Children of Stephen Mann & his wife Penny Johnson Mann

[Clayton Mann]

Stephen Mann was a son of Richard & Lucy Mann, and probably the oldest son.  He was born in 1782 or 83 in Northampton County, NC.  He was a veteran of the War of 1812.  In Wake County, NC in August of 1807 he married Penny Johnson (could be Johnston).  They had four children that I know of, but only four who lived to adulthood.  Stephen died very young, in late January 1815.  I'm guessing he contracted some sort of wicked disease like Typhoid Fever, but he hung on long enough to compose a short will.  He mentions his wife and he mentions children in the will, but he did not name his children.

After many years of studying the records of the area I have concluded that his four children were Gilly (f), William (m), Daniel (m), and Stephen (m).  The boys I had determined with confidence quite some time ago. Their ages were perfect to be Stephen and Penny's sons, also where they lived, etc.; Stephen's brothers (Martin, Daniel, and Silas) did not marry soon enough to have sons their age which the census records corroborate; and no one else named Mann lived in that area during that period.  In other words, Richard Mann had only four sons and there were no other men named Mann in the area for the period 1798 to 1840.

But the 4th child had been a mystery.  I knew from the 1830 census that Penny Mann had one daughter 15-20, but other than my hunch that she married a local boy and remained in the area as most did, I had little to go on; well, other than one scribbled clue.  About twenty years ago, Essie Riggsbee of Raleigh (who if she is still living is now about 100 years old) had mailed me some family history information on the Manns and Holts.  On one small piece of note paper she apparently included as a final thought, she listed on the note who the sons of Richard Holt (died 1822) of Chatham County had married.  For those of you who know the Holt family of that area and who may also be a descendant, you probably know that the Holts and Manns are very intertwined. For Richard Holt's son Richard Holt, Jr., Essie wrote Gilly Mann-?, but it is hard to read and smaller than the rest as though she really did not have complete confidence that it was Mann.  But Richard's wife was named Gilly.  The census records of 1850 through 1870 prove that.  And the age of Gilly was perfect to be Stephen & Penny's daughter and likely oldest child.

So I figured out who Richard and Gilly's children were, who they married and about how long they lived.  I found that Emeline, their oldest daughter, married a Collins, lived in Chatham County and lived until at least 1910.  I sent off for a copy of her death certificate, hoping there was one, but knowing that a lots of times in the first few years after death certificates were required by the State of NC (1913) that there wasn't one generated after all.  But there was this time!  And on it, Emeline's son said that his mother's mother was Gilly Mann!  One more mystery solved I believe.  I have included this death certificate as an attachment.

Clayton

[daniell...@triad.rr.com]

This is GREAT information. Silas (Stephen's brother is my Great, great,
great grandfather). I do not know much about Sials but I know he was
born in 1794 and was in Chatham County most of his life (census 1840,
1850 & 1870) His wife was named Polly.

Thanks for sharing!
Danielle

[Clayton Mann]

Danielle, the maiden name of Silas's wife is unknown to me and everyone else on this forum as far I know.  Do you have any idea what her maiden name was?  I feel sure her given name was Mary.  Polly was usually a nickname for Mary.  She was born about 1795 and died between 1860 and 1870.  I think Silas and Polly were married in Chatham County.

I'm also uncertain of the parents of Wesley Bright Mann, born 5 JAN 1850, died 22 SEP 1921 in Raleigh.  He shows up in the household of Silas and Polly in 1850 and 1860.  Is he their son?  I have assumed so, but do not know for sure.  He is much younger than the rest of the children.  His death certificate, which I have attached, is inconclusive with regards to his parents.  What do you know?  And are there any descendants of Silas & Polly that could help us with questions about Silas's family and descendants?

Clayton

[daniell...@triad.rr.com]

I am sorry to say that I do not have any information on Polly or
Wesley. I will start looking and see what I can come up with.