Manuel Joseph is born in Portugal
His name appears on five rôles of the French East India Company. Manuel Joseph was surely not an uncommon name, yet at least four of these Josephs were almost certainly the same individual, and the fifth seems likely as well. The voyage timelines and locations all line up. The given and family names are the same in all cases. In most cases he is listed as a nègre or a free black. When listed, physical descriptions are consistent with a single individual; he is always listed as having a medium stature and black hair. His age is only listed twice and the two don't line up perfectly, but in both cases he would have been born between 1728 and 1730.
Like the date, his actual place of birth is elusive. One rôle lists his origin as Portugal—not very specific—while another lists is as Port en Port, which doesn't seem to exist. Perhaps he was born in Porto or Portel in Portugal and it was recorded incorrectly on the Prince de Conti rôle.
Wherever and whenever he was born, it is certain that he made his way to the then Portuguese colony of Brazil sometime before 1751. It is possible that he was a slave who was emancipated in Brazil and then became a sailor. Or he may have been a free Black in Portugal who sought opportunities in the colonies or at sea. Whatever the case, he was certainly not committed to serving Portugal; he spent most of his twenties working on French East India Company ships.
He enters the French East India Company records on the Auguste in 1751.