page_title: Mitchell's Hospital Old Aberdeen
section_title: Early Days of the Hospital
hierarchical_section_title: Mitchell's Hospital Old Aberdeen / History / Early Days of the Hospital
caption_attribution_description: English: Part of the Mitchell's Archive - Sederunt Volume 1
context_page_description: Mitchell's Hospital, Old Aberdeen, in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, was founded by the philanthropist David Mitchell in 1801 as follows: " .. from a regard for the inhabitants of the city of Old Aberdeen and its ancient college and a desire in these severe times to provide lodging, maintenance and clothing for a few aged relicks and maiden daughters of decayed gentlemen merchants or trade burgesses of the said city.. ". See the text of the 1801 Mortification or the conditions of the endowment. The Hospital is owned and managed by the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council and the Cathedral Church of St Machar in Old Aberdeen. The origins of the Hospital are due to various attempts by the Incorporated Trades and Merchants in Old Aberdeen to provide a "care home" for their elderly and infirm members and their "relicks".
  From 1801 until the beginning of the twentieth century, the hospital served as a refuge for "relicks" of Old Aberdeen Trade Burgesses. Mitchell's mortification laid down very specific conditions for eligibility. One of which gave preference in selecting residents to those who had the name "Mitchell".
context_section_description: On or about 19 November 1800 the Principal of King's College Old Aberdeen, Dr. Roderick MacLeod, received a communication that  ".. an unknown gentleman had an intention of founding and endowing an Hospital for the maintenance of 10 old women of this city ..…".  This brief entry, in the records of Mitchell's Hospital Old Aberdeen, records the creation the  "Auld Maids Hospital". While David Mitchell was ".. an unknown gentleman.." the proposal was warmly received. The College contacted the Merchant Society, the Magistrates and the Trades Council to seek support for "…  founding and endowing an Hospital for the maintenance of ten old women of this city ..…".  The residents were to be "..  five aged relicks and five maiden daughters of decayed gentlemen or merchants or trade burgesses… " William Jack, the Sub-Principal of Kings College reported that the Magistrates and Town Council of Old Aberdeen had agreed unanimously that land would be acquired and granted gratis to the College for use by a Hospital.  James Stronach, Convener of the Trades Council said they prepared to contribute their share to have a hospital built.  James Jaffrey, Clerk to the Merchants Society responded that the Society considered the matter to be of the highest importance and would an appoint members to a committee to further the build of a hospital. In a very short time the idea of a hospital for aged relicks and maiden daughters was turned into practice.
  Mitchell gave by Deed of Mortification dated 25 May 1801, the sum of £5500 consolidated 3% Government annuities for the purpose. Of the total sum the interest on £500 was to be allocated to repairs to the building.  The hospital was " ".. for all time is to be called Mitchell's Hospital..". The Mortification was a very detailed document that determined how the hospital was to run, who were eligible for residence, what they were to wear and what type of food was to be provided. The selection of residents was very precisely drawn. The Mortification specified that the ladies had to be virtuous and of good moral character ".. of the names of Mitchell or Forbes in equal numbers…". In addition the residents were to wear " gowns of a deep blue colour.." resulting in residents being called " .. auld maids in blue gowns..". The issue of eligibility was an early problem for the Governors.  Exceptions were made, in particular for a Christian Mitchell. This lady was not related to the Mitchell family but was a "name-daughter"   after the founder's mother Christian Forbes. The Governors decided to make an exception for her but not to allow this to be a precedent for others. Along with the Mortification Mitchell executed on 19 August 1801 further detailed Regulations containing minute directions as to the management of the hospital, the admission, qualification, behaviour and even diet of the residents together with the appointment of a governess or matron and the duties of a board of Managers or Trustees.
  The trustees were to be drawn from King's College, the Church of Old Machar, the town council of Old Aberdeen and the Trades Council. Nothing was left to chance. On 5 January 1802, the Trustees met and agreed an advert be placed in the Aberdeen Journal and on the principal gate of the hospital with an entry date set for the last Monday in January, 1802 The Governors met on the 23rd and 25th Of January and admitted nine women. Two of the applicants were rejected ".. though their moral character, age and indigence was fully ascertained.." because they could not provide proof of their husband's link to the Incorporated Trades. The state of one of those accepted, a Mary Weir, underscores the real need that was being met. A minute of the Governor's on 2 February 1802 records that she ".. came over from the new town in a cart,  she being unable to walk on account of the poor state of her health..".  By 20 May of that year, a Governess had been appointed after a detailed exchange of letters with the founder. Mitchell continued to take a keen interest from where he lived in London about the residents, the building, i
caption: Part of the Mitchell's Archive - Sederunt Volume 1
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