Mary (Butler) Manter (abt. 1751 - 1845)

Born about 1751 in Edgartown, Dukes Co.,MA

Wife of James Manter — married 28 Nov 1771 in Edgartown, Dukes, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 22 May 1845 at about age 94 in Industry, Franklin Co., ME

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Biography

Mary was born about 1751 in Edgartown, MA.^[1][2]She was the daughter of (Captain) Elijah and Thankful (Smith) Butler.^[3]

She married James Manter^[3] 28 Nov 1771 in Edgartown, MA.^[4]The couple would have seven children, all born in Tisbury, MA., during their 25 years of marriage.^[3]

With a large family, the family found the need for more land and decided to do the same as many of their neighbors and join a migration from Martha's Vineyard to Franklin County which was at that time still a part of Massachusetts (later to become a part of the state of Maine). In the spring of 1796 James traveled to New Vineyard to settle on Lot #4 in the first range of lots adjoining the Plymouth Patent.^[3]

The family then sailed together by small vessel as far as Hallowell, on the Kennebec River. From there the family, except Mary, journeyed on foot into the wilderness. Mary was allowed to ride by horseback, carrying a small wicker-basket carefully packed with china and other earthenware from home. Upon arrival, one of the first tasks was to clear timber and build a log cabin. Helping with this was his eldest son, Benjamin, and a Gay Head Indian named Takoosa.^[3]

As autumn drew near Benjamin started back toward the sea, intent to continue his life as a sailor, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. However, by the time he reached Hallowell, and before he could secure a vessel, he received word that his father had been stricken ill. He returned to New Vineyard. his father would not recover and died the day after Christmas, 1796.^[3]

Mary and the young children were no doubt very thankful that Benjamin decided to stay with them in the wilderness until the younger children were self sufficient. Those early years were very dangerous and challenging. Through hardship and privations, Mary held the family together, farming and getting by on whatever was available.^[3]

She was said to be a woman of great courage and strength of character, perhaps best illustrated by this story:

One day while the sons worked in the field, she found that the roof of the house was on fire. instead of calling to the workers, she found a ladder, climbed to the roof and extinguished the fire.^[3]

Mary survived her husband by nearly five decades, pass on 22 May 1845,^[1] at the age of 94.^[3] She is buried in the family cemetery in Franklin Co.,^[1] near Industry, alongside her husband and several of their children.^[5]

Original Source cited: ^[6]

Research Notes

Mary's grave marker is inscribed with her married name, "Manter", despite the cemetery being named the Mantor Cemetery. Four of her five sons have the surname spelled this way. However, her husband, and her son, both named James, have the spelling "Mantor" from which the cemetery is named.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92202961/mary-manter: accessed 06 October 2022), memorial page for Mary Manter (1751–22 May 1845), Find a Grave Memorial ID 92202961, citing Mantor Cemetery, Franklin County, Maine, USA; Maintained by Merrylyn Sawyer (contributor 47490198)
2. ↑ Maine, U.S., Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, 1780-1980, calculated DOB based on DOD and listed age at death
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8} A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine, by William Collins Hatch, published 1893 by Knowlton, McLeary, & Co. of Farmington, ME.
4. ↑ Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850
5. ↑ Maine, U.S., Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, 1780-1980
6. ↑ ["Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCXQ-SVV : 24 January 2020), Mary Butler in entry for James Manter, 1771.]