MITCHELL, Jonathan, clergyman, born in Halifax, England, in 1624; died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 9 July, 1668. He came to this country with his parents in the ship with Richard Mather, reaching Boston on 17 August, 1635. He was graduated at Harvard in 1647, and on 24 June, 1649, preached at Hartford, and was invited to succeed Thomas Hooker. This offer he declined, and after being ordained at Cambridge on 21 August, 1650, succeeded Thomas Shepard as pastor of that place. Soon after his settlement, Henry Dunster (q. v.), president of Harvard college, his old preceptor, openly announced his conversion to the doctrines of the Baptists, and Mr. Mitchell found it necessary to expose what was regarded as the inconsistency of his action. This duty he performed so delicately that he retained the friendship of Mr. Dunster, although the latter was obliged to resign his office. In 1662 he was a member of the synod that met in Boston to discuss and settle questions of church membership and discipline, and its report was written chiefly by him. The adoption by this synod of the so-called half-way covenant (see EDWARDS, JONATHAN;)was due to him more than to any other man. He was elected a fellow of Harvard in 1650, and continued so until his death. He published several letters and sermons, among which were "Letter of Counsel" to his brother (1664); " An Election Sermon " (1667); "A Letter concerning the Subjects of Baptism" (1675); and "A Discourse of the Glory to which God hath called Believers by Jesus Christ," which was printed at London after his death, with the letter to his brother affixed and reprinted (Boston, 1722).