Knox to Secretary of Treasury Hamilton estimates for timber, plank, copper for construction of Frigates; on procurement of timber in the south; negroes as workers; assignment of ship building contracts
Item
Type
Letterbook
Title
Knox to Secretary of Treasury Hamilton estimates for timber, plank, copper for construction of Frigates; on procurement of timber in the south; negroes as workers; assignment of ship building contracts
Description
Information on and estimate of timber, planks, copper for 36 gun frigates. Knox informs Hamilton that the President of United States has decided that the frigates will be built at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Portsmouth Virginia, Charleston South Carolina. Knox discusses procurement of live oak, which can be found on the offshore islands of Georgia and some in North Carolina. He notes that there are multiple opinions on the means to obtain the oak and cedar and bring it to port. Knox then discusses the recommendation to construct moulds for the ships on the offshore islands of Georgia. Discusses sending men from the north to cut the timber. He notes that his sources tell him any contracts in Georgia and southward will be executed by negroes and that their indolence and carelessness will inevitably produce disappointment or loss. Knox points out that during the Revolutionary War, timber was procured at Kilkenny and Sunbury Georgia and transported from the Savannah River for construction of 74 gun ships. Discusses workers and possibility of wage hikes and the challenges of assigning ship building contracts in the area. Discusses the shipbuilders of Philadelphia and the likelihood that they will be able to accept ship building contract. Notes that the President of United States George Washington has approved the use of agents for ship construction, presumably working under the Department of Treasury.
year created
1794
month created
04
day created
21
author
sent from location
Philadelphia
recipient
in image
author note
Henry Knox
recipient note
Alexander Hamilton
notable person/group
Alexander Hamilton
Henry Knox
War Department
War Office
Treasury Department
negroes
Brigadier General Gunn
Mr Wereat
President of United States General George Washington
US Navy
agents
notable location
Georgia
North Carolina
Charleston South Carolina
Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Portsmouth Virginia
Charleston South Carolina
Kilkenny
Sunbury
Georgia
Savannah River
offshore islands Georgia
notable item/thing
36 gun frigates
live oak
74 Gun Ships
notable idea/issue
act to provide naval armament
US Navy
frigate construction
negroes as workers
assignment of ship building contracts
American Revolutionary War
notable phrase
any contracts in Georgia and southward will be executed by negroes and that their indolence and carelessness will inevitably produce disappointment or loss
document number
1794042100155
page start
18
Item sets
Transcribe this document
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | ZXA06 (315 pages) | Collection: Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy to Federal Executive Agents (Letters to President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Letters to (Requisitions on) Secretary of the Treasury and other Treasury Department Officials), June 1798-June 1824. (RG45) | V:1, P:18-21 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | Philadelphia | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Alexander Hamilton | [unknown] | [n/a] |