Mansel Deeds and Documents

Papers of the Mansel family of Muddlescombe and Maesycrugiau, Carmarthenshire, comprising deeds, 1582-1854; legal papers, 1679-1792; estate and personal letters, 1678-1792; and accounts, 1699-1784.

The Mansel family came to Muddlescwm in the parish of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, when Anthony and Francis (d. 1628), two sons of Sir Edward Mansel, married Mary and Catherine, the co-heirs of Muddlescombe. Anthony and Mary died without issue, so the estate devolved on Sir Francis Mansel, first baronet, and Catherine his wife. As part of the Muddlescombe estate, Sir Francis also inherited Llandeilo Abercywyn, Carmarthenshire, which was sold off along with other properties in 1660. The family remained at Muddlescombe until the death without issue of Sir Edward Mansel, fourth baronet in 1670, when the estate was partitioned between his two sisters, Barbara and Anne. The Muddlescombe estate appears to have been acquired by the Owen family of Orielton, Pembrokeshire, during the 18th century. The title passed to Sir Richard Mansel (1641-1691), 5th Bart., of Iscoed, Carmarthenshire. Iscoed was inherited by his grandfather Richard Mansel, son of Sir Francis Mansel, 1st Bart., through his marriage to Catherine Morgan, daughter of Rees Morgan of Iscoed. The family continued to live at Iscoed until Sir John Bell William Mansel (1806-1883), 11th Bart., sold the mansion of Iscoed, Iscoed (Old), and two other farms to General Sir Thomas Picton for £30,000. The Mansel family had also inherited Maesycrugiau, Llanllwni, Carmarthenshire, following the marriage of Sir Richard Mansel, 12th Bart with Maud Margaretta in 1878.

Arranged chronologically

No restrictions

Deposited by the British Records Association, March 1961.

Compiled by Mair James for the HMC/NLW Family and Estates project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, (London,1959); Nicholas, Thomas, Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County families of Wales, (London, 2 vols, 1872), vol. I; Jones, Francis, Historic Carmarthenshire Houses and their families, (Newport, 1997).

Hard copies of the catalogue are available at Carmarthenshire Archive Service and the National Register of Archives

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at Carmarthenshire Archive Service have been retained.

Accruals are not expected

Further papers of the Muddlescombe estate are National Library of Wales, Muddlescombe Estate Records. Xerox copies of Mansel family papers are Carmarthenshire Archive Service, Mansel Family Papers.