 Federal census
Mitchell, Thornton W., North Carolina Wills: A Testator Index 1665-1900, Genealogical Publishing Co..
Dunstan, Edythe, The Bertie Index: Courthouse Records of Bertie Co..
1860 Federal Census

Grandchildren of William Mitchell and wife Renny:

Children of Zachariah Mitchell and wife Lucinda Thompson d 1862:
in 1850 Surry Co NC; in 1860 Greene Co TN; in 1870 Saline Co IL
1. Aden Mitchell ca 1835 NC – 1927 Eastland Co TX
married 21 February 1861 Vina Roberts ca 1836 –
a. Zachariah Mitchell ca 1861 –
b. Henry Mitchell ca 1862 –
c. Manda Mitchell ca 1864 –
d. Julia A Mitchell ca 1869 –
married 3 Dec 1872 Mary Jane Graham Mar 1840 VA –
2. Julina Mitchell ca 1837 NC –
married 13 February 1860 John L. Ferguson
3. Eliza [Louisa] Mitchell ca 1839 NC –
married 5 July 1860 Henry Malone
4. Evans Spencer Mitchell ca 1841 NC –
married 19 October 1862 Keturah H. (Kitty Hamphrey) Pickering ca 1849 – ca 1869
married 31 Dec 1869 Malinda Jane Miner ca 1848 – ca 1871 Carter Co MO
5. James Wesley Mitchell 14 Oct 1844 NC – 7 May 1917 Dunklin Co MO
married 20 February 1866 Ageline Pickering 1850 Greene Co TN – 13 June 1872 Saline Co IL
married MO 14 Oct 1873 Sarah Boren
married Nancy Ellen (Street) West ca 1865 AR – July 1933
6. Mary [Polly] Ann Mitchell ca 1846 NC – 1890 East Cape Girardeau IL
married 5 Mar 1866 John Brown 1844 Greene Co TN – 1928 Alexander Co IL
a. Charles C Brown 20 Mar 1872 TN –
b. Henry Ollie Brown 30 Oct 1874 TN – 30 Jan 1903 McClure, Alexander Co IL
7. Sarah Mitchell ca 1848 NC –
8. Josephus Mitchell ca 1851 TN –
married Mary Ann Pickering
9. Marcus Tellis Ciscro Riston Mitchell 25 Apr 1855 TN – 14 Dec 1937 Overton TX
married 13 Jun 1885 Martha Ann Roberts 21 Apr 1868 Dent Co MO –
10. Elizabeth F Mitchell 1862 TN –

Info from Don Harper – descendant of Zachariah and Lucinda.
from Paul Dale and his web site desc of Polly Mitchell’s husband John Brown & his 2nd wife

1850 Surry Co NC

Children of James Mitchell and wife Marie E:
1. Hester C Mitchell ca 1838 –
2. ED Mitchell ca 1841 –
3. LM Mitchell ca 1855 –
4. Clingman Webster Mitchell 16 Aug 1860 – 20 June 1921
married ca 1883 Pauline Agnes Mitchell [Holloman]

Children of Wright Mitchell and Martha Ann Outlaw:
1. Grandison M. Mitchell 1835 –
married 8 July 1862 Leora C Joliff ca 1846 –
2. Henrietta Mitchell 1837 –
3. Franklin Vann Mitchell 3 Jan 1840 – aft 1865
married 21 Apr 1870 Susan A Ruffin
4. Mary E Mitchell 1845 –
5. Lurinda A Mitchell 1847 –
6. Sarah J. Mitchell 1848 –
7. Wright Evans Mitchell 1852 –
8. John H Mitchell 1853 –

Children of William W Mitchell and Martha E Mitchell:
1. Nancy Emily Mitchell 21 Nov 1836 – 5 Jan 1837
2. Mary Jane Mitchell 16 Oct 1838 – 1919
married James Lawrence Mitchell died ca 1878 of Winton
3. Elizabeth Winiford Mitchell 10 May 1841 – 26 July 1844
4. Sarah Martha “Sallie” Mitchell 1 May 1842 – 21 July 1911
married Lt. W P Taylor ca 1843 –
son of Maj. Hillery Taylor of Mill Neck

Children of William W Mitchell and Mary E W Mitchell:
1. James Saunders Mitchell 5 Aug 1847 – 19 July 1918
educated at Wake Forest
married Miss Owens
2. John Pipkin Mitchell 15 Feb 1849 – 4 July 1930
retail merchant – banker -Winton, NC
married Mary Jordan Garriss ca 1859 –
3. Almira Hassletine Mitchell 14 Aug 1850 – May 1871
4. Pauline Agnes Mitchell 27 Jan 1852 – 13 Nov 1932 Winton, NC

pauline
Pauline A Mitchell

married ca 1873 William Dorsey Holloman 11 Mar 1828 – 1879
married 2nd ca 1883 Clingman Webster Mitchell
16 Aug 1860 – 20 Jun 1921
of Aulander Businessman, politician Grad. Wake Forest 1881
5. Bettie Elva Mitchell 5 Oct 1853 – 14 Jan 1939

bettie tjvann
Bettie and TJ Vann
snapshots by Shirley

married 12 Dec 1874 Thomas J Vann
son of Jesse Vann
6. William Judson Mitchell 15 Oct 1857 – 23 Jan 1934
edu. Wake Forest – farmer – near Ahoskie
married 25 Nov 1880 Sallie Riddick Vann 5 June 1863 –
daughter of John Arline Vann
7. Charles Emerson Mitchell 1 Mar 1859 – bef 1870

Ref: 1860 Census, 1870 census, 1880 census
Edith Gordon (d. 1982), granddaughter of Bettie Mitchell Vann, whose source was the family Bible [confirmed by Shirley Wersinger during a visit to the house and cemetery in 2000] Entry in Dictionary of NC Biography
Winborne’s History of Hertford County

Children of Henry S Mitchell and Mary J Burden:
1. S. A. Mitchell ca 1853 –
2. H. W. Mitchell ca 1855 –
3. Mary Mitchell ca 1856 –
4. unnamed Mitchell 1860 –

In 1850 Henry S. Mitchell, physician, age 24, is living in Bertie County with his parents, William and Renny Mitchell.
In 1860, age 34, he is living on his own farm in Hertford County with his wife and four daughters.
In 1870, age 47 [sic] he is living with his brother, James Mitchell.
Presumably, his wife died in the 1860s and his daughters also died or became wards of his wife’s family.

2 thoughts on “William Mitchell & Rena Rawls”

  1. thank you for posting the info on the mitchell.im new at this stuff my wife is kin to james wesley mitchell and nancy ellen street west mitchell through her granpa james stantfotd baker mitchell this was his dad i had most of it by a conversation from her dad that passed away resently paul floy mitchell granson to james wesley thanks again .

    1. William watson Mitchell was also my 3rd great grandfather, followed by john t Mitchell followed by frank p Mitchell. Frank was married to my great grandmother bessie Mitchell (simmons)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *