ROBERT MANSFIELD 1590-1666

[Ancestral Link: Marguerite Anderson (Miller), daughter of Hannah Anderson (Anderson), daughter of Mary Margaret Edmiston (Anderson), daughter of Martha Jane Snow (Edmiston), daughter of Gardner Snow, son of Abigail Farr (Snow), daughter of Mercy Winslow (Farr), daughter of Rebecca Ewer (Winslow), daughter of Rebecca Conant (Ewer), daughter of Hannah Mansfield (Conant), daughter of Andrew Mansfield, son of Robert Mansfield.]


Robert Mansfield in America
1640 , England & America
Robert, his wife Elizabeth, and two children emigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1640.
From The Mansfield Genealogy: Descendants of Robert and Elizabeth Mansfield who came to Lynn, 1639-1640, compiled by Geneva A. Daland and James S. Mansfield, 1980, quoted by cousin Nancy B. Edmands Allen.
"Where the Robert Mansfield family came from in England is not clear. According to some sources, they came from Exeter, Devonshire; according to others, they came from Norfolk County.
"Robert, with his wife Elizabeth, their sons Joseph and daughter Elizabeth came from England to Lynn, Massachusetts, about 1640. Their sons Andrew and John preceded them in Lynn....
"On 9 July 1644 Robert was sued by one John Poole, "for taking away his arms." On 5 July 1646 Robert was freed from paying a fine for not training, because of age.
"Robert was sworn constable of Lynn on 31 August 1647. On 20 May 1650 he bought 4 acres of salt marsh in Lynn from Samuel Bennett.
"By a deed dated 10 June 1650, Robert, with the consent of his wife, Elizabeth, "in consideration of their son Andrew living with them until the time of his marriage as a faithful and obedient child," gave him, as a child's portion, a house and house-lot and about 6 acres.
"On 16 June 1652 Robert gave to his son Joseph the homestead on condition that he should provide for his father and mother during their lives. Robert and Elizabeth doubtless lived and died on these premises, which remained in the possession of their descendants for many generations. The old house, which stood until about the 1890s, was said to have been built in 1666.
"On 20 Jan 1659 Robert and his son John bought of John Dekin a house, barn, orchard, and a half acre of land, which they sold to Benjamin Briscoe of Boston on 6 March 1660.
"Robert's will was dated 3 August 1664, and was proved in Ipswich Court, 26 March 1667. The inventory of his estate was attested in the same court, 30 April 1667, by his son John:
"'The last will & testament of Robert Mansfield of Lynn in the County of Essex being weake in body but of pfect memory; The third day of August Anno: Dom 1664 Imprimis I bequeath my Body to the dust my spirit to God that gave it
'2dly I bequeath to my sonn Joseph Mansfield my whole Acomadation in buildings lands & meddow, except 3 acres that I bought of John Deken wch lyeth in the neck by Jo. Ramsdell
'3dly I bequeath to my son John Mansfield att my death two cowes or two heifers to be payd by my sonn Joseph and foure pounds
'4ly I bequeath to my sonn Andrew Mansfield at mine and my wifes death, the bed I vsually lye upon with all the apptenaances and four pounds, to be payd him out of the three acres of land in the neck I bought of John Deken as abovesayd
'And whereas I give my sonn John and my sonn Andrew foure pounds a peace, 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 Dekin
'6ly I will that he paye 20s. out of that land yt I bought of John Dekin
'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 & Nathaniel Hanford my overseers.'
"INVENTORY: 'weareing clothes, 5 li.: six paire of sheetes, 6 li. 5s; one fetherbed, two greene ruggs one of them shaged, one blanket, one boulster, one bedsted, 3 pillows, 4 pillow beares & curtains & 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 li. 13s; two bibles, one sword & bardleors, 1 li. 10s; mor Iron works, 12 s; hay & flax, 2 li. 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, 5 li. 5s; one acre & quarter & half quarter of fresh meddow, 2 li.; a saw, 4s; total 173 li. 17s; Debts due from the estate about 43 li.'"
found on ancestry.com

Notes for Robert Mansfield
Notes for Robert Mansfield:
Robert Mansfield and his wife lived at Mansfield's End in Lynn, and he was sworn constable of the town August 31, 1647. In 1652 (June 16) he deeded (possession after death) to his youngest son, Joseph, all land except six acres of salt marsh already laid over to Andrew. It was the intention of Robert that Joseph and his wife should live with the father and mother. Robert died December 16, 1666. His will was dated August 3, 1664 and proved in Ipswich court March 26, 1667. His wife and three sons were named in it (John to be executor) but the name of his daughter Elizabeth did not appear.
found on ancestry.com

