Researching Mansfields in Kentucky (Warren & Barren Counties)
Here's a summary of what I know.
My grandfather was John Richard Mansfield (variations: John William Richard Mansfield, Joan Richard Mansfield), born on 17 Mar 1908. He was born in Kentucky according to all data I've found so far. On his Social Security application, he wrote that he was born in Winnipeg, Canada, but I think he was lying. Nothing else backs that up.
We know that his father was William Porter Mansfield (1879-1920), who was also born in Kentucky and Married Daisy Julian (1882-1963) of Obion County, Tennessee. William and Daisy had two children: my grandfather John, mentioned above, and a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Mansfield, who was born around 1907.
William Mansfield (my great grandfather) died of gunshot wounds in 1920 in Helena, Arkansas. According to his death certificate, filled out by Thomas A. Mansfield, William was born in Kentucky, and his father was Eliga Mansfield of Scotland and Janie Haynes of Kentucky. I also have record of William in the 1910 and 1920 census, confirmed, but in both of those, it says both his father and mother were born in Kentucky (not Scotland).
Finding Thomas Mansfield's name on William's death certificate led me to discover that there were at least three brothers: Thomas, John and William. The middle brother, John T. Mansfield, was killed of revolver wounds in 1915, also in Helena, Arkansas (I have newspaper clippings regarding both brothers' deaths if anyone's interested). I sent off for John's death certificate, and discovered that it was filled out by William Mansfield (my great grandfather). He lists John's parents as Liga Mansfield and Sarah Haynes, both of Kentucky.
I tracked down Thomas Mansfield's living granddaughter and she informed me that Thomas had died in 1940 in New Orleans, so I sent off for his death certificate. His granddaughter told me that her father (now deceased) had told her that Thomas was from Scotland and that his parents died in Scotland from religious persecution. On the death certificate, Thomas' parents were listed as Eligah Mansfield and Janie Haynes, both supposedly natives of Scotland.
I say supposedly, because at this point, I believe Thomas was probably lying to everyone, including those in his family about his heritage. The names of the parents are essentially the same as the parents of John and William, but with spelling variations. Except for when Thomas is doing the reporting, all other data (census and death records) state that Eligah Mansfield and Janey Haynes were from Kentucky.
It is interesting that on John T. Mansfield's 1915 death certificate that William recorded that John's mother's name was "Sarah." However, I've found a marriage record that states that an Elijah S. Mansfield and Sarah J. Hanes were married in Warren County, Kentucky on 07 Sep 1870. According to this record, Elijah was born in Barren County, Kentucky and Sarah Hanes was born in Warren County, Kentucky. Obviously, I don't know 100% for certain that these are the parents of William, Thomas, and John, but I believe it's a very good hunch that it's the same pair.
Further, I've found an 1880 Census record that shows an E. S. Mansfield and Janey Mansfield living in Bristow, Warren County, Kentucky. E. S. Mansfield was born in Barren County and his father and mother were born in Barren County. Janey Mansfield was born in Warren County and so were her parents.
There are four children living with E. S. and Janey Mansfield: a boy, A. Mansfield (b. abt. 1873); John Mansfield (b. abt 1875); a girl, M. D. Mansfield (born abt 1877); and a boy, B. Mansfield (b. abt. 1879).
The dates are right if William is B. (probably Billy or Bill) Mansfield, as well as for John. I don't know who M. D. Mansfield is, but I wonder if A. Mansfield couldn't be Thomas A. Mansfield. The only issue with this (besides his Scottish birth claim) is the date. Thomas claimed to be born in 1865, but if he was lying about where he was born, he may have been lying about his age, too.
Regardless, if anyone recognizes any of these names, I'd be grateful for any help. I know there are lots of Mansfields in Kentucky in the 1800s, and I'd love to connect my family to the larger family tree.
More Replies:
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Re: Researching Mansfields in Kentucky (Warren & Barren Counties)
Debora Ewing 8/31/12
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Re: Researching Mansfields in Kentucky (Warren & Barren Counties)
Richard Mansfield 8/31/12
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Re: Researching Mansfields in Kentucky (Warren & Barren Counties)
Debora Ewing 8/31/12
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Re: Researching Mansfields in Kentucky (Warren & Barren Counties)
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Re: Researching Mansfields in Kentucky (Warren & Barren Counties)