Nov. 1, 2008-William Manning in Marshall County, Alabama

William Manning was born in 1770 in York County, SC. His parents were Thomas Manning and Elizabeth Read. William was the brother of my ggggGrandfather, Thomas Manning (1776-1844). Unlike his brother Thomas, William left South Carolina and migrated. He first stopped in Tennessee and ultimately settled in Marshall County, Alabama. William married Nancy Thomas.

The children of William Manning and Nancy Thomas Manning include:

Elizabeth Manning born 1795 in South Carolina. She married Edmund Bridges.
Kizziah Manning born 1797 in South Carolina. She married Benjamin Roden.
Atha Manning born 1798 in South Carolina. She married David Ricketts.
Thomas M. Manning born 1802 in South Carolina. He married twice and his first wife's name is unkown. His second wife was Lucinda Parker.
Lewis Manning born 1804 in South Carolina. He married Mahala Murphy.
Mary Manning born 1811 in South Carolina. She married William Baker.
Nancy Manning born 1811 in South Carolina. She married Josiah Tidwell.

I found one researcher online who said that the family of William Manning moved from South Carolina and traveled with the Roden and Ricketts families to Alabama. The family history of the William Manning family was given to me by the widow of Raymond Manning (1924-2004).

There are some interesting stories about these families. Benjamin Roden, his son Portland Roden and several other Roden's died in the Buck Island Massacre. They were attacked by Northern soldiers and murdered. The Roden's wintered their cattle on Buck Island and were there to watch over them. Some say the Roden's were thrown into the river after being murdered, they are buried at the Roden Cemetery.

Annie Manning married John Rollings. John shot and killed Annie's father William Manning during an argument. William had helped set up John Rollings and another fellow in business. John also shot and killed Tom Roden. Annie married Billie Roden after her marriage to John Rollings.

In January of 1858, The Eagle newspaper of Guntersville, AL was bought by Dr. William Ricketts, Samuel Manning and W. W. Beasley. After Dr. Ricketts and Mr. Beasley withdrew, Samuel Manning ran the newspaper until December of 1859. Thomas Manning, father of William Manning, was also a businessman. He is said to have been a merchant and had the firm Jordan and Manning.

The William Manning family settled near Guntersville, Alabama and had a lovely big home called The White Elephant. They were plantation owners. Many Mannings are buried on the plantation in Honeycomb Valley, Marshall County, Alabama. This is a picture of their home.

As I go through the family history of the William Manning family, I will be able to add more stories. The widow of Raymond Manning has shared so much family history with me. In return, I am compiling her handwritten information in a Personal Ancestry File. I will make a disk for her and also provide her with a printed copy which she can pass down to her children.

I know she will appreciate it.