[1] His grandfather, Josef Manucy, came to Florida from the island of Menorca as an indentured servant at Andrew Turnbull's settlement in New Smyrna.

On September 18, 1874, Manucy was appointed the first Vicar Apostolic of Brownsville, Texas, and titular bishop of Dulma by Pope Pius IX.

Just as they were ordained priests together, Manucy and his cousin both received their episcopal consecration on December 8, 1874, from Archbishop Napoléon-Joseph Perché at the cathedral in Mobile.

[1] The new vicariate covered the territory between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande, and contained a Catholic population of about 40,000 people being served by the Oblate Fathers.

[1][7] On January 18, 1884,[5] Manucy was named Bishop of Mobile by Pope Leo XIII, while remaining in charge of the vicariate until the appointment of a successor.