Regarding request to send foreman to Georgia to superintend cutting of timber; on the negroes as less expensive workers
Document 1795Hackett wants to send his foreman from New Hampshire to to superintend the cutting of timbers in Georgia. Pickering points out the the negroes in Georgia would be cheaper to pay than the men from Portsmouth New Hampshire. John Morgan reports that the work or the negro axemen is satisfactory. Expects required timber to be furnished by winter;
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Sir
War Office, Nov 4th 1793
your letter of the 23 of Oct. with the enclosures
[Mr James Hacket] has been received. your requests relative to the Braces &c are
[naval Constructor] answered by the enclosed copy of Mr Humphreys's letter. I have no objection to your sending your Foreman to Georgia to superintend what timber may yet want Cutting for the Frigate under your direction, but as Mr Morgan is engaged to superintend the whole of that Business your Foreman must be under his orders. The very great expence that would be incurred prevents my consenting to your sending people from your part of the Country to cut the Timber as Negroes can be obtained in Georgia who are good workmen with the Axe at vastly cheaper Rate, and Mr Morgans report of their efficiency is very satisfactory. Mr Stodder Naval Constructor at Baltimore sent most of Moulds for the Algerine Frigates to Mr Morgan the beginning of last June, therefore there will not be any necessity for sending more. I have not only no objection to the sending of your Foreman, but Really wish he may be sent to supply the Mentes, and direct the Negroes in their work, and afford any other aid which will forward the Business. Such a Man went some time ago from the Baltimore Yard. If a sound hand is disposed to go as a Carpenter to hew the timber and occasionally supply the place of the Foreman, I shall be well pleased with your sending him. Particularly desire that all the live Oak timber may be procured this Winter —
Navy Yard June 3 1795
Sir
Since writing the foregoing I received Col Hackets
letter, the former part of which is Answered in that of Capt
Sever. The Main Transom is of principal price and Should
be without defect, otherwise it Should not be put in. if it was
Type
Letterbook
Description
Hackett wants to send his foreman from New Hampshire to to superintend the cutting of timbers in Georgia. Pickering points out the the negroes in Georgia would be cheaper to pay than the men from Portsmouth New Hampshire. John Morgan reports that the work or the negro axemen is satisfactory. Expects required timber to be furnished by winter;
Date
11/04/1795
Recipient
Sent from
Philadelphia
Document number
1795110415055
Page start
139
Note
References using "Negroes" as axemen, good workmen that can be obtained at "a vastly cheaper rate."
Notable persons
James Hackett
Negroes
Joshua Humphreys
Timothy Pickering
Secretary of War
Naval Constructor
David Stodder
Notable locations
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Georgia
Philadelphia
War Office
Baltimore
Notable items
timber
36 gun frigate
mould

