Thomas Mitchell

• Birth date            1839 or 1842
• Married                23 August, 1864 to Emma at St. Nicholas Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
• Separation          1886 to Emma Mitchell on the misconduct of her husband.
• Bankruptcy         1882 1885
• Death date          not known

Born in Canada, Thomas Mitchell was one of the few qualified architects in Oldham, having trained under Thomas Prosser, the North-Eastern Railway Company's architect.  Having carried on business as an architect for some years at Oldham, Mitchell went into partnership with Colin Campbell Macleod in 1874, insofar as this related to the business undertaken in the Manchester office. Mitchell continued to reside at Oldham, travelling two or three times a week to Manchester, where his partner resided. In 1876, some differences arising between the two, it was agreed that they should dissolve the partnership. The partnership was dissolved on 14 November 1876, the parties agreeing to refer to an arbitrator certain matters of different between them. Further dispute as to the award of the arbiter led Mitchell to take court action.

In 1877 Thomas Mitchell entered into a short-lived partnership with and David Jones, under the style or firm of Mitchell and Jones, at 4, Clegg-street, Oldham, and at 17, St. Ann's square, Manchester, in the business of Architects, was dissolved by mutual consent on 25 February 1878 after which Mitchell worked alone.

In 1881 Mitchell won the competition for the Oldham Free Library and work commenced the following year. He later stated that when he was building the free library at Oldham, it was part of his duty to attend certain committee meetings of the Oldham Corporation. However, in consequence of a disagreement with Mr Booth, the Town Clerk, he refused to attend unless specially summoned. The Mayor of Oldham referred to the matter in the Council, resulting in Mitchell taking action against him for slander. Mitchell won the action, but seriously damaged his business prospects, possibly bringing his career to a premature end. However, other factors were at work, which only became public in 1886 and 1887.

LOCAL MATRIMONIAL SUIT. the Divorce Division of the High Court of Justice, yesterday, Mr. Justice Butt had before him the local suit of Mitchell v. Mitchell, which was petition the wife, Emma Mitchell, for a judicial separation on the misconduct her husband, architect. was no defence.—Mrs. Emma Mitchell, the petitioner, stated that she was married to her husband, Thomas Mitchell, an architect, at St. Nicholas Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on the 23rd the August, 1864 and there were two children living of the Union. After a time they went to reside first at Oldham, and subsequently at Manchester. From time to time he was absent from home for various periods, representing that he was taken away by business—once in connection with some salt baths at Nantwich. On the 11th of last November a Mrs. Edwards called, and in consequence of what she said the petitioner asked her to call again the same night. She did so, and brought a little boy with her. At first Thomas Mitchell did not appear to recognise the woman, until she said something- the effect that this was the third experimental interview that she had had with him. He seemed too ill to speak when he recognised her. She said, "This Mr. Marshall, and this is his child." He did not deny it. Mrs Lily Edwards deposed that in August a lady and gentleman left a little boy her care. They called themselves Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, He failed to pay for the support of the child, and finding that he was a Mr. Mitchell she called at his house, and saw the last witness. When she saw him that night he bowed his and said, "You might have spared this." admitted that was true. Evidence having been given to the effect that the respondent had been cohabiting with a woman named Marie Marshall at 20, Meadow-street, his lordship granted judicial separation, with costs, the wife have the custody of the children. [Manchester Courier 11 March 1886 page 3]

AN ARCHITECT'S CAREER. PAINFUL DISCLOSURES - At the Manchester County Court, on Wednesday, Thomas Mitchell, architect, engineer, and surveyor, who carried on business at Oldham and Manchester, was examined as to his bankruptcy. The debtor said that he had filed his petition because he was unable to meet liabilities incurred through an action for divorce brought against him by his wife. He commenced business in Oldham about nineteen years ago with capital amounting to £1,000. From 1874 to 1882 he had a branch office in Deansgate, Manchester. In the latter year he was sold out for rent, and in September, 1885, he was again sold out. His unsecured liabilities amounted to £1,041, and he did not possess a single penny of assets. In answer to the question "What are the causes of your insolvency" the debtor stated that some years ago he was building the free library at Oldham. It was part of his duty to attend certain committee meetings of the Oldham Corporation, but in consequence of a disagreement with Mr. Booth, the Town Clerk, he refused to attend unless specially summoned. The Mayor of Oldham referred to the matter in the Council, and the result was that be (the debtor) brought him up for slander. He gained the action, but the amount of dirt which had been thrown was quite sufficient to damage his business prospects. About that time he won by competition the right to erect the workhouse schools, Oldham Gardens. Acting under instructions he prepared plans, but the election took place and a cry for economy and reform arose. The first thing that the Guardians did was to repudiate his plans because they were not under contract. The amount of his contract would have been £1,080. He lost that, and he also lost £250 which he had spent on preparations. Those circumstances reduced his business. He did not reduce his expenditure, hoping that he would retrieve his position. Things grew worse, however, and his wife sent round a circular to his clients which damaged his credit, and the consequence was that he lost all the work he had on hand. Mrs. Emma Mitchell, his wife, from whom he was judicially separated in March. 1886, was scheduled as a creditor for £109. 6s 9d for law costs in the divorce suit, and £81 8s 9d for law costs and alimony. He had no moral or legal defence in that action, the allegation of adultery being true. At present he was living on the kindness of others. The debtor was then examined by Mrs Mitchell as to the disposal of his income. Mrs Mitchell stated that she was now receiving parish relief from the Chorlton Board of Guardians. The debtor admitted that his wife had a fortune of £600, which he had borrowed from her trustee. The debt was statute barred, but he treated it as a debt of honour. It was untrue that he had ever gambled or that he was a drunkard, but it was the case that he had lived in adultery with women during the past eight years. He had taken one woman to Scotland, London, and other places. He was now living with a woman who passed as his wife. Mrs. Mitchell stated that three of their four children were living with her, and there were occasions on which they were starving. Her husband had spent her fortune, and she was now so reduced that she had to seek parish relief, and depend on the assistance of her friends. The examination was adjourned. [Manchester Times 6 August 1887 page 3]

Address
1872        Thomas Mitchell, 2, Clegg Street Oldham
1876        Thomas Mitchell, 4, Clegg Street Oldham
1878        Thomas Mitchell, Priory Chambers Union Street Oldham
1885        Thomas Mitchell FRIBA Priory Lodge, Greenheys Manchester

1875        Mitchell & MacLeod. 93 or 99? Market Street Manchester
1875        Mitchell & Macleod 10 Mansfield Chambers 17, St Ann's Square, Manchester
1876        Mitchell & Macleod 10 Mansfield Chambers 17, St Ann's Square, Manchester
1878        Thomas Mitchell 17 St Ann’s Square, Manchester
1881        Thomas Mitchell FRIBA . 96 Deansgate Manchester

Residence
1861        4 Bolton Street West, Preston (census)
1871-1881    31 Queens Road Oldham
?        19 Gore Street, Greenheys
1887        56 Ducie Grove, Chorlton-on-Medlock
1891        Meadow Street, Greenheys