Tree: Main Torrington: Devon Mitchells

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Tree Name	Main Torrington
Description	This Torrington or Great Torrington tree as it should be correctly known, is of particular importance to me in-so-far as I am on it! The Torrington line starts with Ambrose Mitchell at Great Torrington. I have been able to find that he was married to a Thomasine, had at least 2 children (Thomas and John) by her, signed the 1641 Oath of Protestation and in 1636 signed a lease for a property in Mill Street consisting of "Tenement, garden, orchard and little close of land of quarter acre". Ambrose died and was buried at the parish church of St. Michael, Great Torrington in 1690. The Mitchell family were at that time involved in the wool industry as several were named as weavers. Great Torrington was a major wool center in the 16th and 17th century. This Mitchell line stayed entirely in Great Torrington until William (1799) moved to Shebbear in about 1825, and from then on the family spread out into the various outlying villages around Torrington. The men found work mainly as agricultural labourers and the women often supplemented the family purse by making gloves, as there was by then a large glove making industry in Great Torrington and nearby Bideford. I have also recently found 2 living Mitchell's in Torrington who have the distinction of their family not having moved out of Torrington at all in the last 400 years! Great Torrington really is a nice place. Mitchell grave stones at Torrington cemetery Mitchell grave stones at St. Michaels churchyard About Great Torrington (GENUKI link) View Larger Map
Individuals	2864
Families	875
Sources	19

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