History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900, Part 61

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1054

USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900 > Part 61

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The officers from its organization have been :

ELECTED. PRESIDENTS.

RETIRED.

April 9, 1890, E. M. Henry, January 30, 1896

January 30, 1896,

T. M. Wilcox,

January 13, 1698

January 13, 1898, H. Hodges,

January 10, 1899

January 10, 1899,

R. H. Jones,

January 9, 1900

January 9, 1900,

H. C. Hudgins.

Ist. VICE PRESIDENTS.

April 16, 1890, Barton Myers, January 12, 1892

January 12, 1892,

R. B. Cooke,

January 10, 1893

January 10, 1893,

H. Hodges,

January 30, 1896

January 30, 1896,

Walter Sharp,

January 12, 1897

January 12, 1897,

E. E. Dawes,

January 13, 1898

January 13, 1898,

H. S. Herman,

January 10, 1899

January 10, 1899,

H. C. Hudgins,

January 9, 19.0

January 9, 1900

W. H. Wales.

2d. VICE PRESIDENTS.

April 16, 1890,

Samuel Hodges,

January 10, 1891

January 10, 1891,

R. B. Cooke,

January 12, 1892

January 12, 1892,

Walter Sharp,

January 22, 1895

January 22, 1895,

S. L. Foster,

January 30, 1896

January 30, 1896,

E. E. Dawes,

January 12, 1897

January 12, 1897,

D. McCormick,

January 13, 1898

B. L. Christian,

January 10, 1899

W. H. Wales,

January 9, 1900

C. W. Fentress.

SECRETARIES.

Walter Sharp,

Now'ber 7, 1890

Now'ber 7, 1890, C. Pickett, (Died)

March 25, 1899

E. E. Dawes.

TREASURER.

April 9, 1×90, W. T. Barron,

January 8, 1900

January 9, 1900, R. M. Wilkinson.

STATISTICAN.

May 1, 1898, E. E. Dawes.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

THE PORTSMOUTH BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIA- TION

Was incorporated December 12, 1901, with the following officers : President, T. J. Wool ; treasurer, J. H. Downing ; secretary, I. T. Van Patten ; vice-presidents,-Alexander B. Butt. | of the harbor, and will report all delinquents A. L. Dashiell, A. H. Lindsay, Jr., G. Hatton. and offenders to the committee on harbor police. John L. Watson; board of directors,-Frank- lin D. Gill, W. A. Jenkins, Charles G. Hume. Frank Lindsay, John C. Emmerson, E. L. Lash, P. C. Trugien O. L. Williams, B. I. Hofheimer, M. P. Claud, R. S. Mackan.

GOVERNMENT OF NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH HARBOR.

Board of Harbor Commissioners :- Rich- ard A. Dobie, president; Walter H. Doyle, treasurer ; J. M. Hudgins, secretary ; Wynd- hamı R. Mayo, Joseph A. Parker, John L. Thomas, Henry Kirn, Dr. G. N. Halstead ; committee on harbor police, Wyndham R. Mayo, Henry Kirn and John L. Thomas ; committee on docks and wharves, Joseph A. Parker, Dr. G. N. Halstead and Wyndham R. Mayo; committee on port warden lines, Walter H. Doyle. Joseph A. Parker and Dr. G. N. Halstead. The president is, c.r-officio, a member of each of the standing committees. W. T. Brooks is engineer of the board.

The harbor masters are: William W. Bain, J. M. Berkley and C. E. Yeatman. They are charged with general and specific duties as defined in the rules, regulations and orders of the commissioners, which have been, or may be from time to time, promulgated.

Their jurisdiction is concurrent over the harbor of Norfolk and Portsmouth. They are vested with authority to designate the anchor- age grounds of all vessels, and are required to keep the channel-way and track of steamers clear.

It is their duty to berth vessels at appro- priate wharves and dock; and, when called upon by the proprietor or occupant of any wharf or dock, to change the berth of any ves-

sel lying at such occupant's premises, it is made their duty to move such vessel to some other wharf, or to a safe anchorage in the stream.

They are charged with the execution of the police regulations which have been, or may hereafter be adopted for the better government

The practice of boarding vessels below, or on their arrival in, the harbor is no longer deemed necessary, and the harbor masters have been relieved of this duty, but they are required to see that the regulations forbidding vessels from anchoring in the channel-way, or in the track of steamers, is strictly observed.

They are entitled to receive as compensa- tion, fees, as follows, viz: Three dollars per montlı from each steamer (except those trad- ing through the canals, ferry-boats and tugs) that runs regularly to the port, and from all transient vessels arriving from, or destined to, any foreign port as follows :

Schooners and brigs .$3.00

Barks 4.00

Ships 5.00

Steamships 5.00

They are also entitled to receive from all vessels in the coasting trade, arriving here, whose length over all is 75 feet and upwards, a fee of $3, to be paid only once in a twelve- month. The harbor masters are required to keep a register of all such coasting vessels for reference and for examination by the commis- sioners.

