We are seeking photos and more information on the history of the USS Manley and her crews. Files may be emailed to us and we will incorporate them into these pages.

John Manley was one of the fathers of the U.S. Navy. Born on the shores of Tor Bay near Torquay, Devonshire, England in 1733, He had followed the sea since boyhood. He settled in Marblehead, Massachusetts as a youth and was master of a Merchant Vessel in 1775 when he entered the service of the United Colonies. General Washington was operating against the British General Gage near Boston in the fall of 1775, and he chose Manley to command the schooner "Lee" in October of that year. His commision was to intercept supplies intended for British Transports loaded with arms and supplies. These were providential to Washington, whose army was sorley in need of supplies for the campaign. He was widely acclaimed as a naval hero after this event and was appointed commodore of the fleet by Washington and given command of the schooner "Hancock". He remained in this capacity until the successful completion of the siege of Boston. The armed schooners of "Washington's Fleet" thus became the embryo of the future United States Navy. In April 1776, Manley was commissioned a Captain in the Continental Navy and assigned to command the frigate "Hancock" of 32 guns, then building at Newburyport, Mass. As the Navy was organized after the Declaration of Independence, Manley was the second Captain in seniority and rank. Soon after putting to sea in "Hancock" he engaged, and after a sharp contest captured the British man-of-war "Fox". In July 1777, after being deserted by His escort, Manley and the "Hancock" were captured by the British Ships "Rainbow" with 44 guns, and "Victor" with 18 guns. Captain Manley was imprisoned in Halifax, and was later returned in a prisoner exchange. With no suitable Navy commands then available, Manley became a privateer, preying on British shipping in the Caribbean. He had command of 3 different ships during the next 3 years, "Malborough", "Cumberland", and "Jason". In 1782, Manley was once again in the Navy, this time in command of the frigate "Hague" of 32 guns. He captured 5 ships in 3 months while cruising the West Indies and returned to Boston in 1783 capturing the brig "Baille" on the way home. This was the last valuable prize taken by a Continental ship. John Manley died in Boston in February 1793, and was buried with full military honors.

Just one night out from Mayport, And throughout the whole ship, Not one sailor was sleeping, Not even the Skip. They were talking and laughing and telling their friends, Just how good it would feel to get home once again. We'll have coffee and doughnuts through all the night, To be sure we're awake to see the glorious sight, For off in the distance before dawn is too bright, We'll look to the shore for those Mayport lights. At last someone calls that he sees the lights glimmer, And we run to the bridge to see the shimmer. Now it's all ahead full, with no way to stop, At least, not till we reach that beautiful dock. At last we are moored and the gangway is down, It's a glorious feeling to touch this home ground. We are home once again with our hearts full of joy, To see our sweet wives, our girls and our boys. So the feeling we've had of being alone, Is now in the past "cause at last WE ARE HOME !!!