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Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] William Manning of Roxbury & Cambridge, Mass.
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:46:34 EDT

Subject: William Manning.
Source: Genealogical & Family History of the State of New Hampshire by Ezra
Scollay Stearns, Frederick Whitcher, Edward Everett Parker - Lewis Publishing
Company, Chicago.

p.834 MANNING.
The ancestors of the present members of the Manning families, early found in
this
country, were from England, where representatives of the general family have
long
been numerous. It is claimed that British records, published by order of
Parlia-
ment, show that the name occurred in twenty-two counties in the Kingdom as
early
as 1272. The predecessors of these early inhabitants went to England from
what is
now Germany. All Englishmen of the present time make this statement. The
accounts
differ slightly as to the particular continental province whence their
ancestors
came, but nine-tenths of them unite in saying that the family is of Saxon
origin.

In Hasted's Kent (county of Kent, England, published in 1797, occurs the
following
reference to the Mannings: "They are said to be descended from an ancient
and
noble family which took its name from Manning (Manheim), a town in Saxony,
whence
they came to England before the Conquest."

In the Colonial wars the Mannings were represented by nineteen persons
bearing
their name; on the rolls of the Revolution fifty-two appear; in the war of
1812,
sixteen; in the war of the Rebellion, eighty; and in the Spanish War - six -
an
indisputable evidence of the patriotism and fighting qualities of the
family. In
many other ways honors have come to the name through those who have been
high in
church and state, science and art, and the three leaned professions of law,
medicine and divinity.

(I) William Manning, the ancestor of this extensive family, came to America
about
the year 1634 or before. Whence he came has not been learned, but as the
Mannings
had long been a numerous family in England, and as he came contemporaneously
with
the migration of other emigrants from that country, it is certain that he
was from
a branch of that ancient family. After living in Roxbury, Mass., a short
time he
went to Cambridge, where he may have been a merchant. He was the owner of a
house
and of other lots of land, but when he bought and sold is not known in full.

William Manning was a freeman in 1640. His Will is dated February 17, 1665,
and
was proved April 28, 1666. He had removed to Boston as early as August 25,
1664,
when he became connected with the church there, and perhaps earlier.

The name of his first wife, whom he married in England is not known. She was
the
mother of his children and died on the voyage to America. He m. (2) Susannah
____, of whom we know no more than that she died in Cambridge, October 16,
1650.
He m. (3) perhaps at Boston, Elizabeth ____. He had two children: William
Manning
born in England in 1614 and Hannah (?).

(II) William Manning, son of William Manning, was born about 1614 in
England, came
to the colony of Massachusetts Bay in or before the year 1634, and settling
in the
latter year in Cambridge, made that town his home throughout the remainder
of his
life. He early purchased a homestead and other land, and engaged in business
as a
merchant, a calling he followed throughout his life. This enterprise was
not, how-
ever, limited to the mere selling of goods, for he owned a warehouse and a
boat-
house on a canal to which boats had free access. Early in life he became one
of

the most prominent and trusted citizens of the town, and was often called to

public offices of trust. He was elected highway surveyor, 1651 and the same
year
"to size casks," or as a gauger; Constable 1652, 1666, 1668, 1675, 1679 and a
Selectman, 1652, 1666-1670, 1672, 1675 to 1681, 1683, or a total of 15
years. His
name also frequently appears in connection with different public affairs. He
often
filled offices in connection with the settlement of estates. He was a
freeman in
1643; he was as early as that date, a member of the church.

After the death of Rev. Mr. Mitchell in 1668, Mr. Manning was selected by
the

church to go to England to prevail upon Reverend Urian Oakes to come to
Cambridge
and accept the vacant pastorate, and this mission he performed. The most
important
trust of his life was in connection with Harvard College, he having been
selected,
with Deacon John Cooper as an associate, to replace the old college building
with
a new one, and to receive and disburse the fund for this purpose. This was
in 1682
and the final accounting was made in 1684. Each steward received twenty-five
pounds for his work. He was one of the inhabitants of Cambridge to whom the
Shawshin, or Billerica territory, was granted in 1644, he being allotted
sixty
acres, and who joined in the "great deed" of 1650, conveying it to the
Billerica
settlers. He left at the time of his death, an estate of one hundred
sixty-three
pounds, two shillings and nine pence, free of all debts and expenses; and
had,
during his lifetime, distributed among his children, three hundred and eigh
pounds
three shillings, and seven pence.

He married Dorothy ____. He and his wife were buried in the now old cemetery
of
Harvard Square, and the headstones to their graves remain in good condition.
They
record that William Manning died March 14, 1690 aged seventy-six, and
Dorothy, his
wife, died July 26, 1692, aged eighty years. Their children were:

1. Hannah Manning
2. Samuel Manning
3. Sarah Manning
4. Abigail Manning
5. John Manning
6. Mary Manning
and perhaps 7. Timothy Manning.

