
by AUDREY CREEL / December 30, 2020
©Audrey Creel, 2020 (All rights reserved.)
Spence Maney was born in approximately 1848 in Tennessee.[i] It is unknown where Spence was enslaved prior to emancipation. Spence testified for the Maney war claims, recounting that he had been enslaved on the Maney plantation (present day Oaklands Mansion) during the Civil War.[ii] Therefore, it is known that Spence was enslaved by the Maney family; however, it is difficult to determine which member of the Maney family enslaved Spence. Lewis Maney was the only member of the Maney family to enslave a young man Spence’s age in 1860.[iii] Therefore, it is most likely that Spence was enslaved by Lewis Maney during the Civil War.
Spence Maney married Matilda White on July 1, 1868 in Rutherford County, Tennessee.[iv] Following their marriage, Spence and Matilda moved into a home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[v] Spence worked as a farm laborer in Murfreesboro, though it is unknown for whom he is employed.[vi] There is a child, Ida Maney, living in Spence Maney’s household.[vii] It is unknown if Ida is Spence and Matilda’s daughter; however, Ida does not appear in any further census records, so it is unlikely that Ida was Spence’s child. By 1880, Spence and Matilda had three children: George, Brunetta, and John Maney.[viii] Spence found employment as a factory worker, though it is unknown where he was employed.[ix] Matilda Maney died on September 17, 1881 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[x]

October 15, 1884
After Matilda’s death, Spence remarried to Jennie Johns on October 15, 1884.[xi] Following their marriage, Spence and Jennie had three children: Mary[xii], Matthew[xii], and Homer Maney.[xiii] Jennie died sometime between 1900 and 1910.[xiv] In 1910, Spence rented a home in Murfreesboro and worked as a laborer for the local saw mill.[xv] There are no further known records for Spence Maney. It is unknown when he died or where he is buried.
Children of Spence and Matilda (White) Maney
George Maney
George Maney was the oldest son of Spence and Matilda (White) Maney.[xvi] In 1880, George lived with his parents and did not have to work to help support his family.[xvii] There are no further known records for George Maney. It is unknown what happened to George after 1880.
Brunetta Maney
Brunetta Maney was the oldest daughter of Spence and Matilda (White) Maney.[xviii] In 1880, Brunetta lived with her family in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[xix] There are no further known records for Brunetta Maney. It is unknown what happened to Brunetta after 1880.
John Maney
John Maney was the youngest son of Spence and Matilda (White) Maney.[xx] In 1880, John Maney lived with his family in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[xxi] John enlisted in the army in 1911.[xxii] John Henry Maney died in Santa Cruz, Arizona on September 28, 1934.[xxiii] John was buried at the Carrooh Mortuary in Arizona.[xxiv] There are no further known records for John Maney.
Children of Spence and Jennie (Johns) Maney
Mary Maney Knight
Mary (Maney) Knight was the oldest daughter of Spence and Jennie (Johns) Maney.[xxv] In 1910, Mary lived with her father and worked as a laundress for a private family to help support her family.[xxvi] Mary married Walter Knight in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 27, 1917.[xxvii] Following their marriage, Mary and Walter rented a home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[xxviii] Mary was unemployed while Walter worked as a laborer for a brick yard.[xxix] Mary’s two younger brothers also lived in her home.[xxx] By 1930, Mary had found employment as a laundress while Walter worked as a general laborer in Murfreesboro.[xxxi] In 1940, Mary and Walter lived with Mary’s younger brother, Homer.[xxxii] Mary continued working as a laundress while Walter was unemployed.[xxxiii] Mary Knight died on November 23, 1959 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee after her clothing caught fire.[xxxiv] Mary was buried at Benevolence Cemetery.[xxxv]
Matthew Maney

Photo courtesy of Oaklands Museum Archives
Matthew Maney was the oldest son of Spence and Jennie (Johns) Maney.[xxxvi] In 1910, Matthew lived in Murfreesboro with his father and siblings.[xxxvii] Matthew was unemployed and did not have to work to help support his family.[xxxviii] In 1918, Matthew was ordered to report for military duty to serve in World War I.[xxxix] By 1920, Matthew had returned home and lived with his older sister, Mary.[xl] Matthew found employment as a “shine boy” for a barber shop.[xli] By 1940, Matthew had moved to Kentucky and rented a home in Lexington.[xlii] Matthew worked as a cook for a local restaurant and kept several boarders in his home.[xliii] Matthew Maney died on March 5, 1957 in Lexington, Kentucky.[xliv] Matthew was buried at Stones River National Cemetery in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[xlv]
