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The American Revolution – 1776
January 01, 1776 – Washington Appoints John Manley as Commodore of his Fleet
General George Washington appointed John Manley as Commodore of his fleet, which became known as George Washington’s Fleet
John Manley (1733 – February 1793)
Historical lore suggests that John was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Manley and the Duke of Bedford, however very little about Manley’s life and origin can be verified. Tradition suggests he was born in Torquay, Devon in Britain, however even that is unclear. It is known that he married Hannah Cheevers in 1763, with whom he had one son.
Continental Navy
General George Washington appointed Manley as the captain of the schooner, Lee, on October 17, 1775. In command of the Lee, Manley captured one or two prizes, then captured the British brigantine HMS Nancy on November 28, 1775. The supplies, ordinance and weaponry on the Nancy proved valuable for Washington’s army. The Nancy was the first ship of significance captured by the fledgling Continental Navy. Throughout the remainder of 1775 Manley continued to capture British ships, leading to his promotion to commodore of Washington’s Fleet.
Washington’s Fleet
General Washington assembled a small fleet of ships; beginning in late 1775. Many assert that this fleet is the beginning of the Continental Navy. Consisting at first of two small ships, the “Lynch” and “Franklin”, Washington charged them with harassing British shipping entering and departing Boston Harbor. These ships did manage to capture supplies and armament for Washington’s army. He added four more ships and by September 25, 1775, he had acquired the schooner Hannah. He appointed Nicholson Broughton to command this ship and commissioned him to “…cruize against such vessels as may be found . . . bound inward and outward to and from Boston, in the service of the [British] army, and to take and seize all such vessels, laden with soldiers, arms, ammunition, or provisions . . . which you shall have good reason to suspect are in such service.”
Growth of the Small Navy
Washington added four more ships to his navy, in late 1775, the Franklin, the Warren, the Hancock, and the Lee. This small fleet raided British shipping up and down the coast during late 1775 and well into 1776. On January 1, 1776, Washington appointed Manley as the commodore of this fleet, with the USS Hancock as the flagship.
USS Hannah
Owned by Marblehead, Massachusetts fisherman, merchant and lieutenant colonel John Glover and named for his daughter, Hanna, the ship became the first ship commissioned for combat by the United States on September 2, 1775. Many claim the ship was the first ship of the United States Navy. General Washington commissioned the ship and made it part of his own personal fleet. This fleet became known as Washington’s Fleet. Two Massachusetts towns, Beverly Marblehead claim to be the home port of the Hanna and both claim to be the Birthplace of the United States Navy.
USS Hancock
Owned by Thomas Grant of Marblehead, Massachusetts, the Congress commissioned the schooner Speedwell for conversion to a warship in October 1775. Commissioned the USS Hancock, the ship first saw service in October of that year in company with the USS Franklin with orders to capture two British brigs in the St. Lawrence River. Instead, the captains took some ships of Canadian origin that proved easier prizes. General Washington dismissed the two captains and returned the prizes to their owners. Captain John Manley took command of the Hancock on January 1, 1776, when he received commission as the commodore of Washington’s fleet.
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Mossy Feet Books - Author Paul R. Wonning 