John Mangum of early Virginia has long been considered the original Mangum ancestor in the New World, or at least the first one to leave decendants. There was a Thomas Mangharn who was transported to Maryland in 1666 but have found no further records concerning him. It is also believed there were other Mangum immigrants later on but have no definite proof.
John was in the Virginia Colony in 1695 and probably somewhat earlier. Most consider him to be the father of the heads of those Mangums who later appear in the Albermarle Parish of Surry County. Many of the present day Mangums or decendants of Mangums trace their linage to those several families. John's origins are unclesr and not hsip passenger logs of his arraival have been found. Searches have been extensive. What is left is only familt traditions. The first sure record we have of him is 25 may 1965 when he purchased land in Surry County, VA from Richard Bennett, Jr. John might have been the John Mangom? who was a taxable in Lawnes Creek Paris, Surry County on 10 June 1693 and the John Mangham who listed taxes in Surry County on 10 June 1694. John was born about 1672, probably in England or English territory. Some say Isle of Man, others say Wales, Ireland, Etx.
John almost certainly married into one of Virginia's pioneering Bennett families. That marriage and the controversy surrounding the identify of his wife are sxplored in the page concerning the Bennett family. John must have married into the Bennett family after 1696 but before 1700. The Mangums heads-of-household who were later in the Albemarle Parish of Surry County seem to have been born shortly after 1700. John died in Isle of Wight, VA in 1737 and Frances Mangum was administrator.
John's decendants quickly migrated to other areas of the developing colony and nation. The descendants of Henry Mangum, possible grandson of John, migrated to Maury County, Tn after the Revolution. William Mangum, Sr and his family migrated to the North Carolina fronteer about 1748. One descendant, John Mangum moved on to Lunenberg County, VA and was the father of a Revolutionary War Patriot. Eventually the family expanded to all the states in the Union. In some cases the spelling of a name was changed. Common variations were Mangham and Mangnun. See Solomon Mangharn and Joseph Mangum of Bute County.
John Mangum 
