Joshua Humphreys - Papers of the War Department

Recommendations for Construction of Ships to Form a Navy

01/06/1793 Type Undetermined

Humphreys believes that the United States should have a Navy. He believes that the US Navy would need to consider carefully what sort of ships would comprise it, given the nature of the coast and …

Printed Versions

In what manner the frigate tonnage is calculated

12/16/1793 Autograph Letter Signed

Humphreys provides formula for calculating the tonnage that he has estimated for the frigate building.

MSS #211

Calculation of the cost of constructing ships of war

12/16/1793 Document Signed

An influential shipbuilder calculates the cost of building and maintaining a frigate for the United States. Estimates 23 pounds per ton.

Miscellaneous Records of the Office of Indian Trade Relating to Accounts, 1796-1825. (RG75)

Suggestion for Obtaining Masts for Frigates

03/31/1794 Autograph Letter Signed

Humphrey noted merchants were in town and that the United States should contract with them to purchase masts for the new frigates to be built.

C. E. French Collection.

Scarphing of the 36-gun frigates

12/08/1794 Typed letter

Humphreys talks to Knox about the scarphing (joints that hold two pieces of wood together) of a frigate's keel. The scarphs were proportioned for three pieces, but because they are going to be in …

Printed Versions

Request for Report on Frigate Construction

12/1794 Contemporary Copy of Letter

Letter, asks for draft regarding frigate construction.

Josiah Fox (1763 - 1847) Letterbook Papers. Reel #5 Series 1 Naval Architecture Shipbuilding Papers

Report on the Building of Frigates

12/20/1794 Typed Document

Report on the construction of the first frigates of the U.S. Navy. Live oak and red cedar will be the materials of choice, though white oak was used for the floor timbers. Captain Barry is certain …

Printed Versions

Recommendation for shipyard clerk

10/22/1794 Typed letter

Shipbuilder Joshua Humphreys requests that Knox forgive him taking it upon himself to recommend William Doughty for the position of clerk in the Philadelphia shipyard. Humphreys believes Doughty to be …

Printed Versions

Questions on Shipbuilding

05/12/1794 Document Signed

Humphrey requested additional information on a model ship. Questions listed.

C. E. French Collection.

New England Pine for ship construction

08/05/1794 Document Signed

Joshua Humphreys, an influential shipbuilder, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of New England pine for the use of frigate construction. Coxe is Commissioner of the Revenue.

Post Revolutionary War Papers, 1784-1815. (RG94)

List of size of beams for frigates of 44 guns

10/23/1794 Letterbook

List is endorsed by the Secretary at War, Henry Knox. List contains sizes of beams, location on frigate and type of wood to be used for construction for each 44 gun frigate.

Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy to Federal Executive Agents (Letters to President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Letters To

Letter Citation

12/31/1794 Cited letter or document

Cited in Stoddert to Pickering, 05/17/1795. Enclosed in Hackett to Pickering, 05/29/1795.

Citations

Letter Citation

04/12/1794 Cited letter or document

Cited in Knox to Humphreys, 04/12/1794.

Citations

Letter Citation

03/08/1794 Cited letter or document

Cited in Knox to Humphreys, 03/10/1794.

Citations

Estimate of Timber

05/12/1794 Letterbook

Regards estimate of timber for 49 gun ships.

Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy to Federal Executive Agents (Letters to President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Letters To

Discussion of Frigate Timbers & Drafts, And Slave Labor

10/14/1794 Letterbook Copy

Letter, discusses cutting timber for Frigates; mentions slaves; discusses Frigate drafts.

Josiah Fox Papers

Dimensions of the Timber and Planks for the Frigates from Joshua Humphreys

08/1794 Letterbook

"Dimensions of the Timber and Planks for the Frigates."

Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy to Federal Executive Agents (Letters to President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Letters To

Dimensions of a ship

11/29/1794 Typed letter

Humphreys informs Knox about a particular ship under construction. The height of the wing and all other transoms will be placed as per the instructions already sent with the molds. The wing transom …

Printed Versions

Articles for a 44-Gun Frigate

06/19/1794 Contemporaneous or Certified Copy (made for information of action)

Document reporting on the dimensions of materials for a 44-gun frigate, and fittings and stores for same. Joshua Humphreys is a reputed shipbuilder.

Uselma Clarke Smith Collection #1378D

Adjustments to Ship Measurements

12/31/1794 Autograph Letter Signed

Humphreys' changes/discoveries in ship building processes and measurements.

C. E. French Collection.

Timber for Frigates

06/26/1795 Typed letter

Copperthwaite believed it would be over one year before enough timber is cut for the six frigates. Advised retaining workmen instead of discharging them after all work on one frigate is complete, …

Printed Versions

Request for Information Regarding Dockyard Machine

05/18/1795 Autograph Letter Signed

Letter, asks for information re dock yard machine; discusses ship moulds.

Josiah Fox Papers

Request for Information on Planks for Shipbuilding

10/1795 Letterbook Copy

Letter, asks for information regarding planks.

Josiah Fox (1763 - 1847) Letterbook Papers. Reel #5 Series 1 Naval Architecture Shipbuilding Papers

Regarding the dimenstions taken for the casting of kentledge

04/18/1795 Letterbook Copy

Regarding the mistakenly cast kentledge, Humphreys provides information on the moulds and the dimensions he took for casting of kentledge.

Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy to Federal Executive Agents (Letters to President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Letters To

Regarding Colonel James Hackett's letter on the dimensions of transom, quality of timbers

06/05/1795 Letterbook

Humphreys discusses letters from James Hackett, Naval constructor at Portsmouth New Hampshire. Discusses the size of the frigate transom, dimensions of beams and the matter of defective timber.

Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy to Federal Executive Agents (Letters to President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Letters To