Mansfield Manfield genealogy

18 August 2006

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Dr G.M.W.Mann.      Baytrees

Burnhams Rd,    Lt.Bookham

Surrey, U.K.           KT23 3AU

geoff.mann@btinternet.com

 

 

 

 

 

5 William MANSFIELD c1795-1872

 

 

m Mary Ann DEARSLEY 1815?

 

 

 

 

 

William Mansfield was born in 1795, but gave his birthplace in one census as Epping, and in another, as Rotherhithe.  It seems possible that he was born in Epping (where there is a strong Mansfield tradition) but moved while young to Rotherhithe.

 

He married Mary Dearsley from Roydon, 10 years older than himself, in Stepney in 1815 and set himself up as a wheelwright in Bethnal Green, in Digby Street just behind the Green.  They had at least 6 children - William born 1816, John 1818, Thomas 1820, Sarah Jane 1824, Alfred 1826 and James 1828.  So far however, I have not found William's baptism, or the baptism of any of their children in the records, and possibly they took place in a non-conformist church.

 

 In 1851 and 1861, William and Mary were living alone in Digby Street, but their children and grandchildren were all close by, the sons having taken up their father's trade or that of carman.  William's eldest son William, expanded the family business very successfully into nearby James Street and became wealthy, leaving nearly £4000 when he died in 1879.

 

Mary died in 1864 and William senior in 1872; both were buried in Victoria Park cemetery in Bethnal Green

 

 

 

 

 

EVENTS

 

 

           age

   DATE   WM MD

 

                       EVENT

     1795     

?   c1815 20 30

    c1816 21 31

    c1818 23 33

    c1820 25 35

    c1824 29 39

    c1826 31 41

    c1828 33 43

 6Jun1841 45 55

30Mar1851 54 65

 7Apr1861 66 76

23Sep1864 69 79

 2Apr1871 76 --

31Aug1872 77  

 5Sep1872 77  

William born, possibly at Epping

William & Mary Ann married

son William born Mile End/Stepney

son John born MDX

son Thomas born BG/Mile End

dau Sarah Jane born

son Alfred born BG/Stepney

son James  born BG

census: at Digby St with wife and 4 children; Wm was a wheelwright

at 2 Digby St; on their own; Wm a wheelwright

at Digby Walk, BG on their own; Wm a wheelwright

Mary buried at Victoria Park Cemetery, Bethnal Green

census not found; not in Digby Walk or James St

William died at 77 James St, at son Thomas' home

William buried at Victoria Park Cemetery, Bethnal Green

 

 

 

PRINCIPAL RECORDS

 

b=born  m=married  d=died

C=Christened      B=Buried

BIRTH

 

From census and death certificate ages, William was born about 1795.  The 41 census gives a birthplace not in Middlesex/London, but 51 census gives Epping Essex as birthplace, 61 census gives Rotherhithe Surrey.  His baptism has not been found in either place.

 

There are only 2 MANSFIELD entries in St Mary Rotherhithe C index 1788-1837: Robert C 26Sep1819,  John C 27Nov1825, both s Joseph & Ruth.  The Rotherhithe m index 1765-1812 had only one m:

 

from Rotherhithe register:

 

m 16Feb1772 William MANSFIELD otp bch & Elizabeth WELLING of Christchurch in this county, widow, by lic. wit: David WELLING, Nath WHITFIELD

C  3Aug1783 Mary d William & Elizabeth MANSFIELD 8d old

 

no other children of Wm & Elizabeth found in IGI/CD

 

There are many MANSFIELD entries in the Epping parish register, but no William C between 1778 and 1807, and no MANSFIELD m between 1777 and 1801.

Essex IGI has two possible William baptisms at Roxwell (nr Chelmsford): C27Jun1790 s Henry & Jane; C 4Sep1798 s John & Elizabeth

 

In all census returns except one, the children of William and Mary are said to be born in Bethnal Green/Stepney/Mile End, but no baptisms have been found there.  The one exception is the 1891 census for son James in which he is said to be born in Hertford.  At this time he was a lodger, and his landlady may perhaps have not known where he was born; interestingly however, Hertford is only 10 miles from Epping and 5 miles from Roydon.  The registers of Hertford all Saints and St Andrew have been examined; there were several Mansfield familes in All Saints in the early 19th C but James baptism was not found nor any evidence of Wiliam.  Other parishes between Hertford and Epping have not yet been examined.

