Emma Mitchell (1840 – 1909)


A genealogical presentation of the life and times of the ancestors and descendants of William Henry Mathews (1880 – 1964) and his wife Sara Louisa Florence Mitchell (1889 – 1972).

THE MITCHELL FAMILY LINEAGE
– the children of John and Susannah (Sarah) –

Emma Ann (Annie) Mitchell (1840 – 1909)

Emma was born on the 20th of June 1840 at Kingsland Road, Haggerston in the London parish of St Leonards, Shoreditch.
Her first thirteen years were spent in London's East End helping her mother raise five younger siblings.

On November 16, 1853, Emma began her life's great adventure when she boarded HMS Asiatic in Tilbury with her mother and younger brothers Robert (8), John (5), Marshall (3), and Francis (1) heading for Melbourne.

During her teenage years at 22 Arthur Street, South Yarra, Emma helped her mother with toddlers Marshall and Francis while her father travelled to New Zealand with her older brothers Henry, Robert, and John.

Emma was a young 21-year-old-lady when the family were finally reunited in Dunedin, New Zealand and it was here, in 1866, that she married 20-year-old Robert GOODISSON (1846–1923).

Robert had a keen interest in cattle and horses becoming a dealer of dubious repute in his later years.
The couple ran a dairy farm in St Kilda, Dunedin where they raised six children, Mary Jane (1867 – 1937), Sarah (1868 – 1903), William Francis (1871 – 1912), Robert Anderson (1873 – 1873), Thomas Robert (1874 – 1960) and Robert (1878 – 1951).

Shortly after their youngest son Robert was born, life started to change for Emma.
Her husband Robert, who was a heavy gambler on the racetrack, had accumulated significant debts.
Parts of their land had to be sold, and eventually, Robert was declared bankrupt [1] with debts amounting to £1745 15s 8d.

Whilst Robert remained steadfast in Dunedin, Emma had had enough and together with her youngest children removed to Palmerston North to be with her brother Henry and his family.

In late 1888, Emma received news that her mother was critically ill in Melbourne.
Accompanied by her son Thomas, she promptly travelled to be with her.
Following her mother's passing in April 1889, Emma, along with her younger brother Marshall, provided support for their father, their residence being 7 Tyrone Street, South Yarra [2].
This property became hers by bequest when her father died in 1895.

Now effectively separated from her husband, Emma remained in Melbourne until 1901, firstly to finalise [3] her father’s substantial estate and secondly to witness her son Thomas’ marriage.

Emma and the newlyweds moved back to Auckland the following year, the 1905-06 New Zealand Electoral Roll listing the three living at Seafield View Road, Auckland East.
It was here that she died on June 28, 1909.
Her estranged husband Robert survived her by 14 years.

Grave of Emma Annie Goodison (nee Mitchell).
Purewa Cemetery, Auckland.

References
  1. Case of Bankruptcy. Otago Daily Times, 18th October 1882.
  2. The Sands Melbourne and Suburban Directory of 1900 has Emma and Robert Goodisson Jnr. registered as ratepayers at 7 Tyrone Street, South Yarra, a property built by Emma's younger brothers William and Marshall and owned by her father.
  3. Emma and Henry Mitchell were given a Tyrone Street, South Yarra property each in their father's will in 1893 but lived in New Zealand. Their brother Marshall and stepmother Louisa managed the properties. When Marshall died in 1893, Emma and Henry feared losing the properties to Louisa's children. After Louisa’s death in 1900, their presence in Melbourne ensured the properties were dispersed according to their parents' wishes.