Matthew,
My conclusion is tied to Hannah (McManus) Johnson, James & Thomas McManus of Peninsula township, Grand Traverse county, MI being siblings & immigrated from Godmanchester township, Huntingdon county, Quebec around 1866-7. Here's how I got there (I will work to post documents). Unless noted, pre 1866 documents are Quebec, post 1866 are Michigan. Some info is conflicting, but thought I’d pass it along to give the full picture.
Parents per death record:
Hannah (1906): Jas McManus & unknown
James (1919): James McManus & unknownThomas (1914): T McManus & unknown
Someone found for me a marriage record for a Thomas Johnson & Johanna McManus at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hogansburg, NY in 1856. No parent’s names. This is just over the border from Godmanchester township. There is a Thomas & Mary Johnson in Ft Covington, NY in the 1860 census, one child, Mary (2). They first appear in MI in 1870 census with oldest child Mary (12).
James was married to Hannah Beattie. In 1833 6-month-old James McManus was baptized, son of James & Anne (Crowley). 11-2-1852, Quebec marriage record for James McMeanous son of James & Nancy (Grouly, deceased) to Ann Batey daughter of Arthur Batey & Margaret McCray, witnessed by James McManus. Traverse City newspaper article 11-24-1902 celebrates the 50th wedding anniversary of James & Hannah McManus. A 64th wedding anniversary article on 2-12-1917 says they were married 10-21-1852 in St Annessett, Canada (wedding date doesn’t match). “St Annessett” led me to St Anicet, Quebec. Guests included a Mr & Mrs O’Gradie from Glen Falls, NY. Hannah & Mary’s sister Rebecca married Patrick O’Grady & lived in Glen Falls, NY. Quebec baptism record for son Arthur James McMeanus (likely named for maternal grandfather & father) names godfather Thomas McMeanus & godmother Margaret McCray. Hannah’s death record states she was from Rochester, NY, daughter of Arthur Batey & Margaret McCray.
Thomas was married to Mary Beattie. I have not found their marriage record. There is an 1865 baptismal record (dreadful copy) for a Frederick Alexander McManus son of Thomas McManus & Mary Baity. Godparents John Baity & Ann Baity (Hannah & Mary have a brother John. Not sure about Ann, there is a sister Margaret Ann). I have never found a record of Frederick Alexander in MI or QC. Thomas & Mary have a son, Alfred, born in 1865 in Canada. They also have a son named Arthur Thomas (likely named for maternal grandfather & father). Mary’s death record states she was born in Canada, daughter of Arthur Batey & Margaret McCray.
1837 James McMannus buys part of Range 4, lot 48. 1851 census (age based on 1852): James McManus (elder) with children James (20, matches his baptism), Thomas (18, should be 17), Rosy (17, should be older than Thomas). 1861 census: James (elder) owns part of Range 4, lot 48. Son James & family live with him. I have not found Thomas in either the 1860 US or 1861 Canada census.
1850 will of James McMannus names children James & Thomas to each get land from Range 4, lot 48. Other children: Johanna, Hugh, Barnabas, Rosa. 1866 Thomas McManus & wife Dame Mary Beattie sell a portion of Range 4, lot 48 to John Beattie (she has a brother John). In Jul 1867 Thomas buys land in Quebec from Barnabus McManus
Per Hannah Johnson’s obituary, she came to the peninsula about 1866. Per 64th anniversary article, James came to the peninsula 10-20-1866 (anniversary article has several errors), his obituary says 1869. Thomas bought land on the peninsula 10-14-1867.
1851 census (St Anicet, QC): Arthur Baton, wife Margarete McCray, children: Ann (17), Mari (15), John, Marguerite. They live on Concession 3, lot 58. In the 1861 agricultural census, James McManus (elder) also farmed on Concession 3, lot 58.
1861 census: Arthur Beatty, wife Margaret, children: Mary Magdalene (22), John, Margaret Ann, Rebecca, Isabella, Elizabeth Jane
It’ll take time to get the documents all online, if there are certain records you’d like me to post first, let me know.
Take care, Kathy