The Five Manuel Sisters

There is a drop of Portuguese blood in the veins of many present day descendants of St. Williams, Norfolk County. These may claim descent from the “Five Sisters” of St. Williams noted for their collective longevity totalling 429 years.

They were children of Anthony Manuel (c. 1745-1816) and his wife Margaret Mabee (1752-1841). Family tradition has it Anthony was a pirate kidnapped from his home on the coast of Portugal. He finally left his ship in Nova Scotia after twenty-five years on the high seas. He made his way to New York City and during the American Revolution met the Loyalist widow Margaret Mabee Griffin. They went with her family to New Brunswick and then followed her brother Frederick Mabee to Norfolk County in 1807 leaving behind their oldest son Anthony Jr. and bringing the remaining three sons and five daughters. Family tradition states the family settled on the Walter Anderson estate in Lot 20, Concession 4, Charlotteville Township.

The oldest of the five sisters was Nancy (Ann) Manuel born in Mispec, St. John County, New Brunswick on April 11, 1784.[1] She married Reverend Henry Willis, a minister of the Baptist Church and lived near Turkey Point east of St. Williams then in Malahide Township, Elgin County raising her eight children. After her husband’s passing, Nancy lived with her son Henry in Houghton Township, Norfolk County. She lived to be more than 99 years old and passed away on July 2, 1883. She was buried in Clear Creek Cemetery, Houghton Township.

The next of the five was Leah Manuel born in Queensbury, York County, New Brunswick on May 15, 1790.[2] She married Norfolk resident John Stone Jr. and farmed in Charlotteville Township. Widowed by 1837, Leah married Jacob Cope of St. Williams. The mother of eight children died on November 17, 1871 and was buried in Johnson Cemetery, St. Williams.

The third of the five sisters was Catherine Manuel born at Queensbury or Prince William, York County, New Brunswick on November 25, 1794.[3] She married Charlotteville Township farmer Thomas Cope in 1812. The mother of thirteen children died in her 95th year on October 16, 1889. She was buried in Johnson Cemetery.

The fourth sister was Frances Manuel born at Prince William on June 9, 1797,[4] who married Henry Procunier and after a time in Malahide Township settled in Port Royal, Walsingham Township. The mother of ten died on July 31, 1880 aged 83 years. She was buried in Johnson Cemetery.

The fifth and youngest of this family was Elizabeth Manuel born at Prince William on March 18, 1801.[5] She marred Henry Brandow and farmed in Walsingham Township west of St. Williams. The mother of ten died on June 27, 1872 aged seventy years. She was buried in Johnson Cemetery.

The portrait of the five sisters above was in the collection of my great-great-grandmother Helen Marr Dease Woodward (1850-1935), a granddaughter of Leah Manuel Stone in the picture. It passed to my grandmother Madeline Woodward Mutrie and then to myself. The picture was taken sometime before November 1871 when Leah Manuel Stone died.

Written on the back by Helen Woodward who would have known them is: “In centre Leah Manuel, wife of John Stone Jr. At Leah’s left Catherine Cope, wife of Thos. Cope. At Leah’s right Nancy Willis. Standing at Leah’s left Elizabeth Brandow. Standing at Leah’s right Frances Procunier. Age at death: Mrs. Willis 99 years, 363 days; Mrs. Cope 100 years; Mrs. Brandow 75 years; Mrs. Procunier 83 and Leah Stone over 90. Youngest at the time of the picture, Mrs. Brandow, 73.”

These ages do not all agree with the gravestone inscriptions, but all the Manuel ladies did live long lives and saw great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren born.

Sources

[1] Date calculated from her age at death recorded on the gravestone in Clear Creek Cemetery, Houghton Township

[2] Date calculated from her age at death recorded on the gravestone in Johnson Cemetery, St. Williams, Charlotteville Township

[3] Birth date stated on her gravestone in Johnson Cemetery, St. Williams, Charlotteville Township

[4] Birth date stated in the obituary in the Norfolk Reformer newspaper issue of 6 Aug 1880

[5] Date calculated from her age at death recorded on the gravestone in Johnson Cemetery, St. Williams, Charlotteville Township