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Mitchell's Hospital, Old Aberdeen, in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, was founded by the philanthropist David Mitchell in 1801 as follows: ''" .. from a regard for the inhabitants of the city of Old Aberdeen and its ancient college and a desire in these severe times to provide lodging, maintenance and clothing for a few aged relicks and maiden daughters of decayed gentlemen merchants or trade burgesses of the said city.. "''. See the text of the 1801 Mortification〔A ''Mortification'' is a legal document in Scots Law that sets out the terms for a gift of money. '' Mortification'' has a wide use in terms of bequests. In Scots Law, it is also used in the context of lands given formerly to the church for religious purposes, or since the Reformation for charitable or public uses.〕 or the conditions of the endowment.〔("Deed of Mortification and Regulations for Mitchell's Hospital, Old Aberdeen" (Aberdeen: G. Cornwall and Sons, 1875), p. 3).〕 The Hospital is owned and managed by the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council〔The City or Burgh of Old Aberdeen ( founded 26 December 1489) and the ''"Royal City of Aberdeen"'' ( Founded about 1319) were merged into the City of Aberdeen in 1891〕 and the Cathedral Church of St Machar in Old Aberdeen. The origins of the Hospital are due to various attempts by the Incorporated Trades and Merchants in Old Aberdeen to provide a "care home" for their elderly and infirm members and their "relicks".〔See Aberdeen Trades Hospitals.〕 From 1801 until the beginning of the twentieth century, the hospital served as a refuge for "relicks"〔"relick" is the Scots/ Doric term for a widow.〕 of Old Aberdeen Trade Burgesses. Mitchell's mortification laid down very specific conditions for eligibility. One of which gave preference in selecting residents to those who had the name "Mitchell". Originally, the residents lived a communal life with a strict system of management and care.〔See the book by Katherine Trail for a vivid description of the "Founders Dinner" - Katherine E. Trail, Reminiscences of Old Aberdeen. (Plates, Including Portraits. ) (Aberdeen, 1932).〕 A Board of Management carried out Mitchell's wishes to the letter. The operation of the hospital has been modified twice in the twentieth century to provide self-contained flats for elderly ladies. However, the original mortification by Mitchell determines its overall operation - within twenty-first century financial constraints.〔The origins of this hospital may be seen within the context of the medieval hospital - sometimes known as a "Maison Dieu" - "God's House", or Bedehouse. The Pre-Reformation sub-monastic life of the residents had disappeared by the beginning of the nineteenth century. However the Auld Maids in Mitchell's Hospital lead a frugal life.〕 ==David Mitchell== David Mitchell came from a large family in Old Aberdeen. He had nine brothers and sisters.〔George (16 November 1923); Ann (29 December 1926); Walter (14 July 1928); Mary (b. 15 January 1970: d. ?/6/1807); David (27 September 1931); Isobel (7 July 1933); Alexander (23 March 1937); Margaret (22 December 1942); Elisabeth (2 October 1942); Walter (died 21 August 1928). See Maxwell, A. S. (1986). Monumental inscriptions, Old Machar churchyard, Aberdeen, Scotland. Aberdeen.〕 There is a record of his baptism on 24 September 1731.〔Scotland’s People - 168/OB 0030 2233 Old Machar)〕 His father was Robert Mitchell, possibly an vintner and his mother was Christian Forbes. He studied at Marischal College in Aberdeen from 1748, graduating in 1752.