The earliest newspaper mention so far found on the British Newspaper Archives is from 25th May, 1717:
May 25th, 1717
From the Stamford Mercury – Thursday 30 May 1717:
“That Same Day a Man and his Wife, were brought from Mitcham in Surrey, and made Prisoners in the Marshalsea, for Coining Several £1000 in false Money.”
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Whitsters, according to this news item from 1749
“On Saturday Thomas Wiltshire was committed to the new jail in Southwark by William Hammond, Esquire; charged on oath, and his own confession, with feloniously taking and carrying away a large quantity of Dowlas from the grounds of this Messrs Wood and Deacon, of the parish of Mitcham, Witsters.”
Source: The Penny London Post, 10th April 1749
Eric Montague says that “Mr Wood’s Silk Mill” is shown on a map of 1831 near to Wandle Villa. Page 41 of Mitcham Histories : 8 Phipps Bridge, 2006 edition.
Mitcham History Notes 