Mansell or Mousell ? (General)

by Bob Walker, Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 22:01 (2518 days ago)

Hello. My first posting here.

My mother's family were Mansells. Real foresters.

I've traced back with certainty to William Mansell from Clements Green (near Clearwell) who registered as a Freeminer in 1838. He was born on November 17, 1790.

But the only potential reference I've found so far is a William who was baptised at Newland Church on Nov 28, 1790 but the spelling may well be Mousell rather than Mansell.

Is it possible that, given the Forest accent and the fact that some miners couldn't read or write, that Mousell may have been corrupted to Mansell?

Is it a workable theory? Because if it is, then I can take the Mousells back to the 1600s..

Thoughts welcome.

(Bob Walker)