One of the earliest notices of the family name of Man is found in the Domesday Book, in 1086, where "Wilhelmus Filius Manne" (William, the son of Man) is mentioned as a landowner in the county of Hants, England. In "Our English Surnames" the names Henry le Man and Richard le Man are cited to show the most ancient form of the name of the Man family, but no particulars are given. In "Patronymica Britannica" it is stated that the name Man signifies in old French "Norman." Also that in Dutch le Man means the man, a hero. Many men of note bore the name in England. In the earliest English records the name is generally written Man. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries there appears the names Man and Mann. Most of the families in this country gradually changed from Man to Mann about the time of the revolution. Burke's General Armory, London, 1844, gives many different coats-of-arms used by the English families. As the American ancestor of the Mann family of Troy, New York, left no records to identify his English family, his family arms cannot be given.
(I) Richard Man, of Scituate, Massachusetts, was one of the first to bear the name in America. He was not a "Mayflower" passenger, nor a soldier in the Rehoboth battle with Indians, as stated by the Rev. Samuel Deane in his "History of Scituate." The first appearance of his name on record is found in Scituate, Massachusetts, as having with thirty-one others taken the "oath of fidelity," January 15, 1644. His coming to America may be placed a few years previous to this date. He was a farmer, and one of the original proprietors of Scituate. His farm lay along the sea, while north of him was "Musquascut Pond," which was later to claim his life. In an attempt to cross this pond on the "iyce" in February, 1655, he was drowned. The verdict of the jury that investigated his death was: "Wee find that by coming over the pond from his own house towards the farmes, that he brake through the iyce and was in soe deep that hee could not git out and by reason of the cold of the weather and water made him unable to healp himselfe, neither could any other present aford him any healp, that could healp him out, though they used their best endeavors for the space of about an hour, as is reported to us by the witnesses that saw him in which time he died. This wee find to bee the cause of his death as wee all judge." (P. C. R., vol. iii, pp. 92-93. [perhaps Plymouth Colonial Reports?) He married, in England, Rebecca ————, who survived him and became the wife of John Cowen, the last of March, 1656. Children of Richard and Rebecca Man, all born in Scituate:
- Nathaniel, September 23, 1646, died July 20, 1688.
- Thomas, August 15, 1650; married Sarah ———— and had eight children; he died in 1732, leaving a will.
- Richard, see forward.
- Josiah, born December 10, 1654.
(II) Richard (2), son of Richard (1) and Rebecca Man, was born in Scituate, Massachusetts, February 5, 1652. He was three years old at the time of his father's death, and only four when his mother married John Cowen. At eleven years of age he was apprenticed to Thomas Hinckley, governor of Plymouth Colony from 1681 to 1692, for the term of ten years. He received a grant of land in Connecticut for his services in the "Indian War," which he deeded to "My well beloved son Nathaniel a tract of land granted me by ye general assembly of ye Massachusetts Bay, I being one of the Shounelers (soldiers) in ye former Indian War and especially in ye Narrangansett Sortie Fight commonly so called." This tract lay in Hebron, Connecticut, where the deed is recorded. In 1703 he sold his farm in Scituate to his brother Thomas and removed to Lebanon, Connecticut, where he died. He owned lands in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and at Lebanon, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth Sutton, of Scituate, born 1662, eldest daughter of John Sutton, and granddaughter of Elder Nathaniel Tilden, a wealthy citizen of Scituate, who settled there prior to 1628, coming from Tenterden, Kent, England. Children, all born in Scituate except the youngest son:
- John, of Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1719.
- Rebecca, married Isaac Tilden (his second wife), of Lebanon, Connecticut.
- Hannah, born April 13, 1689.
- Nathaniel, see forward.
- Richard, of Lebanon, Connecticut; married Mary Culver.
- Elizabeth, born August 27, 1696.
- Abigail, married Simon Baxter.
- Elisha.
(III) Nathaniel, fourth child and second son of Richard (2) and Elizabeth (Sutton) Man, was born in Scituate, Massachusetts, October 27, 1693. His father sold his farm on "Man Hill" in Scituate in 1703, and about 1704 removed to Lebanon, Connecticut, where he purchased a farm of one hundred acres, July 6, 1705. Nathaniel had several parcels of land deeded him in Lebanon and in Hebron, Connecticut, where he afterward removed. He married (first) February 1, 1713, Mary Root, daughter of Jacob and granddaughter of John Root, one of the first settlers of Hartford, Connecticut. She died May 19, 1728. He married (second) March 4, 1729, Mary Sprague, who died October 15, 1735. He married (third) September 5, 1736, Patience Role. He had six children by first wife and two by the second, according to the Hebron records. Children:
- Joseph, see forward.
- Nathaniel, married Deborah Tillotson.
- Benjamin, born March 3, 1717.
