On the 9^th July 1942, Francis Collinson noted two songs from a Fred Mannering at Bethersden, and one from a James Mannering. It has not so far been possible to identify Fred Mannering with certainty. However the most likely candidate seems to be

Frederick Charles Mannering, 1901-?

Born in 1901, he was the son of Henry James Mannering, a farm labourer, and Sarah Jane née Buss. In 1901 the family was living in The Street, Bethersden, and in 1911 at Wilk’s Cottages, Bethersden. Frederick is not listed in or around Bethersden in 1921 or 1939, but his parents are – in 1939 they were living at Prospect Cottages, Bethersden. In the 1881 and 1901 censuses Henry James Mannering is listed just as James Mannering. Perhaps he generally went by the name of James (or more likely Jim). And it’s possible that when Collinson visited the Mannerings in 1942, their son Fred happened to be at home as well.

Of course it is also possible that the singer wasn’t actually called Fred at all – it might just have been a nickname (in the same way as another Bethersden singer, Tim Fidler, had actually been baptised Reginald Harry Fidler). But, based on information in the 1939 Register, the only other male Mannerings living in the village were Frederick Mannering’s brothers – and it seems extremely unlikely that, with a brother called Fred, either of them would have acquired Fred as a nickname.

Songs

• Paddy Stole the Rope (Roud 2037)
• Will the Weaver (Roud 432)

On the 9^th July 1942, Francis Collinson noted two songs from a Fred Mannering at Bethersden, and one from a James Mannering. It is not possible to be 100% certain of either singer’s identity, but the most likely person is

Henry James Mannering, 1866-1954

He was baptised at the church of St Stephen, Lympne with West Hythe, on 14^th January 1866. His residence was recorded as Marwood – presumably Marwood Farm, which is between Bonnington and Lympne. His father George was a labourer, and his mother was Ann née Hawkett. In 1871 the family were living at Mannering Green Lane, Bethersden. 10 years later they were at Snoadhill, Bethersden and Henry James’s first name is recorded simply as James. He was 15, and working as “Ag lab (indoor serv)”.

He was married to Sarah Jane Buss in 1887, and at the next census, in 1891, they were living at Grove Court Cottages, Dowe Street, Pluckley, with a son, Louis. By 1911 they had another four sons: Percy, Frederick, Raymond and Oliver. Although most census records give his name as Henry James, in 1901 he was listed as James, and it seems probable that this (or more likely Jim) is the name he was known by.

James and Sarah remained in Bethersden: in 1901 they were at The Street, 1911 Wilk’s Cottages, 1921 at 4 St Peters Row, and 1939 at Prospect Cottages. James’ occupation is shown as agricultural labourer (or some variation thereof) in all of these censuses, up until 1939 when he is recorded as “General Labourer Retired”.

He died in 1954.

Songs

• Captain Webb (Roud 21872)