M E M I E . 



JOHN CLAVEL MANSEL-PLEYDELL, of Whatcouibe and Long- 

 thorns, Esq., whose portrait so appropriately forms the frontis- 

 piece of the first publication issued by the DORSET NATURAL 

 HISTORY AND ANTIQUARIAN FIELD CLUB, is the son of Lieut. -Col. 

 Mansel, of Smedmore, and grandson of the late Sir W. Mansel, 

 Bart., of Iscoed, Carmarthenshire. Col. Mansel was a dis- 

 tinguished officer who saw much service, especially in the 

 Peninsular War, and was present at the sieges of Ciudad 

 Hodrigo and Badajoz, and at the battle of Salamanca. By his 

 wife Louisa, the daughter of E. Morton Pleydell, Esq., of 

 Whatcombe, he was connected with the Clavels of Smedmore, 

 one of the oldest families in Dorset, but now extinct in the male 

 line. A member of that family appears in Domesday Book as 

 the holder of five lordships in this county. The Mansels trace 

 their pedigree to Philip Mansel, who probably came to England 

 with the Conqueror. A note in the new edition of Hutchins' 

 " History of Dorset" tells us " During the middle ages this 

 branch of the family made some important alliances, whilst the 

 ancient reputation of the name was sustained with increasing 

 honour by its different members; but its founder at Margam 

 in more modern times was Sir Rees Mansel, who purchased 

 Margam Abbey at its dissolution, and erected a stately mansion 

 on the site." 



The Pleydells, of whom our President is now the represent- 

 ative, are descended from William Pleydell, of Coleshill, Berks, 

 who was born in 1425. 



Mr. Mansel-Pleydell is well known from his ardent devotion 

 to many branches of Natural History. When a country book- 

 seller, the late Mr. Shipp, of Blandford, ventured on the bold 

 experiment of issuing a new edition of "The History of Dorset" 



