James Manning, Sr.

THE MANNINGS.

The Manning surname is early found among the Saxons in the fifth century, from

whence the family migrated to the counties of Kent, Sussex and Norfolk, in England.

Within the first decade after the "Mayflower" landed her precious freight of human

lives, the name is familiar in the Massachusetts colony at Boston and neighboring

settlements. The founder of the family in New Jersey was Geoffery Manning, who,

with his wife, Hephzibah, (daughter of Joseph Andrews, of Hingham, Mass.), settled

in Piscataway about the time of the Fitz-Randolphs — 1668-70. He was one of three

commissioners to lay out the land grants in the township in 1682 and the following

year was made an officer in the first County Court of Middlesex, held that year in

Piscataway. His death rs recorded in 1693. From his four sons, John, Joseph, James

and Benjamin, came the numerous families of this name in East Jersey, especially in

this and neighboring townships and the adjoining counties of Somerset and old Essex.

Benjamin Manning married Ann Blackford, 1698.

John Manning, born 1670, married Elizabeth Dennis, 1693.

Joseph Mannlng, married Temperance Fitz-Randolph.

James Manning, married Christiana Laing, and his immediate descendants be-

came the most distinguished branch of the family during colonial times. From this

last line came President Manning, of Brown University, a learned and eloquent min-

ister of the Baptist denomination, and Jeremiah Manning, the fearless soldier of the

Revolution, and Captain Nathaniel Manning, of eminent distinction in the earlier

Indian wars.

-- "History of the First Baptist Church of Piscataway : with an account of its bi-centennial celebration, June 20th, 1889, and sketches of pioneer progenitors of Piscataway planters"

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