 

In view of the failure to find the C of William or any of his children, a nonconformist origin is possible for William; no suitable family or birth found in Quaker records for Essex or London, nor in the  Wesleyan Metropolitan Registry 1818-1840, nor in Dr Williams Library (RG4 4671-5) 1817-1837

 

 

MARRIAGE

 

The census records name William's wife as Mary, born about 1785 in Royston ESS.  Her burial record names her as Mary Ann; William's son William named his eldest child Mary Ann; third child of son Thomas also christened Mary Ann which is good evidence that Mary Ann is mother of these children and not wife of a second marriage even though she was ten years older than William.

 

From census, William was born about 1795 and eldest known child, William, was born about 1816 in Mile End, so a m of William and Mary Ann is required about 1815.  No suitable m found Epping or Royston or Rotherhithe (birthplaces of William or Mary Ann).  The Cambridge IGI has a suitable m: 29Jan1813 William MANSFIELD & Mary Ann HOBBS at Balsham about 15 miles from Royston, but the Balsham register shows William was from West Wickham, and the West Wickham register shows William buried there 1820, so cannot be the William of Bethnal Green.  Another marriage at Arkesden (10m from Royston, 20m from Epping) has not yet been investigated to see whether this couple remained in Arkesden

 

m22Nov1815 William MANSFIELD otp & Mary JACKSON otp both signed; w: James STOCK, Ann STOCK

 

There are two possible m from Boyd and London IGI; full extract from registers are:

 

m 26Nov1815 William MANSFIELD & Mary DEARSLEY; wit: Samuel ART---, Robert ROOK[?] at Stepney Spitalfields Christchurch

m 25Jan1817 William MANSFIELD bch otp & Mary BENSON spr otp; wit:Wm HOWELL, Ann REEVE, at Christchurch Greyfriars Newgate, banns

 

No baptism of either Mary BENSON or DEARSLEY has been found at Royston.  Several possible Mary Anns were baptised at Royston (from SoG film):

WING; HOLDER 1782; DIXON 1783; (LUCAS 1788 but buried 1793), but no m of these to William MANSFIELD found

 

There is however a suitable baptism of Mary DEARSLEY at Royden in Essex: C 2Oct1785 Mary d Henry & Elizabeth DEARSLEY.  Although Royston was named in two different censuses as the birthplace of William’s wife Mary, a Royden origin seems possible especially as it is close to Epping, the likely birthplace of William.  Moreover, a Stepney marriage fits with the Stepney (Mile End) birthplace of their eldest child William (from census).

 

Pending further evidence, it will be assumed that the DEARSLEY m is correct

DESCENDANTS

 

no suitable baptisms of children of William & Mary found (in IGI, St Ann Limehouse & St Paul Shadwell C index), but the following are probable sons.  The 4 youngest were with William & Mary in the 41 census.  The eldest son William was already married in 1841 but occupying a property in the same street and he continued the wheelwright’s trade there.

 

bc1816 William    m  1836 Susan BAKER St Leonards Shoreditch

bc1818 John

bc1820 Thomas     m <1848 Sarah DELIEU

bc1824 Sarah Jane m  1845 Edwin CLEMENS at Bethnal Green St Philip

bc1826 Alfred     m  1848 Ann Sarah BATT at Bethnal Green St Philip

bc1828 James      m  1850 Mary Ann NEWMAN at Stepney St Dunstan

 

it is possible that other daughters were born also perhaps between 1820 and 1824, but were not at home in 1841

certificates:

 

m 25Dec1845 at St Philip Bethnal Green by banns

Edwin Richard CLEMENS 21 bch carman of 15 Hope Town, & Sarah Jane x MANSFIELD 21 spr of 15 Hope Town

fa: Joseph CLEMENS dyer, William MANSFIELD wheelwright; wi: Richard ELLIS, William S(?)ARVENT

 

m 27Aug1848 at St Philip in parish of Bethnal Green by banns

Alfred x MANSFIELD 22 bch labourer of 6 Hope Town & Ann Sarah BATT 20 spr of 15 Tyssen St

fa: William MANSFIELD wheelwright; John Thomas BATT salesman; wi: Thomas x MANSFIELD, Sarah x MANSFIELD

 

 

b 10Jun1850 Emily girl at 4 George gardens Bethnal Green

fa: Thomas MANSFIELD carman; mo:Sarah MANSFIELD formerly DELIEU

r 13Jul1850 at Green, Bethnal Green MDX by Sarah x MANSFIELD mother of 4 George Gardens Bethnal Green

