Rev. James Wilkerson Mansfield1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 15897, (1794 - 1853)

Key Events:

Birth: 18 Mar 1794, Albemarle Co., Virginia4,5,6
Marriage: 18 Nov 1813, Orange Co., Virginia, Mildred Clark (1796 - 1860)7,8,9
Death: 15 Oct 1853, Caldwell Co., Kentucky10,5

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Rev. James Wilkerson Mansfield was born on 18 Mar 1794 in Albemarle Co., Virginia.4,5,6
     James married Mildred Clark on 18 Nov 1813 in Orange Co., Virginia.7,8,9
     James and Mildred moved to Kentucky in the fall of 1815, settling near Danville, shortly afterwards moving to Christian Co.11 In 1819 they moved to Caldwell Co.11
     James appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of two white males under age 10 (unknown), one age 26 to 44 (himself), and two white females under age 10 (unknown), and one age 16 to 26 (wife Mildred.)12
     James appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of one male age 10 to 15 (unknown), one age 20 to 30 (unknown), and one age 30 to 40 (himself), and two females under age 5 (unknown, three age 5 to 10 (unknown), one age 10 to 15 (unknown), and one age 30 to 40 (wife Mildred). There were also five slaves, three children under age 10, one female age 10 to 24, and one age 24 to 35.13
     James appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of one male age 5 to 10 (son Robert), and one age 40 to 50 (himself), and two females under age 5 (daughters Eliza and Ellen), three age 10 to 15 (unknown), one age 15 to 20 (unknown), and one age 40 to 50 (wife Mildred). There were also seven slaves, four children and a male and female, age 36 to 55.14
     James and Mildred appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., Kentucky, enumerated 14 Sep 1850, reporting real estate valued at $4,500. Their children Eliza and Ellen were listed as living with them, as were James G. Hallick and William H. Jackson, age 7, apparently have been taken in as wards, and Jesse B. McMican, a school teacher, aged 28.2
     He was a Baptist minister, described in a contemporary account as "one of the most laborious, useful and highly esteemed ministers that ever lived in western Kentucky." He was licensed to preach on 20 May 1820. He was ordained pastor of Donaldson church in Apr 1827, continuing there for about 25 years. He was soon called to serve three other churches, and for most of his life was pastor of four churches.15,16,17
     A contemporary account describes him as having "possessed only a moderate English education, and his gifts were of a practical, rather than a brilliant character. His morals were pure and he was devoutly consecrated to his holy calling. He labored almost without pecuniary compensation; but was earnest in his advocacy of missions, education, temperance reform, and other schemes of benevolence. He possessed a quick penetration and excellent judgement."11 Since his work as a clergyman was essentially unpaid, he also operated a farm, in later years with the aid of his slaves.18,19
     James died on 15 Oct 1853 in Caldwell Co., Kentucky, at age 59.10,5

Children:
     Children with Mildred Clark

The several unidentified children in the 1820, 1830, and 1840 censuses suggest that there were several other children in addition to those listed here.

Citations

  1. [S956] Armstrong, Notable Southern Families, vol I pg 79, shows name as James Wilkerson Mansfield.
  2. [S2754] James W. Mansfield household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  3. [S4064] Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, vol II pg 277, shows name as James W. Mansfield.
  4. [S4064] Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, vol II pg 277, shows date, county, and state.
  5. [S956] Armstrong, Notable Southern Families, vol I pg 79, shows year.
  6. [S2754] James W. Mansfield household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows age 56 and state.
  7. [S887] "Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850," Ancestry.com, record for James W. Mansfield and Mildred Clark, shows date, county, and state.
  8. [S4064] Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, vol II pg 277, shows date.
  9. [S2754] James W. Mansfield household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  10. [S4064] Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, vol II pg 278, shows date and county.
  11. [S4064] Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, vol II pg 278.
  12. [S4067] James Mansfield household, 1820 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  13. [S4066] James W. Mansfield household, 1830 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  14. [S4065] Jas W. Mansfield household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  15. [S4064] Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, vol II pp 277-8.
  16. [S2754] James W. Mansfield household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as clergyman.
  17. [S4065] Jas W. Mansfield household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows one member of the household in the learned professions.
  18. [S4067] James Mansfield household, 1820 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows one person engaged in agriculture.
  19. [S4065] Jas W. Mansfield household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows four members of the household engaged in agriculture.
  20. [S956] Armstrong, Notable Southern Families, vol I pg 79-81.
  21. [S2754] James W. Mansfield household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows them apparently living as parent and child.