| Birth | Donovan Frederick Mitchell was born 22 September 1890 in Erith, Kent, England. |
| INFO | BIRTH DATE. Exact birth date 22 Sep 1890 for Donovan Frederick Mitchell from "Descendants of Thomas Farmar [b1790]." (CorresLYMHE email 30Jun2012.) |
| INFO | CIV REG INDEX Birth. 1890 DecQ Donovan Frederick Mitchell Dartford 2a,429. (GBCivRegInd LDS6102127.) |
| INFO | PASSENGER INDEX. April 1911. Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria, Australia. Mitchell, Donovan F. 36 [sic in index], arrival Apr 1911, ship Omrah. Port B, microfilm 822:002. (VicUnPassIn.) |
| INFO | PASSENGER LIST. Ship Omrah (Orient Line). Departure 3 Mar 1911 from London bound for Australia. 3rd class: #349. Mitchell, Mr. D.F. carpenter, single or unaccompanied by husband or wife. To land at Sydney. (PassLeavUK.) |
| INFO | WORLD WAR I MILITARY FILE. Australian Imperial Force. World War I. File for no.91670. File contains 13 pages. p.1: Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad. Donovan Frederick Mitchell, joined on 26 Jun 1918. born in England, British born. Age 27 9/12, b.22 September 1890. Trade: Baptist Minister. Has been an apprentice: as a carpenter for 5 years. Single, Next-of-kin: father Frederick John Mitchell, Lesney Farm, Erith, Kent, England. Australia address: Trelorney Pretoria Pde., Hornsby N.S.W., has never been in Army . . . has not suffered from specified diseases . . . Donovan F. Mitchell [original signature]. p.2: Enlistment Oath signed at Sydney, N.S.W. 26 Jun 1918. p.3: Physical characteristics: age 27, height 6 feet, 160 lbs, chest 33-36 inches, dark complexion, brown eyes, dark hair. Birthmark and two moles noted on drawing of "Distinctive Marks". Baptist religion. p.4. Statement of service: Unit:A, promotions [not legible]; service from 4 Nov 1918 to ???. Stamp below: 31 Dec 1918. p.5 [same form as p.1 with joining date of 4 Nov 1918, but signed with date 26 Jun 1918. p.6 certificate of attesting officer p.7 medical page p.8 statement of service. p.9-10 soldier's musketry register. No results entered. p.11 enlistment application [duplicates information above] p.12 printed form p.13 recruit's signatures for medical approval on 26 Jun 1918 and arrival in camp 4 Nov 1918. (WWIServAus NAA barcode7982370.) |
| Marriage | He married Irene Kilbey Ramage, daughter of John Henry Ramage and Emma ...?..., 25 September 1918 in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. |
| INFO | WEDDING NOTICE. Sydney Morning Herald, 12 Oct 1918. MITCHELL-RAMAGE. September 25, at Hornsby Methodist Church, by Principal A. Gordon, M.A., Rev Donovan F. Mitchell, of Hornsby, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. F.J. Mitchell of Lesney Farm, Erith, Kent, England, to Irene Kilby, youngest daughter of Chaplain-Capt. and Mrs. J.H. Ramage, of Trelawney, Hornsby. (SydMorHerDig 12 Oct 1918, p.12.) |
| INFO | WEDDING. Sydney Morning Herald, 15 Oct 1918. [notice summarized here] The Methodist Church at Hornsby was the scene of a wedding on Wednesday, September 25, when Irene Kilby, second daughter of Chaplain and Mrs. J.H. Ramage, of Trelawney, Hornsby, was married to the Rev. Donovan F. Mitchell, pastor of the Baptist Church in the same district. The minister officiating was the rev. A.J. Gordon, M.A., principal of the Baptist College, Sydney. . . . The bridesmaid was Miss Winifred Ramage, the only sister of the bride. . . .the bridegroom has enlisted for service abroad with the Australian Imperial Forces. . . .. (SydMornHeTro 15Oct1918 p.4) -NOTE: also Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 19Oct1918 p.11. |
| INFO | CIV REG INDEX New South Wales Australia Marriage. 1918 Mitchell, Donovan F. and Ramage, Irene K. Dist: Hornsby. #8673/1918. (NSWBDMIndex.) |
| INFO | NEWS OF MOVE from Hobart to Adelaide. The Register [Adelaide, Australia] 31 March 1927. Rev. Donovan Mitchell Welcomed to Flinders street. [article summarized here]. "The Rev. Donovan F. Mitchell, B.A., formerly of Hobart, who has accepted the pastorate of the Flinders Street Baptist Church was given a most cordial welcome." A summary of the induction service and of Mitchell's welcome speech are given. A cable from the Baptist Missionary Society, London, was reported: "Congratulations on church securing best man available in Australia. Wish him long, happy, and successful pastorate." (RegisterTro 31Mar1927 p.13.) |