(III) Samuel Manning, oldest son & 2nd child of William & Dorothy Manning,
was
born July 21, 1644, at Cambridge. He was reared in his native town, and
seems to
have received a superior education. Between the years 1664 and 1666, he
removed
to Billerica, where he afterwsard resided. His first home was at the
northern part
of the village, which was the same as the present "Center" village, but at a
later
period he removed and occupied a farm west of the Concord River. Twice the

Indians raided the town and killed some of his neighbors. He was a corporal
in the
militia in 1682; a sergeant in 1684, and ensign in 1699. The town elected
him to
nearly all the offices within the power to bestow. He was Surveyor of
Highways,
1668, 1676-77; sealer of weights and measures, 1675, 1700; and Constable
1677,
a trial juryman, 1679; Assessor, 1694, 1698, 1702; tithingman, 1679, 1682,
1695,
1697, 1704, 1709, or twelve years; he was Town Clerk, 1686, 1690, 1692,
1699, or
seven years; Selectman, 1673, 1677, 1679, 1682, 1690, 1692, 1694, 1696,
1699, or,
eighteen years, and Representative to the General Court, 1695-1697. He was
survey-
or and at various times served on committees or alone to survey land, run
lines
and perform many other trusts and duties of a public nature. He was made a
free-
man of this colony in 1670. The house he erectered on his homestead west of
the
Concord river still stands. He was a large holder of real estate, for on
the
death of his father he had become owner of the latter's homestead and
warehouse in
Cambridge. The large farm he owned remained directly in the hands of his
descend-
ants, passing from father to son several times, until, 1880, and is still
held

subject to the testamentary will of its latest Manning occupant.

Samuel Manning married (1) April 13, 1664, Elizabeth Stearns, dau. of Isaac

Stearns, born at Watertown, died June 24, 1671 at Billerica. He m. (2) May 6,
1673, Abiel Wight, dau. of John Wight, born at Medfield, Jan 1, 1654; who
died
some time after July 3, 1713. Samuel Manning

p.835
died at Billerica, Feb 22, 1711. The children by the first marriage were:
1. Samuel Manning
2. John Manning
And by the 2nd marriage:
3. Timothy Manning
4. Hannah Manning
5. William Manning
6. Sarah Manning
7. Dorothy Manning
8. Isaac Manning
9. Ephraim Manning
10. Elizabeth Manning
11. Eliphalet Manning
12. Abiel Manning.

(IV) John Manning, 2nd child of Samuel & Elizabeth (Stearns) Manning, was
born
August 30, 1666, at Billerica, where he lived for 30 years. He was a
carpenter
by trade. He took the oath of fidelity "18, 3rd mo., 1685." Sometime between
November 18, 1696 and January 2, 1698, he removed to Cambridge, his su
bsequent
home. He was elected to minor town offices in 1700 and 1708 and 1712, as
tithing-
man, but was excused. In 1690 he was a soldier in the expedition to Canada
led by
Sir William Phips, against the French, in King William's war.

He married Sarah Spaulding of Chelmsford, sister of his brother Samuel's
wife.
She was probably born about 1670. John Manning died Feb 3, 1719 at
Cambridge.
His children's names were:
1. John Manning
2. Edward Manning
3. William Manning
4. Samuel Manning
5. Benjamin Manning
6. Sarah Manning.

(V) William Manning, 3rd son of John & Sarah (Spaulding) Manning, was born
at
Cambridge, Mass. May 21, 1700 and spent his life there, his trade being that
of
a cordwainer. He was a soldier under Capt. John Wright, from May 5, to Aug
24,
1721; the service was doubtless against hostile Indians and probably in
Maine.
>From 1759 he was called lieutenant, in the records, which indicates that he
was
prominent in local military affairs in Cambridge and had been elected to the
above
office. He served as Highway Surveyor, 1730; Clerk of the Market, 1732-1735;
Constable, 1743, and "sworn in court," and sealer of leather, 1749, 1755,
1757,
1759-76, or twenty-two years, and for eighteen years continuously. He owned
a

place at the southeast corner of Winthrop and Brighton streets, which was his
home at the time of his death. He died September 17, 1778. His "real and
personal
estate" was inventoried at four hundred and ninety pounds, twelve shillings,
and
the "Mansion House and half a quarter of an acre of land with the buildings."
at two hundred and twelve pounds "in silver money."

Lieutenant Manning married, November 7, 1723, Mary White of Charlestown,
dau. of
Thomas and Sarah (Rand) White, born Jan. 30, 1702, died May 15, 1774, aged
72 yrs.
Lieutenant Manning and wife were buried in the old cemetery by Harvard
Square.

Their children were:
1. William Manning.
2. Thomas Manning
3. Samuel Manning
4. Joseph Manning
5. Mary Manning
6. William Manning
7. Sarah Manning
8. Rebecca Manning
9. Ebenezer Manning.

