Thomas Manicom & Margareta Meixner

Thomas David MANICOM was born 1845 in Whitechapel Middlesex England,
the son of George MANICOM & Sarah Elizabeth DORWARD.

George was descended from John MANICOM & 1st wife, Sarah FISHLEY.
(Ed is descended from John & 2nd wife, Susannah SPETTGUE)

Tom sailed to New York before he was 20 years old, c1864.


While supporters of the anti-slavery movement
were voicing opposition to
the continuing enslavement of cotton workers
in the southern states of America,
Thomas David was determined
to do something constructive for the cause.


He joined the Union side and fought with the Northerners
in the AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.


Thomas became a US citizen in October 1872
and this was recorded in the District Court #23's Civic Minutes.


On January 17 1873,
a Marriage License was issued
and the following day,
Thomas David MANICOM
married Margareta MEIXNER.

[Marriage License obtained from Bexar County
- Book #E 492, License # 4262]


Witnesses: Joseph HAUCK, Louise WEBER
Marriage performed January 18, 1873 by: H Klocke JP Bexar County.

Louise WEBER was sister to Margarita
and Joseph HAUCK was married to their elder sister, Elizabeth Nicoletta.

* * *

Auguste Margarethe MEIXNER was born in 1853 in New Braunfels Comal Texas,
the youngest child of Andreas MEIXNER & Marianna BOELLERT
who had emigrated from Forchheim Mittelfranchen Bavaria Germany,
arriving in Galveston Texas on Dec 16 1884 aboard the BRIG HERSCHEL.

* * *

Tom & Maggie had 4 children, all born in San Antonio Bexar Texas:

1) George (Georgie) Thomas b Jul 13 1873
married Katherine Pearl JONES on Jul 12 1899
George died Jan 6 1949 in Harris County Texas.

George & Katherine Pearl had 3 children:
i) Josephine Mildred b Feb 28 1901 / died Oct 27 1984
ii) Roy Thomas b 1904 / died May 4 1969 (2 children)
iii) William Edward b 1908 / died Jan 15 1969 (1 child)


2) William (Willie) Thomas b 1875
married Maud Bell CALDWELL abt 1914

William & Maud had 3 children:
i) W C ~ NO info listed as he is still living (2 children)
ii) Gorman Jack b Feb 2 1916 / died Aug 1st 1987 (4 children)
iii) Tracy Thomas b Apr 6 1918 / died May 24 1989 (4 children)

William Thomas born 1875,
grew up as a 'soldier of fortune'
and became a driver
to the notorious Pancho Villa,
who died violently in 1923.


William Thomas must have been involved in the revolts
and closely associated with all Pancho's activities
as he frequently went to Mexico with him.
William died mysteriously in El Paso in 1921.
A diamond brooch he had given to his wife
was confiscated as stolen property
when she went to have it valued :-(


 3) Sarah Elizabeth (Sallie) born 1877
married Justus Lee CROUCHER in 1900

Sallie & Lee had 8 children:
i) Inez Iris (1 child)
ii) Gertrude Elizabeth - never married
iii) Stanley Erwin
iv) Gordon Ervin

v) Frank Donald (1 child)

He began his Major League baseball career in 1939 with the Detroit Tigers - 2nd base.
He played for 4 seasons on 2 different teams
and ended his big league playing career in 1942.
He played in the 1946 World Series.

vi) Leslie Arnold (1 child)
vii) Robert Roland (2 children)
viii) W W - living

Dubbed "MOM CROUCHER'S Boys" by the press during the 1930s and 1940s,
all the above brothers were legendary in Houston
as they set high school and college records
in baseball and basketball.


4) Eliza (Katie) b 1879 / died Mar 24 1925 in Bexar County


1880 CENSUS - San Antonio Bexar Texas

Thos D MANICON, 35, Gov't employee
Mary, wife, 28 born TX, both her parents born in Prussia
Geo, son, 7
Wm, son, 5
Sarah, dau, 3
Eliza, dau, 1


He was stationed at the Post of San Antonio Army Depot for many years.
Two of the letters he wrote home from the Depot survive him
and he refers to "having a rough time".

Thomas David died Aug 20 1888 and below is what I found concerning his military status --

Name, Rank, Company, Regiment, Death Date, Original Burial Place
MANICOM, Thomas, Sgt, G, 15 US Inf., 8-20-1888, Post of San Antonio

* * *

3 Known Letters survive Thomas David MANICOM
... a distant relative came into possession of 2
of these surviving letters from a Sydney Ernest BIRD
who was a descendant of Thomas's sister Sarah Elizabeth (Sallie).

These 2 letters were written from the Depot at San Antonio in August 1880 and December 1885.

Then in December 1995 another relative had come into possession of a family Bible
and in it was a letter from Thomas dated October 1866, written from New York.

It tells that he has been in New York for nearly 2.
He was apparently in disgrace with the family and had made no contact,
but had had a suprise letter from his brother,
and was replying to this asking the family for forgiveness.
A poignant lesson in NOT holding grudges ....


Margareta seems to be living until abt 1890-1891 in San Antonio.

[I have recently been contacted by a descendant of Margareta's brother Friedrich Heinrich,
children of Andreas MEIXNER & Marianna BOELLERT of Bavaria,
and would like to thank her for all the information she has shared
about this Founding Family of New Braunfels Texas]

Thomas David MANICOM was Ed's 2nd Cousin - 3X removed!!