Sarah Mannon (Manning) family of
Claiborne County, Tennessee

(Last updated 23 Feb 2024)

Father	_______ unknown /  _______ Eldridge?.  Most Ancestry trees have William Manning (1809) as a consort of Sarah and father of the children below but since William already had his own family with Elizabeth Grimes it's unlikely he was also Sarah's consort at the exact same time.	Census Records:
Mother	Sarah "Sally" _______  was born about 1810 in Virginia or Tennessee.  Sarah died after 1880 probably in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  This writer could find no DNA evidence from descendants that she was a Grimes, Lee or Daniel.  It's possible she was actually a Mannon herself that never married and simply gave her children her own surname.  In this scenario it's possible each child may have had a different father. Sarah's Mitochondrial haplogroup is X2b per a female-line descendant's DNA test at 23andMe.	1830 TN, Claiborne Co., p. 129 1840 TN, listed as Sally Grimes? 1850 TN, Claiborne Co., p. (240) 1860 TN, ?? 1870 TN, Claiborne Co., p. 11 (265) 1880 TN, Claiborne Co., ED 106, p. 29
Daughter?	● Mary "Polly" Mannon was born 1833-1837.  Mary apparently never married.  Mary died after 1880 probably in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  On the 1880 census three supposed Mannon children are with her.  It's not known if they are her natural children or adopted children. Matilda Mannon was born about 1855 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Rebecca Mannon was born about 1861 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Henderson Mannon was born about Jan 1850 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.	1850 TN, Claiborne Co., p. (240) 1870 TN, Claiborne Co., p. 11 (265) 1880 TN, Claiborne Co., ED 106, p. 29
Daughter?	● Elizabeth Mannon was born 1835, 1836 or 1839 in Tennessee.  She was the consort of John M. P. Clark but the children went by her own surname of Mannon.  John Henry Mannon (Manning) was born 15 Nov 1854 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. William M Mannon (Manning) was born about 1857 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  Many trees erroneously list him a "Squire".  Andrew "Andy" Mannon (Manning) was born 1859 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Mildred Mannon (Manning) was born 1860 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  She married James Reed. Martha Jane Mannon (Manning) was born 1862 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  She married John Wesley Reed. James Coleman Mannon (Manning) was born 1865 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Sarah Mannon (Manning) was born about 1866 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  She may have married James Beattie. Elisha Mannon (Manning) was born 1871/1872 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. George Washington Mannon (Manning) was born 1875 in Claiborne County, Tennessee. Elbert E Manning was born 18 March 1877 in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  Elbert died 20 Oct 1901 in the Spanish-American war and was buried in Clark cemetery.	1850 TN, Claiborne Co., p. (240) 1870 TN, Claiborne Co., p. 11 (265) Note that Elizabeth is listed in most  Ancestry trees as "Elizabeth Matilda or "Matilda Elizabeth" but this writer could find no record indicating she had an additional name of Matilda.
