I’ve been searching for the record of burial for Thomas Mansel for some months now. Today I found it, thanks to free access at Find My Past!
Thomas Mansel was buried at Holy Trinity in Fareham on the 5th April 1869. I found the record in the parish register. I have been looking for this for some time so was really pleased to find it.
I was also able to find a record of his baptism at St Ishmael Church which I was able to visit last month.
Posted in Mansel family
To mark Remembrance Day you can learn more about your family’s wartime experiences with free access to UK Wartime Records until 8th November on Ancestry.
I managed to find some new records relating to Frank Beven Howard, who I am related to through a great-aunt.
I found he was awarded the Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1946 and his name appeared in two records – the Application Books and the Register Index [UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972].
I also found 8 new to me records relating to the naval service of Captain Thomas Mansel so it was well worth a look. Hopefully I will have some more time before the free access ends.
Posted in Mansel family
Today I came across a reference to George Caswell in Slater’s, late Pigot & co., Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, 1852. The entry was as follows:
Gentry and Clergy
Captain George Caswell R.N.
Botley Cottage
This may have been on Botley High Street as the 1851 census in the previous year lists his residence as High Street, Botley.
Posted in Caswell family
I recently discovered a collection of paperwork relating to an application for a Navy pension written by Captain Thomas Mansel RN to the Secretary of the Admiralty on the 20th March 1846. I can’t believe these survived, tucked away at The National Archives and were catalogued. I was able to pay for the records to be scanned.
There was a Form of Certificate and Declaration required for placing the widow of an Officer of the Royal Navy on the Pension List. This was completed for Elizabeth Leigh, wife of Benjamin Leigh who had been a Retired Commander in the Royal Navy. The certificate was signed by Captain Mansel RN, William Harrison Vicar of Fareham and James xxx, Church Warden.
Captain Mansel was related to Elizabeth Leigh by marriage, he married their daughter Selina Fleming Leigh in 1828.
As well as the certificate were two pages of hand-written letter. It is always exciting to discover a hand-written letter and this one contained something else, a new address! I wasn’t aware that Captain Mansel ever lived in Devonport but he wrote the letter from 19 Tamar Terrace, Stoke, Devonport. I think the address still exists although it has been re-named. The paperwork also refers to his address in Fareham so this must have been a temporary residence.
I am looking forward to transcribing the letter when I have a moment. The signature matches that on the signed photo I have of him.
Posted in Leigh family, Mansel family, Royal Navy
I recently received a couple of documents I paid to be scanned at the National Archives. I had actually completely forgotten I had ordered them so was pleasantly surprised to find the scans in my TNA account.
The first document was a Memorandum of the Services of Matthew Young. This is a really interesting document detailing the career of Matthew Young, from June 1798. The cursive writing is beautiful but a little hard to decipher – it may have been submitted by him.
I think he started as a supernumerary, before becoming midshipman and lieutenant. “Captured in 1807 when in charge of a Danish East India ship and detained as a prisoner of war until 1814. From the severe treatment I received when captured, the loss of every thing I possessed, my journals, certificates and has rendered me incapable of giving a proper correct statement of my services.”
Posted in Royal Navy, Young family
I’m starting a list of documents I need to consult when I get time to visit The National Archives:
In 1677 the Admiralty introduced examinations for prospective lieutenants to test whether individuals had the necessary experience and skills. They were awarded a certificate if they passed. These certificates, which can provide information about a man’s service prior to the exam, usually recorded the age, date and place of birth of the officer as well as the names of the ships he had served on – Alfred Young
Royal Navy lieutenants’ passing certificates 1691-1902 / by Bruno Pappalardo
Posted in Uncategorized
