Edward
Mansfield was born in Crediton, Devon, England on the 24th January
1825 and was christened in Broad Street Independent Chapel on the
20th March 1825. He was the sixth child of William Mansfield of Culmstock and
Susanna Pearce Andrews of Topsham. Both towns are only a few
miles from Crediton. He married Mary Norman of Ashburton in March 1851.
In
the 1851 Census he was aged 26 and living at Battshills Farm,
Week Village, North Tawton, Devonshire. There was a large woolen
mill in North Tawton employing around 150 workers and was probably
the reason Edward moved there. His older brother Willam was employed
in the same mill.
Opposite is a picture of the Square in North Tawton.
Name
|
Status
|
Occupation
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
Edward
Mansfield
|
Head
|
Wool
Comber
|
26
|
Crediton,
Devon.
|
Mary
Mansfield
|
Wife
|
Serge
Weaver
|
26
|
North
Tawton, Devon.
|
Above: Extract from the 1851 British Census
The
1881 Census sees them living in Okehampton Street, North Tawton and
he has changed profession from a wool comber to a grocer and has
two daughters. Note that the older daughter is named Susanna the
same as Edwards mother. Okehampton Street is now called Fore Street
and runs from the Square down to the River Taw and the Mill.
Name
|
Status
|
Occupation
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
Edward
Mansfield
|
Head
|
Grocer
and General Dealer
|
56
|
Crediton,
Devon.
|
Mary
Mansfield
|
Wife
|
Undefined
|
56
|
Ashburton,
Devon.
|
Susanna
Mansfield
|
Daughter
|
Shop
Maid
|
27
|
North
Tawton, Devon.
|
Elizabeth
Mansfield
|
Daughter
|
Scholar
|
13
|
North
Tawton, Devon.
|
Above: Extract from the 1881 British Census.
In
the 1901 census an Edward Mansfield is described as Father in Law
and living wth the Rice family at West Newton Farm, Zeal Monachorum,
Devon which is around 4 miles North East of North Tawton. This would suggest that he was staying with his daughter
Susan (Susanna) although her age should be 47 not 49. Another transcription
error, although the age and birth place for Edward match.
Name
|
Status
|
Occupation
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
John
L Rice
|
Head
|
Farmer
|
43
|
South
Tawton, Devon.
|
Susan
Rice
|
Wife
|
Undefined
|
49
|
North
Tawton, Devon.
|
L.M.
Rice
|
Daughter
|
Undefined
|
14
|
North
Tawton, Devon.
|
Edward
Mansfield
|
Father
in Law
|
Living
on own means.
|
76
|
Crediton,
Devon.
|
Above:
Extract from the 1901 British Census.
|