POWELL, Mansel (c.1696-1775), of Eardisley Park, Herefs.

In 1738 Mansel Powell, a Hereford attorney, and others, acquired the property of a wealthy client, William Barnsley of Eardisley Park, by a forged will disinheriting Barnsley’s only son, a lunatic. He enjoyed the estates until 1749 when the will was proved a forgery and a decree of restitution to young Barnsley was made in Chancery by Lord Hardwicke, under which Powell and his co-defendants had to pay costs and refund all the rents and other money they had received from the estate.Gent. Mag. 1750, pp. 364-70; Add. 36182, ff. 32 et seq. In the meantime, Powell had bought a controlling interest with Barnsley’s money at Weobley,See WEOBLEY. where he was returned in 1747. Unseated on petition, he sold his interest to Lord Weymouth and did not stand again. He died 5 June 1775, aged 79.M.I.