Rev James Manning

  Noted events in his life were:

• source. Mary-Ann Cook who writes:
THE REV James Manning was born at Northampton, on the 25th of August, 1754. His parents were highly respectable inhabitants of that place, and members of Dr. Doddridge's congregation. He was favoured by Providence, from his birth, with the greatest of all earthly blessings, - if altogether earthly it is to be called, - a wise, virtuous, and prudent mother. Of his father he spoke as being uniformly just and kind, - but over indulgent in the treatment of his children.
Mr. Manning received the rudiments of school education under several Dissenting ministers of his native town, first, under the Rev. Mr. Ryland; afterwards, under the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, and the Rev. Mr. Hextal; but he does not seem to have been particularly fortunate in his earliest tutors. In 1762, when he was but eight years of age, his father died, having had seven other children, all of whom had died from constitutional weakness in their infancy. This circumstance is worthy of notice, because Mr. Manning himself was remarkable throughout his protracted life, for the most uninterrupted health and almost unbroken strength, which he ascribed to his having been, on account of the death of the other children, and his own weakness as an infant, placed with one of his father's tenants in the country, to be brought up in their rustic way, feeding on simple diet and wholesome air. Six years after his father's death, Mr. Manning's mother married the Rev. Samuel Merivale, then Divinity Tutor of the Dissenting Academy, at Exeter. This was a happy event for the surviving son. It gave him, at the period of his life when he most needed it, the sort of counsel and guidance which even his mother might not have been able to give him. Mr. Merivale seems always to have behaved towards his step-son in the kindest manner. From this time, it is probable, it was the joint wish of Mr. and Mrs. Merivale that he should be brought up to the Christian ministry. Being yet too young to enter the academy, he was placed under the care of the Rev. Mr. Kiddel, of Tiverton, having for his schoolfellow Mr. Merivale's own son. At sixteen years of age, he was entered as a Divinity student in the Exeter Academy, where he remained till the final breaking up of that institution, about four years after his admission. He was then removed to Hoxton, and placed under the care of Drs. Rees, Savage, and Kippis.
In 1775, Mr. Manning, having finished his academical pursuits, repaired to Exeter. Mr. Merivale having died a short time before, he was almost immediately engaged to succeed him, as pastor of the congregation at Throventon. But, in less than a year, he accepted an invitation from the untied congregation at George's Meeting, to assist Mr. Stephen Towgood. In the course of the next year this gentleman died, and Mr. Manning was unanimously elected his successor. Not many months after his election, he was solemnly ordained. There were present about thirty ministers; those who officiated were Mr. M. Toogood, Mr. Manning's co-pastor; Mr. Tozer, then the pastor of another society in Exeter, but afterwards one of the minister of George's Meeting; Dr. Harris, of London; and Sir Harry Trelawny, of Cornwall. About the same period, Mr. Manning was united to his first wife, the daughter of Walter Oke, Esq., of Pinney. This very amiable lady died in less than two years after her marriage, leaving one son, the present William Oke Manning, Esq., of London. He was again married, in the year 1780, to the daughter of John Edye, Esq., of Bristol.
Mr. Manning always testified that this connexion had been to him a source of unmingled benefit, and of the purest earthly happiness; indeed, it was impossible to visit him in his domestic circle, without observing that few men ever found greater pleasure and satisfaction in the bosom of their families. The fruits of his second marriage were three children, who all survived him; James Manning, Esq., Barrister-at-Law; John Edye Manning, Esq., Registrar of the Colony of New South Wales; and a truly beloved daughter, whose affectionate and exemplary attentions to him ceased only with his latest breath. In the long course of his public ministry, Mr. Manning had many colleagues; towards all he behaved with uniform candour and kindness; but with some, especially Dr. Carpenter, he lived on terms of the most perfect friendship, and true Christian affection.
