This investigation is an important resource for labor and family historians and is here transcribed for the first time. The inquiry is part of the records of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Board took statements from fourteen WNY employees plus Benjamin and Robert King. This investigation provides some rare autobiographical information and opportunities for scholars to learn about the early Navy Yard and the lives of its workers. From their statements we can learn something of the Yard apprentice's often anonymous existence. Many of Benjamin King's former apprentices provided informative testimony; see particularly the statement of Kinlaugh O'Neal who lived at the King household.

Benjamin King, the focus of this inquiry, was born in Carron Scotland; he later immigrated abroad and fought with the French armies in Santo Domingo. King was first appointed to the position of WNY Master Blacksmith in 1804. King quickly established himself as a flamboyant, larger then life figure. As a blacksmith, chain cable maker and plumber, Benjamin King was known for technical ingenuity, hard work, and rough and ready manner. For three decades King supervised much of the early iron work for the Yard, the Capitol buildings and the White House. During the war of 1812, King fought at the Battle of Bladensburg. As WNY Master Blacksmith he supervised the anchor shop which employed as many as nineteen slaves including five owned by King himself, which he leased to the Yard. King held numerous early District public offices. In addition King acquired a reputation as an inventor who often assisted and evaluated new naval devices. King held a number of patents including one for an "Equilateral Level for leveling lands" and another for a "straw cutting machine"; see his letter to of 2 December 1822 to Thomas Jefferson.⁴ Both of these inventions are mentioned in the statement of Master Blacksmith James Tucker. Tucker stated King's employees worked on the inventions namely the straw cutting machine and level during government hours. The difficulty in assessing public and private work preformed by the Kings was made complex by the lack of clear regulations. The basic reason for this lack of regulation and confusion was the Navy Yard by necessity allowed its Master Blacksmiths to utilize their private forges for naval projects. This leniency to use their private shops was necessitated during its first decade by insufficient funds allocated to build smith shops and facilities. Later this was again the case after the 1814 conflagration of the Yard.

Many of those who met King were initially impressed After his 1806 meeting with Benjamin King, WNY engineer and Capitol architect Benjamin H. Latrobe wrote "He is a Universal Mechanic and the dernierresort [Last recourse] of all officers and artizans in every difficult undertaking and is seldom found at a loss." Despite King's acknowledged technical competence, his outspoken manner and frequent critical comments regarding his naval superiors and colleagues caused friction and often acrimonious which strained his relations with Secretaries of the Navy, Paul Hamilton and Robert Smith.

Latrobe recounts King as a severe and harsh task master "Ben. King is forging the Crank. He has thought proper to alter his opinion and is making it the most tremendous lump of Iron, the Necks 4 inches in diameter, the squares 5 inches. He now thinks it too weak. He has been swearing and whipping his black strikers at a terrible rate these two days past. . ."⁵

Latrobe eventually came to believe King "a fool more then a Rogue, yet he is a very dangerous Man." By 1812, Benjamin Latrobe's patience with King ran out when he voluntarily appeared before a Congressional Committee and charged Latrobe with the wasteful operation of the Navy Yard steam engine. Latrobe responded with a detailed response to John Randolph the Committee Chairman dated 25 January 1812 attributing problems with the steam engine to King's failure to supply the engine sufficient water. ⁶

Commodore Isaac Hull became Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard on 31 March 1829 and quickly set about bringing badly needed changes. Hull a former Captain of the USS Constitution, hero of the War of 1812, had a reputation for running a "tight ship." His long serving predecessor Commodore Thomas Tingey (1750-1829) ruled WNY for nearly twenty nine years. Tingey was popular with the mechanics, Isaac Hull in contrast had a strong animus toward tradesman and mechanics based largely on his prior experience with civilian workers at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston.⁷

Hull was familiar with WNY as he spent the years 1815 -1817 in Washington D.C. as a member of the Board of Navy Commissioners. Hull also knew of the highly critical report issued by the Board re: WNY employment practices.⁸ The Board noted they had witnessed:

