Janetta Bishop Mitchell

Female 1791 - 1859  (67 years)


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  • Name Janetta Bishop Mitchell 
    Birth 20 Mar 1791  Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Note It casts significant fresh light on Mrs. Gaskell's influential inner circle of friends, adding to our appreciation of her writings and of her life. The book uncovers some of the mysteries of Mrs. Gaskell's key relationships, most notably concerning Miss Mitchell, who has previously been misidentified in the Gaskell biography. Given Mrs. Gaskell's statement that Miss Mitchell was one of the two principal influences in her life, a deeper understanding of this shadowy presence and the figures around her is vital to our understanding of the author.

    ["You have done me so much good, dearest Nim; more than any one else in my life, - (that I'm aware of) except my own darling Aunt Lumb, & Miss Mitchell" letter to Mrs Emily Shaen, 27 Oct 1854]

    Existing orthodoxy identifies Miss Mitchell as Rosa Mitchell, a visiting governess in the Gaskell household. However, the Miss Mitchell mentioned repeatedly in Mrs. Gaskell's letters was in fact Rosa's much older sister, Janetta Bishop Mitchell.

    Janetta, born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1791, is further shown to have been a confidante not only of Mrs. Gaskell but also of Harriet Martineau. Miss Mitchell is mentioned in Harriet Martineau's early letters in the 1820s - working in Norwich from 1821-25, Janetta became close to both Harriet and her mother and remained in contact with them when Harriet gained literary prominence in the 1830s.

    Janetta Mitchell's fascinating and itinerant life is charted, demonstrating her close links to Unitarian communities across England. Janetta was an example of the many sophisticated women with few material resources who, despite remaining unmarried and culturally invisible, nevertheless found their own paths in 19th-century society.

    Mrs. Gaskell's Personal Pantheon is available from October 2020 (Edward Everett Root Publishers Co. Ltd) ISBN 9781913087463 hardback / ISBN 9781913087470 ebook / 229mm x 152mm, 256pp., fp. 12 b&w illustrations.  [1
    Occupation 1817  Nottingham Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Governess to the daughters of Matthew Needham, a wealthy Unitarian. William Turner's son Henry had recently become a minister there. The Needhams had family in Norwich and spent summers there, accompanied by Janetta. They mixed with the Martineaus and Janetta became friends with Harriet. 
    Occupation 1821  Norwich Norfolk Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Moved to Norwich to care for Mrs Needham's father, who was suffering from terminal mortification of the foot.

    While there became close with Harriet Martineau and her mother. Went for walks with Harriet after her brotner and baby nephew died.

    In 1824 Harriet and her brother James went on a walking tour in Scotland and stayed with Jane Welbank in Edinburgh. 
    Occupation 1825  Nottingham Find all individuals with events at this location 
    After Mrs Needham's father died, Janetta returned to be governess to the Needham's children. 
    Occupation 1833  Knutsford? Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Janetta had recently opened a girls' boarding school. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote that she would 'Recommend Miss Mitchell?s school through thick and thin?. 
    Occupation 1840  Runford Street, Manchester Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Janetta moved to Manchester and was working at the Dover Street Academy, a mixed school for boys and girls run by a German emigre, Dr Philip Merz,

    In the 1841 census she is listed living at Runford Street with Philip Merz, his infant son, 5 female servants, 4 male teachers and 5 male students aged 12-15. No profession is given for her. 
    Residence 1843  39 & 41 Coupland Street, Chorlton, Manchester Find all individuals with events at this location 
    from land tax records 
    • William Turner and his daughter Ann moved to Manchester and lodged with Janetta. Her sister Rosabelle also lived here.
    Occupation 1845  Lloyd Street, Greenheys, Manchester Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Now providing accommodation for students at New College, Manchester

    John Dendy soon removed to 93 Lloyd Street, where he boarded with Miss Mitchell, a very cultivated lady, who kept a boarding-house for the students
    Recollections by Sarah Dendy (nee Beard) in Reciords of A Family 1800-1933, H McLachlan 1935. This seems to be about 1847.

    James Martineau and William Gaskell were Professors at the college and William Turner was a visiting lecturer.

     
    Occupation 1853  Lloyd Street, Greenheys, Manchester Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Manchester New College moved to London, Jametta now cared for William Turner and Jane Welbank, who moved from Newcastle. 
    Note 1856 
    In 1856 EG writes that her friend Miss Mitchell has the Rev William Turner lodging with her, is living in straitened circumstances with just one servant and is doing her own cooking, and has a weak heart.

     
    Death 1859  Lloyd Street, Greenheys, Manchester Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial 1859  Unitarian Chapel, Upper Brook Street, Manchester Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I821  Welbank1
    Last Modified 9 Feb 2023 

    Father Thomas Mitchell   d. 1859, Lloyd Street, Greenheys, Manchester Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Mary Welbank,   b. 14 Mar 1768, Saint Andrew, Holborn, London, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Aug 1837, Mount Pleasant, Northallerton Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years) 
    Marriage 2 Mar 1789  Northallerton, Yorks Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F190  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S3] Bob Gamble, Harriet Martineau, Elizabeth Gaskell ... and Miss Mitchell, (The Martineau Society, Newsletter no 44, Feb 2020, pp11-23), 2020.

    2. [S3] Bob Gamble, Harriet Martineau, Elizabeth Gaskell ... and Miss Mitchell, (The Martineau Society, Newsletter no 44, Feb 2020, pp11-23).