〔Marischal College and University., P. J. Anderson, et al. (1889). Fasti Academiae Mariscallanae Aberdonensis : selections from the records of the Marischal College and University, MDXCIII-MDCCCLX. Aberdeen, Printed for the New Spalding Club, Anderson, P. J., New Spalding Club (Aberdeen Scotland), et al. (1898). Fasti academiae Mariscallanae Aberdonensis. Aberdeen, New Spalding Club. p320〕 It appears that he was the only member of the family who studied at either Kings or Marischal Colleges. For almost fifty years very little more is known about him. It is not until he intimates his wishes to found as hospital in Old Aberdeen that any secure record for him occurs. It is likely he spent his life in Holloway Down in Essex and he owned what was then called Holloway Down Farm. The village of Holloway Down is now in the Leytonstone/Waltham Forrest district of London. It is probable that he was a Stock Broker.〔The only clear evidence comes from the Deed of Mortification for the Hospital. The Deed was witnessed by Thomas Barnes and Thomas T Ellis from the Stock Exchange, London 15 April 1801). A list of Registered Brokers does not include him or the other names from the Mortification. See, Unknown (1800). A List of Brokers of the City of London at Michaelmas 1800. London, Henry Fenwick, 63 Snow Hill London. Searches of the Guildhall Library in London have not found any reference to David Mitchell.〕 His other interests were in insurance〔See notice in Morning Chronicle, 16 January 1805 – seeking a Director to fill a vacancy in the Imperial Insurance Company. David Mitchell is listed as an owner in Hardy, C. and East India Company. (1811). A register of ships employed in the service of the East India Company from 1760-1810. London〕 and shipping. He was the owner of at least three ships that traded for the East India Company.〔See the Records of the East India Company. ibid., East India Company. and A. Farrington (1999). Catalogue of East India Company ships' journals and logs, 1600-1834. London, British Library, Hackman, R. d. (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, World Ship Society, Farrington, A. and British Library. (2002). Trading places : the East India Company and Asia 1600-1834. London, British Library. Mitchell was the managing owner of at least two or three ships – including the Grosvenor and the Fort William. The Fort William had two successful trips: 1785/6 Madras and China. Capt George Simson. Downs 16 Jan 1786 - 10 Feb Madeira - 22 Jun Madras - 14 Aug Penang - 28 Aug Malacca - 29 Sep Whampoa - 6 Feb 1787 Second Bar - 14 Jun St Helena - 21 Aug Long Reach. 1788/9 Bombay and China. Capt George Simson. Downs 13 Dec 1788 - 3 Apr 1789 St Augustine's Bay - 3 Jun Bombay - 7 Sep Malacca - 11 Oct Whampoa - 27 Jan 1790 Second Bar - 19 Jun St Helena - 28 Aug Long Reach at the National Archives - Likewise the Grosvenor had three trips: 1767/8 Madras and China. Capt David Saunders. Downs 31 Dec 1767 - 19 Apr 1768 Johanna - 2 Jun Madras - 4 Aug Malacca - 4 Sep Whampoa - 16 Dec Second Bar - 19 Mar 1769 St Helena - 28 May Downs. ; 1770/1 Madras and China. Capt David Saunders. Downs 22 Jan 1771 - 6 Jun Johanna - 1 Jul Madras - 28 Aug Malacca - 25 Sep Whampoa - 5 Feb 1772 Second Bar - 16 Jun St Helena - 29 Jun Ascension - 30 Aug Downs. ; 1774/5 Madras and China. Capt David Saunders. Downs 18 Jan 1775 - 21 May Johanna - 22 Jun Madras - 28 Aug Malacca - 4 Oct Whampoa - 22 Dec Second Bar - 9 May 1776 St Helena - 18 Aug Downs. (See (- IOR/L/MAR/B/677C ) )〕 Mitchell is recorded as investing £1,500, in 1797, to a Government "Loyalty Bond".〔See England Bank of, 'A List of the Names and Residencies of the Subscribers to the Loan of £18,000,000 for the Service of the Year 1797', s.n., (1797).; p70, (House of Commons Papers)〕 His brother Alexander came to London and worked for the East India Company as a ship’s purser on Mitchell’s ships. Alexander died in 1788. It is probable that Alexander had a son called Alexander and one daughter.〔The archives of Mitchell’s Hospital records an Alexander Mitchell in Sederunt Book 1, p 37〕 David Mitchell’s sister Mary came to live in London. The only record of her time there appears in an obituary from 1807.〔(Gentleman’s Magazine, June 1807, p 594) – "31st May, in Powis-place, aged 78, after a lingering illness, Mrs. Mary Mitchell, formerly of Aberdeen, and late of Holloway Down, Essex; whose exemplary piety and benevolence will long be remembered."〕 David’s life-style in London may be judged by his effects when he died in 1803. David and his brother Alexander together with Mary are buried in St Paulinus Church, Crayford, Kent. Curiously David didn’t leave a will. A sense of his standing comes from a public notice by an administrator selling his farm lists the farm as follows:
