Anthony Mansel, MP

See Peter Bartrum, https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000173426987005 Selyf 6 (B). June 20, 2024; Anne Brannen, curator)

Family and Education b. ?1532, 3rd but 2nd surv. s. of Sir Rhys Mansell of Margam by 3rd w. Cecily, da. and coh. of William Dabridgecourt of Solihull, Warws.; bro. of Edward. m. Elizabeth, da. of John Bassett II of Llantrithyd, 3s. 4da.1

Offices Held

J.p. Glam. 1573-1601, q. 1575, 1593-1601, j.p.q. Carm. 1596; commr. tanneries, Glam. 1574; sheriff 1590-1.2

Biography Of English origin, the Mansell family is said to have settled in the Gower peninsula in the reign of Edward I. Oxwich and Penrice castles were its two main residences until Mansell’s father acquired Margam abbey in 1540. A trusted royal servant, Sir Rhys Mansell had taken as his third wife a servant of Princess Mary. He and his wife were to remain devoted to Mary, who on her accession was to reward him with the coveted chamberlainship of South Wales. It was also doubtless with royal support that his sons Anthony and Edward were returned to the first two Parliaments of the reign. That it should have been the younger brother, then barely of age, who took the lead suggests that he was particularly acceptable to the Queen, although it was not until 1 Oct. 1558 that he was to be granted a £20 annuity for service to her. Predictably, he was not among the Members who ‘stood for the true religion’ against the initial measures of Catholic restoration.3

By the time of his election Mansell may have been married, for John Bassett II had earlier settled on his daughter, perhaps as a dowry, his manors of Llantrithyd and Talyfan, as well as a rectory and chapel in Carmarthenshire which the Mansells had later to sue for in Chancery. To his wife’s property Mansell was to add, by two grants at the close of Mary’s reign, the manor of Gelligarn and other lands, together costing him over £600 to buy, and a lease of five manors in Gower; a few months afterwards he received under his father’s will, besides a sum of £250, some further lands in the neighbourhood and a share with his brother in his father’s house at the Old Bailey, London. One of the items in the bequest was the vicarage of Penmark, where 20 years later Mansell was to be accused by the rector of diverting tithes due to him.4

Mansell’s alliance with the Bassetts, a family identified with the Herbert interest in Glamorgan, may have smoothed his election for the shire, the sheriff being (Sir) George Herbert, but he was to be caught up in the feud between his family and the Herberts: it was scarcely by accident that a Herbert was one of the gang who, as he afterwards told the court of Star Chamber, attacked his servants in the streets of Cardiff in April 1559 while he was on business in London. The enmity of the Herberts, and the Catholic leaning to which Mary Stuart’s agent testified in 1574, probably delayed Mansell’s appointment to the bench and he was approaching 60 before he was pricked sheriff. In 1595 he and two fellow-justices were cited in the Star Chamber for assaulting the plaintiff, Matthew Williams of St. Fagan’s, and his son, but he was still on the commission of the peace six years later.5

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558 Author: P. S. Edwards Notes 1. Date of birth estimated from that of elder brother and from election. G. T. Clark, Limbus Patrum Morganiae, 357, 495. 2. SP12/93/9; 46/31/153; R. Flenley, Cal. Reg. Council, Marches of Wales, 126, 142, 236-7. 3. Clark, 494-5; E. P. Statham and C. A. Maunsell, Fam. Maunsell, i. 283-336; CPR, 1554-5, p. 61; 1558-60, p. 144; E318/2195; Lansd. 156(28), ff. 90-94. 4. C3/122/67; CPR, 1558-60, p. 290; Statham and Maunsell, i. 488-9, 493; Exchequer (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. iv), 216; Stradling Corresp. ed. Traherne, 135. 5. St.Ch.5/M5/16, W21/15; SP12/99/55; Flenley, 236-7.

