William (1773-1828) and Abigail (Morley) (1776-1828) Mann were married in Hickling on the 10th April 1798; they had 10 children although several died young:
- Thomas Mann 1799–1839
- Mary Mann 1801–1816
- Joseph Mann 1803 – ? (appears in census records in Nottingham for 1841-1861)
- Samuel Mann 1805–1816
- William Mann/s 1806–1892 (see separate page; transported to Australia in 1833)
- Elizabeth Mann 1810–1836
- Anna Mann 1812 – ?
- John Mann 1814–1817
- Matthew Mann 1816–1816
- Daniel Mann 1818–1818
In 1828 both William and Abigail died. Abigail died aged 52 and was buried in Hickling (abode Hickling) on 30th July 1828. William died aged 55 and was buried in Hickling (abode Nottingham) on 10th November 1828. They were both relatively young when they died but no causes of death have been recorded. William’s abode in Nottingham may indicate that he was in hospital or that he was staying with his son, Joseph who, in later years, is recorded as a tailor in Nottingham/Arnold.
The Will of William Mann in 1828 is quite complicated and detailed; he appears to be attempting to secure the future of his business in Hickling and the future of his daughters (until they turn age 21) whilst managing his sons’ shares in his Estate carefully. William’s father’s Will indicates that there is a substantial loan to his son William (b.1806) which is still outstanding at the time of his death. It also records that William (jnr) is living away from Hickling and the family business in Rugby (Warkwickshire) – see, below.
The Will of William Mann (1773-1828)
The Will of William Mann in 1828 is quite complicated and detailed; he appears to be attempting to secure the future of his business in Hickling and the future of his daughters (until his youngest daughter turns age 21) whilst managing his sons’ shares in his Estate carefully.
Click here: The Will of William Mann 1828
- William Mann is a grocer and cordwainer (shoe maker) with two houses (and associated land) in Hickling and a business which includes its main asset, a ‘twist net maker machine’ (used to twist or spin fibres for yarns, cords, ropes).
- Although William Mann has 5 children (including adult sons), control of his Estate is passed to two executors; William Wright (a grazier) and Joseph Maltby (a weaver) in perpetuity.
- Thomas is described as a ‘twist net maker’ and he is living in Hickling.
- His two surviving daughters, Elizabeth and Anna, have the ‘free use of the three lower back rooms in the House wherein I now dwell without molestation or hindrance so long as they keep single and one of them have occasion to occupy them.’
- The executors are also instructed to give the two daughters a range of household items; “the following articles of household furniture to my daughter Elizabeth Mann, one set of drawers, one wool bed, bedstead and curtains (now in the middle room) one pair of blankets, two pair of sheets, seeing glass, tea kettle, four common silver spoons one large copper pot one screen table and four chairs, to my daughter Anna Mann, the best set of drawers the best wool bed, bedstead and curtains one pair of blankets, two pair of sheets seeing glass, tea kettle six silver tea spoons two, two small pans, best dressing table a three leg’d stand and four chairs, but the clock, china knives and forks to be divided equally betwixt them.”
- Elizabeth and Anna also receive a legacy of £60 each when the youngest daughter, Anna, reaches the age of 21 in 1833. Until that time, the Estate will pay them £3 a year each, starting a year after their father’s death.
- A further legacy is to be paid, “to my son Joseph Mann of Arnold in the County of Nottingham tailor the sum of one hundred pounds within twelve months after my decease out of my said personal estate.”
- Lastly, a legacy to his son William (transported to Australia in 1833) hints at money and/or family problems; “to my son William Mann of Rugby in the County of Warwick the sum of twenty pounds within twelve months after my decease out of my said personal estate and I order the said William Wright and the said Joseph Maltby or the heirs of them not to demand the money of my said son William for which I have proper security until my youngest daughter Anna Mann shall attain the age of twenty one unless they the said William Wright or the said Joseph Maltby shall see urgent occasion for the same and the Interest regularly paid to the said William Wright and the said Joseph Maltby or the heirs of them.”
- William does receive a legacy of £20 from his father’s Estate but he is still required to repay the loan and to pay interest to his father’s executors until it has been repaid. William isn’t required to repay his loan to his father immediately (unless there is urgent need of the funds) but it will be required when Anna turns 21 in 1832/33. It may or may not be a coincidence that William is charged with theft and transported in 1833; perhaps his crime was a consequence of his need to repay the loan to his father’s estate?
- The executors are given 12 months from William’s decease to realise the funds needed to cover cash legacies and their responsibilities towards William’s daughters are in perpetuity. The residue of the Estate goes to his son, Thomas, once Anna has reached the age of 21. Anna was baptised in Feb 1812; if baptised just after her birth she would turn 21 in 1832/33.
- When Probate is granted in June 1829 his estate including all goods and chattels ‘do not amount in value to £450’.
William Mann’s Estate is seen to be substantial:
- It is possible that the second property detailed is the home of Thomas Mann and, perhaps, that William Mann’s (snr) main residence may have been his place of business, too; his daughters are only given rights over 3 rooms.
- Only half of the twist net machine is included in William Mann’s Will; perhaps his son Thomas already owns the other half – his profession is listed as ‘twist net maker’. Alternatively, Thomas and his family may be sharing the main dwelling house or be expected to move into it.
- Either way, only three of William and Abigail’s five surviving children are living in Hickling at the time of his death.