- John, married Margaret Peters, "Aunt of Governor Peters of Hebron," and sister of the Rev. Samuel Peters, D.D., LL.D., graduate of Yale College, author of a "History of Connecticut" and other historical works.
- Mary, born June 5, 1723.
- Nathan, married Elizabeth Skinner.
- Abigail, born February 14, 1730-31.
- Abijah, married Sarah Porter.
(IV) Joseph, eldest child, of Nathaniel and Mary (Root) Man, was born April 5, 1713. His birth was about at the time of the removal of the family from Lebanon to Hebron, and there is no record showing in which town he was born, although his birth is entered in the Hebron records. He was a miller and farmer of Hebron. He married (first) Mercy ————, who died April 5, 1738. She bore him two children: Aboda and Mercy. He married (second) November 27, 1740, Hannah Gilbert, who died August 15, 1777. She bore him twelve children. His children by both wives:
- Aboda (daughter), born January 27, 1734-35.
- Mercy, married Zebedee Howard.
- Joel, died young.
- Joel (2), see forward.
- Hannah, married John Weel, of Malta, New York.
- Frances, married Solomon Bailey.
- Joseph, died young.
- Abaline, married Levi Bissell.
- Deborah, married Eleazer Phelps, of Lenox, Massachusetts.
- Zadock, married (first) Esther Warner; (second) Hannah Williams; he removed to Ohio.
- Joseph, married Patience Barber.
- Candis, married Ezekiel Brown.
- James, married Tryphena Tarbox.
- John, died young.
(V) Joel, the eldest son (who survived infancy) of Joseph and Hannah (Gilbert) Man, was born in Hebron, Connecticut, October 1, 1743, died at Milton, Saratoga county, New York, November 24, 1824. He was a farmer and an influential citizen of Hebron. About 1793 he removed to Milton, New York, where he purchased a farm and cultivated it until his death. He married his cousin, Mercy Mann, daughter of John and Margaret (Peters) Mann. The ceremony was performed October 16, 1768. She died at Milton, New York, May 17, 1820. Children, all born at Hebron except the youngest son:
- Rodolphus, married (first) Lydia Horton; (second) Phebe, widow of Thomas Sprague; was of Saratoga county, New York; by both wives had eleven children.
- Jeremiah, see forward.
- Samuel, removed to New York state, where he died; he was married and had a large family.
- Joel, a physician; married Sallie Merrick.
- Dr. Hiram, was sheriff of Wayne county, New York; married Sophia Bigelow, of Poultney, Vermont; settled at Lyons, New York, where there is a memorial window in the church to his memory; his widow, a "cultivated lady," died at the age of eighty-one.
- Joseph, born October 26, 1794, died October 13, 1883.
(VI) Jeremiah, second son of Joel and Mercy (Mann) Mann, was born at Hebron, Connecticut. November 14, 1771. About 1793 he came to Saratoga county, New York, with his parents, settling at Milton Centre, where he died January 3, 1839. He was a prosperous farmer of Saratoga county. He married (first) January 16, 1796, Lydia Norton, born November 5, 1775. He married (second) March 19, 1818, Rebecca Tallmadge, who died February 16, 1852. He had seven children, six by first wife:
- Nathaniel, born July 16, 1798; killed by a runaway horse, November 7, 1810.
- Jeremiah, a farmer of Ripley, New York; married Clarissa Brockway.
- Francis Norton, see forward.
- George, died at age of nineteen years.
- William, graduate of Union College; died at age of thirty years; unmarried.
- Mercy, married Hon. Elias Plum (second wife), a leading citizen and ex-mayor of Troy, New York; their eldest son, Frank Mann Plum, served in the Union Cavalry during the civil war and was severely wounded; other children:
- Elias;
- Sarah W., married Edward G. Gilbert, of Troy;
- Luceta, married David Banks, of New York;
- Lucy Mann Plum.
- Nathaniel, married Sally Frances Slocum.