Robert Mansfield & Elizabeth Townsend - History
The following is quoted from Mansfield Genealogy by Daland and Mansfield:
RORERT1 MANSFIELD was born in England about 1594 (1797 Mr. and Mrs. Warner) and died at Lynn, Mass., 16 Dec, 1666 (Lynn V,R.) and married ELIZABETH in England.
Robert1, with his wife Elizabeth. their son Joseph and daughter Elizabeth came from England to Lynn, Massachusetts about 1640. Their sons Andrew and John had preceded them in Lynn, as shown by two recorded depositions made by Andrew. At a court held in Ipswich 26 March 1661 Andrew Mansfield, aged about 38 years, made affidavit that he had been an inhabitant of Lynn "aboute two or three and twentyc yeares." (Lewis and Newhall, History of Lynn, 1865 ed., p, 17E). On 30 Nov. 1062, before the court at lpswich, in the case of Brown vs. Laughton, Andrew stated (Quarterly Courts of Essex Co., Vol. VIII' pp. 25e-257)that "about 43 years since (1639), he and his brother John bought of Mr. 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." It seems probable that Andrew and John came to Boston as early as 1636.
Where the Robert Mansfield family came from in England is not clear. They are said to have come from Exeter, Devonshire (Ms. Genealogy # 166, The Mansfield Family, in the Lynn Historical Society library.- Lewis and Newhall, p.187; Dr. Joseph Mansfield genealogy Ms, and manuscript of Charles F. Mansfield and Charles E. Lord, The Ancestors and Descendants of Lt. Tobias Lord, 1913, p. 191). Other Sources say that they probably came from Norfolk County. Moulton says "investigations In England by C, H, Townsend Esq. of New Haven tend to show they came from Norfolk County whence came many of the early settlers of Lynn" also in manuscripts by Helen Mansfield, and Helen Lawton and Chandler's History of New Ipswich, N.H. It has not been possible to find any documentary evidence for either Exeter or Norfolk County.
Robert's wife. Elizabeth, was born in 22 Jun 1596 (hand written note, author unknown) and died at Lynn. 8 Sept 1673 (Lynn V.R.). Her will (Probate Records of Essex County. II. 382-383) was dated 30 April 1667 was proved in Salem Court, 26 Nov. 1673, and was attested by her son Joseph. Elizabeth's maiden name is not known. By some authors it is called Townsend (History of New Ipswich, N.H. and Old Foxcroft, Maine). The Townsend family came to Lynn at the same time as the Mansfields. Thomas Townsend (1591-1677) owned land next to that of the Mansfields in Lynn. He had a sister Elizabeth.
The Children of Robert1 and Elizabeth Mansfield, all born in England:i. Elizabeth2, m. TOMSON. 2. ii. Andrew, b. about 1620 d. 1683 at Lynn (Lynn V.R.; m. (1) BETHIA, who d. 2 July 1672; m (2) MARY LAWES NEALE, who d. 27 June 1681 daughter of Francis and Lydia Lawes; m. (3) ELIZABETH WALTON CONANT, bp. at Seaton, Devonshire, England, 27 Oct. 1629, daughter of Rev. William and Elizabeth Walton. 3. iii. John, b about 1622; d. 16 Oct. 1671 (Lynn V.R.), m, MARY MORRIS, sister Thomas Morris of New Haven, d. without issue. 4. iv. Joseph, b. in or before 1628, d. 22 April 1694; m. before June 1652 ELIZABETH NEEDHAM.
© All above information on this page is quoted directly from and remains the property of "Mansfield Genealogy", Complied by Geneva A. Daland, a descendant of Andrew, and James S. Mansfield, M.D., a descendant of Joseph 1980.
From "The Townsend Family of Lynn, in old and new England" Written by Charles Hervey Townsend of New Haven, Conn. 4th edition 1884:
" Henry Townsend, "Gentleman," and Margaret Forthe, [daughter of Robert Forthe] "Gentlewoman," were married at St. John Zacharies, London, by Rev. Ambrose Golden, minister, Nov. 5, 1590; and the said Maragret was buried at Bacon-Ash, June 23, 1596.
Children 1. ROBERT bapt. June 8, 1591 (old style) 2. ARTHUR bapt. November 6,1593 who died young 3. THOMAS bapt. January 8,1594-5 4. ELIZABETH"
found on ancestry.com

Notes found for Robert Mansfield
Robert Mansfield and his wife lived at Mansfield's End in Lynn, and he was sworn constable of the town August 31, 1647. In 1652(June 16) he deeded (possession after death) to his youngest son, Joseph, all land except six acres of salt marsh already laid over to Andrew. It was the intention of Robert that Joseph and his wife should live with the father and mother. Robert died December 16, 1666. His will was dated August 3, 1664 and proved in Ipswich court March 26, 1667. His wife and three sons were named in it (John to be executor) but the name of his daughter Elizabeth did not appear.
found on ancestry.com