PRISCILLA MANOR

After the death of James Manor’s first wife, Phebe Singleton Manor in 1859, a legal partition was made in March of 1860 in order to equally divide the Manor’s slaves among the children of James and Phebe. In the partition, sixteen year old Lavina Henrietta Manor received Priscilla, her son Wayne and her grandchild, Ellen. 

In the July, 1860 United States Federal Censuses, enslaved individuals were recorded separately in what were called slave schedules. This database provided details about slaves, including age, sex, and color, but unfortunately, most schedules omit personal names. 

Lavina H Manor is shown in the 1860 slave schedule as having three slaves belonging to her – a 44 year old female, a 5 year old male, and a 3 year old female. There is little doubt that these were Priscilla, Wayne and Ellen.

After the death of his first wife in 1859, until his second marriage in 1866, James Manor was a single father with at least six children in his house. It appears that Priscilla was a very valued and respected helper to James during times like this. Travis County Deed Records show that on September 22, 1873, James Manor gave Priscilla Manor the deed to a parcel of land on what was soon to be considered as Main Street in Manor. The deed states in part; 

"...for and in consideration of the sum of One dollar, and the assistance she has rendered me in raising my family as my former servant, to me paid by Priscilla Manor, (freedwoman)...do sell, convey and deliver unto said Priscilla Manor Lot 1 in Block 28 of the town of Manor..."

Lot 1, Block 28 is on the southwest corner of the intersection of Parsons and Bastrop Streets, just 2 blocks from "downtown Manor". Although it is not known exactly what Priscilla did with this property, Sanborn Maps from 1905 show a house on the lot, and Travis County tax records show Priscilla's son Wayne Manor as the owner of the lot as late as 1911. 

When you consider that the year was 1873, and Priscilla Manor was a former slave, who according to census records, could neither read nor write, it was a pretty BIG DEAL for her to become the owner of a parcel of land almost in "downtown Manor". She truly must have been a highly-valued member of the James Manor household.