According to the records of immigration from England to Barbados, James Manzer, aged 27, did leave London aboard the Alexander on 2 May 1635.
That information can be documented accurately due to the passenger lists.
He took part in the battle of Jamaica and family legend says he was given the right to use the family coat of arms for his part in the battle.
The British and Spanish were fighting in the islands in the 1650's and the Spanish officially surrendered control in 1655.
Another part of the legend says he left after England started raising taxes in the islands.
In 1760 (+/-) when Britain raised the taxes in Barbados and Jamaica, James Manzer, along with many others, moved to Long Island to a place they named Jamaica."
This would make James Manzer 1st about 152 years old when he came to Long Island...
James Manzer 1st, is definitely was not the father of the Manzers found in the New York area at the start of the Revolutionary War; Christopher, John, Barnet and Martin and Daniel.
The James in Barbados would have to be anywhere from 3 to 6 generations removed.
I cannot find any info on these missing generations.
In 1778 the Manzer property was located near what is now the Long Island end of the Brooklyn Bridge.
On July 5, 1778 five descendents of James Manzer joined the DeLancey Brigade, 2nd Batallion.
They were Christopher, Barnet, Martin, Daniel and John. Christopher and Barnet later became Sergeants.
All were single at this time except Barnet who was married to Mary Lester.
The 2nd Battalion, was formed for the purpose of defending the property on Long Island.
When it was transferred to Georgia, the Manzer boys transferred to the 3rd and continued their part of the war on Long Island.
However, at the end of the war they went back to the 2nd and came with the 2nd to New Brunswick as United Empire Loyalists in 1783,
with the exception of Daniel, who went to Stanstead in 1801. He married Nancy Davis.
The New Brunswick Manzers stayed in St. John for a time, Barnet and Mary living on four acres bounded by what are now known as Waterloo and Golding Streets.
Eventually they went on to their lots in Queens County, Christopher and Barnet to Waterboro, Martin to Washademoak and John to Wickham.
Barnet later moved to Gagetown and later still to Briggs Corner near Chipman.