• History of Maunsell or Mansel, and of Crayford, Gabbett, Knoyle, Persse, Toler, Waller, Castletown; Waller, Prior Park; Warren, White, Winthrop, and Mansell of Guernsey (1903)
• http://www.archive.org/details/historyofmaunsel00maun
• http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofmaunsel00maun#page/n55/mode/1up
• JENKIN MANSELL.on the accession of Henry VII., in 1485, obtained a repeal of the attainder against his father and a restoration in blood and estates. At a tournament given by his cousin. Sir Rice ap Thomas, Knt., Constable and Lieutenant of Brecknock, 21st Henry VII., to celebrate the order of the Garter having been conferred on him, amongst others from Glamorgan came Jenkin Mansell, surnamed "Dewr," or "the Valiant." In this tournament he bore for motto, " Perit sine adversario virtus." — See Cambrian Register, Vol. I., page 25. In 1486 he married Edith, dau. and heir of Sir Geo. Kyme or Kene, Knt., of Well Hall, Eltham, Co. Kent, and granddaughter of Sir Wm. Kyme (who was sheriff of Kent 25 Hen. VI.). by Agnes, widow of John Tettershall, and dau. of John Chichele, Chamberlain of London, by Margery, dau. of Sir Thos. Knolles, Lord Mayor of London. Agnes was grand-neice of Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury, who founded All Souls College, Oxford, and all "akin" to him became entitled to a presentation to a fellowship to that college. He had issue, viz. :
  • http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofmaunsel00maun#page/n58/mode/1up
  • RHYS MANSELL, Sir, Knt., the eldest son, born 25th January, 1487, received the honour of knighthood between the 17th and 27th Hen. VIII. In the latter year he was sent to Ireland at the head of a body of troops to assist the Lord Deputy in suppressing a rebellion of the Earl of Kildare. Next year he had grant for life of the site of the monastery of Margam, Co. Glamorgan, a grant for life of the office of Chamberlain of the County Palatine of Chester, and the Royalty of Avon Waters to him and to his heirs. After the dissolution of the abbeys, he got a lease of Margam, and in 1540 he purchased the whole of that property, the conveyance bearing the autograph of the King. In 1544, being concerned in an expedition against Scotland, the isles of Arran and Bute, and the castle of Rothsay, were delivered to him, and he took formal possession thereof in the name of the King of England. He died in 1559,(I) at Clerkenwell, London,where he had a mansion, and was succeeded as Chamberlain of Chester by Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby. Me married, first, on 17th May, 1511, Eleanor, dau. and sole heir of James Bassett, of Beaupre, but by her left no issue. The marriage bond
  • (I) Sir Rhys Mansell, in his will proved 1559, mentions his sons, Edward and 'Anthony', Dame Jane, wife of said Edward ; and Dame Mary Dorell, now married to Henry Ffoscue, late wife of said Philip, deceased ; sister Fleming, daughters Mary, Katherine Bessett, and Elizabeth Morgan, niece Mary, daughter of brother Philip ; nieces Elizabeth Howe, Elizabeth Hopkins, Margaret, wife of Rd. J. D. Morgan; Elynor, wife of Randolph Purcell ; and Katherine, wife of Rd. ap Owen. Nephews Harry, George, Thomas, Leonard, Edward, and William Maunsell, and nephews Arnyld Bassett and Wm. Fleming. Also late sister Anne Maunsell, widow, executrix of late brother Philip.
  • http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofmaunsel00maun#page/n59/mode/1up
  • was dated 17th May, 1511, and the witnesses to it were John ap Thomas Gwillim, Richard Howell, Richard Maunsell, John Haron, Richard Thomas, Jenkin Russell, Hugh ap Hopkin, Thomas ap David ap Howell, Nicholas ap Rice. He married secondly, in 1520, Anne, dau. of Sir Giles Bruges, Knt., of Coberly, Co. Gloucester, and by her had three sons, who all died in his lifetime, and two daughters, viz. :
    • I. Catherine, married William Bassett, junior, of Beaupre, by which the Bassett estates reverted to that family.
    • II. Elizabeth, married William Morgan.
  • He married thirdly, on 19th June, 1527, Cecily, dau. of John Daubridgecourt, and had :
    • III. Edward, of whom presently.
    • IV. Philip, married Mary Dorrell, d. s. p. She married, secondly, H. ffoscue.
    • ' V. Anthony, married Elizabeth, dau. of John Bassett, and had issue, viz. : .....
    • VI. Mary, married Sir Thos. Southwell, Knt., of Woodrising ; and their son and heir. Sir Robert Southwell, married Elizabeth, dau. of Charles Howard, Lord High Admiral of England, and had issue.
    • EDWARD MANSELL, Sir, Knt., received honor of knighthood in 1572, and, upon the death of the Earl of Derby, was appointed Chamberlain of Chester, distinguishing himself in many services during reign of Queen Elizabeth. He married Lady Jane Somerset, youngest dau. of Henry Earl of Worcester, and had issue, viz. : .....
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Please see Peter Bartrum: Mansel 1; https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000173426885911 (Steven Ferry, April 18, 2024.)

See Peter Bartrum, https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000173426987005 Selyf 6 (B). June 20, 2024; Anne Brannen, curator)