"Particularly pressure in the employment of characters unsuited for the public service - maimed & unmanageable slaves for the accommodation of distressed widows & orphans & indigent families - apprentices for the accommodation of their masters - & old men & children for the benefit of their families & parents. These practices must cease" ⁹

After reviewing the investigation file, Hull noted that he found William Easby's complaints justified. "I find King so excessively stupid that I cannot get at time or anything else for him." Hull later wrote to the Chairman of the Board of Navy Commissioner, Commodore John Rodgers, "from some cause he appears deranged in his mind, and not to know what he is doing . . . I have informed Mr. King, that his services were no longer required in the Shop until your pleasure could be known." Hull pressed for King's removal but the Secretary of the Navy intervened with the decision that in view of Benjamin King's long service, he would be reduced to journeyman status, and allowed to continue on the rolls.¹⁰

This 1829 Board inquiry is still relevant as courts have subsequently sought to resolve many of the complex issues surrounding the public and private endeavors of federal employees which remain the subject of intense public interest.

List of WNY employees questioned.
Benjamin King
Robert King
William Easby
John Davis of Abel
James Tucker
Thomas Lyndall
Dennis Osborn
Kinlaugh O'Neal
Archibald Hutchinson
Adam Gaddis
Lewis A. Newman
William Sanderson
Thomas Sanderson
James Harrison
Asa Nagan
John S. Moreland
Benjamin King
Robert King

Transcription:
This transcription was made from digital images of the Board of Navy Commissioners Investigation re Benjamin King and Robert King NARA RG 45, Board of Navy Commissioners Correspondence for the year 1829. There is no official title on this Board document; consequently I have provided a tentative descriptive title: Board of Navy Commissioners Investigation re Benjamin King and Robert King dated 12 -20 February 1829. In transcribing this document, I have striven to adhere as closely as possible to the original in spelling, capitalization, punctuation and abbreviation including the retention of dashes, ampersands and overstrikes.

The Board appointed Captain Alexander S. Wadsworth to conduct the investigation. Captain Wadsworth and WNY Clerk Richard Barry took testimony from Master Boat Builder William Easby, who brought the original accusation against Benjamin King and his son Robert King. In addition the investigation took testimony was taken from over a dozen WNY employees. Captain Wadsworth and Clerk Richard Barry did not take formal depositions, nor did they attempt verbatim transcriptions of interrogatories. From the surviving document it appears that Wadsworth and Barry summarize the witnesses responses. They also provided Benjamin and Robert King the opportunity to review the file and to offer written statements, probably attached to their final report. There is evidence that this surviving copy is a draft and the final report was sent to the Board and Hull. This transcribed draft copy is the one retained for the Board's chronological file.

I have transcribed the inquiry using a similar layout to the surviving document.

Appreciation: Mr. Robert Johnson Archives Specialist, NARA Washington DC, graciously allowed me to make the digital images used for this transcription.

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           Minutes of an investigation by Captain Alexander S. Wadsworth¹¹ of certain charges alleged by William Easby¹² Master Boat Builder of this Navy Yard at this place, against Benjamin King¹³ Master Chain Cable Maker at the same yard and Robert King, his son also employed in the same Yard responding to an order of the Board of Navy Commissioners dated 10th February 1829, addressed to Captain Alex S. Wadsworth of the Navy. On application to the Commandant of the Navy Yard¹⁴ Richard Barry was appointed to record the testimony in the cases.

           The order of the Honbl Secretary of the Navy dated Feb 7 1829 directing Capt. Wadsworth to report tot he President of the Board of Navy Commissioners for the purpose and the order from the President of the Board, dated Feb 7 1829 directing the same officers to inquire into the above charges, to make a copy of a letter (which is marked A, & annexed) dated Navy Yard Washington, 21 January 1829, signed Wm. Easby, and addressed to Comm John Rodgers¹⁵ , containing the Charges, were then read in the presence of the persons accused & others.