It is only necessary to say a few words on the subject of his character. Though possessed of a sound, strong understanding, and good talents, he was one of those men, (perhaps the happiest class in the world,) in whom the moral qualities are more conspicuous than the intellectual. His temper was admirable, mild and patient, serene and cheerful, to a very remarkable degree. There was usually a smile upon his countenance, and it was faithfully indicative of the spirit within. His very voice and step were characteristic of his dispositions. If you met him he generally looked as if he were going about doing some good; and so he was. It was one of his most favourite occupations to pay visits of charity and consolation to the poor and sick, and of kind civility to his friends. He was peculiarly earnest and active in his personal attentions to all the charitable and benevolent institutions with which he was connected. His reputation was deservedly high in the city of Exeter, and the county of Devon, amongst all ranks and denominations of people, for the services which he was always so willing and able to render to undertakings of public utility. In 1798, in conjunction with Bishop Buller, Lord Rolle, and other influential persons, he was mainly instrumental in the establishment of the Lunatic Asylum at Exeter, and continued to the time of his death one of its most zealous and efficient governors. He was also chosen by his fellow-citizens to be one of the corporate guardians of the poor; and it is well known how frequently he accompanied the discharge of his official duties with acts of private charity. He was likewise one of the vice- presidents and visitors of the Devon County Hospital, where he found another field for the habitual exercise of his kind and benevolent feelings.
In his public services, as a Christian teacher, Mr. Manning was eminently successful. In the earlier part of his life especially, he was greatly admired and approved as a preacher; and to the last he never failed, not merely to instruct, but to interest and impress hi hearers. He was in sentiment an Arian, but seldom entered upon his peculiarities of opinion in this respect; when he did so, however, he was open and manly in his statements, and earnest in the defence of his views. On these points he differed from all his colleagues since the time of Mr. Kenrick, and from a great majority of his congregation. But this circumstance produced no unpleasantness: he was too enlightened and charitable to think lightly of others for any difference of opinion; and he was himself too highly respected for his many excellent qualities, for others to think lightly of him. His devotional exercises in the public sanctuary were singularly fervent and affecting. It was the fault of the hearers if he did not always carry their hearts with him to the throne of grace. Religion was deeply seated in his own soul, and it inspirations flowed richly from his lips.
It has been already observed that his health and strength were very remarkable. At the age of seventy-five, he had never been confined to his bed or kept from his pulpit by illness. But about this time he began to feel periodical attacks of diarrhoea, a common indication of approaching decay in old persons. Though not alarming at first in the case of Mr. Manning, they gradually increased in severity, and finally terminated his life on the 10th of September, 1831. He preached however, and administered the Lord's supper, on the first Sunday of the preceding month; though his evident feebleness on that occasion too clearly revealed the painful truth to his friends. He never preached again, but attended the chapel for the two following Sundays; after which he became rapidly worse. His end was peaceful and edifying. All his children, except Mr. John Manning, of New South Wales, were around him, and, together with his household, received his pious and affectionate blessing. His memory is dear to all. May his example be followed by all.
A short time before his death, the congregation cheered and gratified Mr. Manning by presenting him with a handsome silver base of the value of upwards of one hundred guineas. It had this inscription: - "To the Rev. James Manning, this vase is presented, by the united congregations of Protestant Dissenters assembling at George's Meeting, Exeter, as a testimonial of their gratitude and respect for the zeal and fidelity with which he discharged the duties of the pastoral office in that place, for more than fifty-three years."
Mr. Manning published eight single sermons, and other pamphlets on religious subjects, besides a life of Mr. Towgood, and Exercises of Piety, translated from Zollikofer. For a list of his works see Unitarian Chronicle, Vol. i. p. 15, from which this sketch is taken.
[A History of the Presbyterian and General Baptist Churches in the West of England; with Memoirs of some of their Pastors by Jerom Murch, 1835 pp 448-452]

