In five pages torn out of a book, Orlando wrote......

On Sept, 28, 1911, received letter from Mr Mansfield-Haysom of Chard asking if I were descended from William Mansfield, son of John James Mansfield, Sheriff of S. Hants who died in 1762 and is buried in Ringwood Church with his two wives. Replied in the negative, saying that my father was born at Crediton, and was a Congregational minister – Rev. J. Pearce Mansfield.

Considerable correspondence with W. Haysom followed, leading to perpetual acquaintance and friendship. The correspondence decided new facts that John James Mansfield (originally Manfield and descended from the Manfield’s of Notts.) had by his first wife, Elizabeth who died 1740, 7 children of whom Sir James Mansfield (left) Lord Chief Justice of Court of Common Pleas was 3rd. He was the ancestor of the present Lord Sandhurst, and was born in 1734.

William born 1735 had a son also William, born 1774. This William married a Mary Pearse, about 1800 and left for Devon where he was lost sight of. Richard Fezard* Mansfield. the 7th child of John James, born 1740, had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. They married two brothers called Haysom, solicitors at Ringwood, and from the eldest of their daughters Mr Mansfield – Haysom is descended. After the death of his first wife, John James Mansfield married one Grace who died in 1747. Her only surviving child, Charles Benjamin Mansfield, was born at Ringwood in 1745. He also was lost sight of by the other branches of his family. John James was a man of wealth, owning nearly a score of estates in S. Hants, sending his son, Sir James, to Eton and Cambridge. And leaving £32.000 to his son Richard Fezard alone.

On Friday, Oct.13, 1911, I met Mr M-Haysom at Exeter, and proceeded to Crediton where assisted by the Church Minister Rev. S.E. Archbell, we searched the registers at the Parish Church, discovering that my Grandfather, William Mansfield was described on his marriage certificate as ‘of Culmstock’. He married Susanna Pearce Andrews, of Topsham, at Crediton, on Dec 7. 1812 and died at Crediton, Nov 23, 1851 aged 66 years.

On Monday, Oct 16, 1911, we proceeded to Culmstock, where were kindly assisted by the Vicar, Rev. Tertius Poole. We discovered that William Mansfield came there from Ringwood, that his son William was born there in March 1808. This disproved the theory of descent from William Mansfield. There was no record of his death, which still remains a mystery. We also discovered that his reason for going to Culmstock was that the Mansfield’s had been there twice early in the 17th Century; that Benjamin was quite a family name; that they married into the Arundel family; and were country people of wealth and position.

Not satisfied with the search made in such restricted time, W. M – Haysom returned on Monday, Oct 23, 1911 and made the startling discovery that Charles Benjamin Mansfield also came to Culmstock (there was a suggestion that he offended his family through his marriage) before his nephew William, and that he died there in 1810, aged 65. This agrees with the date of his birth: 1745 – 1810 = 65 years. But more important was the discovery that a son, William was born to Charles Benjamin and Mary Mansfield in 1786. This son was my Grandfather, of whose death in 1851 was evidently entered as 66 on his.birthday.

After this we decided to secure some Cathedral evidence of birth, and to this end requested Mr Lloyd, LLB of Troubridge to search any records to which might have access. These efforts howevever.........................ENDS.

*Fezard or Tizard