Robert Mansfield (abt. 1590 - 1666)

Born about Nov 1590 in Lockington, Leicestershire, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Kettle) Mansfield — married 10 Feb 1613 in Lockington, Leicestershire, England

Descendants

Died 16 Dec 1666 at about age 76 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Robert Mansfield migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Robert Mansfield of Lynn has recently been identified as Robert Mansfield of Lockington, Leicester, England.^[1][2] We know from testimony of his son Andrew that Robert Mansfield arrived in Massachusetts in the summer of 1640 - "about 43 years since (1639), he and his brother John bought of one Manton, so called, a little house and house-lot and planting lot belonging to it in Lynn, and that the next summer their father, Robert, came into the country and they surrendered it up to him."^[3]

Robert wrote his will on August 3, 1664 and died in Lynn on December 16, 1666. He mentions wife Elizabeth and sons Andrew, Joseph & John. He did not mention his daughter Elizabeth, though she was named in the will of his wife. The will was proved on April 30, 1667. His wife Elizabeth also left a will dated 2 April 1667 in which she names her daughter Elizabeth Tomson, in addition to sons John, Andrew and Joseph.

Name and Origins

Name: Robert Mansfield of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Robert Mansfield of Lynn has recently been identified as Robert Mansfield of Lockington, Leicester, England. The basis of this identification is a perfect match to the known facts Robert Mansfield of Lynn. Robert Mansfield of Lockington married to Elizabeth and had sons John, Andrew and Joseph; Robert of Lynn was married to Elizabeth and had sons John, Andrew and Joseph with John being the oldest and Joseph the youngest. The son John deposed he was aged 44 on 27 March 1663 which perfectly matches his baptism in May 1618. The son Andrew deposed he was aged 49 in June 1669 which perfectly matches his baptism in March 1620.^[4]

His parents, exact birth date and exact birth place have not yet been identified.

There have been many previous theories regarding the origins of Robert Mansfield; however, none of these theories have ever been supported by actual evidence.

Birth

Born: About 1590.

Date is an estimate based on his marriage in 1613.

Marriage and Children

Married: Elizabeth Kettle on 10 Feb 1613 in Lockington, Leicester, England.^[5]

Children of Robert Mansfield and Elizabeth Kettle:

1. Elizabeth Mansfield. Born say 1614 in England.^[6] She was not named in her father's will, however, she was named in her mother's will as Elizabeth Tomsone.^[7]
2. Joshua Mansfield. Baptized 18 August 1616 in Lockington, Leicester, England.^[8] Buried there on 12 November 1619.^[9]
3. John Mansfield. Baptized 3 May 1618 in Lockington, Leicester, England.^[10]
4. Andrew Mansfield. Baptized 18 March 1620 in Lockington, Leicester, England.^[11]
5. Joseph Mansfield. Baptized 11 Jul 1624 in Lockington, Leicester, England.^[12]

Death

Died: 16 December 1666 in Lynn, Massachusetts.^[13]

Will: of Robert Mansfield of Lynn in the County of Essex.^[14]

Dated 3 August 1664 and proved 26 March 1667.

"The Last will & testament of Robert Mansfield of Lynn in the County of Essex beeing weake in body but of pfect memory; The third day of August Anno: Dom 1664

Imprimis I bequeath my Body to the dust my sperit to God that gave it

2dly I bequeath to my sonn Joseph Mansfield my whole Acomadation in buildings lands & meddow, exsept 3 acres that I bought of John Deken wch lyeth in the neck by Jo. Ramsdell

3dly I bequeath to my sonn John Mansfield att my death two cowes or two heifers in calfe & foure pounds to be payd him out of that three acres in the neck I bought of John Deken as aforesayd, and the two cowes, or the two heifers to be payd by my sonn Joseph and foure pounds

41y I bequeath to my sonn Andrew Mansfield at mine and my wifes death, The bed I vsually lye upon with all the apptenances, and foure pounds, to be payd him out of the three acres of land in the neck wch I bought of John Deken as abovesayd And wheras I give my sonn John and my sonn Andrew foure pounds a peece, to be payd them out of the three acres of land yt I bought of John Deken, as aforesayd my sonn Joseph, having soe payd them: then this three acres of land to remaine his for ever wch is to be after mine & my wifes decease

5ly I will that my sonn Joseph pay vnto Mr. Laughton 23 shillings I owe vnto him out of the land I bought of John Deken

61y I will that he paye 20s out of that land yt I bought of John Deken

7ly I will that my wife Elizabeth shall have halfe the estate that we live in dureing the time of her Life also I will yt my wife Elizabeth, have the command of the rest of my goods to her disposing after my death

Also I will, that I make my sonn John Mansfield my lawful executor & Henry Rhodes & Nathaniell Hanford my overseers."

Robert (his mark) Mansfeild (SEAL)

Witness: George (his mark) Tayler and William (his mark) Clarke.