''Lot 2 A piece of copyhold land in front of the above on the opposite side of the road held of the Manor of Wanstead and Stonehall.'' While he did not own a large estate, he appears to have had a very comfortable life as a gentleman bachelor.〔There is no known marriage certificate or record of a wife or family.〕 Before he endowed the hospital, he acquired a family coat of arms.〔… blazoned as Sable a Fess between three Mascles Or in chief a dagger erected point upward proper within a Bordure Argent charged with eight Cinquefoils Gules…" with hand holding writing pen. Motto "Favente Deo Supero" - "By the Favour of God I succeed〕 It is not clear how this happened as he adopted the arms of Mitchell of Craigend in Stirlingshire.〔Mitchell, Alexander, of Craigend (March 1712 ). Apprentice to Charles Bell.- Son of John Mitchell of Craigend, Stirlingshire. Born about 1678. Married 24 April 1713, Alison, daughter of Alexander Livingstone of Parkhall, Stirlingshire. Died 14 December 1738. The Arms are those on record in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland in name of 'Alexander Mitchell of Mitchell Sometime designed of Craigend Writer To his Majesty’s Signet', with the motto "Favente Deo Supero" and the crest showing 'a hand holding a writing pen Proper'〕 He was not given any rights to have his own. There is no known link between the Mitchell’s of Old Aberdeen and the Stirlingshire family. It appears that David Mitchell adopted the Mitchell of Craigend coat of arms late in life – perhaps when he was thinking about his estate and legacy.〔The Mitchell lair in the cemetery of the parish church of St Machar has the Mitchell of Craigend coat of arms cut on the flat tombstone. See Maxwell, A. S. (1986). Monumental inscriptions, Old Machar churchyard, Aberdeen, Scotland. Aberdeen, The Author. The same coat of arms is seen in the tablets erected in Crayford Church in Kent. The memorial in St Machar Cathedral has words by the minister of St Machar, Dr Skene Ogilvy. The inscription is: "Conscientia bene actae vitae multorumque benefactorum recordatio jucundissima est" - “Awareness of life well spent is a delightful reminder of many benefits".〕 A further act of Mitchell’s generosity was the endowment of six studentships to Marischal College in 1801.〔Marischal College and University., P. J. Anderson, et al. (1889). Fasti Academiae Mariscallanae Aberdonensis : selections from the records of the Marischal College and University, MDXCIII-MDCCCLX. Aberdeen, Printed for the New Spalding Club, Anderson, P. J., New Spalding Club (Aberdeen Scotland), et al. (1898). Fasti academiae Mariscallanae Aberdonensis. Aberdeen, New Spalding Club.〕 As a result of his endowments of the Hospital and Marischal, he was elected a Burgess of Old Aberdeen and "new" Aberdeen〔Munro, A. M. (1899). Records of Old Aberdeen, 1157-1891ibid., Munro, A. M. and New Spalding Club (Aberdeen Scotland) (1899). Records of Old Aberdeen, MCLVII-MDCCCXCI (MCCCXCVIII-MCMIII) Vol. 2. Aberdeen, Printed for the New Spalding Club.〕 and granted an honorary LL D degree from Marischal College in 1801.〔Marischal College and University., P. J. Anderson, et al. (1889). Fasti Academiae Mariscallanae Aberdonensis : selections from the records of the Marischal College and University, MDXCIII-MDCCCLX. Aberdeen, Printed for the New Spalding Club, Anderson, P. J., New Spalding Club (Aberdeen Scotland), et al. (1898). Fasti academiae Mariscallanae Aberdonensis. Aberdeen, New Spalding Club.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mitchell's Hospital Old Aberdeen」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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