           Mr. Easby was then called upon, to state what he knew in the case & states that he has know Mr. King from the Yard in the years 1823& 4-at a time when Mr. K was difficulty & had permission to take chips from the Yard- it was taken in the bottom of the cart he had seen once a load of chips at his shop door in the yard, & the next morning at his house, had seen the chips thrown out with Iron & that among them - perhaps 100 pieces of 2 or 3 feet in length - Saw it one & did not mention it to any one at the time except Mr King, that in a precautionary manner (1) Has seen men in his shop during working hours employed upon work for private purposes - thinks it was in making a cutting machine, in the year 1824 - did not then report it to any one (2) Saw at Mr. Kings private shop in the month of Febt 1826 & some Iron say 20 which he knew to belong to the Yard, having himself taken it out of the Inclined plane - his son Robert was working it, & he cautioned him about it, at the time. (3)Has seen some rowlock pins at his house which he knew to have been made in the Yard, having previously seen them in his shop - they were for a large Bateau which he was building for Mr Venable About a year since witness son Robert King making a grid Iron, in the Yard during working hours, which he afterwards showed him outside of the yard.

           He has no personal knowledge of any fact or circumstances of later years, which would lead to a belief of any peculation on the part of Mr. King or his son Robert. About 20 years ago, some lead & copper belonging to the yard was used in putting gutters to a house which Mr. King was building. Some years ago before the yard was burnt Mr. King was in the habit of sending his boys out to his house, during public time & after answering Muster in the Yard who were employed in digging his garden to private purposes. In the year 1806 when the Shop in the Yard was building, Mr. King had a number of fires outside of the yard doing public work considerable quantities of Iron was sent out for this purpose; when his public shop was completed & the workmen had returned to the yard, the iron that was left was said to have been sold by Mr King. Witness was subsequently told by Mr. Smith a blacksmith, that he had received public Iron from Mr. King. He does not know that any report was made at the time, or that any investigation took place. Two grates were made in the Yard for Mr. King's house when building, in the years 1805 or 6 -

Mr. James Tucker¹⁷ Master Anchor Smith examined.

           Was foreman in Mr. King's shop from Sept 1821 to July 1826 - Mr King sent some tools from the Yard to his house in 1822, which he directed witness to enter on the books as borrowed from the Yard, they were accordingly so entered. (The book was presented & the entry found as stated. The tools alluded to, Mr King acknowledged to be the ones in his possession) also seen yard Grid Irons & other cooking utensils materials in Mr Kings shop; but does not know whether or not such articles now sent on board vessels fitting out at the Yard. And Irons are not used by sent as appendages to Cambooses¹⁸ : the other articles might have been upon the Grid Irons. Has seen Wm Parsons & Dennis Osborn¹⁹ at work upon a Straw Cutting Machine²⁰ at Mr. King's shop at the time but does not know what wages he received.

Mr. Thomas Lyndall,²¹ Master Joiner, examined.

           Knows nothing of either Mr. King or Robert King and public property of any kind for private purposes, or of employing the workmen in private work during public time Mr King as frequently got nails &c from witness, but always stated them to be for public purposes.

Dennis Osborn - at present foreman of Mr. King's shop - examined

           He does not know Mr. King or Robert takings any public property from the Yard. Has seen (4) John Sutton employed making grid Irons in Mr. Kings shop 2 or 3 years since for private purposes but his name was taken from the Yard roll except his son saw him making the legs of Grid Irons during working hours out of the Iron which probably employed him half a day. Supposed Sutton may have worked in all 3 ½ days while his name was taken from the roll. Has frequently seen Sutton at Mr. Kings private shop out of the Yard employed in making grid Irons , but not in his opinion in public time. In the yard he seen the Straw Cutting Machine witnessed him forge the blades at Mr. Kings private shop & the next afternoon, brought into the Yard to be tempered & drilled which took him about 2 hours, & was done in public time. Has seen Iron pans, &c made in the Shop which he forswears to have been made for Cambooses. Knows of no other private work done in the Yard except tempering the tools of the Carpenters employed in the Yard. - Robert King is employed in the shop as a first rate workman -thinks him equally competent with those who get the same wages, tho probably not so attentive as some others. knows nothing of his having taken public property from the yard, or doing private work in public time Witness made a wood axe for Mr. King some years since in the Yard which was probably an hours work.

