Dennis Vermillion is listed on the July 1811 Pay Roll as apprentice to Master Ship Carpenter James Owner
http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/wny1811.html
The following two letters give some indication of perspective of the WNY Master Mechanics and Master Boat Builder George McCauley in particular following the burning of the Navy Yard. Dennis and his brother John Vermillion were both fortunate to have the opportunity to complete their long apprenticeships since after the burning of the Navy Yard most workers were laid off and not called back for over a year as the Yard struggle to rebuild. Both Dennis and John Vermillion are listed in the 1822 Washington Directory as living with their widowed mother Henrietta. John Vermillion is listed as boat builder while Denis is listed as a ship carpenter. They are all listed as residing at their home in 5 East near Eastern Branch Navy Yard.

As can be seen in letter below the situation for WNY apprentices was still not very good years three after the great conflagration of August 24, 1814.

					Washington Navy Yard March 3rd 1817

Sir 

	in the month of September 105 I waited on Mr. Harrison Navy Agent at 
Philadelphia who informed me there was wanting a Master boatbuilder for the Navy 
Yard at Washington Mr. Harrison observed that if I would accept the appointment I 
would have the privilege of taking with me my four Apprentices, observing also that 
when the Department  had a perfect knowledge of my abilities he had nor doubt - but I 
would Get what I then asked , which was twelve hundred Dollars a year and my house 
rent paid -- on the faith of our Government I accepted the Situation in this Yard as 
Master boatbuilder expecting from my indefatigable attention to my duty I would be 
rewarded, 

Sir the discharging of my two apprentices at this time is A very serious injury to them 
and my Self - 

I feel myself in duty bound to teach them their business as I have employment for them 
to an Advantage to the Department

Commodore	} 			Iam very respectfully 
		}			Sir your Obedt Servt 
Th Tingey	} 			George Mc Cauley
===============

					Navy Yard Wash 4 March 1817

Sir 

	I transmit herewith for information of the Board, and at the request of the Master 
boat builder - a letter from him to me on the subject of his apprentices, lately dismissed 
from the yard.  I consider it my duty to submit my opinion that - they can also be usefully 
and profitably employ'd here-  As can  also, those in the Coopers department; we having 
a number of large staves to rough , which it would be eligible to have dressed and put 
under shelter for seasoning - 

All which is respectfully submitted, for the consideration and decision of the Board. 
							I have the honor to be 
							very respectfully
							Sir, yr Obedt Servt
 
Comd Jo Rodger						Th Tingey 

James Owner had a long career as a ship carpenter and ship builder at WNY and his name is mentioned numerous times in the Diary of Michael Shiner
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/shinerdiary.html

James Owner had a solid reputation and tried to retain his apprentices as in this letter.

						           Navy Yard Wash 6th  May 1817

Sir 

	I received last evening the regulations of the Board to the number of apprentices to be allowed the 
Master workmen - and as but one of these enumerated in my letter of the 29 : ult ; appertains to a Master 
mechanic VIZ : Mathias Roby , to the Master Shipwright Mr. James Owner  - It becomes incumbent on me 
to request information of the Board - whether the other eight are to be continued in the yard, under the 
regulated restrictions in respect to pay or to be discharged? 

	Mr.McCauley ( Master boatbuilder ) has two apprentices at work since Monday 5th Stated to be by 
direction of the Board. 

						I have the honor to be 
							very respectfully 
								Sir Yr Obedt Servt
Commdr Jo Rodgers 							Th Tingey
	&c &c &c 

Henrietta Vermillion The July 1811 Pay Roll also lists Henrietta Vermillion as owning "Frank" a slave for which she received 75 cents per day. Henrietta Vermillion as a widow probably relied on income from her sons' apprenticeships and money her slave Frank brought to her household. The following letter from August 1817 gives some idea how apprenticeships and the income derived from them was perceived

Copy /
						Washington Navy Yard Aug 13th 1817 
Sir, 

	The Subscribers, Block-makers employed in this Navy Yard take the liberty of representing to you 
the inconvenience we labor under in consequence of the lowness of our Wages -  It is well known that the 
rate fixed before the reduction was lower than that of any other  branch of mechanics employed in the 
public Service or at this it must be confessed our business is as difficult to acquire a competent knowledge 
of, and as long an apprenticeship  is required to be Served to it as to any other The late reduction makes it 
almost impossible for those of us who have Families to Subsist them , and entirely so to educate our 
Children at all -  We could therefore hope you will take into consideration our request , - and that our 
wages may be rated among the rest of the mechanics of the Navy Yard s - and if possible that , it may take 
place in the present month

							We are with respect 
								Yours &c 
							( Thomas Clark
					( Signed) 	{Amon Woodward
							{John Mace
							{Richard Cole

Commodore Thomas Tingey