August 4, 2008-Why Did Thomas Manning, Jr. Move to Georgia?

Trying to determine why Thomas Manning, Jr. moved from York County, South Carolina to Walker County, Georgia is a an interesting process. Thomas was born in York County and lived there until about 1833. Thomas and Jane's first two sons were born in York County. John was born in 1830 and Thomas J. was born in 1832.

Multiple things were happening in Georgia around 1832. The government was "negotiating" with the Cherokee Indians for their land in northern Georgia in exchange for land west of the Mississippi. Georgia had been offering land to settlers through land lotteries since since 1805 . In total there were eight lotteries. The last two lotteries were in 1832 and 1833. The lottery in 1832 included The Land Lottery and The Gold Lottery, which was a lottery for land that was in the areas where gold had been discovered. Land belonging to the Cherokees was part of this 1832 lottery. Thomas did not move until after September of 1832 because Thomas Jefferson Manning was born in York County in September 1832. The 1832 lottery was held from October 22, 1832- May 1, 1833. The 1833 lottery was held in December 1833. So, he could have been in Georgia for the 1832 and 1833 lotteries.

In order to qualify for the Land Lottery, he would have to have been a resident of Georgia for three years prior to the lottery. The residency requirement was not required if he had been an officer in the army or navy of the USA. There is no record of him having been a military officer.

I have looked through some of the land lottery records and have found no Manning, so far.

It is noted in the history of Georgia, that many land speculators, who qualified for the Land Lottery and obtained land in a lottery, were quickly selling the land for a profit. Evidently, some people who were involved in running the lotteries were some of the speculators. I suppose word, that the owners of Lottery Land were selling property, would have traveled and settlers may have gone to Georgia to obtain land at a good price. Two good sites that discusses the Georgia Land Lotteries are:

ngeorgia.com/history/lotteries.html

wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Land_lottery

In 1828, gold was discovered in the mountains of northern Georgia and there was a Gold Rush that lasted until about 1840. The prospect of finding gold would have been a good reason for him to move. The combination of gold and land would have been an even better reason.

Perhaps his decision was influenced by the westward migration that was occuring and maybe it was his intention to move further west. He might have known someone living in Georgia, a friend or maybe another Manning family member. Whatever the reason for his move, he settled in Walker County, Georgia and that's where nine of his children were born and where he lived for the remainder of his life.