They are required to see that the regula- tions of the United States government, requir- ing fog horns to be blown, or ships' bells rung, by all vessels anchored within the harbor dur- ing the prevalence of fog, are strictly con- formed to, and they are required to report all delinquents to the committee on harbor police.

MASTERS OF ARTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIR-

GINIA.

The degree of Master of Arts of the Uni-

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

versity of Virginia was first awarded in 1832, the recipient being George N. Johnson, of Richmond, Virginia. Between 1832 and 1900, including the session of 1899-1900, there have been 343 Masters. Omitting five years, 1862- 1866 inclusive, during which the degree was not conferred, the average number a session has been about five. The number prior to 1861 and between 1867 and 1894 was less than the average, while the average number for the last seven years has been about 10. Of the 343 Masters of Arts, 287 have been from Virginia. The counties best represented have been Al- bemarle (56). Henrico (40), Norfolk (20), Louisa (II), Loudoun (II). Of the remain- ing 56 Masters of Arts, representing 15 States, South Carolina has II and Maryland IO.

The following is a list of citizens of Nor- folk County, who have taken the M. A. degree at the University :

William R. Galt. Norfolk. 18.12

Crawford H. Toy, Norfolk. 1856

Dr. Douglass C. Cannon, Norfolk 1859

Richard Walke. Norfolk. . 1860

Richard B. Tunstall, Norfolk 1868

Robert M. Hughes, Norfolk. 1877

Kenneth A. Bain, Portsmouth. 1882

John B. Jenkins, Norfolk 1882

Walter D). Toy, Norfolk 1882

George McK. Bain, Portsmouth. 1883

Minton W. Talbot, Norfolk 1889

Mallory K. Cannon, Norfolk 1892

William W. Old, Jr ... 1894

H. St. George Tucker, Norfolk 1895

G. Winston Parrish, Portsmouth 1896

Robert A. Stewart, Portsmouth. 1808

Everett O. Eastwood, Portsmouth. 1899

James W. Hunter, Jr. 1899

Morris P. Tilley. Berkley 1899

Robert B. Tunstall, Norfolk 1899

Littleton T. Walke, Norfolk. 1899

Princess Anne County has to her credit two Master of Arts degrees. Cincinnatus Morris took the degree about 1857, and Cap- tain William W. Old, then a resident of Prin- cess Anne, but now of Norfolk, took it in 1861. All the degrees of M. A. credited to Norfolk County go to the account of the cities of Nor- folk and Portsmouth and the town of Berkley.

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Virginia was first offered to stu- dents who proposed to devote their energies to special study and research in some of the various departments of letters or science in the catalogue for 1880-81. This degree was awarded Robert A. Stewart of Portsmouth, Virginia, June 12, 1901.

CHAPTER XXV

THE UNITED STATES NAVY YARD

ADVANTAGES OF ITS SITUATION-VIRGINIA OWNERSHIP-GOSPORT NAVY YARD-PURCHASES OF LAND FOR THE NAVY YARD-CONSTRUCTION OF THE STONE DRY DOCK-IMPROVE- MENT OF THE NAVY YARD.

The greatest public institution in Norfolk County is the United States Navy Yard, lo- cated on the west side of the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River; on the south and part- ly within the limits of the city of Portsmouth. It is about three-fourths of a mile from Hig. street and the ferry wharf. The main en- trance is by an arched way through a large building extending from the river to the yard of the Admiral's residence. On the right of the entrance is the marine guard-room, on the left the labor board's quarters and the watch- men's room. This Navy Yard is one of the oldest, the best located geographically in the United States, and is excellently equipped for constructing, fitting out and repairing men-of- war of all classes. It is located near enough to the Virginia capes to be easily accessible, for Hampton Roads carries the ocean up to its very wharves, and at the same time it is in a position readily defended from attacks either by water or land. Fortress Monroe and Fort Wool are the grim barriers which guard it from foeign foes and the benign effects of the Gulf Stream keep away ice blockades, which have only occurred twice in two centuries. The mildness of the climate allows work of all sorts to be carried on at all seasons of the year without interruption. It is in every aspect the finest location for a great naval station on the

Atlantic Coast. The products of the great Pocahontas coal mines are unloaded from cars within its walls, and coal is the life of the great iron battleships, which are necessary to protect our coasts and the great Chesapeake Bay with its navigable rivers penetrating into the very heart of some of the richest States in the Union, one of them, the Potomac, leading from its magnificent capital. England first estab- lished a marine-yard on the site of our Navy Yard, but the Virginians took charge of it on the departure of Lord Dunmore and used it with varied fortunes until it became the United States Navy Yard at Gosport. The name Gos- port was doubtless taken from Gosport, near Portsmouth, England, where one of the most important of the British dockyards is located. There is a tradition that this place had been used for some time, before the establishment of the marine yard by the British, as a careen- ing-ground for their ships. A letter written in 1824 by Miles King, Esq., United States navy agent, states that scarcely had the British government commenced its work for the com- pletion of the naval establishment, when the Revolution began, and the yard, together with the adjoining property of Andrew Sprowle, the British navy agent, became confiscated and forfeited to the State of Virginia.