 

the marriage of Thomas to Sarah DELIEU was not found in GRO indexes between 1841 and 1848 (in Aug1848 Thomas & Sarah witnesses Alfred’s m)  Sarah DELIEU m John GODDARD in Oct1845 (certificate obtained) – evidence of two DELIEU families seen.  Thomas MANSFIELD m 2q1844 Bethnal Green, but no corresponding DELIEU in index

DEATH

certificates

 

d 19Sep1864 Mary_Ann MANSFIELD female age 79, wife of William MANSFIELD, wheelwright at 1 Digby Walk from dropsy

r 20Sep1864 by D_LAMBERT pad of 1 Digby Walk, Bethnal Green, at Green,_Bethnal_Green,_MDX

 

d 31Aug1872 William MANSFIELD male age 77, wheelwright at 77 James St from natural decay

r  2Sep1872 by Sarah x MANSFIELD pad of 77 James St, Bethnal Green, at Green, Bethnal Green, MDX

 

Sarah is a daughter in law, wife of Thomas

 

from Victoria Park, Bethnal Green, cemetery records:

 

B 23Sep1864 Mary Ann MANSFIELD of Digby Walk, Green St, Bethnal Green; age 79 [b1785]

B  5Sep1872 William MANSFIELD of 77 James St, age 77 [b1795}]

 

no record found in the E London newspapers of his death

 

 

CENSUS

1841 Digby St, Bethnal Green HO107/692 Bk5 Dist12

 

William    MANSFIELD          45  1795    wheelwright                                     n

Mary       MANSFIELD          55  1785                                                    n

John       MANSFIELD          20  1820    labourer                                        y

Thomas     MANSFIELD          20  1820    labourer                                        y

Alfred     MANSFIELD          15  1825    labourer                                        y

James      MANSFIELD          13  1827                                                    y

 

1851 2 Digby St HO107/1540 f96

 

William    MANSFIELD   he mar 54  1796    wheelwright                   Epping, ESS

Mary       MANSFIELD   wi mar 65  1785                                  Royston, ESS

 

1861 1 Digby Walk, Bethnal Green RG9/252 f7-13

 

William    MANSFIELD   he mar 66  1794    wheelwright                    Rotherhithe, Surrey

Mary       MANSFIELD   wi mar 76  1784                                   Royston ESS

 

1871 census not found

not at Digby Walk; not at 77 James St where he died which was occupied by son Thomas & Sarah and family

 

OTHER

census and other data for probable sons of William & Mary:

William

1841 Digby St, Bethnal Green HO107/692 Bk5 Dist12

 

William    MANSFIELD          20  1820    wheelwright                        y

Susan      MANSFIELD          20  1820                                       y

Susan      MANSFIELD          4   1836                                       y

Mary       MANSFIELD          2   1838                                       y

 

1851 2 James St, Bethnal Green HO107/1540 f522

 

William    MANSFIELD   he mar 34  1816    wheelwright                     Mile End

Susannah   MANSFIELD   wi mar 33  1817                                    Bethnal Green

Mary Ann   MANSFIELD   da     11  1839    scholar                         Bethnal Green

Harriet    MANSFIELD   da     9   1841    scholar                         Bethnal Green

Job        MANSFIELD   so     7   1843    scholar                         Bethnal Green

Susannah   MANSFIELD   da     4   1846                                    Bethnal Green

Maria      MANSFIELD   da     4m  1850                                    Bethnal Green

 

1861 1 James St, Bethnal Green RG9/256 f117

 

William    MANSFIELD   he mar 45  1815    wheelwright                      Mile End Stepney

Susan      MANSFIELD   wi mar 44  1816                                     Bethnal Green

Mary Ann   MANSFIELD   da unm 21  1839    assistant at home                Bethnal Green

Harriet{?} MANSFIELD   da unm 19  1841    assistant at home                Bethnal Green

John       MANSFIELD   so unm 17  1843    assistant at home                Bethnal Green

Susannah   MANSFIELD   da unm 14  1846    scholar                          Bethnal Green

Maria      MANSFIELD   da     12  1848    scholar                          Bethnal Green

Sarah Ann  MANSFIELD   da     9   1851    scholar                          Bethnal Green

Ellen{?}   MANSFIELD   da     4   1856    scholar                          Bethnal Green