Mr. Archibald Hutchinson²² examined.

           Has worked in Mr. Kings shop in the Yard since Nov 1827 shortly previous to this was employed at Mr. Kings house for some time, during which (6) time Mr. King told brought him some wrought cut nails, which he stated had came from the Yard Mr K he stated had came from the Yard Mr. K had said the morning before that he had not had a chance to bring any and that he soon would Witness had several times recd nails from Mr. King which he believes came from the Yard Witness at the time stated he was building a shop fro Mr. King & the at the same time then 3 flat bars about 6 feet in length were brought by Mr. K & used in the Shop which Robert King stated to have been made in the Yard. About the same period there were some hangings for two gates at Mr. King's house, brought from the Yard An Iron axle, for a cart was also brought from the Yard, but he understood that he got a pass to take it out. About this time some Copper hoops & sheets of tine were brought to the house which Witness has no doubt came from the Yard & also 4 small Iron plates for Securing the gate rings for the house door These articles were generally brought out by Mr. King . After the Witness came to work in the Yard he saw in Mr. King's private shop some pieces of Iron for Cart which Robert told him came from the Yard Saw a Grid Iron in which Mr. King brought from the Yard; it was made there but does not know whether it was made in public time or not. Saw Robert King finish a Grid Iron in the Camboose Shop saw he came there to avoid the officers of the Yard it was in public time & the ban use of public time Witness afterwards saw the grid Iron out of the Yard; Robert told him that he had sold it to his father for $ 5- Witness knows of an oven tin being repaired in the Yard for Mr. King by Geo Armstrong, about a year (since) which was nearly a days work. The lead did not answer & afterwards saw him trimming another one, which he believes was forged in the shop by Mr. Osborn - they were done in public time working hours does not think the men were taken from the Roll. Last week about ½ day Caulking by Mr. Naylor a Workmen in Mr. Kings shop, who forged them to be finished Mr. King soon after took them away saying they need not be finished and witness believes was taken out of the Yard. About a year since then when 2 sauce pans made by Armstrong in the Yard, which he has no doubt were taken out. Before witness came to work in the Camboose Shop he has seen several times Mr. King bringing home pieces of Iron under his cloak which he has no doubt came from the Yard.

Mr. Adam Gaddis²³ examined.

           Has been foreman in the Camboose dept. of the Yard 8 or 9 years. Knows of no article or public property being taken out of the yard either by Mr. King or his son, Robert, nor has he seen any thing at his private shop, except the tools. He knows of 2 Grid Irons being made in the Yard about a year since. Ja Harrison foraged one- they were finished by witness in the camboose Shop by Mr. King's order during working hours. About the same time saw an oven lid repairing in the shop by G Armstrong, which he believes to have been for Mr. King - it was about ½ days work: it did not answer the purpose & a new one was made he thinks by Osborn finished in the Camboose shop the finishing was about an hours work - the men not taken from the Roll during the time. Witness also made about the same time, for Mr. King, & by his order, a leaden Canister, weighing about 3 lbs took about 2 hours work. Saw Robert King finishing a End Iron in the Camboose shop, at which he was employed about 2 hours of public time - presumes it went out of the Yard. Has made several copper stew pans & which he understood at the time to be for the Yard - has since heard that Mr. King had one at his house.

Lewis A. Newman²⁴ examined.

           Served his apprenticeship to Mr. King and subsequently worked 2 or 3 years under him in the Chain Cable dept. - States that he has a poor memory, and that he does not recollect ever having taken any public property out of the Yard for Mr. King, - or of having seen Mr. King or Robert do so. Has an indistinct recollection of 2 cutting machines being made - thinks Parsons may have made them - but does not recollect whether it was in Mr. King's private shop, or in the Yard. Thinks a Copper tea kettle was once brought into the Yard to be repaired (Recollects seeing Robert King at work upon a grid Iron in the yard - part of it was done in public time, some between work hours.