Homer Maney
Homer Maney was the youngest son of Spence and Jennie (Johns) Maney.[xlvi] In 1910, Homer lived with his father and siblings in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and was unemployed.[xlvii] By 1920, Homer had moved into his sister’s home.[xlviii] Homer found employment as a porter for a local butcher shop.[xlix] In 1930, Homer maintained his position as a porter; however, he changed employers and worked for the local dry goods store.[l] By 1940, Homer had purchased a home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and continued working in delivery for the dry goods store.[li] Homer died in Murfreesboro in February 1976.[lii]
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References
[i] United States Census, “Maney, Spence,” 1870 United States Census, 1870, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4275523_00190?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Kxs336&_phstart=successSource&pId=14336106.
[ii] War claims, “Newton C. Maney, Administrator of Jas. Maney vs. The United States,” in folder “Maney War Claims RCA Primary Sources (from Oaklands Collection.”
[iii] United States Census, “L.M. Manny,” 1860 United States Census – Slave Schedule, 1860, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7668/images/tnm653_1285-0120?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY1133&_phstart=successSource&pId=92225235.
[iv] Marriage Record, Spence Maney to Matilda White, Rutherford County, TN: July 1, 1868, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=4125&h=32253&tid=&pid=&queryId=8860e2c6e3e813cacabaf4b49d96d451&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Kxs341&_phstart=successSource.
[v] United States Census, “Maney, Spence,” 1870 United States Census.
[vi] United States Census, “Maney, Spence,” 1870 United States Census.
[vii] United States Census, “Maney, Spence,” 1870 United States Census.
[viii] United States Census, “Maney, Spence,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00433?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=10989757.
[ix] United States Census, “Maney, Spence,” 1880 United States Census.
[x] Death Record, Matilda Maney, Murfreesboro, TN: September 17, 1881, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2546&h=17302&ssrc=pt&tid=7518508&pid=300134206314&usePUB=true.
[xi] Marriage Record, “Spencer Maney to Jennie Johns,” Rutherford County, TN: October 15, 1884, accessed December 30, 2020 from familysearch.org database, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893F-MQ7V?i=135&cc=1619127&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQKHS-66TQ.
[xii] United States Census, “Maney, Spence,” 1900 United States Census, 1900, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4118727_00916?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY715&_phstart=successSource&pId=61078288.
[xiii] United States Census, “Maney, Spencer,” 1910 United States Census, 1910, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4449874_00864?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY718&_phstart=successSource&pId=27433690.
[xiv] United States Census, “Maney, Spencer,” 1910 United States Census.
[xv] United States Census, “Maney, Spencer,” 1910 United States Census.
[xvi] United States Census, “Maney, George,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00433?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=10989757.
[xvii] United States Census, “Maney, George,” 1880 United States Census.
[xviii] United States Census, “Maney, Brunetta,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00433?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=9980536.
[xix] United States Census, “Maney, Brunetta,” 1880 United States Census.
[xx] United States Census, “Maney, John,” 1880 United States Census, 1880, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244656-00433?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=9980536.
[xxi] United States Census, “Maney, John,” 1880 United States Census.
[xxii] Enlistment Form, “Maney, John H.” Register of Enlistments, 1911, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1198/images/MIUSA1798_102926-00187?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=159146.
[xxiii] Death Record, “John Henry Maney,” Santa Cruz, AZ: September 28, 1934, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8704/images/ac7728f8d57495ae8b8ca9ed1fb4a9b1?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.75668053.1371773040.1609344375-1638797985.1606331613&pId=27409
[xxiv] Death Record, “John Henry Maney.”
