People Australia

William Mitchell (c.1760- ) was a marine in the 3rd (Plymouth) Company when he arrived at Sydney aboard the Charlotte as part of the First Fleet. He served in Captain Watkin Tench's Company at Port Jackson and was promoted to corporal in September or October 1788.

Mitchell had twin sons with convict Jane Fitzgerald (who had also been on the Charlotte) in October 1788; one of the boys, James, died in January 1788. Mitchell did not accompany Fitzgerald and their son when they were sent to Norfolk Island in March 1790. He was sent there a year later but does not appear to have associated with Fitzgerald who supported herself.

Mitchell was granted 60 acres at Grenville Vale after deciding to settle on Norfolk Island but gave up his land and left the island on the Kitty in March 1793 taking his remaining son William with him.

Mitchell joined the NSW Corps as a corporal on 11 April 1793 and was granted 50 acres of land at Bankstown in November 1799 and 110 acres in April 1800. He was described in 1808 as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a round sallow face, grey eyes, and light brown hair. He returned with the NSW Corps to England in 1810, taking his son with him, and was discharged on 16 November 1811.

* information from Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia: A Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet (1989), pp 248-49