A Month of Gravestones - Stephen Mitchell

Today's post features the gravestone of Stephen Mitchell. Stephen was born near Linlithgow and is buried in St Michael's Kirkyard, next to Linlithgow Palace.

Following a four year apprenticeship with merchants in Leith, Stephen joined his father's tobacco business, Stephen Mitchell & Son. This comprised both snuff mill and a tobacconist shop. Following the death of his father, Mitchell took over the family business and watched it prosper despite changes in trade regulations. 

Mitchell retired to Moffat where he also suffered the accident that caused his death. He was out for a walk and seems to have lost his footing and fell. His fall appears to have caused a fractured skull and it was several hours before he was found. By that time, he was deceased. His body was returned to Linlithgow to be buried alongside his parents. 

Mitchell had no children and so left his vast fortune to various staff and charities. He left almost £67,000 for the establishment of a public library. Many genealogists will be familiar with this part of his legacy, The Mitchell Library in Glasgow.