John Manton (son)
Michael Seery > Winifred Seery > John Manton (son)
The only record I can find for John Manton's birth notes that he was born on 10 August 1854 (NSW BDM 1990/1854 V18541990 71) and was baptised on 22 October 1854 in Goulburn. His parents were Winifred Seery and John Manton. Some sources have his middle name as Edward. John later used his step-father's surname at various times and was sometimes known as John Wilson or John Edward Wilson.
I do not have a copy of John's birth certificate and the online listing does not provide a district so I don't know where he was born. At that time, I assume Winifred was living with her parents at Native Dog Flat in the Wheeo area, near Crookwell so it seems likely that her son was born in the area.
Note that the 1854 date may be incorrect. This was nearly 10 years after John and Winifred were married which does not seem likely. It may be that John was born around 1850 but not christened until 1854, when his birth was also registered.
I do not have a copy of John's birth certificate and the online listing does not provide a district so I don't know where he was born. At that time, I assume Winifred was living with her parents at Native Dog Flat in the Wheeo area, near Crookwell so it seems likely that her son was born in the area.
Note that the 1854 date may be incorrect. This was nearly 10 years after John and Winifred were married which does not seem likely. It may be that John was born around 1850 but not christened until 1854, when his birth was also registered.
Police Record
Winifred gave birth to John Manton when she was only 19 and it seems that young John may have suffered from a lack of attentive parenting. We do not know whether his father, also called John Manton, was involved in his life but he is never mentioned and it seems probable that he was not. Note that John seems to have taken his step-father's name in later life and was known as John Wilson.
This lack of connection seems to have resulted in young John becoming a bit troubled. He could read but not write which suggests he didn't spend much time at school. A series of thefts - often from members of his own extended family - are recorded, beginning when he was about 13 and ending with his being sent to an institution for young people when he was 16.
This lack of connection seems to have resulted in young John becoming a bit troubled. He could read but not write which suggests he didn't spend much time at school. A series of thefts - often from members of his own extended family - are recorded, beginning when he was about 13 and ending with his being sent to an institution for young people when he was 16.
Note that John Manton was later dropped as a suspect in this murder case and another man was arrested. One of John's uncles, James Seery, and James's wife were mentioned in the case as witnesses. James's wife was present at her friend's hut when the police officer was shot.
Note also the reference to Michael Seery.
Note also the reference to Michael Seery.
January 1870
In January 1870, when he was 16, John was living around Pejar with his uncle, John Seery, when he was tried for horse stealing. The court transcript is below. In this instance, as in others, he used the alias Edward Wilson, which was his step-brother's name. Note that Edward was also John's middle name and his step-father's surname. John's step-brother, Edward Wilson (son of Winifred and William Wilson), went to America as a young man and was never heard from again which is probably why John chose to use his name as an alias.
Following was transcribed from Entrance Books for the Vernon and the Sobraon, 1867-1911.
The Vernon was a tall ship a tall ship purchased by the New South Wales Government in 1867 and converted to a Nautical School Ship. It was a reformatory and industrial school and housed more than 100 boys, training them in nautical and other trades. In 1870 it was moored off Garden Island in Sydney [1].
"John Manton
That is to say having no visible lawful means of support and wandering about in company with reputed thieves. 28th day January 1870
Goulburn
Born 10th August 1854. Evidence of mother. Roman Catholic. Can read only. Stated to be a companion of cattle stealers and recently brought before the Bench at Goulburn on two charges of [illegible] discharged. Health good. Father dead. Mother alive married again to a free selector named Edward Wilson of 40 acres about 20 miles from Goulburn. Unknown if able to support. This boy was brought up on the 18th instant charged stealing 30 head of cattle the property of his uncle John Seery and a horse the property of John Gray. He was discharged from custody. This day the bench decided he should be arrested under the Industrial Schools act.
Court House Goulburn
28th January 1810"
The file below contains a copy of the original, hand-written record.
The Vernon was a tall ship a tall ship purchased by the New South Wales Government in 1867 and converted to a Nautical School Ship. It was a reformatory and industrial school and housed more than 100 boys, training them in nautical and other trades. In 1870 it was moored off Garden Island in Sydney [1].
"John Manton
That is to say having no visible lawful means of support and wandering about in company with reputed thieves. 28th day January 1870
Goulburn
Born 10th August 1854. Evidence of mother. Roman Catholic. Can read only. Stated to be a companion of cattle stealers and recently brought before the Bench at Goulburn on two charges of [illegible] discharged. Health good. Father dead. Mother alive married again to a free selector named Edward Wilson of 40 acres about 20 miles from Goulburn. Unknown if able to support. This boy was brought up on the 18th instant charged stealing 30 head of cattle the property of his uncle John Seery and a horse the property of John Gray. He was discharged from custody. This day the bench decided he should be arrested under the Industrial Schools act.
Court House Goulburn
28th January 1810"
The file below contains a copy of the original, hand-written record.
johnmanton.png | |
File Size: | 272 kb |
File Type: | png |
Marriage
I have a marriage record for a John Wilson marrying Rose Goodfellow on 1 August 1886 in the Moree area, according to the rites of the Presbyterian church (NSW BDM 5363/1886). John would have been 32 at the time of his marriage, if this is him. No parents are listed on the marriage record and there is nothing to support the view that this John Wilson is, in fact, John Manton. Note that the only reason I have to believe John ended up in Moree is other researchers' information via the internet and his death record, which includes his parents' names.
Death
According to the info on Family Search, John Edward Manton junior died on 30 October 1919 in Terry-Hie-Hie, near Moree, NSW. He was about 65 years old. Given the mention of Terry-Hie-Hie, I assume the researcher who recorded this information has certificates on file. Terry-Hie-Hie was once a small farming community and is an important site for Aboriginal people.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTDX-S2K?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=L74R-CH9
I think this info is based on John Manton dying as John Wilson. NSW BDM have the following info:
John Wilson, died in 1919 in the Moree area, son of Edward and Winifred (NSW BDM 23163/1919). The father's name - Edward - is incorrect but may simply be an error.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTDX-S2K?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=L74R-CH9
I think this info is based on John Manton dying as John Wilson. NSW BDM have the following info:
John Wilson, died in 1919 in the Moree area, son of Edward and Winifred (NSW BDM 23163/1919). The father's name - Edward - is incorrect but may simply be an error.
Research Notes:
- Taralga is approximately 20 miles from Goulburn so, in the transcript above, Winifred and William may have been living in Taralga in 1870 (note: William's name is incorrectly given as Edward);
- John junior's birth cert from other researchers (may show father's place of birth, years in colony, etc);
- Brian Bell (FamilySearch) from UK may have certs for both John Mantons;
- Only John Manton convict I can find went to Tasmania so unlikely to be mine;
- Family of Mantons lived in Yass but don't think they're related;