Appointment of Josiah Fox as temporary assistant naval constructor of frigate at Norfolk
Document 1795While Mr Morgan had been considered as constructor at Norfolk, he remains in Georgia overseeing the cutting of live oak. Therefore, Pickering appoints Fox as temporary assistant naval constructor at Norfolk to Josiah Fox. Fox is told to repair to Norfolk with all convenient speed. Report on progress; particularly state of naval yard.
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[Circular
To the Constructors of the
Frigates.]
Sir War Office May 12. 1795.
Mr Morgare having been designated as the Constructor of the frigate to be built at Norfolk & he being absent in Georgia where he is cutting tim ber for the frigates it appears necessary to provide for carrying on the construction of that to be built at Norfolk, until he shall take charge of the same.
Upon the information given me of your skill in the construction of vessels particularly in fashioning the various timbers according to the draughts & moulds prepared for that purpose which draughts & moulds I find have been made by your advice & assistance you are hereby appointed a temporary assistant Constructor of the frigate to built at Norfolk. You will therefore be pleased to repair to that place with all convenient speed, & diligently apply yourself to the service above mentioned. You will also perform such other services in the line of your profession as shall be required of you.—
You will at convenient times inform me of the progress of the work & particularly of the state of the yard on your arrival.—
Given at the War Office the 12. day of May 1795
[a. c. May 13. 1795
The inclosed copies of letters from Mr Humphries dated, one the 31st of December 1794, & the other February 7. 1795. contain information & opinions meriting the attention of all the Constructors. If any idea suggested by Mr Humphries should appear to be erroneous I must request you to inform me thereof with the reasons of your contrary opinion. If no objections shall be stated it will be expected that the ideas of Mr Humphries being deemed just have been adopted. His proposition for preserving the beams seems practicable only where an entire piece composes a beam. This indeed I supposed was universally the case. I mean that each beam was found from stock of timber until it was ascertained that such timber could perhaps not be obtained in every district where a frigate is to be built. I hope however that such timber will be found.]
Type
Letterbook
Description
While Mr Morgan had been considered as constructor at Norfolk, he remains in Georgia overseeing the cutting of live oak. Therefore, Pickering appoints Fox as temporary assistant naval constructor at Norfolk to Josiah Fox. Fox is told to repair to Norfolk with all convenient speed. Report on progress; particularly state of naval yard.
Date
05/12/1795
Author
Recipient
Document number
1795051215355
Page start
108
Notable persons
Josiah Fox
Timothy Pickering
Secretary of War
Naval Constructor
John Morgan
US Navy
temporary assistant constructor
Notable locations
Philadelphia
Norfolk
Virginia
War Department
naval yard
War Office
Gosport
Notable items
moulds
drafts
timbers
USS Chesapeake