Son?	● Andrew Mannon was born 8 Aug 1842 in Claiborne County, Tennessee (?).  The 1850 Census says he was born in Virginia while all the census after says Tennessee. He was a farmer which was the most common occupation of that time.  He served in the Civil War on the Union side and drew a pension after the war.   Note that many Ancestry trees erroneously give him a middle name of James.   He married (1) Angeline Lee on 25 May 1864 in Knox County, Kentucky.  Angeline died in 1874 and he remarried to Grace Caudle. Andrew died on 29 June 1920 in Fort Gibson, Cherokee County, Oklahoma and was buried in the Fort Gibson city cemetery.   [more] Children by Angeline: Margaret Elizabeth Mannon was born 5 June 1866 in Kentucky. She married Wiley James Caudle (brother of Grace Caudle). Margaret died 30 Jan 1956 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and was buried Hulbert cemetery, Hulbert, Oklahoma. They were living in Stonewall, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma in 1890; Jackson County, Colorado in 1901; and in Cherokee County, Oklahoma in 1920. Gabriel H. Mannon was born 17 Sep 1867 in Kentucky.  He married Mary Carvin(?).  Gabriel died after 1910. Rosey B. Mannon was born 26 April 1869 Indiana.  Rosey presumably died between 1870 and 1880. George Philip Mannon was born 18 Aug 1870 in Bartholemew County?, Indiana and died 190?. He married married Anna E Howard about 1889 [no record found].  George died about 1905. Anna remarried to William Spencer Caudle (brother of Wiley Caudle and Grace Caudle) and had several more children.  Anna died 7 June 1936 presumably in Paden, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma. Robert Lee Mannon was 13 July 1872 in Wright County, Missouri. He married Margaret Permelia Josephine Halsell on 5 Jan 1897 in Stonewall, Indian Territory (Pontotoc County, Oklahoma).  Robert died 13 July 1962 in Oroville, Butte County, California and was buried in Chico cemetery, Chico, Butte County, California. William Marion Mannon was born 4 Aug 1873 in Missouri. William died 26 Sep 1944 in Salem, Marion County, Oregon and was buried in Salem Pioneer cemetery, Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Children by Grace: Frances D. Mannon was born 10 Dec 1875 in Illinois. James Andrew Mannon was born 13 Jan 1877 (or 1878) in Arkansas. He married Lillie Davis on 8 Jan 1899 in Mincy, Taney County, Missouri. James died 1 Dec 1970. Tennessee J. Mannon was born 3 June 1879 in Arkansas. She married John W. Morgan on 27 April 1897 in Mincy, Taney County, Missouri. Acy Washington Mannon was born 19 March 1881 in Arkansas. He married Ethel Baits on 11 Feb 1906 in Mincy, Taney County, Missouri. Acy died 17 Oct 1963. Nancy Mary Elberta Mannon was born 22 May 1883 in Boone County, Arkansas. She married Stephen Joshua Killman on 4 Sep 1898 in Mincy, Taney County, Missouri. Nancy died 15 May 1967 probably in Wellton, Yuma County, Arizona. Richard Bambarge Mannon was born 4 Jan 1886 in Arkansas. Richard's WW2 registration gives his birthplace as Van Buren, Arkansas which is north of Fort Smith.  Richard's delayed birth record gives birthplace as "near Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas."  He married Josie L. Pruitt on 7 Aug 1904 in Mincy, Missouri.  Richard died 24 July 1965 in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. Leona May Mannon was born 13 Feb 1888 Arkansas. She married Oscar Lee Smith on 22 July 1906 in Mincy, Missouri. Leona died 5 May 1962 in Porter?, Oklahoma. Pleasant Alfred Mannon was born 3 Feb 1890 in Stonewall, Indian Territory (Pontotoc County, Oklahoma). He married Ollie Alberta Goodman on 19 July 1910 in Mincy, Missouri. Pleasant died 16 July 1956 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Samantha Virginia Mannon was born 5 Feb 1892 in McAlester, Oklahoma. She married Grover Howe. Samantha died 27 Dec 1973. Columbus Solomon Mannon was born 12 July 1894 in Arkansas. He married Mary Belle Tripp on 17 Aug 1913 in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Columbus died 3 October 1932 in Bradford, Arkansas.	1850 TN, Claiborne Co., p. (240) 1860 (not recorded) 1870 IN, Bartholomew Co., p. 241 1880 AR, Fulton Co., ED 67, p. 14 1900 MO, Taney Co., ED 129, p.12b 1910 MO, Taney Co., ED 204, p. 8b 1920 OK, Cherokee Co., ED 13, p. 9a

