American AcornsLaura Mitchell
born 1842 · Female
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Overview
Laura Mitchellborn 1842William Jasper Joycec. 1827–1918Husband
Biography
Her father's will, 1865
Laura's father, Asa Mitchell, wrote a will on October 18, 1865, asking that the children of his first and second marriages be placed on as equal a footing as possible, with what he had already given each of them taken into account.
Likely About this evidence
The saved document is a certified copy in a Texas General Land Office land-grant file; it has not had an independent manuscript check. The media page is tied to Asa's profile, not Laura's, so it is cited here rather than shown as a figure.
The will names Laura as his daughter, married to William J. Joyce, and records that he had already advanced the couple ten acres with improvements about a mile below San Antonio.
Likely About this evidence
Same source and caveat as above. This establishes the gift as the will describes it, not every later step of Laura's life.
The will directed that this earlier gift be counted when the estate was finally divided.
Likely About this evidence
The will states the intention; whether the executors carried it out this way is not shown here.
Family
Parents
- Father: Asa Columbus Mitchell 1795–1865
Confirmed evidence: show why
Why: Asa Mitchell's will (San Antonio, 18 October 1865; certified copy 1870) says he has advanced to 'my daughter Mrs. Laura Joyce & her husband William J. Joyce' land near San Antonio and money to 'my said son-in-law W. J. Joyce'. William J. Joyce and Laura Mitchell married at Bexar County in 1863. The will is a record made by Asa himself.
Records:
- Last will and testament of Asa Mitchell, San Antonio, 18 October 1865 (certified copy in the General Land Office file). Nacogdoches 1st Class file 1117 (Richard Pillow), will pp. 1-8 (PDF indexes 26-34): p. 5 names 'my daughter Mrs. Laura Joyce & her husband William J. Joyce' and 'my said son-in-law W. J. Joyce'; signed 18 Oct 1865; filed 22 Nov 1865, recorded 12 Jan 1866; copy certified by the Bexar County Clerk 9 Jun 1870 (Book A of Wills, pp. 1-3) (view at Texas General Land Office)
- 1850 U.S. census, Bexar County, Texas (east side of the San Antonio River, Mission Concepcion), household of Asa Mitchell (the census gives no relationships). household 145, lines 3-11: Asa Mitchell (56), Emilia (34), Milam, Hiram, Martin, Medora and Laura (both 7, bracketed 'twins'), Asa, Emilia (record page · view at FamilySearch) (context)
- Bexar County, Texas, marriage licence and return of Wm J. Joyce and Laura Mitchell, April 1863. licence no. 2264, record book p. 385: Wm J. Joyce and Laura Mitchell, issued 27 Apr 1863, solemnized 28 Apr 1863 by Jesse Boring, returned 14 May 1863 (view at FamilySearch) (context)
Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Image examined.
Earlier: Unconfirmed (09-24-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. · Unconfirmed (10-03-2026, imported tree): The FTM import's own unassessed link. · Likely (10-03-2026, research): Likely from the 1850 census household and the 1863 marriage; superseded when the will was found. · Likely (10-03-2026, research): Laura, 7, with her twin Medora, is in Asa Mitchell's 1850 household (the census gives no relationships); compiled Mitchell accounts give twins Medora and Laura born 25 December 1842, and her 1900 census birth is December 1842. She married at Bexar County, where he lived, in 1863. No record naming Asa as her father has been found: his will or probate packet (Bexar County, 1865-66) or her 1915 death certificate would settle it.
- Mother: Emily Brisbin 1818–1863
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Husband: William Jasper Joyce c. 1827–1918 Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Son: Harvey W Joyce 1870–1956
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Daughter: Emily Lilian Joyce 1864–1936
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Son: Robert Davis Joyce 1878–1962
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Daughter: May Joyce Kelso 1866–1935
Confirmed evidence: show why
Why: May Joyce Kelso's death certificate gives her mother's maiden name as Laura Mitchell (born Texas) and her father as Rev. Wm. J. Joyce; Laura Joyce's 1915 obituary lists Mrs. Winchester Kelso among her children.
Records:
- Texas death certificate of May Joyce Kelso, San Antonio, 31 Aug 1935. father Rev. Wm. J. Joyce (born Georgia); mother's maiden name Laura Mitchell (born Texas) (view at FamilySearch)
Review: assessed 10-03-2026; evidence: Image examined.
Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-03-2026, imported tree): The FTM import's own unassessed link. · Unconfirmed (09-24-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
- Son: Albert Goodloe Joyce 1871–1950
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Life events
| Born | DEC 1842, Texas, USA Likely evidence: show whyWhy: Her gravestone gives 1842 and Find a Grave gives December 1842 in Texas. No record seen gives the day or names San Antonio. Records:
Review: assessed 11-02-2026; evidence: Image examined. Earlier: Unconfirmed (09-24-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. |
|---|---|
| Died | Texas, USA |
| Marriage | 28 APR 1863, Bexar Co, Texas, USA, with William Jasper Joyce c. 1827–1918 |
Newspapers
1 newspaper clipping to view here. View it larger, one at a time.
Record images
3 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.
Sources
Research sources
- 1850 U.S. census, Bexar County, Texas (east side of the San Antonio River, Mission Concepcion), household of Asa Mitchell (the census gives no relationships) Census view at FamilySearch
- Bexar County, Texas, marriage licence and return of Wm J. Joyce and Laura Mitchell, April 1863 Birth, marriage and death records view at FamilySearch
- Gravestone 'LAURA MITCHELL JOYCE 1842-1915', San Marcos, Texas (Find a Grave memorial 104462403, photograph; memorial text 'Dec 1842, Texas', parents Asa Mitchell and Emily Brisbane) Other documents view at research
- Last will and testament of Asa Mitchell, San Antonio, 18 October 1865 (certified copy in the General Land Office file) Birth, marriage and death records view at Texas General Land Office
- Texas death certificate of May Joyce Kelso, San Antonio, 31 Aug 1935 Birth, marriage and death records view at FamilySearch
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