He returned to the sea and was employed in the U.S. Marshal's Service and also in the Custom House Service. During the construction by the Government of the Cape Mendoeins light house Frederick was in charge of the boats landing materials and during the four months the work took to complete he landed 8000 tons through the surf and only one life was lost.

In the American Civil War of 1861- 1865 Frederick was First Officer on a Northern ship the " Alabama". He spotted a Confederate privateer and reported it to the captain, suggesting hoisting German or English Colours. The captain did not believe him and the boat was captured .While the crew were at dinner Frederick suggested shutting them below hatches and capturing the ship but he was betrayed by a German sailor and Frederick was roped to the mast for three days. He was then transferred to a Chinese vessel and the Southerners paid for Jerome to be taken to Peking . When Frederick was landed he was spotted by a Japanese Captain whom Frederick had helped some years before. The Japanese had him fed, provided with new clothes and money, and put him on a boat for Liverpool. After the war he obtained 6,000 dollars compensation for his loss when the ship was burnt.

He saved the life of the captain of the " Lucky Star " and his wife and daughter wrecked on the Coast of Formosa and the son of Captain Mann of the " Lincoln " who fell overboard. He saved four people from a boat that capsized in the bay near Angels Island. He saved a lunatic who jumped from a ship into the bay.

In March 1862 when he was deck officer on the steamer " Herman" bound for Victoria
B.C. Mr. John P Boring a pioneer, who was a passenger on the vessel running in thick fog, stated that Frederick suddenly ordered the steamer to be put about, and as the boat turned the fog lifted and he saw a rock wall and surf close to the steamer's stern.

On 24th March 1891 Frederick married Winifred B. Tucker of Halifax, Nova Scotia . Her second name was probably Bridget. He visited Portsmouth with his wife in July 1894 having visited Portsmouth previously in 1888 when he returned on the " City of Rome" . It was on his second visit that he offered to adopt Harriet Caroline Augusta Styles as his daughter (Mother of Francis Jerome Collins) an offer that was not taken up.

Frederick Jerome died on 3rd August 1900 at San Francisco, his wife survived him. There were no children from either marriage. It is believed his medals were lost in the San Francisco Earthquake.