manley
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My Grandfather, the Runaway Boxcar, and a Quiet Act of Courage
My paternal grandfather, Charles Judson “Charlie” Manley (1899-1974) was one of those quiet, unassuming men who never seemed to have a bad word to say about anybody. I remember him as a genuinely good man. Apparently, he was also considerably more of a badass than I ever realized. In 1959, Charlie was 60 years old… Continue reading
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Between the Lines: Miriam (Dewing) Manly’s Story
When Adin Manly, my 4X great grand uncle, recorded the story of leaving Massachusetts for the wilds of upstate New York in February 1817, he described the journey in practical terms: he and his new wife, Miriam, were married on January 17 and a month later they set out with a group and three yoke… Continue reading
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The Pioneer’s Son: Nathan Manly’s Life In Michigan
Yesterday I shared the remarkable recollections of my 4X great grand uncle, Adin Manly, who wrote in his own words about the hardships he and his wife, Miriam, endured as early settlers of western New York. Among the details of his long life, Adin wrote proudly that he and Miriam had raised ten children, all… Continue reading
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Adin Manly: In His Own Words – A Pioneer’s Journey to Western New York
Every so often in genealogy, we are fortunate enough to find more than names, dates, and places. We find a voice. Adin Manly (1793-1867), the younger brother of my 4X great grandfather, Howard Manly (1791-1852) was born in Taunton, Massachusetts in 1793. Like so many young New Englanders of his generation, Adin eventually turned his… Continue reading
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The Hollow Log: A Manley Family Tragedy
Sometimes the smallest newspaper clipping can reveal a moment of unimaginable heartbreak in an ancestor’s life. In April 1840, my 4X great grandfather, Howard Manley (1791-1852), was living with his family near Rochester, New York when an ordinary day splitting wood lead to a discovery inside a hollow log. What initially must have seemed like… Continue reading
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Before They Were Old: A Love Story in Photographs
When I remember my paternal great grandmother, Florence Nightingale (Gurin) Maynard (1883-1970) I remember an old woman. As I was only 8 years old when she passed, I didn’t even fully understand our relationship: that she was my great grandmother, mother to my paternal grandmother, only that she was elderly and we called her ‘Grandma… Continue reading
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The Handy Family of Tecumseh: It’s Complicated
For the sake of genealogy research I am very fortunate that many of my paternal lines after the mid-1800s resided in Lenawee County, Michigan, the county adjacent to where I live. Logistically, I am easily able to visit the local libraries, historical museums, and cemeteries to gather information and build family stories. Where it gets… Continue reading
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If This Trivet Could Talk
Genealogy isn’t only about names, dates, and family trees. Sometimes the most meaningful connections to our ancestors are the ordinary objects they touched every day. This cast steel trivet sat in my paternal grandmother Elizabeth (Maynard) Manley’s home throughout my childhood, and I can still picture it in her kitchen. After she passed away in… Continue reading
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You Can’t Outrun the Manley Nose
As part of my ancestry investigations I often browse eBay for vintage family-specific treasures using keywords such as surnames and locations. Sometimes I have the incredible luck of discovering a photo for a distant ancestor such as this one for Melinda “Minnie” Manly (1833-1916) who, according to Ancestry.com, is my “1X cousin, 5 generations removed”.… Continue reading
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Almost First: The Manley Who Helped Settle Easton, Massachusetts
Throughout the years I have successfully traced my direct Manley lineage to the early colonies, with the first Manley arriving sometime in the early 1600s. My 8X great grandfather, William Manley, Sr. (1643-1717) is credited as the second settler of Easton, Massachusetts, Clement Briggs was named as the first. Although I can account for him… Continue reading
Tiny Acorns & Mighty Oaks 