Washington District of Columbia

Washington Navy Yard Mary McCoy Petition of 1809 By : John G. Sharp

9 January 1809 petition of
Mrs. Mary Mc Coy
to
Commodore Thomas Tingey for his assistance
"Extricating a poor honest woman from the deepest Calamities"

Introduction:       In good times and bad people came to the Washington Navy Yard looking for work. For WNY Commandant, Commodore Thomas Tingey, many mornings began with numerous unemployed mechanics laborers and seamen assembled near his office attempting to see him, to request, their names be entered on the pay rolls of the navy yard. Most of these petitioners probably never got to see the Commodore himself but instead were steered to the office of Thomas Howard Clerk of the Yard or Modecai Booth the Commandant's Clerk. Here they would present letters of introduction describing their qualifications and attesting to their good character. Generally Commodore Tingey looked to his master mechanics for a recommendation to determine if an applicant had the requisite trade knowledge and experience. For vacancies as common laborers the Commodore sometimes chose to make selections but more often to followed the recommendations of his boss, the Secretary of the Navy.       In January 1809 many American seamen were unemployed and times were hard for those just back from sea duty with no local connections. Early shipyard work tended to be seasonal with greater opportunities for mechanics and laborers to find work in the spring and summer months when shipbuilding and ship maintenance was typically scheduled and declining employment levels as the weather grew colder and ice formed on the Potomac and its tributaries and blocked ships from safely navigating and the men from working in winter conditions. The Commodore did what he could to provide unemployed seamen with work but there were clear limits to the naval appropriation and his authority. Women's voices in the correspondence of WNY are rare events. The letter below of Mrs. Mary Mc Coy pleading for the Thomas Tingey's help to secure employment for her two sons is one of the few surviving examples. Mrs. Mc Coy's letter reflects the economic desperation that she and the other wives and mothers felt as they watched their men folk engage in an often futile search for work. Her plea makes clear she was willing to literally remained in the Commandant office while awaiting a favorable reply. Fortunately the Secretary of the Navy was able to find sufficient places for all the seamen listed   Transcriptions:       These documents were transcribed from the National Archives and Records Administration Record Group 45 microfilm of the letters of Commodore Thomas Tingey to the Secretary of the Navy dated 9 January requesting authorization to employ Seamen Kenon, Liston, Fisher, Bennett and Lotten. Commodore Tingey's letter in support of these seamen includes the petition of Mrs. Mary McCoy dated 4 January 1809. I have also transcribed the response of the Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith dated 9 January approving the requests. The Secretary of the Navy office was but two miles from WNY hence the incredible same day response. In transcribing these letters and enclosures, I have striven to adhere as closely as possible to the original in spelling, capitalization, punctuation and abbreviation (e.g. "Do" or "do" for ditto or same as above) including the retention of dashes, ampersands and overstrikes. Where I was unable to print a clear image or where it was not possible to determine what was written, I have so noted in brackets. Where possible, I have attempted to arrange the transcribed material in a similar manner to that found in the letters and enclosure. John G. Sharp Stockton, CA   March 31, 2009

Wash: 9th Jan 1809 Sir, Samuel Kenon - John Liston - Robert Fisher - William Fisher - John Bennett and John Lotten reporting themselves as able seamen, are desirous of being employed here - on the conditions stated in your Instructions of the 19th Ult.-- The importunities repeated entreaties and solicitations together with apparent distress of the subscriber to the enclosed letter - induces me to submit it to you for the approbation of employing her two sons, (young men) as laborers in the yard - I cannot however attest that we are necessitated to augment the number of laborers at this time- The employment of the above named Seamen - is also respectfully submitted for your Instruction. I have the honor to be very respectfully Sirt Your Obedt Servant Thos Tingey Hon Robt Smith

Washington Jany 4th 1809 - Commd T. Tingey Sir, I, now lay before you the distress of a poor widow Entirely Destitute of all Sucker Except what Can be afforded by my two sons which is now living with me Equally as poor and distressed as myself - Not withstanding the poverty they now Experience, thanks be Returned to the Bountiful King of heaven they are both able and willing to work, and My honorable & benevolent Sir it is now that we become petitioners I humbly beg and beseech you to give them work or some Employment in the Navy Yard as it may prove Instrumental in Extricating a poor honest woman from the deepest Calamities - Sir/ I Remain Yr Very Humble petitioner Mary Mc Coy NB Yr petitioner is Now at yr door waiting yr Benevolent Answer} Yr Obedt Servt M.M.

Capt. Thomas Tingey Navy Dept. 9 January 1809 You may employ the Seamen stated in your letter of this days date - on the terms mentioned in my letter of the 19th ult. not exceeding $10 per month - and you may enter any able Seamen that may offer on the same terms reporting to me the names. You may also employ Mrs. McCoys two sons if they can be usefully employed in the Yard R. Smith [signed]

END NOTES

N.B. Latin for Nota Bene meaning to "note well" is used by Mary McCoy in her letter which reflects her determination and her literacy. Commodore Thomas Tingey Commandant Washington Navy Yard 1750-1829 for biography Biography of Commodore Thomas Tingey Robert Smith 1757 - 1842 Secretary of the Navy Biography of Robert Smith Secretary of the Navy letters regarding employment at WNY Secretary of the Navy letters

© 2009 Genealogy Trails     by Wayne Hinton