One of Manchester’s privateer commanders was Jeremiah Hibbert (1753-1778), of 1 School Street, who, in October 1776, had married Martha (Patty) Lee, sister of his fellow privateer captain, John Lee Jr. A privateer lieutenant on board the privateer schooner “Franklin” out of Marblehead, Captain Hibbert was given command of the 75-ton privateer schooner “Hawke,” of Newburyport, carrying 10 cannons and eight swivel-guns, in June 1777. By October 1777, they were off Bilbao, Spain, capturing British vessels coming in with cargoes of fish. After many adventures, naval and diplomatic, Hibbert left Spain for home, having captured several very valuable prizes.

 

In 1777, Jeremiah had purchased part of a house at 3 School Street for him and Martha to live in, but unfortunately he wasn’t destined to live in it long. In early summer, 1778, he took command of the privateer brigantine “Civil Usage,” 14 guns and 75 men, and cleared away from Newburyport for more adventures on the high seas. The vessel and her men ran into a terrible gale off Portland; heavily laden with food and munitions, she battled to fight her way through high cresting waves, but at last was smashed in. Captain Hibbert, just 25, and all of his men were lost in the sinking of the “Civil Usage.” Jeremiah and Martha did not have any children. The Hibbert’s house was located near 1-3 School Street, Manchester. Although the building has since been renovated over, the original house was built at least before 1774, as on June 8th of that year Nehemiah Lee sold 2/3 of the house and land with the front yard and one well in common, to Jeremiah Hibbert.​