John Manley 1839-1918

Born: 1839, County Mayo, Ireland
Married: Anna Coleman, 24 Sep 1865, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dunmore PA
Residence: Spring Street, Dunmore, PA
Died: April 12, 1918

Six years after my ancestor John Manley of Scranton married Mary Coleman, this other John Manley married Anna Coleman in Dunmore, PA, a small borough that is adjacent to Scranton. This information is included here, because the similar names of not only the John Manleys, but also their Coleman wives, have, understandably, created confusion among people who are researching their Manley (and Coleman) ancestors in the Scranton area.

Dunmore John Manley's Obituary:
Scranton Times, 13 Apr 1918
John Manley, father of Rev Michael F. Manley died yesterday at his home Spring St Dunmore. He was born in County Mayo Ireland and lived in Dunmore about 60 years. He came here when he was 19 and first settled in Carbondale before moving to Dunmore. 3 years ago Mr & Mrs Manley celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary at St Mary's Church the first Catholic church in Dunmore. Surviving are 4 sons, Rev Michael F. Manley, Forest City; William, Thomas and John Manley all in Dunmore; 1 daughter Mrs Mary Sullivan; Services St. Mary with interment in the St. Mary's Cemetery.

John Manley and Anna Coleman lived on Spring Street in Dunmore throughout their lives. They can be found on page 40 of the 1880 Dunmore census (last name spelled Monnely) with the following children:

William 1866
Thomas 1868 married a Mary. Children: Mary, Angela, Irene, Michael, Alberta
John 1870
James 1871
Michael 1872-1937 Ordained a Catholic priest in 1899. Burial: St. Mary's Cemetery, Dunmore, PA
Mary 1874 married a Sullivan
Peter 1876-1913 married Anna Elizabeth Ryan 1884-1938 and was a conductor on the Erie Lackawanna Railroad

My ancestors, John Manley and Mary Coleman, were married on 15 Aug 1859 in St. Vincent de Paul's Church (became St. Peter's Cathedral in 1884). They lived in South Scranton their entire lives, but were also buried in St. Mary's cemetery in Dunmore, which has added to the confusion among researchers.

While it is possible, even likely, that John Manley and Mary Coleman of Scranton were in some way related to John Manley and Anna Coleman of Dunmore, no definitive connection has yet been established.