Birth Registered Twice

[Currie]

It sounds like you’re on the right track Sarah.

The father died 1912.

The Scotsman, September 27, 1912.
MITCHELL.—At 17 London Street, on the 24th inst., JAMES P. MITCHELL, provision merchant, aged 53 years. Funeral to-day (Friday), at 3 o’clock, to Warriston Cemetery. Friends kindly meet at Warriston Road gate at 3.20.

The Scotsman, October 2, 1912.
EXECUTRY NOTICE.
ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS against the Deceased JAMES P. MITCHELL, Provision Merchant, 17 London Street, who carried on business as Mitchell’s Stores at 265 Great Junction Street, Leith, and various Branches, are requested to render the same to 24th September 1912 to the Subscribers, and ALL PERSONS INDEBTED to the Deceased are requested to pay the amounts due.
CADELL & MORTON, W.S.,
Agents for the Deceased’s Executors.
27 Rutland Square, Edinburgh.

All the best,
Alan

[Currie]

It appears that James P. Mitchell’s name was James Pennycook Mitchell, and that his birth and death are registered under that name on SP.

According to an IGI submission the parents were James Mitchell and Alexandrina Victoria Watson. Amongst other siblings there’s an extracted record for a son David Mitchell born 10 December 1862 in Edinburgh.

In The Standard (London), Wednesday, August 18, 1886, there’s a marriage notice:
MITCHELL—WOLLASTON. —June 19, at St. John the Evangelist’s Church, Montreal, by the Rev. A. French, M.A., David Watson Mitchell, third son of James Pennycook Mitchell, J.P., of Blairgowrie, Scotland, to Mary Wollaston, second daughter of the late R. Gulston Wollaston, M.D., of Lyme Regis, Dorset.

If David Watson Mitchell is the young fellow’s uncle maybe he headed off to Canada.

There’s a WW2 US Draft registration card on the Familysearch site for an Allan Pennycook Mitchell born 28 December 1891 Edinburgh. At time of registration he was living Queens NY. It’s probably his brother.

Alan

[SarahND]

Good info, Alan!
Yes, I was thinking that James might have gone to Canada. At least one of his siblings (Minnie) was married there. Maybe he left after his father died. If only he had a more unusual name... I got bogged down by all the James Mitchells in this world when I was looking last night.

The Ancestry trees have the same parents as in the IGI submission: James Pennycook Mitchell and Mary Davidson Allan

Regards,
Sarah

[frances]

Hi Sarah and Alan,

What can I say, you are both superb detectives =D> , thanks so much for all the info. I have just had a quick look at it, will take more time tomorrow to absorb it all.

Kind Regards

Frances