The identity of Mary Man has not been clearly fixed. It is assumed that she is from Wrentham, Massachusetts and that she was born in 1754 and died in 1829 (see the endorsed signature on "A Happy Man," folder 3, and the necrology written by Mary Howe, folder 12). Evidence also exists in the records of births, deaths, and marriages for Wrentham, Massachusetts and in George Sumner Mann's "Mann Memorial: A Record of the Mann Family in America." In "Genealogy of the Descendents of Richard Man of Scituate, Massachusetts" (Boston 1884), however, one finds references to several "Mary Man's" from the area of Wrentham and Franklin, Massachusetts (e.g. Mary Man, daughter of Ichabod and Sara, born 1750; Mary Man, daughter of Nathan and Esther, born 1752; Mary Man, daughter of Benjamin, born 1737). The Necrology written by Mary Howe (folder 12) describes a Mary Mann [sic] whom we assume to be the author of these manuscripts; her date of death and that of her husband, Elias Mann [sic] is given as 27 June 1829. The circumstances of their deaths, then, raises another interesting question.
Of further interest is the fact that Mary Man signed the earliest manuscript (1765) "Mary Man." Is it possible that the author later married a cousin with the same surname, except for a double "n" spelling? The "Mann Memorial" refers to a Mary Man, daughter of Benjamin, who was born in 1737 and died in 1823, and who married a cousin, Elijah Mann, who was born in 1742 and died in 1815. It also indicates the two spellings. These ambiguities make it difficult to establish a relationship between the Mary Man of Wrentham, Massachusetts, the assumed author of these manuscripts, and the Man family of Rhode Island (of which George Flagg Man, 1806-1885, was part).
Mary Man's interest in missionary work among the Indians raises yet another question. Does she perhaps identify with the missionary referred to in "Poetry from the troy Post: addresssed to A Female who had devoted herself to a Missionary life among the Cherokee Indians" (folder 9)? In the dedication to the poem, "To Mary," composed by Amos Watt and copied by Mary Man (folder 7), Mary is referred to as a "sister" who went to work as a missionary to the Indians. Is Mary Man this missionary? If so, was she related to George Flagg Man, 1807-1885, author of notes on Indian history?
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Mary Man literary manuscripts, Ms. 84.1, Brown University Library.
The manuscripts of Mary Man fall into two categories, her own poems and verses she copied. Among these, one finds religious themes and extracts from the Bible and from sermons, occasional poetry written in memory of someone or retelling the story of a disaster, and a few love poems in a pessimistic vein. The verses contain misspellings and ungrammatical expressions. One of the copy-books (folder 2) is written in part by Thomas Man, whose relationship to Mary has not been established.
Of some interest is the first entry in the first copy-book (folder 1), "The Improvement of a Great and Wonderful Deliverance," an account written by a woman who attempted suicide by drowning, and printed by Franklin in 1718 in Boston. James Franklin's first known imprints (Evans 1954 and 1996) date from 1718, but "The Improvement" cannot be identified with either or with any other recorded works. It appears to be an unknown James Franklin imprint.
Among several manuscripts of unidentified authors, two (folders 13 and 14) resemble the work of Mary Man in style and tone. Other manuscripts contain poems written by Olive and Sukey Fisk, about whom nothing is known.
The manuscripts of Mary Man are arranged by date. These are followed by a necrology written by Mary Howe, manuscripts of unidentified authors, and verses of Olive and Sukey Fisk.
The Collection was given to the Brown University library in early 1984 by Nino Scotti of Providence, Rhode Island.
20 leaves. Contains: original and copied verse.
On recto of the cover is written, in another hand: "In It Not to Play Nathan Hans 1750;" on verso, in the same hand: "A Wise Sun maketh a Glad Father." (For more on the description of the first entry, see paragraph two of Scope and Content.)
54 leaves. Contains: original and copied verse
On recto of the cover is written: "Thomas Man 1770 His Verses"; on third leaf is written: "Mary Man Her Book 1774"; elsewhere is written: "Thomas Man his Verses" and "L M of Attleborough." It appears that Mary Man copied over pieces written first by Thomas Man. Also contains: fragment of a leaf with verse, written in another hand.
Also contains: "A True Gentleman." AMsS poems, 11 May 1772 (endorsed date), 1 leaf.
AMs poem, 12 leaves.
With note at the beginning: "At twenty one years old alas / my sun withdraws his head / now I must die for follies past / and sleep among the dead / and now to judgement I must go / before god's awful bar / there to receive my final doom / for wretched deed i've done."
Also with: marginal note in stanza 20 that says, "John."
24 leaves. Contains:
AMs poem.
Contains: original and copied verses; sermon extracts.
Contains:
AMs poem. 1 leaf.
16 leaves.
AMsS, relating to Elias Mann, Mary Mann, Elias Watts Mann, and Benjamin Seneca Alley; 1 leaf.
AMs, 12 leaves.
4 leaves
AMs, 1 leaf, Dedicated to Amanda.
AMsS, 1 leaf
AMsS poem, 1 leaf. With note at end: "moral J-W-B"; Addressed on verso to Miss Polly Fisk.
AMs, 1 leaf. "The Following lines are said to be the last that Cowper wrote..."
AMs poem, 1 leaf