J. Manners was in partnership with Prosper Veulles, vice-consul for Spain from 1874, as shipbrokers, coal exporters and general merchants at West Hartlepool under the company name of J. Manners & Co. The partnership was dissolved in March 1877 with John Manners carrying on under the same company name as shipowner, shipbroker and coal exporter.

The company owned four ships throughout its history from 1871. Two were Hartlepool built and the other two were the steamship Greta built in 1873 by J. Softley & Co. South Shields. She was sold in 1877 to Capper, Alexander & Co. West Hartlepool and was then sold on in 1885 to Henry G. Harper & Co, West Hartlepool who in turn sold her in 1893 to owners in Odessa. The other was the steamshipCeleste built in 1875 by Robert Craggs, Middlesbrough. She was sold in 1880 to Capper, Alexander & Co. of West Hartlepool who in turn sold her on in 1885 to owners in Bari.

As shipowners J. Manners & Co. went into liquidation in 1879. John carried on business as a shipbroker until his death in 1891.

Family History:

John William Sanderson Manners was born in 1841 at Norton to parents William and Marianne (nee Prissick) Manners. In 1861 he passed his examination at Sunderland for a second mate’s certificate. John married Elizabeth Mary Dent at Marske-by-the-Sea on 14^th August 1872. In 1891 the couple were living at Station Lane, Seaton Carew with their two sons, Ralph, who was born at Seaton Carew in 1877 and Kenneth, who was born near Edinburgh in 1882.

John died aged 49 on 19^th July 1891 at Hartlepool. He was interred at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Seaton Carew.