Wm Sanderson²⁵ a workman in the Plumber Dept examined.

           Whist an Apprentice to Mr. King previous to the year, 1808 he was frequently sent out of the yard to attend to the private work of Mr. King at his house, after sending his name to the Yard Roll, which he was required to do. In the Year 1806 Mr King had several articles made in the Yard for the house which he was then building viz 2 grates with brass mountings, a leaden pump and a conductor, one of the grates was put up at the House. Lead & Copper for the gutters, then for a Cistern, men also taken out of the yard for the same purpose.

Thomas Sanderson²⁶ examined.

           Was formerly an apprentice to Mr. King shortly after the Yard was burnt, Witness engaged with Mr. king at his home in working up the Lead into sheets, for the Yard. The old lead was taken from the Yard to his house Witness understood at the time, that he was allowed 12th in the 100 for wastage & dross. At that time witness was employed in making the Scupper & other work for 2 vessels in Georgetown & some work for the roof of a house belonging to Col. Taylor, the lead for this purpose was taken from Mr. King's house. Does not know if the proper quantity of lead was returned to the Yard, or if Mr. King used more then allowed him for wastage. There was no other lead then at Mr. King's house than that which came from the Yard. At another time Mr. King sent a quantity of lead in small pigs to Alexandria in a Boat, which was delivered to a man there this, was after Mr. King had been doing some work at the powder Mill at Bladensburg - does not know where the lead came from. When a apprentice to Mr. King, he has frequently carried out things from the Yard for him - but does not recollect what they were - probably small articles of public property. At the same time he was frequently after being required by Mr. King to muster in the Yard, sent out to do private work about his house. Knows of no instance in later years of public property being taken from the Yard, by Mr. King or Robert - not of private work being done in the Yard by either of them

James Harrison²⁷ examined.

           States that he was employed at Mr. Kings private shop, in June last in Kings shop in turning a pair of Cart Wheels - the tin was in the shop when he went there it was old tin that had been used before but does not know where it came from has been for some years employed in Mr. Kings shop in the Yard, by Mr. Kings order about 18 months ago Does not know who it was for but believes this was for a vessel fitting out at the Yard at the time. Know of no other private work done in the Yard or of any articles of public property taken the Iron that was used was usually scrap Iron. Mr. King works in the same shop with Robert King & considers him a good workman, though he is often called from his bench to attend to receiving Iron & keeping his fathers books. Has seen some Baker pans making in the Yard but does not know, who or what they were for.

Asa Nagan examined

           On being questioned says he know of 4 private [illegible] boats made in the yard to order of Mr. King for [two words illegible] He was then a striker at forge of Osborn by whom they [were?] made . They were taken out of the Yard in a basket.

John S. Moreland on being examined.

           States that he worked in Mr. Kings about 4 years, and lived with him about 4 years - Know of some swivels made in the Yard for Mr. Young's boat by D. Osborn n they were taken out of the Yard by witness in a basket to Mr. Kings house, by his order does not recollect ever taking any thing else out of the Yard. Knows of four Grid Irons made in the Yard by Sutton, but his name was taken from the Yard Roll Sutton told witness that the iron for the bars was purchased at Ingles in the City. Witness was frequently employed in making hammers &c at Mr. Kings private shop, but does not know that any of the Iron or Steel came from the Yard. He knows of some Iron & tools which came from Baltimore about the time for Mr. King.

Dennis Osborn again examined.

           On being questioned, recollected that about 4 or 5 years ago there were tow swivel & plates made by Mr. King's order for a Boat for Mr. Young, they weighed perhaps 4lbs and were finished entirely in the Yard: they were worth about 125¢ He recollected seeing two Straw cutting Machines in the Yard, but he does not know when or by whom they were made more then he has already related. He also recollects that a machine for tarring yarns was made in the Yard, during public time and for a Mr. Dean a rope maker in Georgetown; it was made 4 or 5 years ago, & was worth about 5$ - He likewise knows of similar machine being made in the Yard two or 3 years since, for a rope maker in the City Mr. Chalmers. About 5 years since witness, recollects that Mr. King received a Cow, which he said was a present from Gen. Ridgley of Baltimore.