• connection. Margaret McKinney (nee Aylmer) 's extremely convoluted connection to Robert is as follows:

Margaret Aylmer (1944) married Neville McKinney (1940)
Her father was Ernest Aylmer (1921)
His father was Justin Aylmer (1893)
His father was Percy Aylmer (1865) who married Eliza Haddon (1867)
Her father was William Haddon (1836) who married Eliza Morris (1846)
Her father was Henry Morris (1813) & he also had Emily Morris (1862) who married Richard Moxon (1860)
His father was William Moxon (1839)
His father was Richard Moxon (c1820)
His father was William Moxon (c1798) & he also had Henry Moxon (1831)
He had Charles Moxon (1860) who married Mary Clarke (1863)
Her father was Joseph Clarke (1829) & he also had Joseph Clarke (1865)
He had Eric Clarke (1899) who married Daphne Andrews (1906)
Her father was George Andrews (1881) who married Emily Cann (1879)
Her father was David Cann (1848) who married Anne William s (1848)
Her father was John Williams (1814) & he also had John Williams (1842) who married Elizabeth Irwin (1839)
Her father was James Irwin (1804)
His father was James Irwin (c1776)
His father was George Irwin (c1750) & he also had Thomas Irwin (c1775)
He had John Irwin (1803)
He had Robert Irwin (1844)
He had Ethel Irwin (1881) who married Edward Stanton (1879)
He had Ruby Stanton (1912) who married Norman Cook (1905)
His father was William Cook (1878)
His father was Joseph Cook (1851) & he also had Dorothy Cook (1898( who married George Suttie (1889)
His father was Thomas Suttie (1859)
His father was George Suttie (1830)
His father was George Suttie (1774)
His father was George Suttie (1715) & he also had James Suttie (1759)
He had George Suttie (1797)
He had James Suttie (1830)
He had Susan Suttie (1859) who married John Dalrymple (1848)
He had John Dalrymple (1879)
He had John Dalrymple (1906)
He had Michael Dalrymple (1965) who married Harriet Buxton (1962)
Her mother was Jocelyn Buxton (1924)
Her father was Roden Buxton (1890)
His father was Thomas Buxton (1865)
His father was Thomas Buxton (1837)
His father was Edward Buxton (1812) who married Catherine Gurney (1813)
Her father was Samuel Gurney (1786)
His father as John Gurney (1749) & he also had Hannah Gurney (1783) who married Thomas Buxton (1786)
They had Charles Buxton (1822) who married Emily Holland (1824)
Her father was Henry Holland (1788) who married Margaret Caldwell (1792)
Her father was James Caldwell (1754) & he also had Anne Caldwell (1791) who married Arthur Marsh (1786)
His father was William Marsh (1755)
His father was George Marsh (1683) & he also had Milbourne Marsh (1709)
He had John Marsh (1746)
He had Frances Marsh (who died in 1889) & who married George Wise (1814)
His father was Edward Wise (1787) & he also had Emily Wise (1815) who married William Manning (1811)
They had Edward Manning (1841) who married Anne Powell (1846)
Her father was William Powell (1799) & he also had Maurice Powell (1838) who married Florence Manning (1842)
Her father was William Manning (1808)
His father was William Manning (1778)
His father was Rev James Manning (1754) & he also had John Manning (1783)
He had Arthur Manning (1819)
He had Frances Manning (1841) who married Walter McClintock (1836) They had Frances McClintock (1867) who married Francis Ridley (1860) They had Grace Ridley (1897) who married Andrew Badgery (1888)
His father was Andrew Badgery (1838)
His father was Henry Badgery (1803)
He had Francis Badgery (1852)
He had Ruby Badgery (1853) who married Thomas Yeo (1889)
His father was James Yeo (1857) who married Mary Yeo (1860)
Her father was George Yeo (1833) & he also had George Yeo (1861)
He had Frederick Yeo (1900) who married Ruby Guiver (1903)
Her father was Henry Guiver (1854)
His father was Joseph Guiver (1815) who married Eliza Rich (1819)
Her father was John Rich (1791) & he also had Charles Rich (1817)
He had Matilda Rich (1856) who married Martin Kenny (1849)
They had Catherine Kenny (1893) who married Charles Cook (1889)
His father was William Cook (1845)
His father was John Cook (c1812)
His father was Samuel Cook (c1776) & he also had Benjamin Cook (c1808) He had Samuel Cook (1851)
He had Carolyn Cook who married Thomas Eavis (c1874)
His father was Jacob Eavis (c1840) His father was Thomas Eavis (c1797) & he also had Henry Eavis (c1826)
He had John Eavis (c1867)
He had Lilian Eavis (c1899) who married Percy Bailey (c1897)
They had Pamela Bailey (1925) who married Stanley Ward (1921)
His father was John Ward (1882) who married Ethel Bowen (1891)
Her father was George Bowen (1855)
His father was James Bowden (1819) who married Hannah Loveday (c1813)
Her father was Thomas Loveday (c1779) who married Elizabeth Blackburn (1776)
Her father was Henry Blackburn (c1744) and he also had Barnabus Blackburn (1786)
He had Sarah Blackburn (1820) who married William Aldous (1820)
His father was Zephania Aldous (1778) & he also had Amelia Aldous (1818) who married James Peck (1820)
They had Charlotte Peck (1843) who married James Dawes (1843)
They had Annie Florence Dawes (1873) who married Arthur Augustus Bray (1869)
They had Albert Alan Bray (1896)
He had Robert Alfred (1920)
He had Robert Arthur (1947) who married me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies)
(1950)

James married Maria Oke, daughter of Walter Oke and Frances Enchmarch, on 22 Oct 1777 in Lyme Regis, Dorset England. (Maria Oke was born in 1756 in Axmouth, Devonshire England and died in 1778 in Exeter, Devon England.)

James next married Lydia Edye, daughter of John Edye and Hannah King, on 17 Aug 1780 in Winterbourne, Gloucestershire England. (Lydia Edye was born in 1760 in Bristol, Gloucestershire England, christened on 5 May 1760 in Lewins Mead Presbyterian or Unitarian Church, Bristol, Gloucestershire England and died on 16 May 1847 in Heavitree, Devonshire England.)