Peter Hunnisett

David & Mary Manners, Farmer of Blackland

David Manners, a son of Joseph Manners, was born in Blackland around 1709.

Mary Stephens was born around 1713.

David Manners and Mary Stephens married at Bishops Cannings on 29^th September 1734 and had eight children:

David was a farmer and for a while after his marriage he lived at All Cannings, about 10 miles south-east of Calne. However he later moved to Blackland where he clearly prospered as a farmer, as shown by his will of 1782 and the accompanying inventory and accounts. The value of his estate was over £1000 and after other payments each of the seven children, or their descendants, received £127-2-0. This was clearly a lot of money at a time when the inventory shows that Mary Hood was paid 4 guineas per annum and David Manners £7.

Mary Manners died on 9^th January 1771 aged 57 and was buried in Blackland on 18^th January.

David Manners died on 8^th January 1783 aged 71 and was buried in Blackland on 16^th January.

Headstones to Mary and David stand next to each other in Blackland churchyard.

In Memory of
MARY the Wife of
DAVID MANNERS
who died January 9 1771
Aged 57 Years

Dear Husband now my life is past
My love to you so long did last
Therefore for me no sorrow take
But love my Children for my sake

In Memory of
DAVID MANNERS
who departed this life
January the 8 1783
aged 71 years

My merry pilgrimage at length is o’er
No sickness here or pain shall vex me more
I’ve laid my heavy burden in the cell
And bid the troubles of the world farewell

Of their children:

• James married Mary Cleverly in Cherhill on 7^th October 1760 and their children were:

  David

  1 Oct 1761

  Cherhill

  Ann

  28 Aug 1763

  Cherhill

  Mary

  13 Jul 1766

  Cherhill

  Jemima

  6 May 1770

  Cherhill

  Sarah

  1 Sep 1776

  Cherhill

  James was buried on 20^th June 1793 and Mary on 14^th January 1803.

  

  In Memory of
  JAMES MANNERS
  who died June y^e 16:1793
  Aged 58 Years

  In vain for years the healing.....

  [remainder unreadable]

• Joseph married Sarah Clifford in 1760 and lived in Blackland.
• Rebecca planned to marry William Carpenter and banns were called in Calne on 24^th and 31^st of December 1775 and again on 7^th January 1776 but the marriage did not take place. Banns were again called in Calne on the 8^th, 15^th and 22^nd March 1778 and the marriage then took place in Blackland on 23^rd March 1778. Rebecca had died by the time her father made his will in July 1782 and her share “to my grandchildren by my daughter Rebecca Carpenter” was paid to William. Neither Rebecca’s burial nor baptisms for her children have been found.

• Benjamin married Jane Robins in Calne on 2^nd June 1766 and they are believed to have had four children:

  Rebecca

  15 Oct 1769

  Blackland

  David

  23 Feb 1772

  Blackland

  Elizabeth

  Jane

  Benjamin was buried in Blackland on 5^th March 1793 and Jane on 20^th November 1795.

  

  To
  the Memory of
  BENJAMIN MANNERS
  died March y^e 1^st 1793
  aged 50 years

  

  In Memory of
  Jane wife of Benjⁿ Manners
  who died November 14^th 1795
  aged 65 years

• Anne married Richard Hale in Calne on 23^rd June 1774 and they are known to have had one child baptised there:

  Jemima

  22 Mar 1775

  Calne born 17 March

• David – clarification needed here – Gladys Manners claimed that he married Ann and lived in Cherhill but there are other possibilities.

• Mary had an illegitimate son by Joseph Hillier:

  Joseph Hillier Manners

  20 Dec 1777

   

  Mary married James Hood in Calne on 10^th April 1783 and they are known to have had at least one child:

  Rebecca

  25 May 1785

  Calne born 27 April

  Mary appears to have died some time after Rebecca was born as the accounts of her father’s will signed off on 21^st September 1790 show that her share of the legacy was paid to James Hood.