(VI) Samuel Manning, 3rd son and child of William & Mary (White) Manning,
was born
at Cambridge Aug 26, 1729. He inherited his father's homestead, and always
lived
there in the same house. By occupation he was a cordwainer. He was elected
Warden
1777, 1784; sealer of weights and measures, 1789; juryman, 1791, 1799;
hayward,
1792, and sealer of leather, 1778, 1779, 1781-1796, 1798, 1801-1802, a total
of
twenty-one years. Family tradition says he was a Revolutionary soldier and
fought
at Bunker Hill. The rolls of that war contain service under the name of
Samuel
Manning, which from want of proper data has not been allotted with any
certainty.

How much of that service belongs to Samuel Manning of this sketch is
unknown, but
it may be accepted as certain that he was the Samuel Manning whose name
appears in
a "list of men that served in the Canadian Expedition, credited to the town
of
Cambridge." His brother, William Manning was in the same list. Samuel
Manning
was prosperous financially, loaned money on mortgages extensively, and was
also a
considerable purchaser of land. He owned the covenant in 1777. He died April
3,
1824 in his 95th year, and it is a tradition that his life was ended
accidentally
inhaling gas from a charcoal stove. His property was sold for twenty-six
thousand,
five hundred and forty-seven dollars. By his Will, he divided his
possessions

among the children of his deceased son, Samuel Manning.

At the age of forty-seven, he m. (1) Aug. 2, 1777, Mary Woods, who died Oct
15,
1788 in her 51st year. He m. (2) Dec 29, 1791, Sarah Woods, who died April
16,
1812 aged 72 yrs. He and his wives were buried in the old cemetery by
Hanover
Square. He had but one child - Samuel Manning.

(VII) Samuel Manning, only child of Samuel & Mary (Woods) Manning, was born
May
28, 1778 at Cambridge, Mass. He grad. at Harvard Coll. in 1797; became a

physician, and as such practiced in several places in the state, having
resided
at Cambridge, Westford, Billerica, Harvard and Lancaster, Mass. In 1806, he
lived
at Cambridge and was appointed prison physician to the Cambridge prison. At
Lancaster, Mass., where he resided 1811 to 1821, he was Selectman for five
years,
1813-1817; and was several times appointed by the town to serve its
interests on
special committees. Prior to July 14, 1821 he removed to Cambridge, and there
resided until his death. He m. (1) Sept 29, 1801, Lucy Cogswell, dau. of
Jeremiah
and Sarah (Fletcher) Cogswell, b. Nov 5, 1778 at Westford, Mass.; died Oct
4, 1817
at Lancaster, Mass. He m. (2) March 20, 1822, Mrs. Elizabeth Bell (Warland)
Abbott
the widow of Rev. John L. Abbott. She was born Aug 26, 1783 and is said,
lived to
be past ninety years of age.

Dr. Manning died at Cambridge, of "pulmonic fever," October, 1822 aged 44
years.
The children of Dr. and Lucy Manning were:
1. Samuel Manning
2. Mary (Manning) Wood
3. William Manning
4. Joseph Cogswell Manning
5. Rebecca (Manning) Pratt
6. Charles (Pratt) Manning.

(VIII) Joseph Cogswell Manning son of Samuel and Lucy (Cogswell) Manning,
was born
at Lancaster, Mass. Sept 13, 1812. He was educated at the academies in
Lancaster
and Lexington and began his business career at the age of fifteen, in the

hardsware store of Lane & Reed, Dock Square, Boston. When about 20 yrs., he
removed to Baltimore, Maryland, wher ehe first engaged as a bookkeeper, and
then
as a paying teller in the banking house of Cohen & Co. About 1838 he formed
a
partnership with Hughes Armstead in the hardware

p.836
trade; later was in business with S. S. Lee, Howell & Poor and Manning &
Company,
their line being a general iron and coal shipping and commission business.
From
1850 to 1857 he owned and managed the Avalon Iron and Nail Works on the
Patapico
River, about nine miles from the city, on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. In
the
financial crisis of 1857, he met with reverses from which he never fully
recover-
ed. In religion he was Unitarian. He was an honest, straightforward,
generous-
hearted man of strong character, and was much beloved by all who knew him.
He m.
Aug 24, 1841, Rebecca Parkman Jarvis Livermore, b. Dec 3, 1819 at Milford,
N.H.;
died Oct 9, 1886 at the same place, although buried at Baltimore. Her father
was
Solomon Kidder Livermore, a grad. of Harvard Coll, 1802; and later a lawyer
at
Milford; her mother's maiden name wsas Abigail Atkins Jarvis. Her father's

ancestry was Rev. Jonathan & Elizabeth (Kidder), her grandparents; Deacon
Jonathan
and Abigial (Ball) of Westboro, Mass.; Jonathan & Rebecca (Barnes) of
Watertown;
Samuel & Anna (Bridge) and John & Grace Livermore, the last of whom came to
this
country in 1634, in the ship, "Francis" from Little Thurloe, Suffolk,
England &
settled at Watertown, Mass.

This family record continues with Google Books Online.
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth








































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