Virginia immediately commenced prepara-

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tions for establishing a navy and vigorous measures were adopted to that end. In Oc- tober, 1776, the Virginia Convention passed an ordinance for building a navy and directed the commissioners of the navy to provide ma- terial for two 32-gun frigates and four galleys, also to enlist sailors to serve on the fleet three years from March 1, 1777.

In March, 1777, Thomas Talbot entered into a contract with Paul Lovall and David Stoddard, commissioners of the Continental shipyard, located at Gosport, near Portsmouth (on the site of the present Navy Yard), to furnish timbers for the frame of a frigate to be built by the Continental Congress. The contract price was £ 1,000 ($3.333.33), and it was estimated at the outset by the experts that it would require 200 oak trees and 120 pine trees. The following are the dimensions of the timbers furnished and give some indi- cation of the size and character of this frigate (or cruiser ) of that era :

For Keel and Keelson, 324 feet. Stem and Linding. 100 feet. Stern Post. Quarter Pieces, Logs and Knee, 120 feet. 73 Floor Timbers, 18 ft. long each.

226 Lower Futtocks. 15 ft. long each.

113 Fair of Timbers of a side. middle and upper Futtocks and Top Timbers-containing 53 ft. in each Fair.

67 Large Beams. 34 ft. each. 208 Knees for Do. 30 Beams for Quarter Deck. 30 ft. each. 120 Knees for same. 13 Hook -. 20 ft. each. For Bends. 1.500 feet. Water ways. Rudder and Counter Timbers. Head Stock and 6 Knees. Pieces for Ribbons.

In the fourth volume of the Virginia His- torical Register there is given a brief account of the invasion of Virginia by Sir George Col- lier and General Mathews, in May, 1779. cop- ied from a volume published in England, en- titled a "Detail of some particular services per- formed in America during the years 1776. 1777. 1778 and 1779" supposed to be chiefly taken from a journal kept on board the ship "Rainbow," commanded by Sir George Col-

lier. After giving a detailed description of the attack and capture of the American forti- fications and the dispersion of the Virginian flotilla, the account goes on to say: "The town of Portsmouth, within half a mile of the fort, was taken possession of at the same time. Norfolk of the opposite shore, and Gosport, where the rebels had fixed a capital marine- yard for building ships, were all abandoned at the same time by the enemy, and the men-of- war moved up into the harbor, where they moored. The enemy, previous to their flight, set fire to a fine ship of war of 28 guns, ready for launching, belonging to Congress; and also two large French merchantmen, one of which was loaded with bale goods and the other with a thousand hogsheads of bacon. The quantity of naval stores of all kinds found in their arsenals was astonishing. Many ves- sels for war were taken on the stocks in dif- ferent forwardness; one of 36 guns ; one of 18 guns : three of 16 guns ; and three of 14 guns, besides many merchantmen. The whole num- ber taken, burnt and destroyed while the King's ships were in the river amounted to 137 sail of vessels. A most distressing stroke to the rebels, even without other losses. Many of the privateers and other vessels fled up the different branches of the river, but as there was no outlet the Commodore either captured or destroyed them all. *

* * General Mat- hews having made application to the Com- modore that the troops might be re-embarked on the 24th of May, in order to return to New York, Sir George endeavored to dissuade that measure being carried into execution till the return of the express he had sent to the com- mander-in-chief of the army, to whom he had wrote in very strong terms, pointing out the infinite consequences it would be to the King's service, the keeping possession of Portsmouth, as the doing so would distress the rebels ex- ceedingly, from their water communication by the Chesapeake being totally stopped, and by which Washington's army was supplied with provisions, and an end put to their foreign trade; that the natural strength of the place

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

was singularly great, both by sea and land, and might be maintained with a small force against a very superior one ; that the marine-yard was the most considerable one in America, and the quantity of seasoned oak timber there for ship- building very large; which, as well as a vast deal of other stores, could not be embarked then for want of vessels, but might be sent by degrees to England, where it was much wanted.