- In summary: Thomas (the eldest son) is the main beneficiary of his father’s estate including his business interests in Hickling. His daughters (also in Hickling) receive an income and household goods until Anna turns 21 and then £60 each. Joseph (a tailor in Nottingham) also receives £60. However, William (in Rugby at the time of the Will) receives £20 immediately but is required to continue paying interest on a loan from his father (loan amount unknown) and to repay the loan by the time Anna turns 21.
- Thomas appears to continue the business in Hickling until he moves to Grimston (nr Melton Mowbray) in 1838/9; he dies in 1839 and his family return to Hickling in the 1840s. It seems that the family’s prosperity doesn’t continue with later census records implying a more modest existence.
The Children of William and Abigail Mann.
Thomas Mann appears to have been William & Abigail’s eldest child; he was born in Hickling in 1799 and died in 1839: there is no trace of any individuals named in the Will in the 1841 Census for Hickling.
- Thomas Mann married Mary Toyn(e) in Hickling on 18th Feb 1822. The Banns are witnessed by Jemima and Sophia Toyn.
- There are no Toyn family records in Hickling Parish Registers; Mary Toyn’s residence is listed as Headon-cum-Upton (North Notts) but we have had difficulties with unreliable transcriptions naming this location in previous searches …
- (possible) birth records:
- Jemima – Hickling – born 9th Jan 1823 – bap. 3rd Nov 1831 – parents Thomas & Mary Mann – father, shoemaker
- Joshua – Hickling – born 24th April 1827 – bap. 3rd Nov 1831 – parents Thomas and Mary Mann – father lacemaker
- Vincent – Hickling – bap. 7th Nov 1832 – parents Thomas & Mary Mann – father lacemaker
- Jacob – Hickling – born 00/00/1834 – bap. 13th May 1838 – parents Thomas & Mary Mann – father shoemaker
- Abigail – Hickling- bap. 13th May 1838 – parents Thomas & Mary Mann – father shoemaker
- Although Thomas Mann’s burial is recorded in Hickling on the 29th Dec 1839, his abode is given as Grimstone. It appears that the family moved from Hickling to Grimston at some point between mid-1838 and late-1839.
- There is an 1841 Census record for Mary Mann in Grimston, Melton Mowbray; she is listed as a schoolmistress with her children; Joshua (14), Vincent (9), Jacob (7), Abigail (3) plus William Digby (ag lab, age 70) – all are born ’out of county’. Jemima is not listed with the family.
- In the 1851 Census, Mary (school mistress) and Abigail are recorded back in Hickling in a household of their own. Jacob is possibly recorded as a servant in the Shipman household in Hickling.
- Mary remains in Hickling as a schoolmistress in the 1861 census but her date of birth is inconsistent across records (confused by the presence of other Mary Manns of a similar age). However, the Grimston record offers evidence to link these future records; in the 1871 census Mary is recorded as age 76, schoolmistress. She is head of the household with her daughter Jemima and her son Jacob (farm servant) and his children (Jacob (8), Emma (6) and Vincent (4). The children are listed as born in Woodthorpe, Notts.
- Mary Mann’s burial is recorded in Hickling on 23rd June 1872 (asthma).
- [Sarah] Jemima’s burial is recorded in Hickling; 3rd April 1884 (no record found in 1881 census).
- In the 1881 Census Jacob Mann is the sole member of the household (domestic gardener & labourer). Similarly, 1891 & 1901.
Joseph Mann (bap. 1803)
Census 1851 (Church Street, Arnold, Notts):
- Joseph Mann – Head – Married – Male – 47 – 1804 – Tailor – Nottinghamshire
- Elizabeth Mann – Wife – Married – Female – 47 – 1804 – Seamstress – Nottinghamshire
- Caroline Mann – Daughter – Unmarried – Female – 25 – 1826 – Dress maker – Arnold, Notts
- Josiah Mann – Son – Unmarried – Male – 23 – 1828 – Framesmith – Arnold
- Vashti Mann – Daughter – Unmarried – Female – 15 – 1836 – Seamstress – Arnold
- Amelia Anne Mann – Daughter – Unmarried – Female – 13 – 1838 – Seamstress – Arnold
- Owen Wm Mann – Son – Male – 10 – 1841 – Scholar – Arnold
- Betsey Harriett Mann – Daughter – Female – 4 – 1847 – Scholar – Arnold
- Dorothy Wheelhouse – Lodger – Married – Female – 59 – 1792 – Annuitant – Notts
- The birth of Caroline in 1826 places the family in Arnold at this time; confirmed by the Will of Joseph’s father in 1828 and the 1841 census
Census 1841: Front Street, Arnold; an older child is listed – Frederic Mann – age 17 – born 1824. Also, Eliza Mann – age 9 – born 1832 (not listed in the household in 1851 (above). Also, Samuel Frost – age 21 – 1820.
Census 1861: Joseph is listed as a tailor visiting the Waddington household at 12, Northumberland St, St Mary, Nottingham.
No further records found.
William Mann (bap.1806): transported to Australia in 1833 – click here
Elizabeth Mann (bap. 1810)
Elizabeth Mann’s burial is recorded in Hickling churchyard on 17th August 1836 – no further detail given. There is no surviving headstone.
Anna Mann (bap. 1812)
No records found.