(VII) Hon. Francis Norton, third son of Jeremiah and Lydia (Norton) Mann, was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, New York, June 19, 1802, died at Troy, New York, February 8, 1880. His father was a farmer; Francis N. did not take kindly to that avocation but early displayed a fondness for books and study. He was ambitious and determined to secure an education. When he arrived at age eighteen years he left home and went to the town of Charlton, sixteen miles from Milton. Here he became an inmate of the home of the Rev. Joseph Sweetman, a Presbyterian minister, who gave him a home in return for his services and assisted him in his studies. After remaining there two years, he entered Lansingburg Academy, remaining one year. June 24, 1823, he was admitted to the junior class of Union College, hence he was graduated July 24, 1825. On October 4 following he began the study of law in the offices of Ashley Sampson and John Dickson, of Rochester, New York, supporting himself by acting as their clerk. Leaving Rochester, he continued his studies in the office of Daniel Cady, a lawyer of Johnstown, New York. Soon after he was in Troy, New York, a student in the office of Samuel G. Huntington, where he completed his years of preparation. He was admitted to the New York state bar in August, 1828. He at once opened a law office in Troy and for over half a century practiced his profession in that city. The last twenty years of his life were devoted chiefly to the management of his own large estate and business interests. He was a most reliable, conscientious lawyer, engaging in no case unless satisfied of the merits of his cause. He was learned in the law, a safe counselor and a most able and impartial judge of the court of common pleas of Rensselaer county, in which judicial position he served from 1840 to 1845. He was very closely identified with the growth and prosperity of Troy, and his wisdom and judgment were of great value in the administration of the public offices he held. He was mayor of Troy at the time General Wool, the Mexican war hero, returned to the city and presided over the public demonstration of welcome, held in front of the court house, and in behalf of the citizens of Troy presented the general with a handsome sword. His shrewd business qualities, sound judgment and strict attention to his private business gained for him a handsome competency. He was interested in the development of West Troy, Cohoes, and other towns of the vicinity, and had real estate holdings in them all. At the time of his death he was a director of the Mutual National Bank of Troy. He was a supporter of the Republican party; was supervisor of the second ward of Troy in 1835 and 1857; alderman from the same ward 1844-45-46-47; from 1840 to 1845 judge of the court of common pleas of Rensselaer county; elected mayor of Troy in 1847 and thrice re-elected, each time by increased majorities. His public record was unsullied and the public trusts committed to him were as carefully administered as his private business. From early life he was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church. He was one of the founders of St. John's Church of Troy and ever afterward a vestryman, being senior warden at the time of his death. He was always active and earnest in his church relations, a liberal contributor and useful worker. He was equally interested in the Troy Orphan Asylum, giving freely of his means and time to its welfare, serving as trustee and a member of the finance committee. He was one of the founders of the Young Men's Association, and president of the board of directors of the Troy Academy.
Judge Mann married, October 25, 1848, Mary J. Hooker, daughter of Marquise de Lafayette Hooker, of Poultney, Vermont, and a lineal descendant of Rev. Thomas Hooker, founder of Hartford, Connecticut (see Hooker VIII). Children:
- Francis Norton, see forward.
- Elias Plum, born March 12, 1852; see forward.
- Emily M., born July 22, 1854, deceased; married, April 28, 1880, Hamilton Fish, son of Hon. Hamilton Fish, a lawyer of New York City; children:
- Jeannette Mary, born April 7, 1883;
- Julia Kean;
- Rosalind;
- Hamilton Fish;
- Helena.
(VIII) Colonel Francis Norton (2), son of Hon. Francis Norton (1) and Mary J. (Hooker) Mann, was born in Troy, New York, August 2, 1849. He prepared for college in the schools of Troy, entered Yale College and was graduated from that institution, class of 1870. He has been prominently identified with the business interests of Troy all his life. He is president of the Orr Company, paper manufacturers; director of the Ostrander Fire Brick Company of New Jersey (with branch in Troy), trustee of Troy Savings Bank, director of the City National Bank; was vice-president of the Mutual National Bank until its consolidation with the City National Bank; vice-president of the United Traction Company until its sale to the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company, and is connected with many other enterprises. His interest in the charitable, philanthropic and educational institutions of Troy is shown by his official connection with many of the most useful. He is a trustee of Troy Academy, Emma Willard School, Troy City Library, Marshall Infirmary and Troy Orphan Asylum. He is an active and interested member of these boards of control. Politically Mr. Mann is a Republican. From 1873 to 1877 he was alderman of Troy; in 1879 represented Troy in the state assembly; in 1880-82 was aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Cornell, with the rank of colonel; in 1890 he was the candidate of his party for mayor of Troy, but in that year the entire Republican ticket went down in defeat; in 1890 he was appointed postmaster of Troy, continuing until 1894; in 1906 he was appointed commissioner of public safety for Troy and still continues in that office. For twenty-five years he was president of the civil organization of the "Troy Citizens Corps," now the Sixth Separate Company, New York National Guard, and on his retirement was presented with a beautiful silver loving cup as a testimonial of the high regard in which he was held by his associates. His religious affiliation is with St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church of Troy, where he has been a vestryman for a great many years. His college fraternity is the Delta Kappa Epsilon. He finds social relaxation and enjoyment at the Troy Club and Saratoga Golf Club, of which he is a member.
