William Mansfield born 1816 in Crediton, Devon.

William Mansfield was born in Crediton, Devon, England in 1816 and was baptised on the 24th June in the same year. He was the second 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 he was aged 34 and living in Mill Lane, North Tawton, Devonshire. There was a large woolen mill in North Tawton employing around 150 workers and was probably the reason William moved there. His Father William was living with them and although 67 years of age he still seemed to be employed at the mill. The 1851 census was compiled on the 30th March of that year and evidence suggests that he died in Crediton on the 23rd November 1851, aged 66 years which could be an arithmetical error.

Pictured above is Mill Lane, North Tawton.

Above: Extract from the 1851 British Census

The only reference to the family in the 1881 census is of Elizabeth who is head of the household and living alone in a house called 'Tregavarah' in Madron, Cornwall, England. She is 74 years of age and her birthplace is given as Sancreed, Cornwall which is only about 4 miles South West of Madron and close to Lands End. 'St. Creed' is a transcription error in the 1851 census and suggests that Elizabeth moved back to be near her birthplace in her later years, possibly after the death of her husband William.

Above: Extract from the 1881 British Census.

a page from the mansfield family history