After lack of success in finding the mother of my great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Manning) Brown, I decided to do what I call a deep dive. “Grandma Brown” was born in Kentucky, probably in 1876 or 1878. Her father was John William Manning, who may have also called “Joe.” Her mother (name unclear) likely died before 1885. She and her sister Phoebe probably traveled to Minnesota in 1882 and was undoubtedly in Minnesota, living with her grandparents Enoch and Minerva Mannin by 1885. So the window that Grandma Brown was in Kentucky was short, 1876 to 1885 at most.
A quick look at my tree and I discovered I have 431 people in my family tree with events in Kentucky, so I decided to create a Kentucky Research Toolkit to help with my research of these many Kentucky ancestors.
Looking at the locations of particular interest based on the life events of Mary, her father, John William, and her grandfather, Enoch, I need to look at:
Kentucky from 1823 to 1888
Bath County 1823-1860
Bath County, Owingsville 1823-1860
Carter County, 1845 – 1888
Carter County, Grayson – 1843-1865
Rowan County c. 1880?
Rowan County, Pine Grove – c. 1880?
Next, I typically print a Family Group Sheet from my Family Tree Maker software to have “What I Think I Know” handy. It can help determine if a document concerns the “right family.”
Besides knowing the dates to research, I need to learn more about Kentucky and its counties.
Kentucky was the 15th state in the Union, admitted on 1 June 1792.
Bath County was formed in 1811 from Montgomery County; its capital is Owingsville.
Carter County was formed in 1838 from Greenup and Lawrence Counties; its capital is Grayson.
Rowan County was formed in 1856 from Fleming and Morgan Counties; its capital is Morehead.
All three counties are in the Eastern Coal Field region of Northeast Kentucky. Coal mining is the primary industry in the region.
One of my truly difficult lines to follow is my 2nd great-grandmother, Elisa Jane [or Lisa J.] (Fannin) Mannin. Several other researcher’s trees suggest her maiden surname was “Mannin” and was probably a cousin of John William Mannin. I have only discovered her named in one or two documents.
In any event, I want to understand the Mannin families of Carter County, Kentucky in the mid to late 1800s. I have very little direct evidence regarding the Mannin family and how various relations exist. So, if I start with the 1880 Census, which describes relationships, I should be able to track the families back in time.
1880 Census
A search for “Mannin” in Carter County, Kentucky yielded six families who were enumerated in the county in 1880. All six were in Precinct 4 and all were in Enumeration District 15, suggesting they all lived nearby each other. They were:
Enoch Mannin – Sheet 547D – Previously incorporated in my tree.
Enoch, Head – Age 57.
Manerva, wife – Age 59.
Isaac Mannin – Sheet 547D – Apparently the 2nd head of household in the same dwelling – Previously incorporated.
Isaac Mannin, Head – Age 32
Tenisee Mannin, Wife – Age 32
Sam Mc Kee Mannin Son – Age 12
Henry M Mannin Son – Age 9
Frances P Mannin Son – Age 7
James H Mannin Son – Age 5
Phodeena Mannin Daughter – Age 0
Merideth A. Mannin – Sheet 546B – Previously incorporated.
Merideth A Mannin Head – Age 24
Sousan F Mannin Wife – Age 25
Rachal E Mannin Daughter – Age 3
Sarah M Mannin Daughter – Age 1
Thomas H. Mannin – Sheet 546A – Previously incorporated.
William C Mannin – Sheet 546A – New Family for me. I entered Names, relationships, year and place of birth and residence during the 1880 Census based upon this record.
Wm C Mannin Head – Age 34
Martha E Mannin Wife – Age 30
Alvin Mannin Son – Age 10
Montaville Mannin Son – Age 9
Silas Mannin Son – Age 8
Arminta Mannin Daughter – Age 5
Asbury Mannin Son – Age 2
William C Mannin Son – Age 0
All of the individuals were born in Kentucky except for Tubal’s wife, Elizabeth [Mannin].
Conclusion
Six families and 37 individuals with the Mannin surname lived, according to the 1880 Census, in Carter County in 1880. Note: John William Mannin(g) and his wife, Lisa, appear to be living in adjoining Rowan County, Kentucky during the 1880 Census.
Sources
1880 Census, 1880 – Enoch Mannin – Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky – ED 15, Page 20 (FS). Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky; Roll T9_408; Family History Film: 1254408; Page: 547.4000; Enumeration District: 15; Image: 0374.
1880 Census, 1880 – Isaac Wilson Mannin – Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky; Roll: 408; Family. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCCH-V4Y : 29 August 2017), Phodeena Mannin in household of Isaac Mannin, Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 15, sheet 547D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,408.
1880 Census, 1880 – Merideth A. Mannin -. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCCH-NXL : 29 August 2017), Sarah M Mannin in household of Merideth A Mannin, Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 15, sheet 546B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,408.
1880 Census, 1880 – Thomas H Mannin – Precinct No. 4 – Carter, Kentucky. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCCH-N6P : 29 August 2017), Eliza F Mannin in household of Thos H Mannin, Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 15, sheet 546A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,408.
1880 Census, 1880 – Tubal Mannin, Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCCH-FZ8 : 29 August 2017), Killie Mannin in household of Tubal Mannin, Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 15, sheet 539D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,408.
1880 Census, 1880 – William C. Mannin. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCCH-FCB : 29 August 2017), William C Mannin in household of Wm C Mannin, Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 15, sheet 546A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,408.”United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCCH-FCB : 29 August 2017), William C Mannin in household of Wm C Mannin, Precinct 4, Carter, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 15, sheet 546A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,408.
Endnotes
[i] Other records suggest Tubal was born in Missouri.
After lack of success in finding the mother of my great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Manning) Brown, I decided to do what I call a deep dive. “Grandma Brown” was born in Kentucky, probably in 1876 or 1878. Her father was John William Manning, who may have also called “Joe.” Her mother (name unclear) likely died before 1885. She and her sister Phoebe probably traveled to Minnesota in 1882 and was undoubtedly in Minnesota, living with her grandparents Enoch and Minerva Mannin by 1885. So the window that Grandma Brown was in Kentucky was short, 1876 to 1885 at most.