Proved in Ipswich court, Mar. 26, 1667 by Henry Rhodes and William Clarke

Inventory: "Inventory of the estate of Robert Mansfeild of Lynn, deceased December 16, 1666, taken April 25, 1667, by Nathaniell Handforth and Francis Burrall:

weareing clothes, 5 li . ; six paire of sheetes, 6 li . 5s; one fetherbed, two greene ruggs one of them being shaged, one blanket, one boulster, one bedsted, 3 pillows, 4 pillow beares & curtaines & vallens, 13 li . 5s; more in Lyning, 13s; Iron & Brasse, 2 li . ; pewter, 1 li . 2s; one close bedstead, one flockbed, one flock boulster and one rugg, 13 li . ; 15s; moneys, 14s., in corne, 4 li . 9s . , 5 li . 3s. Three chests, one joyned table, six joyned stooles, 2 sheeles with sum lumber, 2 l i . 13s; two bibles, one sword & bandleors, 1 l i . 10s; mor Iron worke, 12s; hay & f l a x , 2 l i . 10s; cattle, 15 li . ; housing & orchard, 15 li . ; eight acres & an halfe of upland within fence, 42 li . 10s; three acres and a halfe of upland without fence, 3 li . 10s;

Ten acres & a quarter of salt marsh within fence, 51 l i . 5s; one acre & quarter & half quarter of fresh meddow, 2 l i . ; a saw, 4s;

total, 173 li . 17s;

Debts due from the estate about 43 li . "

Attested in Ipswich court 30 Apr. 1667, by John Mansfield.

Common Errors to Avoid

LNAB of wife: It has been speculated in the past that she was Elizabeth Townsend, a sister of Thomas Townsend and a daughter of Henry Townsend and Margaret Forthe.^[15] This is based on the fact Thomas Townsend and Robert Mansfield immigrated to New England at approximately the same time, their properties were adjacent, and Thomas Townsend is known to have a sister Elizabeth. Despite this circumstantial evidence, there never has been any actual direct evidence showing that Elizabeth was a daughter of Henry Townsend. With the discovery of the marriage of Robert Mansfield to Elizabeth Kettle and the baptism of their children in Lockington, Leicester, England, we now know the speculation that Elizabeth was a Townsend is incorrect.

Incorrect origins, Exeter, Devon: Discussion to follow...

Incorrect origins, Blofield, Norwich: Robert Mansfield of Lynn is sometimes said to be the same as Robert Mansfield baptized 8 November 1590 in Blofield, Norfolk, England. There is no reason to think this is correct other than the name and the approximately correct birth date. Now that his origins have been established in Leicestershire, this is certainly incorrect.

Sources

1. ↑ Thank you to Lance Piatt who first identified the origins of Robert Mansfield.
2. ↑ Although the official name of the parish is "Lockington", the preferred name is Lockington Hemington. This avoids confusion with the Yorkshire parish.
3. ↑ Essex Institute. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, vol. VIII: 1680-1683. (Salem, Mass.: The Essex Institute, 1921): pages 256-257.
4. ↑ He actually deposed different ages at various times which place his birth date as between 1620 and 1623.
5. ↑ "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP4W-J1XD), Robt Mansfield and Elizabeth Ketle, 10 Feb 1613; citing Marriage, Lockington, Leicestershire, England.
6. ↑ For now, Elizabeth has been placed in a gap between the marriage date and the birth of Joshua. The date has not been critically analyzed yet.
7. ↑ Dow. Probate Records of Essex County, volume 2. (1917): page 382.
8. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975." Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JSJZ-HY4 ), Joshua Mansfeild, 18 Aug 1616, Lockington, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.
9. ↑ "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP4Q-J26N ), Joshua Mansfeild, 12 Nov 1619; citing Burial, Lockington, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.
10. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JSJZ-HYR ), John Mansfeild, 3 May 1618, Lockington, Leicester, England.
11. ↑ "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPW1-CJZH ), Andrew Mansfeild, 18 Mar 1620; citing Baptism, Lockington, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.
12. ↑ "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPW1-2WRD), Joseph Mansfeild, 11 Jul 1624; citing Baptism, Lockington, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.
13. ↑ Lynn. Lynn Vital Records, vol II Deaths (1921): page 533,
14. ↑ Essex Institute. The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, vol. II 1665-1674. (Salem, Mass.: The Essex Institute, 1921): pages 78-79 Robert Mansfield; pages 382-383 Elizabeth Mansfield.
15. ↑ New England Historical & Genealogical Register," vol. 29 no. 1. (January 1875): pages 97-107, see 101. "The Townsend Family," by Charles Hervey Townsend. AmericanAncestors.org link.

• Daland, Geneva A. and Mansfield, James S. Mansfield Genealogy: Descendants of Robert and Elizabeth Mansfield and sons, Andrew and Joseph, who came to Lynn, 1639-1640… (Hampton, New Hampshire: Peter E. Randall, 1980). Available at FamilySearch.org.

• Essex Institute. Vital records of Lynn, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, vol. II marriages and deaths. (Salem, Mass.: The Essex Institute, 1921): page 533, "Robert Mansfield, 16 : 10mo. : 1666."

• Essex Institute. The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, vol. II 1665-1674. (Salem, Mass.: The Essex Institute, 1921): pages 78-79 Robert Mansfield; pages 382-383 Elizabeth Mansfield.

• "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP4W-J1XD : 6 June 2018), Robt Mansfield and Elizabeth Ketle, 10 Feb 1613; citing Marriage, Lockington, Leicestershire, England.

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975." Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JSJZ-HY4 ), Joshua Mansfeild, 18 Aug 1616, Lockington, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.

• "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP4Q-J26N ), Joshua Mansfeild, 12 Nov 1619; citing Burial, Lockington, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JSJZ-HYR ), John Mansfeild, 3 May 1618, Lockington, Leicester, England.

• "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPW1-CJZH ), Andrew Mansfeild, 18 Mar 1620; citing Baptism, Lockington, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.

• "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," Online database, FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPW1-2WRD), Joseph Mansfeild, 11 Jul 1624; citing Baptism, Lockington, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.

See also:

• Find A Grave Memorial #116548927. Caution: FAG profile contains multiple errors.

Acknowledgements:

• Profile updated and sourced by Joe Cochoit. Please contact with significant changes and questions.
• Thank you to Lance Piatt who first identified the origins of Robert Mansfield.