John Manuel

John Manuel was born on the 30th September, 1847 at Paterson, NSW. He married Mary Ann Wiggins on the 11th July, 1871 at St. Peter's Cathedral, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. John died on the 30th September, 1923 at Armidale when he was 76. He is buried at the Baptist Cemetery in Armidale.

John and Mary had 10 children and they are as follows:

1. Emily Ada Eliza aka Ada born 06/04/1872 at Bedford Farm, Salisbury, NSW. She died 28/08/1908 aged 36. Married Andrew Rasmus Andro Bright (b 30/11/1871), at the family home, "Trida" at Yarrowyck, NSW on the 10th June, 1896. Her husband's parent's were from Sweden, Ludwig, Brant-Maurityin and Johanna Albertsen. Emily and Andrew had 5 children: Leslie, May, Charles, Robert and James.

2. Francis De Vere aka Frank born 23/01/1875 at Salisbury, NSW.He died 10/10/1949 in Armidale when he was 74. Francis was married 3 times. First marriage to Bertha Rose Thorpe (b 26/03/1876 at Arding and died 28/06/1907 at Armidale aged 31),on the 20th March, 1901 at "Norwood". They had 2 children: Clare and Wesley.

Second marriage to Abigail Rodgers (d 23/05/1913 at Armidale aged 27), and had two children: Jean and Joyce.

Third marriage to Eva McNiven daughter of Orwena b December 1916 in Armidale.

3. Melinda May aka May b 20/10/1876 at family home "Trida", Yarrowyck, NSW. Melinda died 21/04/1933 in Tamworth aged 56. She married Albert William Thorpe (b 16/09/1872 in Arding and died 17/08/1953), they had 7 children: Doris, Una, Iris, Ray, Bertha, Jack and Ken.

4. Norman born 03/03/1878 at Salisbury, NSW. and died 23/07/1879

5. Marian Lavina born 15/09/1879 in Salisbury, NSW and died 06/04/1958 in Gosford, NSW aged 67. She married William Graham Davidson (b 29/03/1871 in Uralla, NSW. and died in Tamworth, NSW). They had 3 children: John, Rene and Archie.

6. Laura Alma aka Alma born 28/09/1881 in Arding, Armidale, NSW and died 27/11/1964 in Armidale aged 83. She married Benjamin Josiah Bell (b 01/11/1880 in Black Mountain and died 25/08/1955 in Laidley, Queensland. Both were cremated in Brisbane. They had 5 children: Orville,Cyril, Wilbur, Neville, John aka Rex.

7. Stanley Wiggins born 19/07/1883 at Yarrowyck, NSW and died 06/06/1922 in Armidale aged 38. He married Phoebe Mason Moore (d 07/02/1959 aged 72). Both are buried in he Methodist Cemetery, Armidale, NSW. They had 3 children: Oliver, Norma and Garvin.

8. Leslie St. Clair born 20/06/1886 in Yarrowyck, NSW and died 30/05/1965 at The Entrance, NSW aged 78. On the 30th August, 1909, in Inverell, he married Amy Monica Harvison (b 18/08/1888 in Ballina and died 23/11/1968 at The Entrance aged 80). Both are buried in the Wamberal Cemetery. They had 7 children: Eric, Marjorie, Daisy, Sheila, Ailsa, John and Adrian.

9. Essie Leybourne born 03/05/1888 at Bedford Farm, Salisbury, NSW. She died 26/04/1959 in Caringbah and was cremated in Sutherland, NSW. On the 8th December, 1909, in Armidale she married Charles Ralph Johnston, (b 24/11/1884 in Armidale, NSW and died 01/10/1978 in South Australia). They had 6 children: Douglas, Dulcie, Ronald, Bruce, Dorothy and Betty.

10. Ashley Melville born 27/06/1890 and died 19/12/1960 in Canowindra aged 69 and is buried in Sydney. Ashely married Lucy Rochester, (b 1891 at Summer Hill, NSW and died 10/08/1967 in Sydney aged 76). They had 7 children: Ashley, Ken, Max,John, Jim, Daphne and Barbara.

During the 1860's, the Manuel family took up land at Salisbury and later Yarrowyck. About 1870 John established "Trida", in the latter district where he lived for about 30 years, rearing a large and much respected family. He prospered: together with his sons, John owned much property, raising sheep and employing many people. ("trida" remained in the family for about 100 years).

In 1885 he almost died from Typhoid Fever. This so affected his sight that he qubsequently always wore dark glasses, hence him wearing them in his profile pic.

Each of his four daughters was given a piano as a wedding present - a three-star Ronich- which came direct from Germany by ship and then by bullock wagon to "Trida". And on their father's death each received a house in Butler Street, Armidale, fronting West End Park.

John eventually retired to Armidale leaving "Trida" to two of his sons and properties to each of his other sons. Annually he visited family and relatives, arriving in his chaufeur-driven black Ford.

When he died he requtedly had 40 Grandchildren. 'Many a stirring tale of the old pioneerig days could be told by John. He had lively experiences with bushrangers, apart from the many trials and tribulations that were the common lot of the early settlers', Chronicle dated 6th September, 1923.

NOTE: BILL BRIGHT, GREAT GRANDSON OF JOHN MANUEL, IS VERY MUSICAL. HE MAKES HARPSICORDS AND HAS APPEARED ON THE ABC TV PROGRAM,"A BIG COUNTRY" DURING FEBRUARY, 1983.