Selina Mansfield was born in Crediton, Devon, England on the 21st October 1834 and was christened in Broad Street Independent Chapel on the 7th June 1835. She was the ninth and youngest child of William Mansfield of Culmstock and Susanna Pearce Andrews of Topsham.
Both towns are only a few miles from Crediton.
In the 1851 Census she was aged 16 and still living at home with her Mother Susanna 59, and her older brother Jas. (James Pearce) 19. The address was High Street, Crediton and her occupation was given as a 'Shoebinder'. Although speculative, a Selina appears in the 1881 census and has evidently married a James Watts and now living at 2 Windsor Ct. Bristol St. James, Gloucester.
|
Name
|
Status
|
Occupation
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
James
Watts
|
Head
|
Journeyman
Shoemaker
|
47
|
Westbury,
Wiltshire.
|
Selina
Watts
|
Wife
|
Unspecified
|
46
|
Crediton,
Devon.
|
Emily
Watts
|
Daughter
|
Tailoress
Vest Hand
|
18
|
Bristol.
|
Sidney
G. Watts
|
Son
|
Coach
Painter
|
16
|
Bristol.
|
James
Watts
|
Son
|
Coach
Painter
|
15
|
Bristol.
|
Charles.J.Watts
|
Son
|
Scholar
|
12
|
Bristol.
|
William
Watts
|
Son
|
Scholar
|
9
|
Bristol.
|
Alice
M. S. Watts
|
Daughter
|
Scholar
|
7
|
Bristol.
|
Lucy
Watts
|
Daughter
|
Scholar
|
5
|
Bristol.
|
Thomas
Watts
|
Son
|
Scholar
|
3
|
Bristol.
|
Above: Extract from the 1881 British Census
Certainly,
her age and birth place match exactly and the fact that James Watts
was a Journeyman
Shoemaker could explain how they met.
The
1901 census then has the family living at 2, Johnnyball Lane, Albion
Terrace, Bristol.
Name
|
Status
|
Occupation
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
James
Watts
|
Head
|
Working
at Home, Shoemaker
|
67
|
Wilts,
Corsley.
|
Selina
Watts
|
Wife
|
Undefined
|
66
|
Devon,
Crediton.
|
William
Watts
|
Son
|
Undefined
|
29
|
Bristol.
|
Lucy
Watts
|
Daughter
|
Worker,
Tailoress.
|
25
|
Bristol.
|
Thomas
F. Watts
|
Son
|
Worker,
Bookbinder.
|
23
|
Bristol.
|
Above:
Extract from the 1901 British Census.
|