Kinlaugh O'Neal, a boy about 15 years of age, examined.

           Lived with Mr. King for about 6 months about a year since & left him. During the time I was with him, nails & other things such as chalk, an auger & iron frequently taken out of the Yard to Mr. Kings house; sometimes I took them myself; Mr. King would send me to Robert for them who gave them to me. I used to take them under a cloak which Mr. King lend me.. I once took out a piece of steel, about 5 or 6 lbs, and at another time, bought a copper pan in the yard to Robert, to be mended. - I mentioned these circumstances to my mother, and my Father in consequence, took me away from Mr. King and would not let me live with him.

           Mr. King on being called for any explanations of the transactions mentioned in the foregoing testimony, which he might which to offer States in regard to the iron from Mr. Young in 1823 (220/d) which he had promised to get exchanged - that this iron had been used in the Yard - & the for iron taken out of the yard was taken in lieu of it. The officers of the yard were not acquainted with the transaction & did not sanction it.

W. Tucker on being further examined states two large bars of iron which came from Mr. Young were in the Yard in for fitting house rollers for the decoy & some other vessel when there was no other iron large enough for the purpose in the yard knows nothing now of the transaction. and that another time in 1822 -3 when a large pan of tongs were permitted to be made in the yard for a Mr. Davis of the N. Yard there was a quantity of scrap iron left the tongs weight 47 cwt & from such a job at least 3 cwt weight of scrap iron would be left he supposed that was given to Mr. King.

Mr. King further states that iron invention (2) as having been in the inclined plane was likewise taken in return for that received from Mr. Young recollects nothing of the (3) rowlock pins for Venables Batteau with regard to the Grid irons he states he employed Sutton to make some out of the yard & which he paid him & produced certificates of A. Forrest & N Brashears of p to Sutton to 17.$ 12 ½ cts. He further states that the articles (5) of lead, copper , grates &c mentioned by Mr. Davis & Sanderson has been previously settled & accounted for- 6 in relation to the nails Mr. King provided a bill of Taylor Lindsay & Taylor in which were charged Oct. 8th 1827 10 D nails .

Mr. King further states that one of the rope tarring machines mentioned has only repaired in the yard. He has never received any pay or reimbursement of any kind for any private work which may have been done in the yard. That he acknowledges he done wrong in permitting doing any such work in the yard & hopes that the circumstances pardon any errors he has committed with a promise if forgiven, that he will be true & faithful in his work in future.

Mr. Easby gave in writing a statement of the time when knowledge of the facts came to his knowledge likewise Capt. Stevens²⁸ gave a written statement as Mr. King's conduct both of which were attached to the proceedings.

Sir
           I have the honor agreeable to your order to enclose you the results of the investigation in the case of Mr. B King & his son Robert some delay was taken place during the investigation which has unavoidable.

¹ The Board of Navy Commissioners (1815-1842) had responsibility for the procurement of naval stores and materials; construction, armament, equipment, repair, and preservation of naval vessels; establishment of regulations to secure uniformity in the classes of naval vessels; preparation of estimates of expenditures for different parts of the naval service; and supervision of navy yards, naval stations, and Navy agents. The Secretary of the Navy retained control over personnel and appointments, movement of ships, and other administrative matters not delegated to the board.As provided by the act, the board, attached to the Office of the Secretary, was composed of three post-captains appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by the Senate; the ranking officer of the board was to be its president. The board was authorized to establish its own regulations and employ a secretary to keep a record of its proceedings and two clerks to assist in other office work. As part of their responsibility, the Board was authorized to conduct inquiies into naval matters afloat and ashore.

² William Easby Master Boat Builder (1791-1854) born England death Washington D.C. later Master Ship Builder, Captain War of 1812, enjoyed a long and successful career at WNY.

