Harvey Mitchell, RIP

Thanks to detailed correspondence from Mary Davy and Sally Young -- direct descendants of Harvey Mitchell's brother (or half-brother) Thomas -- some fascinating new details to add to the Harvey Mitchell / Mitchel / Michel and family story here.

For one thing, we can move beyond several art catalogs and vague references to Harvey having died somewhere between 1863 and 1864. We already (fairly recently) knew from other evidence that he'd at least lived until February 1864. 

But now, in fact, thanks to details from the Thomas Mitchell Bible as related by Mary Davy, we can note that Harvey Mitchell died on February 25, 1866. His dates can therefore be revised to circa 1798/1799-1866.

Mary Davy also relayed the transcript of an obituary that she determined was originally from the Washington, DC, Daily National Intelligencer (Tuesday, February 27, 1866 - Vol. LXVI, No. 16699, page 2).

First paragraph:

"On the 25th inst[ant], in Bedford County, in Virginia, his native State, about the age of sixty eight, died HARVEY MITCHEL, Esq, late draugthsman in the General Land Office in this city, but better known in the Southern States as an artist, and in Boston, in the art and literary circles of the past generation, as the gifted but eccentric pupil and friend of Washington Allston."

Let's back up a little here. Washington Allston (1779-1843) opens up some interesting possibilities, for sure. Allston, born in South Carolina, was widely travelled and well-connected. He was a writer as well as painter. Harvey Mitchell moved to the Boston area for a time in his late twenties. There may be some sort of written records extent from that period, or among the Allston circle.

To review: on July 22, 1828, Harvey Mitchell married Elizabeth Griffin in Lynchburg, Virginia, presided over by the Rev. Mr. William S. Reid. (Source:  Richmond, Virginia Visitor and Telegraph, August 2, 1828; from the marriage and obituary citations compiled by Bernard J. Henley from Virginia newspapers on microfilm at the Library of Virginia).

On May 15, 1829, Elizabeth Griffin Mitchell died in Charleston, Massachusetts, "they [Elizabeth and Harvey Mitchell] having left Lynchburg about 12 months ago." (Source: Lynchburg Virginian, June 4, 1829; from the marriage and obituary citations compiled by Bernard J. Henley from Virginia newspapers on microfilm at the Library of Virginia).

At some point Harvey Mitchell the widower returned back to Virginia, with Charlotte Mitchell (born circa 1829), his daughter by way of Elizabeth, in tow.

Jump a few years forward. “Married – in Washington County [Virginia], by Rev. D.R. Preston, Harvey Mitchell, formerly of Lynchburg, to Miss Mary Jane Wood Johnston, only daughter of the late Judge Peter Johnston.” (Source: Lynchburg Virginian, October 4, 1832; from the marriage and obituary citations compiled by Bernard J. Henley from Virginia newspapers on microfilm at the Library of Virginia). 

My Johnston family notes indicate that the actual wedding date was September 24, 1832, and that Jane Mary Wood Johnston was born on November 26, 1811, making her just under twenty-one years old at the time of the wedding.   

Second paragraph of the obituary:

Mr. Mitchel was a remarkable man. Twenty years ago [i.e. during the Mexican-American War period] he was personally acquainted with perhaps a larger number of people than any individual in the South, and from his singular generosity and absolute transparency of heart, people of all tempers and conditions loved him almost without exception. The vivacity and ingenuousness of his nature amounted to eccentricity, and has demonstrative manners would have bordered on the ridiculous but for the unusual earnestness and dignity of sentiment which, with a striking and noble physiognomy and figure, made him uncommonly impressive in society. Few men, probably, have, through a whole life of  vicissitude, so constantly "listened with credulity to the whispers of fancy and pursued with eagerness the phantoms of hope."  Age fortified his judgment, but weighed not a feather on his fancy. Without executive capacity, his originality of conception and wealth of imagination were inexhaustible. He was a genius. His conversation was voluble of wit and picturesque drollery, while his powers of amusing were almost unequalled.  Yet in no situation was the tenderness of his temperament restrained, or any part of his character either lowered or reserved.

Note the comment, "He was a genius." Compare to the book title above regarding Washington Allston. Did they correspond? 

Coda: 

His [Harvey Mitchell's] habits throughout life were exemplary, and perhaps no one who ever knew him would qualify the declaration that he was truly a Christian gentleman, or that no cleaner soul ever went to its God.