[xxv] United States Census, “Maney, Mary,” 1900 United States Census, 1900, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4118727_00916?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY715&_phstart=successSource&pId=61078288.
[xxvi] United States Census, “Maney, Mary,” 1900 United States Census.
[xxvii] Marriage Record, Walter Knight to Mary Maney, Rutherford County, TN: October 27, 1917, accessed December 30, 2020 from familysearch.org database, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9VH-TZW8?i=286&cc=1619127.
[xxviii] United States Census, “Knight, Mary,” 1920 United States Census, 1920, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4392010_00296?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=36076003.
[xxix] United States Census, “Knight, Mary,” 1920 United States Census.
[xxx] United States Census, “Knight, Mary,” 1920 United States Census.
[xxxi] United States Census, “Knight, Mary,” 1930 United States Census, 1930, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4547918_00939?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=66617515.
[xxxii] United States Census, “Knight, Mary,” 1940 United States Census, 1940, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/m-t0627-03931-00613?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=38164223.
[xxxiii] United States Census, “Knight, Mary,” 1940 United States Census.
[xxxiv] Death Record, “Mary Knight,” Murfreesboro, TN: November 23, 1959, accessed December 30, 2020 from familysearch.org database, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89D2-P976-7?i=2191&cc=1417505&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQKM9-1N55.
[xxxv] Death Record, “Mary Knight.”
[xxxvi] United States Census, “Maney, Matthew,” 1900 United States Census, 1900, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4118727_00916?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY715&_phstart=successSource&pId=61078288.
[xxxvii] United States Census, “Maney, Matthew,” 1910 United States Census, 1910, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4449874_00864?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY718&_phstart=successSource&pId=27433690.
[xxxviii] United States Census, “Maney, Matthew,” 1910 United States Census.
[xxxix] United States, “Maney, Matthew M.,” List of Men Ordered to Report to Local Board for Military Duty, Rutherford County, TN: October 18, 1919, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/4906/images/41550_920600176_1133-01057?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=7e90c6d08383212a7e3e311b449d350e&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY1228&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.71392723.1371773040.1609344375-1638797985.1606331613&pId=899310.
[xl] United States Census, “Maney, Matthew,” 1920 United States Census, 1920, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4392010_00296?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY1227&_phstart=successSource&pId=36076004.
[xli] United States Census, “Maney, Matthew,” 1920 United States Census.
[xlii] United States Census, “Mainey, Matthew,” 1940 United States Census, 1940, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4584827_00598?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY1235&_phstart=successSource&pId=82187661.
[xliii] United States Census, “Mainey, Matthew,” 1940 United States Census.
[xliv] Death Record, “Matthew Maney,” Lexington, KY: March 5, 1957, accessed December 30, 2020 from familysearch.org database, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9D2-PSZW-5?cc=1417491&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQVJ5-LMKX.
[xlv] Grave Site, “Matthew Maney,” Murfreesboro, TN: March 31, 1957, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2313/images/33007_B042413-04193?pId=8474.
[xlvi] United States Census, “Maney, Homer,” 1910 United States Census, 1910, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4449874_00864?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=iaY718&_phstart=successSource&pId=27433690.
[xlvii] United States Census, “Maney, Homer,” 1910 United States Census.
[xlviii] United States Census, “Maney, Homer,” 1920 United States Census, 1920, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4392010_00296?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=36076003.
[xlix] United States Census, “Maney, Homer,” 1910 United States Census.
[l] United States Census, “Maney, Homer,” 1920 United States Census, 1920, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4547918_00940?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=66617515.
[li] United States Census, “Maney, Homer,” 1940 United States Census, 1940, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/m-t0627-03931-00613?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=38164219.
[lii] Death Record, Homer Maney, Murfreesboro, TN: February 1976, accessed December 30, 2020 from ancestry.com database, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=3693&h=38687737&ssrc=pt&tid=7518508&pid=300134206442&usePUB=true.