³ Investigation re Benjamin King and Robert King NARA RG 45, Board of Navy Commissioners Correspondence 1829. This untitled, document I have referred to it as: Investigation re Benjamin King, Master Chain Cable Maker & Robert King, Black Smith, at the Washington Navy Yard, February 12 -20, 1829

⁴ Kings's letters to Thomas Jefferson are transcribed at
President Thomas Jefferson letters to and from Benjamin King

⁵ Benjamin H. Latrobe, Papers of Benjamin Henry Latrobe ed Edward H. Carter Vols. 1-3. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1984-1988. p.911 Vol. 2 Letter Benjamin Latrobe to James Smallwood 5 Oct 1810

⁶ Latrobe Papers, Vol 2., 25 January 1812 Letter Benjamin Latrobe to John Randolph

⁷ Christopher McKee, A Gentlemanly and Honorable Profession the Creation of the United States Naval Officer Corps 1794-1815 (U. S. Naval Institute Press: Annapolis MD 1991), McKee biographical and professional information on the careers of Commodores Thomas Tingey and Isaac Hull, 81-85, for Commodore Thomas Tingey and for Isaac Hull, 299 and 469-471.
For an online biography of Thomas Tingey see: Biography of Thomas Tingey

Linda M. Maloney, The Captain from Connecticut: The Life and Naval Times of Isaac Hull. (Boston: Northeastern University Press 1986.) The best biography of Isaac Hull.

⁸ Maloney, 270-271.

⁹ Commodore John Rodgers, to Commodore Thomas Tingey, 11 May 1815, NARA RG45.

¹⁰ Maloney, 420.

¹¹ Captain Alexander Scammel Wadsworth was friend of Isaac Hull. Wadsworth was born in 1790 at Portland, Maine. He was appointed a midshipman on 2 April 1804 and was promoted to lieutenant on 21 April 1810. Lt. Wadsworth was the first lieutenant on board Constitution during that famous frigate's successful engagement with Guerriere in the War of 1812. For this action, he received a silver medal and was included in the vote of thanks received by the commanding officer, Isaac Hull, and his officers. Wadsworth later served as first lieutenant of the corvette Adams during that ship's cruise in 1814 when she captured 10 prizes.
Promoted to master-commandant on 27 April 1816 for his services during the war, Wadsworth commanded the brig Prometheus in the Mediterranean Squadron after the Algerian War in 1816 and 1817 and later commanded the sloop John Adams. Under Wadsworth, John Adams conducted cruises in the West Indies in 1818 and 1819, and 1821 and 1822 for the suppression of piracy. Promoted to captain on 3 March 1825, he commanded frigate Constellation in the Mediterranean Squadron from 1829 to 1832. Wadsworth was commodore commanding the Pacific Squadron from 1834 to 1836, a member of the Board of Navy Commissioners from 1837 to 1840, and Inspector of Ordnance from 1841 to 1850. Commodore Wadsworth died at Washington, D.C., on 5 April 1851

¹² William Easby see endnote number one. William Easby had numerous apprentices e.g.
1839 Apprentice Indenture of William M. Padgett

¹³ Benjamin King. ( 1779 -1837) WNY Master Black Smith, for brief biography of Benjamin King see
Biography of Benjamin King

¹⁴ Richard Barry, (1804 -1867) WNY Second Clerk to the Commandant, his brothers also worked various times at WNY they were Edward Barry (1809-1830) Sailing Master, Francis Barry (1801-1851), Clerk of the Check and Thomas Barry (1779-1842) Gunner later Commodore USN. Richard Barry is listed on the WNY employee listing for April 1829 is annual salary is listed as $ 850 per annum.
1829 Employees at the Washington Navy Yard

¹⁵ Commodore John Rodgers, (1772 -1838) President of the Board of Navy Commissioners, for biography, see
Biography of John Rodgers
John Rodgers was President of the Board of Navy Commissioners from 1815 -1837. Rodgers was close friend of WNY Commandant Commodore Isaac Hull and his predecessor Commodore Thomas Tingey

