The Hannah was the first vessel in George Washington’s fleet, with Nicholson Broughton of Marblehead as captain.
The next three of the early vessels commissioned by Washington in 1775 were also captained by Marbleheaders. In November of 1775, Capt. John Manley of Marblehead was made commander of the Lee, a 72-ton topsail schooner. It flew the new Pine Tree flag, a precursor of Betsy Ross’ flag, and the one most favored by privateers in the first part of the American Revolution.
The schooner Lee had an impressive naval start, almost immediately capturing a British brigantine, the Nancy, which yielded a bonanza of weapons for the struggling Revolutionary army.
Washington was pleased, and John Adams wrote of the significance of Manley’s success, stating, “I assert that the first American flag was hoisted by John Manley, and the first British flag was struck to him.”
In 1776, Washington made Manley a commodore and gave him a faster vessel, named the Hancock, which was among the ships that stood on guard at the evacuation of the British from the occupation of Boston.
Manley served the young American Navy well, capturing many British vessels and protecting the waters around Boston and Cape Ann.
Manley’s naval career continued with the captures of many important British ships. Manley fought throughout the Revolutionary War and was captured by the British twice; held once in a prison in Barbados and once at Mill Prison in England.
He was released after the end of the Revolutionary War and returned home to serve in the U.S. Navy until he died in 1793.
Washington wrote these words to Manley: “Your general good behavior since you first engaged in the service, merits mine, and your country’s thanks.”
Pam Peterson chairs the Marblehead Historical Commission. She is the former Marblehead Museum executive director.
