Washington District of Columbia

Washington Navy Yard
WNY Blacksmiths Petition dated 11 March 1807
Furnished by : John Sharp

[WNY Blacksmiths Petition dated 11 March 1807 to the Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith for redress of Grievances and restoration of Wages]
“We have the Best right to Demand an Equal Participation with others in Benefit of our Labors”
Introduction: This early petition from the Washington Navy Yard blacksmith’s to Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith provides some idea of Yard employee concerns and grievances. Early shipyard workers occupied a precarious economic and employment status. The mechanics and laborers in the Yard were in law and in fact day laborers, and paid a per diem wage only for days actually worked. Theirs was a life where the only certainties were often hard and unpleasant. A cold winter usually led to mass layoffs as only the most essential crews would be kept working. Fewer naval ships to repair invariably meant fewer mechanics and laborers on the Yard payrolls. These conditions, and especially any cutbacks in annual naval appropriations, made the workforce particularly vulnerable to economic downturn and prolonged unemployment, which rapidly led the men to destitution. Beginning in 1806 the Department of the Navy budget was dramatically cut and the workers daily wage reduced. Most Yard workers like the blacksmiths had little savings on which to fall back and imprisonment for debt within the District of Columbia continued as a daily reality experienced by thousands of the city’s workers each year. Labor problems and strife at the Yard would break out periodically over the next century as the restive and volatile workforce sought higher wages and better conditions. This early petition signed by nine of the blacksmiths and remarkably by Master Blacksmith Benjamin King reflects their desire for the restorations of their wages and equal treatment. Transcription       This is a transcription of Commodore Thomas Tingey’s letter, Master Blacksmith Benjamin King’s endorsement and the WNY blacksmith’s petition dated 11 and 12 May 1807 to Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith. In transcribing the letters and petition, I have striven to adhere as closely as possible to the original in spelling, capitalization, punctuation and abbreviation (e.g. “d” "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 achievable, I have attempted to arrange the transcribed material in a similar manner to that found in the letter, endorsement and petition. Source       This transcription was made from the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 45, microfilm M125a, Roll 7, /Volume 7, Letters Received by the Secretary of the Navy, Captains Letters. John G. Sharp            April 10, 2009 Stockton Ca

Navy Yard Wash: 12 March 1807 Sir The Blacksmiths employed in this Yard, having in my opinion acted extremely improper as the enclosed letter from them to Mr. King will fully appear – I beg leave to recommend the mode suggested by Mr. King, on his letter to me through Capt. Cassin should we give into the inordinate request of these men, the precedent will doubtless lead throughout the Yard. When the reduction in the general wages of the Yard took place in the last year- The wages of the Smiths: at Alexandria, transmitted by Mr. Deblois was $ 1.00 to 1.25 per day at Baltimore d Col Stricker $ 1.00 to 1.50 per day at Philadelphia d Geo. Harison Esq $ 1.00 to 1.33 per day The Wages here were nevertheless fixed, with your assent, on the representation of Mr. King, at different rates according to ability – at 85 cents – 1 dollar – 1.50 cents – 170 d and for the first class of Shipwrights at $ 1.80 per diem - with which rates they individually declared their assent, and of course deserving of no limit now. I beg leave to observe that that three of them have declined joining in the enclosed letter – Hon Rt Smith I have the honor to be Very respectfully Sir Yr Obedt Servt Thos Tingey.

Navy Yard Washington 11th March 1807 Sir, Enclosed you have a letter from the blacksmith &c under my direction signifying their intention to quit the public employment if they should not have their wages raised – It is in my opinion expedient to send to Philadelphia or New York to preserved them as by submitting we may frequently labour under the same difficulties – I am Sir very Respectfully Yr Obed Servt Benjamin King John Cassin Esq } Master Commandant } John Cassin [Signed] Thos Tingey Esq Capt. Commandant Navy Yard