| INFO | MAGAZINE ARTICLE. The Australian Lutheran, 24 Jan 1930. The opinion of The Rev. Donovan Michell (Baptist) is cited in an article reporting reaction to the Anglican Bishop of Adelaide having said that "people were nowhere required to hold the belief that every word in the Bible was inspired of God." Mitchell: "said that the vast bulk of people held hazy notions on the subject of Biblical inspiration. Nothing was more important the the holding of clear views on this. The distinction between inspiration and revelation should be recognized. He considered that the Bishop had struck a vital note." (FMPNewsMag Austr Lutheran 24Jan1930 p.18.) |
| INFO | BIOGRAPHY OF ELLEN ARNOLD written by D.F. Mitchell cited in bibliography of Australian Dictionary of Biography article on Ellen Arnold (1858-1931), a Australian Baptist missionary in East Bengal, India. "D.F. Mitchell, Ellen Arnold (Adel, 1932)." (AusDicBioDig.) |
| INFO | NEWS OF TRANSFER. -reported in The Mercury [Hobart, Tasmania]. 5 Dec 1932. The Rev. Donovan F. Mitchell, mninster of the Flinders Street Baptist Church, Adelaide, has accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the Armadale Baptist Church, Victoria. Mr. Mitchell expects to finish his ministry at Flinders Street on the first Sunday in February. He has been at Flinders Street for nearly six years, going there from Hobart. (MercuryTro 5Dec1932 p.3.) |
| INFO | NEWS OF NEW APPOINTMENT. The Argus [Melbourne, Victoria] 10 Feb 1941. "Rev. John Sinclair, on behalf of a commission of the General Assembly, announced to the congregation yesterday that the Presbyterian Church had made arrangements to establish a special ministry at College Church, Parkville, and that the Rev. Donovan F. Mitchell had been appointed to this important parish. Mr. Mitchell has an intimate knowledge of the University and student life, and has been closely associated with the Student Christian Movement." (ArgusMelbTro 10Feb1941 p.4.) |
| Death | Donovan Frederick Mitchell died 31 May 1954 in Hartwell, Victoria, Australia, at age 63. |
| INFO-5gen | DEATH AND FUNERAL NOTICES. The Argus [Melbourne, Australia]. 1 June 1954. Deaths MITCHELL, the Rev. Donovan Frederick .-On May 31 (suddenly) at The Manse, 153 Toorak road, Hartwell, beloved husband of Rene, loved father of . . [names of living deleted] . . .. Funerals. MITCHELL. The Funeral of the late Reverend Donovan Frederick Mitchell will leave the Presbyterian Church, Haney avenue, Hartwell this day (Tuesday), after a service commencing at 2 p.m. for the Spring Vale Crematorium. L.E. Pine & Son Pty. Ltd. (ArgusTro 1Jun1954 p.11.) |
| INFO | CEMETERY INFO. Springvale Botanical Cemetery. Donovan Frederick Mitchell. date of service 1 Jun 1954. Death 31 May 1954 at age 63. Cremation. Locatlion: Agonis - Rose Tree Bed 10, Rose 11. (SpringNecr) Note: same location as wife Irene Kilbey Mitchell. |
| INFO | DEATH. The Examiner [Launceston, Tasmania, Australia] 1 Jun 1954. The Rev. Donovan F. Mitchell. Melbourne.--The Rev. Donovan Frederick Mitchell, of Hartwell Presbyterian Church, who had served in churches in Tasmania, N.S.W., and S.A., died suddenly at his home yesterday. For 20 years he had been in Victoria and was an examiner for the Melbourne College of Divinity. Mr. Mitchell, who was born in Kent, leaves a widow, two married daughters and a son. (ExaminerTro 1Jun1954 p.4.) |
| INFO | PROBATE INDEX. Mitchell, Donovan F., of Ca'berwell, minister, d. 31 May 1954. Probate 27 Oct 1954. 479:608. (VicProbInd LDS6344799-268.) |
| INFO | CIV REG INDEX Australia Victoria Death MITCHELL Donovan Frederic. Father: Frederick Jo. Mother: Minnie Helena FARMAR. Death Place: HART, age 63. Reg. 1954 #5702. (VicDeaInd85.) |
| Note | NEWSPAPER CITATIONS. In the online index of digitized newspapers of the National Library of Australia as of Dec 2012, there are 519 newspaper articles for the search phrase "Donovan F Mitchell." Many are weekly listings of Sunday church services, but others mention specific papers, sermons, and events in Donovan Mitchell's life. Also on the Trove website results list are four books at the National Library of Australia written by Donovan F. Mitchell: 1) Ellen Arnold: pioneer and pathfinder, 1932 31 pages; 2) Urgency in coming to God, 1937 7 pages; 3) Life and Worship 1940 1 sheet; 4) Women and the ministry: whither exegesis? 1949 11 pages. (NLATrove.) |
Donovan Frederick Mitchell