Biography:
1. Joseph Mitchell was working as a Bargeman in January 1789. He was paid 1/6d per day, and was described as "working in the punts" (Supply 5/212). An Establishment list made a few days later stated that Joseph Mitchell was the Master Bargeman, and that only one Bargemaster was required (Supply 5/212). A Return dated the 18th April 1789, confirmed he was in the punts and barges at 1/6d per day (also Supply 5/213) and this was also the case in September 1789, according to Supply 5/214.
2. Supply 5/ 212 dated the 29th January 1789, confirmed that Mitchell was a Master Bargeman, and Winters (p.69) recorded that Joseph Mitchell was first employed on the 15th December 1788 at 1/6d per day, as well as being one of the first Bargemen employed at the Mills. Winters (p.55) listed old barges and their Masters for various years. The Resolution was the only barge listed for 1789, with Joseph Mitchell as its Master.
2. A Statement dated the 4th April 1821, "of monies to which the public were entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and the 31st December, 1821, shewing the amounts received by the storekeeper" indicated that Joseph Mitchell had been living in, or renting, a Board of Ordnance property, Tenement No. 19, from the 23rd April 1819, for £27 per annum (Supply 5/232)
3. The 1840 Tithe Map recorded that a Joseph occupied Plot No. 1414 on the south side of High Bridge Street to the west of Powder Mill Lane. The same information is repeated in Supply 5/232 dated the 16th February 1822 for the year 1821. This was a relatively large plot backing onto the old River Lee to the east of the Mills' Cooperage, and is Plot No. 50 on the Town Map in Appendix 1. Winters recorded on page 86 of his book, a Minute from the Mills' Letter Book dated the 22nd April 1819 stated that Mr. Mitchell was not to navigate the old Lee above the Cooperage Yard - in other words Mitchell did not "park" his barge at the bottom of his garden.
