Thomas Wilbur Manchester was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1841. Thomas was married on September 1, 1861 to Martha Elizabeth Neth (1841-1921) of Glastonbury, Connecticut. They had one child, Charles Francis Manchester, who was born in 1864.

Manchester enlisted as a private on November 20, 1861 and joined Co. A of the First Rhode Island Infantry. The Infantry was attached to Burnside's Brigade in McDowell's Army of Northeastern Virginia. They fought in the Battle of First Bull Run on July 21, 1861. On December 4, 1861, Manchester mustered into Co. L of the First Rhode Island Infantry. While with Co. L, he served in the commissary. He was discharged on May 31, 1863 in Washington, D.C. He enlisted in the Third Rhode Island Cavalry on February 28, 1864 and stayed with that regiment until February 1866 when he resigned his commission. During this time with the Third Rhode Island Cavalry, he was promoted from First Sergeant to Captain of Co. B, 97th USCT.

Following the war, Manchester moved back to Providence, Rhode Island, where he worked as a jewelry salesman. He died on March 27, 1928.