He married, January 19, 1878, Jessie Melville, daughter of Thaddeus W. and Charlotte (Davis) Patchin, of Troy. Her father was born at Hoosac (Hoosick), New York, May 17, 1805, died May 17, 1892, at Washington, D. C. He was cashier of the Bank of Troy; later removed to Buffalo, New York, where he organized the Patchin Bank, which succumbed in one of the financial panics. He then removed to Washington, D. C., where for many years he was agent for a number of national banks and was connected with the treasury department, but not a government official. He married Charlotte Davis, born May 3, 1812, at Hoosac, died at Washington, D. C., May 18, 1898, daughter of General George R. Davis, born in 1786, died in Troy, June 24, 1867. Children of Colonel Francis Norton and Jessie M. (Patchin) Mann, all born in Troy:
- Mary Jeanette, born February 27, 1879; educated at Miss Porter's School for Young Ladies at Farmington, Connecticut.
- Jessie Melville, born August 7, 1880; educated at Miss Porter's School.
- Emily Hooker, educated at Miss Carter's School, Catonsville, Maryland.
- Isabel Patchin, educated at Miss Carter's School; married William E. Clow, of Chicago, Illinois; they have one child, Beatrice.
- Elizabeth Marshall, educated at the Emma Willard School, Troy.
- Caroline Patchin, graduated with honors from the Emma Willard School.
(VIII) Hon. Elias Plum Mann, second son and child of Hon. Francis Norton and Mary J. (Hooker) Mann, was born in Troy, New York, March 12, 1852. Hon. Francis Norton Mann was mayor of Troy in 1847-49: he was a prominent citizen, a lawyer by profession, and known as an advocate of all that pertained to the welfare of the city. The name of Mann is the synonym of uprightness and business integrity, and Elias P. Mann is one of the best-known representatives of the family, which has been an influential one for many years.
Elias P. Mann had the advantages of an excellent education and refined home surroundings. He was a student in the Troy Academy, and was graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as a civil engineer in 1872. For years he has been a member of the board of trustees of that institution, and is now vice-president, and as a resident alumnus and trustee he has been energetic in advancing the interests of the famous school. The conscientious earnestness and systematic industry of his trained mind and honorable character have produced results which have always been a cause of gratification to the people of Troy. His influence in the political affairs of the city and county has been a widespread and beneficial one, and that the Republican party has often turned to Mr. Mann for leadership as well as for counsel is complimentary to Mr. Mann's high standing with the public. In 1880 he was elected alderman from the second ward of the city and served for two years. In 1899 he was elected treasurer of Rensselaer county, and reelected in 1902; at both of these elections his majorities, unusually large, testified to his personal popularity. While serving in that capacity the fiscal affairs of the county were managed systematically and carefully, and his record was one of which any citizen might be proud. In 1905 Mr. Mann was elected mayor of the city of Troy. At the time of his acceptance of the nomination to this office he said in part: "I have not given any pledge to secure this nomination, and I have not made any promises to anyone as to what I should do in case I am elected, and no one has been authorized to make any pledges or promise for me. I propose, if elected, to give the city a business administration, and I will be mayor in fact, not mayor in name only." This simple platform was one which found favor with right-minded citizens, and Mr. Mann was elected. His promises were more than made good. He not only instituted a business administration, but made many improvements which have beautified the city. The successful results of his methods are proven by his re-election in 1907 and again in 1909, at the latter election carrying the old city of Troy, which had been strongly Democratic, and Lansingburg, now a part of Troy. He was sustained by independent voters and by many Democrats. For ten years he served as fire commissioner, and during this period was the originator of many improvements in the fire system of the city. He is a trustee of the Volunteer Firemen's Home at Hudson, and filled the office of president of its board of trustees a number of years. He was captain of the Washington Volunteer Steamer Company in 1878-79, and is now treasurer of the Troy Exempt Firemen's Association. For six years he served in the Citizens' Corps, Sixth Separate Company, and at the time of his honorable discharge held the rank of first lieutenant. Mr. Mann is also a trustee of the Troy Trust Company. He is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, and his father was one of its founders. He is a member of the Troy Club, the Pafraets Dael Club, the Republican Club of Rensselaer County, the Sons of the Colonial Wars and the Delta Phi fraternity.
The chief characteristic of Elias P. Mann as a citizen of Troy has been his public spirit, and this has been peculiarly noticeable because of his own modesty and lack of ostentation. No publicity which Mr. Mann has received has been a product of his own self-seeking, but because in his efforts to develop public affairs so as to secure the greatest good for all he has necessarily been a prominent figure in the community. While accustomed to the most exclusive circles, he is possessed of that innate refinement which makes people of all ranks and classes feel at ease in his society. He is peculiarly dignified, and is hard-working and painstaking to a degree. His sympathies are readily aroused, and his charities, while numerous, are unostentatious. His thorough honesty of purpose has been so evident in all offices he has filled that it has earned for him friends in all parties.
Mr. Mann married, February 9, 1899, Eliza, daughter of J. Barclay and Georgiana M. Harding, of Philadelphia. Mr. Mann generally spends the summer months at his country home in Williamstown, Massachusetts.