PRISCILLA MANOR

Maury County, Tennessee Probate Records, 1836-1840, Volume 5, page 464 shows that John Foster wrote his last will and testament sometime in 1835 (month and day not given). Item 5 of his will says "I give to my daughter, Phebe Manor, one Negro girl, Pris, one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf to her and her heirs forever." John Foster died sometime in early 1839. At his death, Pris would have become the sole property of Phebe Manor. 

Phebe Singleton Foster, daughter of John Foster, had married James Manor in Rutherford County, Tennessee on June 24, 1826. 

Historical documents indicate that Phebe Manor most likely came to Texas sometime in 1840, along with Mills and Lucy Manor, James Manor's parents. The "Negro girl, Pris" would have come to Texas with Phebe at that time. 

After the death of  Phebe Manor in 1859, a legal partition was made on March 19, 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. Travis County Deed Records, Book O, pages 174-177 record this transaction. A list of slaves on page 175 includes one named "Pris". That same person is called "Priscilla" on page 176. According to census records, Priscilla is beleived to have been born in Virginia in 1816. 

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 57 year old 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..."

Travis County Deed Records, book Y, pages 601-602

Lot 1, Block 28 is on the northeast corner of the intersection of Parsons (Old Hwy 20) and Bastrop Streets, just 2 blocks from "downtown Manor". Travis County tax records show Priscilla Manor as owner of this lot from at least 1879 to 1884. 

Part of Travis County Tax Assessment Record for 1879

Beginning in 1885, her son, Wayne Manor is shown as the owner.  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 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.