It is currently thought that Joseph Manning came to America about aged 10 and settled in Maryland about 1665, probably in the area of Port Tobacco, Maryland.(1) Joseph Manning's Last Will and Testament can be found in the Charles County, Maryland Book 14, Page 447; (1/14/1717)-02/04/1717 (8) Tracts: "Brandbery" 200 acres; "Manning'Discovery ."(2) " Charles County, Maryland Deed Book G1:pp 102; 137; 1676-78; Account Sales Book 7-2;//1708; Joseph Manning Deputy Commissioner."(3) "Deed Book 02;p4; 11/ct/1710; Joseph Manning was sworn as the High Sheriff of Charles County, Maryland."(4) Joseph Manning's willl filed in Charles Co., Md. Book 14; p447;1-14-1717 to 2-4-1717; Tracts Brandbery" 20 acres and "Mannings' Discovery." Esther Manning received 100 acres of Manning'sDiscovery.Joseph Manning was 23 years old when he married Mary Blackfan Stone in 1678. Mary's maiden name is unknown. It is thought that she had three husbands. The name Blackfan could be indian. Another idea is that John Blackfan may have been her father and somehow got translated as her husband. Blackfan therefore may be a maiden name or a name from a previous marriage. Mary Blackfan Stone may have had two sons named John Stone and Thomas Stone. If so John and Thomas Stone would have been Joseph Manning's stepsons from his marriage to Mary. Josephs' daughter in law, Mary Wade, inherited all of John Manning Sr.'s estate when she was 57years old. She was execcutrix of John Sr.'s will. Mary Wade died and there are indications that she left John and Thomas Stone as heirs.Joseph and Mary Stone lived out their lives in Charles County, Maryland, probably in and around Port Tobacco, Maryland. They had two children that we know of. Joseph was 23 years old when his first son John, was born : (1) John Manning, Sr. born in 1678, in Charles County, Maryland and(2) Esther Manning, born in after 1678 in Charles County, Maryland.We can discern thatJoseph Manning did in fact establish himself in the Maryland Colony's political and economical structure from the land he accumulated and the public offices he held, ie. Deputy County Commissionerwhen he was 53 years old and High Sheriff of Charles County, Maryland. when he was 55 years old. In the early American Colony's, these offices were most frequently held by the ruling aristocracy or by trustworthy aquaintances appointed by the controling aristocracy. In most instances the Sheriff presided over and exerted control over local elections andgreatly influenced local lives and livelyhoods through the enforcement of local laws. In the book "THE AMERICANS" Daniel J. Boorstin gives us a glimpse of the early Colonial Sheriffs role during elections."Voting took place in the county coutyhouse or, in goodweather, on the courthouse green. It differed from amodern American election mainly in the publicity given toevery voter's choice and in the resulting gratitude orresentment between the candidate and his constitutents.By an almost unbroken custom, candidates were expectedto be preent at the voting-place. At a table sat the sheriff,the candidates and the clerks (including one for eachcandidate). The voters came up one at at time toannounce their choices, which were recorded publicly likea box-score. Since anyone present could always see thelatest count a candidate could at the last minute sendsupporters to bring in additional needed votes. As eachvoter declared his preference, shouts of approval wouldcome from one side and hoots from another, while thebetting-odds changed and new wagers were laid. Thefavored candidate would rise, bow, and express thanks tothe voter...The control of the Gentry over elections was byno means confined to their ability to earn the favorableopinion of the voters. Fot the gentry chosethe Sheriff fromamong themselves, and the sheriff nanaged the elections.He decided whether any individual was qualified to vote;he set the date of the election;he fixed the hour foropening and closing the polls; there was no appea from hesdecisions except to the House of Burgess, which wasalways reluctant to override local officials. "Gentlemenfreeholders," the sheriff would finally proclan from thecourthouse door, "come into court and give your votes orthe poll will be closed." Sometimes the election would beended by two o'clock in the afternoon, but if the sherifffound that many voters had been kept away "by rain orrise of watercourses," he might prolong the election intoanother day. What modern candidate would not envy the ...gentlemen his power to keep the polls open until thewinning votes had been rounded up|Further research into the duties of the Sheriff and of County Commissioners and the actions taken during these years inthe history of Charles County, Maryland will also tell us a lot more about Joseph Manning, his life and times. and thereby paint amore complete picture for us of Joseph Manning.Joseph Manning was 52 years old when his son John Manning Sr. married Mary Wade. He died in 1717. It is doubtful that he ever saw his grandson John Manning Jr. who was born in 1717. He would however,have known his grandson Joseph Manning Sr. who was born in 1710 when he was 55 years old and possibly knew his grandson Richard.When Joseph Manning was 60 years old his daughter Esther married Thomas Mathews, in 1715. EstherMannings' was married twice. Her first husband was Edward Chapman and Esther Manning was Thomas Mathews second wife.In the year 1717, at the age of 62 years old, Joseph Manning died. There is no indication at this time what caused his death. |