Mahala (Unknown) McManus (abt. 1825 - aft. 1870)

Born about 1825 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died after 1870 after about age 45 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States

Biography

Mahala (Unknown) McManus is a part of US Black heritage.

Mahala McManus was a slave. She may have had a brother named James based on their names being in two households of father and son. They were owned by the family of John H. McManus, Sr according to his LWT in Chesterfield District, South Carolina in 1866. Support comes from the settlement of the estate by a son and Executor, Richmond McManus as well as by word of mouth, generation to generation of Mahala's descendants.

The McManuses settled first in Chesterfield District or "Cheraw's District" in SC prior to the American Revolution. John, Sr. was the 3rd or 4th generation.

Verbal Family History

c2006 Family interviews with Bruce Edmonds, descendant of Mahala's dau Eliza reported:

According to the family stories, Eliza was born a slave in Chesterfield to a slave mother and the slave owner. Eliza had four brothers that were very fair skinned with green eyes. The slave owner, Eliza's father, was a man named McManus who owned Eliza, her mother (Mahaley), her four brothers and a few other slaves. My grandmother did not recall the first name of the slave owner, but she (and Eliza) were certain of two things: 1) that he was the father of Eliza and 2) Eliza and her brothers were born in Chesterfield County. This is the reason that I believe Richmond was the owner of Mahaley and that he was Eliza's father. I investigated the 1850 slave schedules for Chesterfield County. I believe that Richmond McManus was the only McManus owner of slaves in Chesterfield County that year. He owned exactly two slaves: a 20 yr old female and a 2 month old male. I am almost sure that those two slaves are Mahaley and James. Note: two sources for James.

From: "Barb" Just to confirm: You have oral tradition and written (Death record) that Eliza’s mother was “Haley.” In what form is the information that says that 1. Eliza’s father was the slave owner of Mahala? And that 2. Richmond was the slave owner. Who handed down the information? Thank you, Barbara Roesch

Answer from Bruce Edmonds: Both parts of the story 1) and 2) below were handed down as oral history by my grandmother Arlivia. It had been relayed to her directly from Eliza McManus. Eliza had stated that it came from her mother Mahala/Mahaley. They did not remember the first name of the slave owner, but they were certain that his last name was McManus, which was the name that they used after slavery. These clues and my search of the census records led me to Richmond McManus.

Sept 26, 2008 continued discussion from Bruce Edmunds: In the case of my family, that oral history consisted of the memories of my grandmother (Arlivia), her older brother (Bradshaw) and their sister (Inez). Years ago when they were living, I sat with them on numerous occasions. I realized the value of what they told me so I always wrote it down. I still have my handwritten notes, the earliest being from 1981, of my family interviews.

Although my grandmother and her two siblings would occasionally disagree about a fact or two, they were always consistent when it came to the father of Eliza McManus. All three always maintained that the father of Eliza was the white slave-owner, a man named McManus. In the case of Bradshaw, he even said that he recalled the man was named Rick McManus.

All these circumstances relative to Richmond are correct.

Mahala first shows in the 1870 Chesterfield Co., SC census as head of her own household with children. John, Sr. had moved across Lynches River to Lancaster County with his all his children except Richmond. Much of what is known of Mahala comes down by word of mouth directly from her daughter Eliza, grandau Arlivia to Arlivia's grandson, Bruce Edmonds, the current generation, cited above.

Only Richmond remained in "Manus" Old Store, Chesterfield District all his life. He was a Postmaster, Executor and Overseer of the slaves in his Lancaster father's estate. The slaves may have been assigned among the brothers in Lancaster but there is nothing specific showing that. The son Charles is occasionally seen within he Armstrong family. 1850 and 1860 Slave schedules show slaves of all the immediate family and neighbors nearby including the same families mentioned earlier: McManuses, Arants, Funderburks, Massey, Calvin, and Aaron Blakeney. ^[1] [1] ^[2] [2]

After freedom, of course the slaves were no longer part of the estate which was settled in 1866-7 at the Petition of bros-in-law Calvin Massey, Elihu Shute, nephew, R. C. McManus et al, vs. Richmond McManus to settle the Estate of John H. and Rebecca McManus ^[3]

1870 shows Mahala's neighbors who include many of the in-laws and kin of Richmond McManus. Richmond's hh is on page 18, before Mahala's on page 19. Another neighbor is a black couple, James McManus 55 yrs and Judah "Judy" McManus who also have a significant history in Chesterfield County. James seems to be the slave of John Hr. McManus, Sr. Judah was purchased from Spain by Calvin Massey. ^[4] Indeed, they are near b-i-l Calvin Massey and other McManus kin by marriage.

Mahala's children and later generations have been found in black families of Chesterfield Co. in 1900, 1910 and 1920. THey include:

1. Green McManus born c1852 and married Eliza Melton.
2. James McManus
3. Eliza McManus born 1854 md Herod Funderburk
4. Charley F. McManus born 31 Oct 1856 Old Store, Chesterfield Co., SC and died 9 Dec 1934 Jefferson, Chesterfield Co., SC +More info.
5. Ransom C. McManus born Nov 1862 and died 6 Mar 1928 Lanesboro, Anson Co., North Carolina +More info

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 SC Chfld. Images 39/47 et al
2. ↑ 1860 SC Chfld. pgs 30 through 32
3. ↑ Filed SC Lancaster Probate Court, 14 May 1866 Settlement of McManus Estate
4. ↑ 1870 Chesterfield Co., SC, Old Store Pct., p355, hh133 10 Aug 1870

• DNA Testing Q'McManus
• DNA Testing McManus
• Research of Woodrow McManus of North Carolina, Minister and member of Oak Hill AME Baptist Church, Chesterfield Co., South Carolina
• Research of Breece-42 McManus descendant and researcher.
• South Carolina Death Records