The case of Sarah Mannon:

Many Ancestry trees have Sarah "Sally" Mannon (1810-1880+) as the daughter of Andrew Lee and Margaret "Peggy" Daniel. This has only been an assumption based on the fact she and her three presumed children were living next to Andrew & Margaret Lee in 1850 and that she named her presumed son Andrew Mannon. It should be noted there was also an older Andrew Mannon (born 1780s) that factors into the Mannons of Claiborne County, Tennessee so he is also a source for the name Andrew not just Andrew Lee.

The Federal Census data:

1830 Federal Census, Tennessee, Claiborne County, page 129

Here we have Sarah Mannon (Manning) aged 20-29 living alone with no children.


1840 Federal Census, Tennessee, Claiborne County, page 41 (stamped 241)


No Sarah Mannon can be found living alone but there was a Sarah Grimes (no children) aged 20-29 living next door to William Manan (Mannon). William's four daughters are the ones he had with Elizabeth Grimes. In 1850 William is located in adjacent Hancock County with the same younger children.  Many ancestry trees have William Mannon as the father of Sarah's presumed children which would mean he was living in polygamy at this time so that idea is rejected (for now).  This connection seems more an attempt to add a "Mannon" father and not considering what is known about William and his family or considering other scenarios.

Already in this study we are getting problems that raise more questions.
1. Is this Sarah Grimes the same as Sarah Mannon?
2. Is this Sarah Grimes a sister/sister-in-law of Elizabeth Grimes?

If this is not Sarah Mannon she would be living with a neighbor with her 2 daughters Mary and Elizabeth.

1850 Federal Census, Tennessee, Claiborne County

Here we have Andrew & Margaret Lee living next to Sally (Sarah) Manning and her three presumed children Polly [Mary], Elizabeth and Andrew.

Sarah cannot be found in the 1860 Census and in the 1870 and 1880 Census she was living with her presumed daughter. Previous researchers missed the fact she was still alive in 1870 and 1880.

Was Sarah Manning actually a Lee descendant?  Apparently not.

The "History of Bell County, Kentucky" Vol. 1 was written by Henry Fuson who was a direct descendant of Andrew & Margaret Lee. The biography of Andrew Lee evidently lists all of his children with Margaret Daniel but no Sarah Mannon/Manning is mentioned. Why would Sarah be left out if she was their daughter?

Page 74 "Andrew Lee married Peggy Daniels, and there were born to this union (1) Henry Lee, (2) Dave Lee, (3) Bill Lee, (4) John Lee, (5) Philip Lee (grandfather of the author), (6) Bowl Lee, who married Betsy Barnett, of Indian descent, in 1812, (7) Pierce Lee, (8) Jim Lee, (9) Stephen Lee, (10) Dicey Lee, who also married Ardell Webb, (11) Peggy Lee, who who also married a Webb, (12) Polly Lee, who married Abe Miracle, and (13) Sallie Lee, who married James E. Cox." [Sallie was actually the daughter of David Lee]

DNA to the rescue

We can use Ancestry DNA matching to test the idea that Sarah Mannon (via son Andrew Mannon) was in fact a Lee descendant. Only people from Andrew's second wife Grace Caudle can be used because Andrew's first wife was Angeline Lee (1847-1874). A search of Ancestry DNA matches of a great-granddaughter from Andrew Mannon and his 2nd wife Grace Caudle simply does not support an extensive DNA connection to the Lee family. Given how large the family was the matches should be extensive but they are not. The tester does have four DNA matches to Lee descendants but those matches are ALSO Eldridge descendants and the Mannon Y-DNA has been established as actually being Eldridge Y-DNA so those can't be used as exclusive Lee DNA matches.

It is this writer's belief that Sarah Mannon was actually a Mannon herself (or some other line) and certainly NOT a Lee. An 1826 Harlan County, Kentucky divorce file reveals an older Andrew Mannon and Polly Foster married about 1809 but separated shortly after and continued to have other children by other consorts while they were still legally married. According to the divorce testimony Mary was living in Tennessee when they officially divorced 1826. This writer believes William Manning (1809) and Sarah Mannon (1810) were the only children that Andrew Mannon/Manning (1780s) and Mary "Polly" Foster (1780s) had together before separating. It's possible Mary may be the mother of Sarah and William but one or both had fathers other than Andrew Manning.  That means any DNA connections between descendants may be maternal only.  There was also an older Samuel Mannon who had children.

The 1830 Federal Census shows that Mary Manning was indeed living in Tennessee by 1830.This divorced Mary Mannon must be the older Mary (Polly) Mannon also seen in the 1840 Federal Census for Claiborne County, Tennessee. She is even on the same pages as Sarah Mannon and William Mannon.

1830 Federal Census, Tennessee, Claiborne County, page 129

The 1830 Census with Mary Manning (aged 40-49) living among the Grimes, Dooley, Smith and Hatfield families

Other connections?
DNA research has also revealed apparent connections to the Mullins, Foster and Tackett families and possibly the Osborne and Hall families. A William Mullins married a Ruth Foster (surname unproven) and we DNA match to many from that couple. Could Ruth Foster be a relative of Mary "Polly" Foster Mannon?

Mitochondrial DNA
A female line descendant of daughter Elizabeth [Clark] has the X2B Mitochondrial Haplogroup per 23andMe.