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Prestonia Mann Martin and the Mann Family of New York

Research by Enid Mastrianni, Page 5

August 17, 2004, New York Research

I was able to go on a little research trip last week and found additional information about the anti-slavery activities of the Mann Family. I went to Mannsville, in Jefferson County, NY and checked out their small historical society which is housed in a circa 1850 Congregationalist Church.

Newton Mann was associated with this church, and his name appears frequently in the records of the church. He was never a minister, but was frequently referred to as a "moderator."

One entry, dated December 14, 1844, states, "Rev. Mr. Houch a Minister from the South having delivered 2 lectures upon the subject of Slavery the Church made up for him $12.00 which in addition to the Amt. given Eld Downer an agent engaged in the same cause amounts to $16.00 given to the cause of Anti-Slavery."

The town historian was certain that a house still standing belonged to the Mann family. This house is at 303 South Main in Mannsville. The house has undergone a lot of renovation and additions, and even partially burned in 1887. I contacted the owner of the house. He has traced the house back to about 1848. He said he would look up old deed and title information and forward it my way. The current owner's family has owned it since 1949. He mentioned two curious features of the house; that it has some hidden large cubbyholes behind the stairs, and that there was once a large water collecting cistern on the roof.

I also was able to confirm where John Preston Mann's mother, Julia Doolittle Mann, lived with her son George and daughter-in-law Sophia in Watertown. They all lived at 32 Massey Street. George taught music at what was called, The Jefferson County Institute.

Enid1

Notes

1. Correspondence, Enid Mastrianni to Afrolumens Project, August 17, 2004.

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