Silas Weir Mitchell

Mitchell in 2013, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Silas Weir Mitchell Neilson

Place of Birth: Wynnewood, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Birth: September 30, 1969

Ethnicity: English, German, Irish, Scottish, distant Dutch

Silas Weir Mitchell is an American actor. He is known for his work on television series Prison Break, My Name Is Earl, and Grimm, among others.

He was named after physician, scientist, novelist, and poet Silas Weir Mitchell, who was the brother of his maternal great-great-grandfather Nathaniel Chapman Mitchell. Their father was physician and writer John Kearsley Mitchell.

Silas’ paternal grandfather was Harry Rosengarten Neilson (the son of Lewis Neilson and Clara Augusta Rosengarten). Harry was born in Pennsylvania. Lewis was born in New Jersey, the son of Thomas Neilson, whose parents were from Ireland and England, respectively, and of Sarah Claypoole. Clara was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Harry Bennett Rosengarten, whose parents were German, and of Clara Johanna Knorr, whose parents also were German.

Silas’ paternal grandmother was Alberta Pancoast Reath (the daughter of Benjamin Brannan Reath and Florence Pancoast). Alberta was born in Pennsylvania. Benjamin was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Benjamin Brannan Reath, whose father was Irish, and of Emma Hannah Wood. Florence was born in Maryland, the daughter of Albert Pancoast and Rebecca Emily Thomas.

Silas’ maternal grandfather was John Kearsley Mitchell (the son of John Kearsley Mitchell and Frances Butcher “Fannie” Stotesbury). Silas’ grandfather John was born in Pennsylvania. Silas’ great-grandfather John was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Nathaniel Chapman Mitchell and Margaret Yeates Brinton. Frances was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Edward Townsend Stotesbury and Frances Berman Butcher.

Silas’ maternal grandmother was Susanne/Susanna/Susan Shaw Minturn (the daughter of Hugh Minturn and Ruth Winsor). Susanna was born in London, England, to American parents. Hugh was born in New Jersey, the son of Robert Bowne Minturn and Susanna Shaw. Ruth was born in Massachusetts, the daughter of Alfred Winsor and Linda Kennard.

Sources: Obituary of Silas’ father – http://swhplibrary.net

Genealogy of Silas’ mother (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Silas’ maternal grandfather, John Kearsley Mitchell – http://findagrave.com