 

1881 56 Nightingale Rd, Bethnal Green RG11/304 f28

 

Susan      MANSFIELD   he wid 63  1817    annuitant                        Bethnal Green

Maria      MANSFIELD   da unm 27  1853                                     Bethnal Green

Sarah      MANSFIELD   da unm 25  1855                                     Bethnal Green

 

will William MANSFIELD of 268 Old Ford Rd, Victoria Park; s 4Apr1879 d 17Jul1879 p 16Mar1881

 

To wife Susannah all household effects; to son Job all wheelwright's stock-in-trade and goodwill of the business; to daughter Sarah Ann GREISER, wife of John GREISER £19 19/; execs: wife, daughter Maria, and Samuel Pound of the Unicorn, Auckland Rd, Victoria Park.

 

Rent from freehold houses 2 3 & 6 Willow St, Mile End to wife for life then to daughter Maria

Rent from leasehold houses 69,71,73 James St to wife for life then to da Harriet SPIEGELHALTER, wife of George SPIEGELHALTER

Rent from leasehold houses 75,77,79 James St to wife for life then to daughter Ellen SCADDEN, wife of John SCADDEN

Rent from leasehold houses 54 56 James St to wife for life then to son Job

Rent from leasehold house 23 Brierly St Bethnal Green, now occupied by son-in-law Robert HOBART to wife for life then to daughter Mary Ann HOBART wife of said Robert for her separate use; after her death, house to be sold for her children

 

signed 4Apr1879; witnessed by William GOODWIN (solicitors clerk) & Nicholas John GARDNER of 272 Old Ford Rd; Samuel POUND renounced his executorship.  Estate <£4000

Alfred

1851 15 White St, Bethnal Green HO107/1542 f173

 

Alfred     MANSFIELD   he mar 25  1825    carman                      Bethnal Green

Mary       MANSFIELD   wi mar 19  1831                                Bethnal Green

Eliza      MANSFIELD   da     1   1849                                Bethnal Green

1861 3 Albion Cottages, Hollybush Gardens, Bethnal Green RG9/260 f27-41

 

Alfred      MANSFIELD   he mar 34  1826    lime carter                 Stepney

Ann         MANSFIELD   wi mar 28  1832                                Stepney

Eliza Jane  MANSFIELD   da     11  1849    fancy trimmer               Bethnal Green

Robert W    MANSFIELD   so     9   1851    scholar                     Bethnal Green

Rosa Amelia MANSFIELD   da     5   1855                                Bethnal Green

Caroline    MANSFIELD   da     3   1857                                Bethnal Green

William J   MANSFIELD   so     10m 1860                                Bethnal Green

 

1881 60 West St Mile end Old Town  RG11/424 f46

 

Alfred       MANSFIELD    he mar 54  1827 carman                         Stepney

Ann          MANSFIELD    wi mar 49  1832                                Stepney

Jessie       MANSFIELD    da unm 16  1865 fancy box maker                Bethnal Green

Thomas       MANSFIELD    so      7  1874 scholar                        Bethnal Green

Alfred       MANSFIELD    so      4  1877 scholar                        Stepney

 

Thomas

1851 5 Hollybush Gardens, Bethnal Green HO107/1541 f683

 

Thomas     MANSFIELD   he mar 27  1823    carman                         Bethnal Green

Sarah      MANSFIELD   wi mar 23  1827                                   Bethnal Green

Sarah      MANSFIELD   da     6   1844                                   Bethnal Green

Thomas     MANSFIELD   so     4   1846                                   Bethnal Green

Emily      MANSFIELD   da     9m  1850                                   Bethnal Green

 

1871 77 James St, Bethnal Green RG10/488 f49-52

 

Thomas     MANSFIELD   he mar 50  1820    carman                         Mile End

Sarah      MANSFIELD   wi mar 40  1830                                   Bethnal Green

Mary A     MANSFIELD   da unm 18  1852                                   Bethnal Green

Thomas     MANSFIELD   so unm 23  1847    bricklayer                     Bethnal Green

Charles    MANSFIELD   so unm 16  1854    labourer                       Bethnal Green

1881 not found

 

 

OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS

 

1)     Was William MANSFIELD born Epping or Rotherhithe c1795?.  Can it be proved that he married Mary DEARSLEY 1815?

 

2)     Where was William in the 1871 census aged 75?  Not in Digby Walk or James St.

 

 

 

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