City Directories and History: “Manning, Col. Richard Irvine of “Homesley” plantation. Born Dec. 22, 1817 (S.C.); married Mar. 3, 1845, Elizabeth Allen Sinkler (Sept. 16, 1821-Apr. 2, 1908); died Oct. 10, 1861. Education: University of Va. (1837-38). Church: Episcopalian (Vestryman, St. Mark’s). Public Service: Magistrate; Lieut. Col. (Gov. Johnson’s staff) ; State Senator. Slaves: 104 (Clarendon District) and 95, owned “with two others” (Sumter District).”
The Last Foray, C. Gaston Davidson, SC Press – 1971
Gilman Plantation – This plantation was acquired in 1820 by Jacob Belser, the great-grandfather of my informant. He adds this interesting bit of history — that both Governors John Peter Richardson (first) and John Laurence Manning were born there. It seems that Mr. Belser’s great-grandfather on his mother’s side, Captain Thomas Baker (War of 1812) once owned property in Stateburg, adjoining Borough House property, either then or later called “Bradley’s” and also a summer house “Woodville.” My readers may recall that I described “Woodville” at Stateburg in my article on that section; but my geography does not seem to indicate that these two are the same. Harking back to the time when Clarendon was a part of Sumter District, Mr. Belser mentioned inci-dentally, some of his Furman relatives: Mr. Richard Furman, founder of Furman University, and Dr. Richard Furman, a well-beloved “family doctor” practicing in Sumter county. I am pleased that Mr. Belser’s information illustrated my method of estimating the age of homes, by generations. The Belser family records cover four generations, much more than my desired hundred years. It then contained 3000 acres or more on which was located a two-story frame house. A portion of this property now constitutes Poinsett Park, and some of it passed into the hands of Mr. Richard I. Manning in the 1850’s, and later to his son, Richard I. Manning III, who Mr. Belser thinks was born there. During the Manning ownership the name was changed to “Homesley.”
(Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)
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