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John Man was born in 1718 in Hurst, Berkshire, the eldest son of John Man and Ann (Tyle) Man, and was baptized on 8 June 1718 at St. Nicholas, Hurst. He married Mary Balchen on 26 February 1746/7 at Holy Trinity Church, The Minories, London. (Their marriage license has been found.)
Holy Trinity in the Minories, London (above) John died (as Thomas Roberts) on 7 April 1783 at Cardiff, Wales, and was buried on 10 April at St. John the Baptist, Cardiff. Mary Balchen was born in 1721 in London, the third daughter of Richard and Martha (Hitchcock) Balchen, and was baptized on 26 April 1721 at St. Mary Aldermary, London. Mary died in October 1798 at the home of her son James in Walworth Common, St Mary Newington, Surrey, but she was buried on 23 October at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, Middlesex. John and Mary belong to Generation Two; their children belong to Generation Three and are: [References: John's baptism - FHL Film # 1999444; his marriage at The Minories - FHL Film # 0094652; his death and burial - FHL Film # 0104857; baptism of Mary - FHL Film # 0374484; death of Mary - "The House of MAN"; her burial - FHL Film # 0094712.] NOTES: John Man was a London architect/builder. In the introduction Henry Man's Miscellaneous Works, John is described as an 'eminent London builder'. Also, in Henry's entry in the Dictionary of National Biography John is described as a 'well-known builder'. John and Mary were living at Prescot Street, Whitechapel, in 1748 [Henry's baptismal record]; on Mansel Street [around the corner from Prescot Street] from 1749 to 1755 [John's and James's baptismal records] (See the map of Whitechapel below); and then apparently moved to Croydon, Surrey, around 1756 [based on Frances's baptismal record] and were there through 1760, at least [based on Maria's baptismal record]. This would be consistent with the fact that Henry [at least] was educated in Croydon under the Rev. John Lamb (no relation to Charles Lamb the writer). By 1774, wife Mary [at least] and family were back in the London area living on Mile End, Middlesex [according to Clementine Black's "The Cumberland Letters"]. See the map of Whitechapel for details. John appears to have suffered some business losses as evidenced by these Chancery Proceeding and his brother-in-law's (William Balchen) will where John's debts are forgiven. John left the family, purportedly because of financial difficulties, and assumed the name of Thomas Roberts and settled in Cardiff, Wales. For more details of John's life in Wales click here. His eldest son, Henry, had to begin work as a clerk in a City office in 1763 which was a necessity perhaps forced on him by the departure of his father. Some details of John and Mary are given in Clementine Black's book 'Cumberland Letters'.
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