¹⁶ John Davis of Abel (1774-1853) Master Blacksmith came to the District of Columbia from Delaware as young man he h ad served in the merchant navy and was briefly impressed in the British Navy. John Davis and Benjamin King were friends and had business dealing with each other over the years. Davis was a member of the District of Columbia Militia and was active during the War of 1812. Davis was instrumental in saving many WNY documents during the British invasion of the capital in August 1814. The inquiry into the conduct of Benjamin King probably strained Davis and King's business and social relations.
Biogrpahy of John Davis of Abel

¹⁷ James Tucker (1786-1865) WNY Master Blacksmith & Anchorsmith had a long and successful career he was active in Whig Party and later the Democratic Party. For a biography
Biography of James Tucker

¹⁸ Camboose is an old nautical term for a metal ships galley or kitchen. Cambooses were constructed so as to prevent a fire aboard wooden ships. WNY Black Smiths worked in the Camboose shop where they made metal stoves, pans and cooking utensils.

¹⁹ Dennis Osborn, is listed as a "discharged" shipsmith on the WNY April 1829 employees listing
1829 Employees at the Washington Navy Yard
Since Dennis Osborn and B. King were closely associated in business it possible that Osborn's discharge was connected to the investigation.

²⁰ Straw Cutting Machine Benjamin King invented and had taken a patent out on a new straw cutting machine see Benjamin King's correspondence with Thomas Jefferson . One of the questions that the investigations was concerned with was if B. King's extra activities were proper and was he conducting his work while employed by WNY
President Thomas Jefferson letters to and from Benjamin King

²¹ Thomas Lyndall, (1792-1834) WNY Master Ship Joiner Lyndall was born in 1792 at Philadelphia Pennsylvania and died November 11, 1834 in Washington DC. Thomas Lyndall worked at WNY as a Master Ship Joiner for 15 years. His home was located on I Street between 4^th & C Street. He is buried at Congressional Cemetery R 30-75. His nephew George Lyndall was one of the leaders of the WNY strike in 1835. For a biography of Thomas Lyndall see:
Biography of Thomas Lyndall

²² Archibald Hutchinson Unknown

²³ Adam Gaddis, WNY Master Blacksmith was born in Newry, County Down, Ireland circa 1800 The Gaddis family immigrated to Pennsylvania and later moved to the District. Adam Gaddis went to work at the Yard about 1820 and was a foreman in the WNY Galley Shop for forty five years. Gaddis was a member of the Masonic Order Naval Lodge and died on July 21, 1867. Gaddis signed the 9 May 1845 letter with 86 other WNY employees addressed to the Secretary of the Navy that he feared the Democratic Party would replace the various Master Mechanics of the Yard with Master Mechanics with Democratic party affiliations. Gaddis kept his job for another twenty years.     Letter of May 1845 concerning Politics
He is buried at Congressional Cemetery R 51-139.

²⁴ Lewis Newman is listed as an anchor smith working for James Tucker, Master Anchor Smith at a per diem rate of 1.32 see April 1829 list of WNY employees
1829 Employees at the Washington Navy Yard

²⁵ William Sanderson is listed as a Plumber on the WNY April 1829 employees listing. Sanderson's per diem rate was 1.52
1829 Employees at the Washington Navy Yard

²⁶ Thomas Sanderson is listed as a Plumber on the WNY April 1829 employees listing. His per diem rate was 1.52
1829 Employees at the Washington Navy Yard
Thomas Sanderson is apparently the brother of William Sanderson. The two Sanderson's are listed as living near the Navy Yard Bridge in the 1827 Washington Directory.

²⁷ James Harrison is listed as a Camboose Smith on the WNY April 1829 employees listing. His per diem rate was 1.80.
1829 Employees at the Washington Navy Yard
A Camboose is an early metal stove used aboard naval and merchant vessels to protect against fire.

²⁸ Commodore Thomas Holdup Stevens (1795-1841) entered the US Navy as a young man and served with distinction during the War of 1812. Stevens briefly served Commodore Isaac Hull as Executive Officer at the naval yard and later became Commandant of WNY; he died at the Washington Navy Yard 21 January 1841.