#52ancestors Post Thirty-Six: Mitchell Giddens was a Shoemaker

August 4, 1834 - Sale of shoes, by Mitchell Giddens, as well as patching, mending,
and adding soles to shoes for Jesse Oates. This was found with other receipts
paid by the administrator of Jesse Oates' estate.

This week's writing prompt for #52ancestors is work.  I choose to write about Mitchell Giddens as one of the few documented facts about Mitchell is his occupation of shoemaker. 

December 25, 1833 - Sale of shoes, by Mitchell Giddens, as well as patching, mending,
and adding soles to shoes for John L. Clifton. 

According to a handwritten record from another family member's research, Mitchell was born on October 12, 1802, and died on December 18, 1852.  Dates for other family members have been accurate so I can only assume this is correct. I suspect these dates were copied from a Bible, but I may never know. 

Mitchell was born the year his father died in Wayne County, North Carolina. Mitchell's mother was thought to be Sarah Taylor. John's estate was divided equally between his wife and eight children. Six of Mitchell's siblings have been documented; Isaac, John, Jacob, David, Elizabeth, and Abram/Abraham. A seventh sibling has not been identified.  Mitchell's mother married Jesse Flowers prior to 1810. 

Mitchell and at least two of his siblings were minors when their father died.
Court records were found showing Jesse Flowers, their mother's husband,
was appointed guardian. However, there appeared to be some
mismanagement of the children's inheritance and Stephen Smith
was appointed guardian of the children. 

In 1835, Mitchell witnessed the will of Bryan King in Sampson County. Mitchell was living in the Buck Swamp district of Wayne County in 1840 and the census indicated he had a wife and three young children under the age of 5. Mitchell was to married Letisha Britt, daughter of William C. Britt and Patience Bell. No marriage record has been found. 

Mitchell remained in Wayne County through at least 1841 where he was found that year
on a voter list. In this 1850 census record, the Mitchell Giddens family was found living
in Duplin County. Mitchell's occupation was listed as shoemaker. 

On November 2, 1852 in Duplin County, Mitchell Giddens signed a petition to remit the remaining term of William Barnham's prison time. Barnham was convicted of manslaughter for killing a nine-year-old boy. Barnham was described as having feeble intellect. James T. Giddens, Henry B. Giddens, and Lewis D. Giddens also signed the petition. 

A little over a month later, on December 18, 1852, it is reported by a family member that Mitchell died. Nothing documents the location or cause of his death; however, on December 18, 1852, it was reported a man died on the tracks near the Warsaw Depot. Warsaw was in Duplin County. Was this Mitchell Giddens? 

Found at Newspaper.com

Mitchell's burial place is unknown. At Find A Grave, it is suggested he was buried in the Troublefield Cemetery in Giddensville where his wife, Letisha was buried in 1895.  This is unlikely as it wasn't until the 1860s when his sons purchased land and opened businesses in Sampson County that Giddensville was established. 

No probate record for Mitchell was found. In 1860 Letisha was living in 
Buck Swamp district of Wayne County with children; Sally, Henry, David, 
Mary, and Rustus (Bryant). Daughter, Patience Elizabeth is living nearby 
with her grandfather, William Britt. Son, George was working as a 
daguerreotypist in or near Clinton in Sampson County. Son,  John was 
working as a turpentine distiller in Piney Grove, Sampson County. 
Son, James T. Giddens could not be found in the 1860 census. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018

Sources

Clifton, John L. Papers, 1784-2001 and n.d.; (bulk 1830-1889) [manuscript]. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn

Letisha Giddens {Tisseu Giddings} in the 1860 United States Federal Census. Web. 9 Sep. 2018. <https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&h=41555719&dbid=7667>.

Man Killed. 24 Dec 1852, Page 2 - Wilmington Journal at Newspapers.com. 1952. Web. 9 Sep. 2018. <https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=16291693>.

Memorials in Troublefield Family Cemetery - Find A Grave.  Web. 9 Sep. 2018. <https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2374018/memorial-search>.

Mitchell Giddens in the 1840 United States Federal Census. Web. 9 Sep. 2018. <https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&h=2580516&dbid=8057>

Mitchel Giddens in the 1850 United States Federal Census. Web. 9 Sep. 2018. <https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&h=12703238&dbid=8054>.

"North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99CF-2PZQ?cc=1911121&wc=Q649-S69%3A1066694502%2C183295401%2C1066696236 : 21 May 2014), Wayne County > G > Giddens, John (1802) > image 28 of 30; State Archives, Raleigh.