John J. Manley Jr. (1893-1936)

John Joseph Manley Jr., familiarly known as ''Jack'' was my Grandfather. Jack was born on the 24th of August, 1893 to John Manley and Maggie Flynn in Morrisburg, Ontario. He was their third and youngest son. The family lived in the village of Merritton (now part of the city of St. Catharines) but my great grandfather's involvement in the construction of the canal systems in the St. Lawrence Seaway led him to spend much of his time in the Morrisburg area throughout the  1890's.

In August of 1894, just a couple of weeks before Jack's first birthday, his mother Maggie passed away. With their father away working in Morrisburg, this created a difficult situation for Jack and his brothers. Maggie had three siblings, Thomas, John and Sarah, who were all unmarried and still lived in the Flynn family home. Thankfully, they took the boys in and cared for them while their father was away.

Aunt Sarah Flynn, Thomas, Edward and John Jr. (Jack) Manley

The 1901 census in Merritton shows the three Manley boys, Edward, Thomas and John Jr. (Jack) living with Thomas, John and Sarah Flynn. It also shows their father, John living in Morrisburg. The 1911 census shows the three Manley boys and their father living in the household of Thomas Flynn along with John, Sarah and Peter Flynn and Peter's two boys. John Sr. and his boys remained very close to the Flynn family for the remainder of their lives.

On the 10th of January, 1916 Jack and Marguerite McDonald were married at St. Patrick's RC church in Merritton. Marguerite was the daughter of James McDonald and Sarah Honsinger. She was born on the 5th of October, 1895 and had grown up in the village of Merritton with Jack. The witnesses were John Flynn and Minnie McDonald and Rev. Fr. K. McRae officiated at the service. Jack and Marguerite had three children; Mary Margaret (1916), Reta Ellen (1920) and John Edward (1929). John Edward is my father.

Jack followed in his father's footsteps and worked in the dredging and construction business. He passed away on August 1, 1936 at St. Mary's hospital in Montreal, Quebec while he was there on business.  He was only 42 years old when he died and left my father who was only 7 years old at the time. It was a tragic loss for the entire family.

Following Jack's death, Marguerite married Thomas Brennan, also of Merritton. She died on the 8th of September, 1955 and is buried with Jack at Lakeview Cemetery in Thorold, Ontario. Sadly, both Jack and Marguerite passed before I was born so I did not have the privilege of knowing my grandparents.

Funeral, St. Catharines Standard, Aug 4, 1936;

FUNERAL OF J.J. MANLEY
Large Crowd Pays Final Tribute to Well-Known Merritton Man

Funeral services for the late John Joseph (Jack) Manley, who passed away in St. Mary's Hospital, Montreal, following a short illness, were held this morning from the family residence, 16 Hazel Street, to St. Patrick's Church and thence to Lakeview Cemetery, Thorold, where interment took place. A large crowd of sorrowing friends and relatives attended and there were many spiritual and floral tokens.


Rev. Father Thos. Manley, a brother of the deceased, celebrated a High Mass of Requiem at the Church, with Very Rev. Dean Michael Cullinane of St. Catharines as Deacon and Rev. Father Ambrose O'Brien as Sub-Deacon. The service at the graveside was taken by Rev. Father W.J. Kelly of Merritton, and other priests in attendance were Monsignor Cline and Monsignor McCann, Rev. Fathers Felix, Smith, Haffey, Hickey, Mogan and Sweeney. The Bearers were Messrs. Edward Doyle, Mathew Welsh, Vincent Phillips, Eden Darling, Thos Coady and Alex McKinnon.


''Jack'' Manley was well-known in a wide circle of friends and was employed by Porter Brothers at Montreal. He was a member of St. Patrick's Church and leaves to mourn his demise, besides his sorrowing widow, Margaret, two daughters and one son, Mary, Reta and John, all at home and two brothers, Edward Manley and Rev. Father Thos. Manley, both of Toronto.

Obituary, St. Catharines Standard, Sep 9, 1955;

MRS. MARGARET M. BRENNAN

A life-long resident of Merritton, Mrs. Margaret Manley Brennan, wife of Thomas Brennan, died last evening at the family residence, 25 Hazel Street, after a lengthy illness. She was born at St. Catharines, and had lived in Merritton practically all her life. She was a member of St. Patrick's Church and the CWL of the church.


Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters and one son, Mrs. Peter Fortura (Mary), of Merritton, Mrs. John Kennedy (Reta), of Ancaster, and John E. Manley, of Merritton; two sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Patrick Hurson, of Merritton, Mrs. Walter Tunney, of Erie, PA, John McDonald, of St. Catharines, and Thomas McDonald, of Toronto; also three granchildren.


The late Mrs. Brennan will rest at the funeral home of Winter and Winter until 8:30 a.m. Monday. Requiem High Mass will be sung at St. Patrick's Church, Merritton, at 9 a.m. Monday. Interment will take place in Lakeview Cemetery.

Children of John Manley Jr (Jack) and Marguerite McDonald:
Mary Margaret (1916-2002)
Reta Ellen (1920-1994)
John Edward (1929-1988)

Parents of John Manley Jr:
John J. Manley (1854-1933)
Margaret Flynn (1857-1894)

Parents of Marguerite McDonald:
James McDonald (1855-1938)
Sarah Honsinger (1856-1929)


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