[WNY Blacksmiths Petition dated 11 March 1807 to the Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith for redress of Grievances and restoration of Wages]
Washington Navy Yard 11 March 1807 Sir We the Subscribers Blacksmiths employed in the Navy Yard of the United States taking into consideration under which the reduction of our wages was lately effected Have thought best to represent the Grievance which we labour under to your consideration not doubting but that the power to redress them is vested in you - When the late extraordinary reduction was first proposed It was so quick that we could not for a moment hesitate to abandon the Employ as the offered Wages was less then any private person would think seriously of owing support which the present rate was offered and Wishing to throw the work to stand Reluctantly Accepted and other inducements were held out to us and promises of our former wages before the reducing took place we also think the late Commander forbidding us the use of spirituous liqueur as being unprecedented by any other Yard - We would request that on and from the first day of April next our wages may be fixed at the Rates they were before the late Reductions and we conceive our services of as much importance as any Branches of the Yard and believe our conduct not to have merited treatment we have met with and Conceiving the Season to be that at which we have the Best right to Demand an Equal Participation with others in Benefit of our Labors - and Expect that no regulation such as the above shall be imposed – On us more than what shall be general to all trades of the Yard nor that we shall be particularly discriminated from all the others as a set idlers & drunkards as the later Commands seems to infer to you Sir we would be first to refer the Enquiry whether or not they have production of any Good [illegible] whether our morels[ morals] have degenerated, as to make them more necessary than they were two years ago - We would wish to have an answer before the above time were our demand to be refused we must take what steps shall the be in our power – trusting to your interference in our Behalf we have to subscribed ourselves with Respect Your &c Benjamin King Senior [Signed] John Conklin [Nine Signatures] Elisa Perry March 11th 1807 William Smith Leonard Halls James Greer James Murphy Frederick Bopp John Mills Peter P. Parrot

ENDNOTES Strong Drink at the Washington Navy Yard. The blacksmiths complaint re “forbidding us the use of spirituous liqueur as being unprecedented by any other Yard” reflected the growing concern that Commodore Tingey and his officers had with the use of intoxicants among the smiths. The early nineteen century was the era of heavy drinking. Between the years 1790 and 1820 Americans drank more liquor than ever before or since. Today the USA actually drinks, about half as much alcohol, as these blacksmiths. In his The Alcoholic Republic an American Tradition W. J. Rorabaugh notes alcohol consumption peaked at over five gallons per person in the early 1800s as contrasted with approximately two gallons in 1970. A sharp drop occurred in the 1840s and the rate stayed around two gallons going forward. Data from the National Institutes of Health reflects current consumption rates peaked at only 2.7 gallons in the early 1980s and leveled off at 2.3 gallons in 2002. Even in our new millennium this early nineteenth century rate of 5 gallons per person still has the power startle modern readers. At WNY in1807, drinking beer and stronger spirits in the workplace was an accepted and common. On U.S. Navy Ships rum rations were only abolished in 1852 and all alcohol aboard USN ships as late as 1914. In an age when potable water within the District was often foul and noxious tasting, mechanics and laborers often preferred their libations mixed with whiskey or rum. Management’s at the Navy Yard’s attitude to employee drinking varied but the main concern was safety and good order. As early as 1804, Naval Constructor Josiah Fox (a Quaker) warned his carpenter quarterman and foreman to, “[t]ake care that none of his company get intoxicated and discourage use of spirituous liquors among them during hours of work.” Supervisory personnel were further enjoined “…not to suffer any person to bring such liquor to his company unless necessity may require it.” What brought the WNY blacksmith’s official ire and a reputation “as a set idlers & drunkards” was their too frequent resort to beer, rum and other strong liquor to cure the aches and pains of their trade. For more on their situation see the blacksmiths petition of October 1812. http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_wayson_e.html#blacksmith Benjamin King, Master Blacksmith http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_king_b.html John Cassin, Captain USN http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_cassin_j.html Thomas Tingey, Commandant Washington Navy Yard http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_cassin_j.html Robert Smith, Secretary of the Navy http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_smith_r.html Josiah Fox, Shipbuilder and Naval Architect http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_fox_j.html circa 1804, For the duties and responsibilities of WNY Carpenter, Quarterman and Foreman See Josiah Fox, circa 1804 manuscript, no title listing duties of Carpenter, Quarterman and Foreman, National Archives and Records Administration Record Group 45 Imprisonment for Debt in the District of Columbia http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/jail_1802debtors.html