August 10, 2008-The Many Thomas Mannings

Since I am new at genealogy research, it seems to take a while to put things together. Even though I have a copy of the family history completed by my Uncle in 1989, I have not been able to clearly understand the Thomas Mannings. So, I have now spent some time in tracking them through the South Carolina census starting in 1790. In order to provide some clarity, I have renamed them. I'll start with the most recent Thomas Manning.

Thomas Jefferson Manning- T. J. was born in 1832 in York, S.C. He moved to Indian Territory after completing medical school. In 1857, he married Matilda Elizabeth LeFlore. T.J. and Matilda are my great-great grandparents. His name first appears on the 1850 census in York, S.C. In the earlier census, they only recorded the name of the head of the household.

Thomas Manning, Jr.- I now call him Thomas Manning III. He was the father of T.J. and he was born in 1802 in York, S.C. He married Jane Stewart. His name first appears on the York, S.C. census in 1830. There are two people in his household, 1 male over 20 and under 30 and 1 female over 20 and under 30. In 1830, Thomas III would have been 28 years old and Jane Manning would have been 23.

In 1840, Thomas III was in Walker County, Georgia with 5 children. In 1850, he is in Walker, Georgia with 8 children. In 1860, Thomas III and Jane are in Walker County and have 2 children at home. In 1870, they have 3 children at home in Walker County. In 1880, Thomas III and Jane have their granddaughter, Effa living with them, still in Walker County. Thomas III died on September 11, 1889.

Thomas Manning, Sr.-Now, Thomas II. This is where it starts to get confusing. I previously thought Thomas II was born in 1750 and died in 1802. As I searched the census of York County, it became clear that the Thomas born in 1750 was not this Thomas Manning, but rather it was his father, Thomas I. The birth and death dates I now show for Thomas II are in a range, based upon the census records. Thomas II is the father of Thomas III and had he been born in 1750, he would have been 52 when Thomas III was born and would have died the same year Thomas III was born. I believe Thomas II was born about 1775 and died after 1840 because he appears on the 1840 York census. He would have been born when his father, Thomas I was about 25 years old. Other than Thomas III, I am not sure who his children were. One record shows a Thomas Manning with children Thomas, Cathryn, Marjamin and his wife Elizabeth Beck.

The parents of Thomas II were Thomas Manning and Elizabeth Reid. The siblings of Thomas II were William 1770-1836 who married Nancy Thomas; Catey ; Elizabeth who married Mr. Davis; Mary Polly who also married a Mr. Davis; Robert Manning 1783-? who married Mary Ann. These names appear on the transcription of the will of Thomas I who died in 1802. The will found on the York, S.C. genealogy page shows the name spelled as Manion.

Thomas II appears on the 1810 census as Thomas Manning. His household has 3 males and two are under age 10, 2 females with 1 under age 10. In 1820, he is identified as Thomas Manning with a household of 2 males (Thomas II and one son) and 3 females. One son must have left home by 1820 and a daughter born between 1810 and 1820.

In 1830, two Thomas Mannings appear on the census. Thomas Manning Sr (Thomas II) and Thomas Manning Jr (Thomas III). Thomas II household included one male age 10, one male over age 60 and one female over age 60.

In 1840, in the household of Thomas Manning (Thomas II) there is one male over 60 and under 70 (Thomas II) and one male over 30 and under 40. There are no females in his household. His wife must have died between 1830 and 1840. By 1840, Thomas III had moved to Walker County, Ga.

Thomas Manning I-Thomas was born in 1750 and died in 1802 in York, S.C. He was married to Elizabeth Reid. He appears on the 1790 York census as Thomas Manning with no designation of Jr. or Sr. In his household there is 1 male over 16 (Thomas I), 3 males under 16 (Thomas II, William and Robert) and 1 female (Elizabeth).

In 1800, he is noted as Thomas Manning Sr. with a household of 3 males, 1 age 10-15 (Robert who was born in 1783), 1 age 16-25(Thomas II), 1 age over 45 (Thomas I) and 1 female (Elizabeth). His son William is on the same census page with his household containing 1 male under age 10, 3 females under age 10, 1 male 25-45 (William) and 1 female 25-45 (Nancy).
Thomas I died July 29, 1802 in York County. So, the census after 1800 with Thomas Manning appearing would be Thomas II.

On the transcription of his will, Elizabeth is his wife. William, Thomas and Robert are his sons. Elizabeth, Polly and Catey are his daughters. Robert Manion(Manning) is one of the executors and the other is Randolph Landaland. I can't identify who Landaland is. The witnesses are John Ramsey and Landaland. On a website noted as the Reid Clan, they show Thomas David Reid marrying Mary Ramsey, who was the daughter of Col. John Ramsey and Sarah Birdsong. It is possible that Thomas David Reid was the brother of Elizabeth Reid, but that's another project.