* * * General Mathews, however, conceiv- ing himself tied down to the letter of his in- structions, did not care to recede, and prepara- tions were therefore made for abandoning this valuable settlement. As many of the naval stores as could be carried away were shipped off, but great quantities were unavoidably left behind and set on fire. The conflagration in the night appeared grand beyond description, though the sight was a melancholy one. Five thousand loads of fine seasoned oak-knees for ship-building, an infinite quantity of plank, masts, cordage, and numbers of beautiful ships-of-war on the stocks, were at one time in a blaze and all totally consumed, not a vestige remaining but the ironwork that such things had been." The account from which the above is quoted states that on the day fol- lowing that on which the squadron got to sea, they were rejoined by the express-boat, whic had been sent by Sir Henry Clinton, and which brought his answer, "Now of no consequence, as the evacuation of Portsmouth had taken place-a fatal and unfortunate measure, mi. versully regretted by all who were acquainted with its importance, and the advantages which would have resulted to Great Britain from it being in possession of the King's troops."

The letter of Sir George Collier, above re- ferred to, was published in the Westminster Magasine of June 17, 1779, and bears the date of May 19, 1779. It says: "You are too good a judge, Sir, of the very great im- portance of this place, we now hold, to render my saying much upon the subject necessary ; permit me, however, as a sea officer, to observe that this port of Portsmouth (Virginia) is an exceedingly safe and secure asylum for

ships against an enemy, and is not to be forced even by great superiority. The marine-yard (Gosport) is large and extremely convenient, having a considerable stock of seasoned timber, besides great quantities of other stores. From these considerations, joined to many others, I am firmly of opinion that it is a measure most essentially necessary for His Majesty's service that this port should remain in our hands since it appears to me of more real consequence and advantage than any other the crown pos- sesses in America; for by securing this the whole trade of the Chesapeake is at an end, and consequently the sinews of the rebellion destroyed. I trust and hope, Sir, you will see this matter in the same important light I do, and give such directions for reinforcements to be sent here as you may think necessary in order to our preserving and improving those advantages which we have with so much good fortune acquired."

Jefferson's notes, 1781-82 .- "Before the present invasion of this state by the British un- der the command of General Phillips, we had three vessels of 16 guns, one of 14, five small galleys, and two or three armed boats. They were generally so badly manned as seldom to be in condition for service. Since the perfect possession of our rivers assumed by the en- emmy, I believe we are left with a single armed boat only."

"At a Norfolk County Court, held on the 20th day of July, 1834, Capt. William Moffat of the town of Portsmouth in Norfolk Coun- ty, made oath before Samuel Watts, a justice of the peace, that he was the mate of the brig 'Neptune' and that whilst he was at Ports- mouth in 1780, he saw the State ship 'Re- nown,' which was built at the State Navy Yard at Gosport by Stoddard, the master ship-build- er, and commanded by Capt. Robert Elliott, drop down from the Navy Yard and when she passed the wharf where the 'Neptune' lay, Cap- tain Elliott inquired when the 'Neptune' would be ready for sea and expressed a wish that she would get ready and proceed to sea under convoy of his ship. The 'Neptune' followed

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the 'Renown' and when they reached Hampton Roads they found 16 or 17 sail of other vessels waiting the departure of the 'Renown' and wishing protection under her. Captain Mof- fat further made oath that in May of the year 1779, a sloop-of-war was burnt at the Gosport Navy Yard by the enemy and that the ship 'Renown' was built on the same stocks and was pierced to carry 20 odd guns, but at the time of her first sailing in April, 1780, in conse- quence of the great deficiency of arms at that time. she had only eight or ten guns: that the 'Renown' went into the port of Eustalea and there fitted with her full complement of guns and returned to the Colonies. He further made oath that Captain Elliott went to sea a second time in the 'Renown' and was chased into St. Martin. The 'Renown' was captured and Captain Elliott taken prisoner. This de -. ponent did not return to Portsmouth until after peace, being more than three years from the time of Captain Elliott's first cruise in the 'Re- now 1.' This affiant does not know at what time Capt. Robert Elliott entered the service. but supposes the sloop-of-war that had been built in 1778. and was burnt in May, 1779. was designed for his command, as he commanded the ship built in the place of that sloop-of-war. On the return of this affiant, it was then peace and Captain Elliott was then at home. He does not know how long Captain Elliott was in prison."

A protest was entered at Edenton. North Carolina, on the 6th of June. 1779, for ship "Le Soucy." Capt. Pierre Raphael Chorlet, of Bordeaux in the Kingdom of France, which states that on the 8th day of May. 1779. his ship was laying at moorings before the town of Norfolk. Virginia, having 366 hogsheads of tobacco part of her cargo on board, and he was informed that an English fleet of ships of about 40 sail was in the Bay of Chesapeake and had anchored before Hampton on that day, that on Sunday the following morning the fleet came to anchor in the Elizabeth River. This made him apprehend that the enemy in- tened to make a descent on Portsmouth; the fort at which place having but a few soldiers

was incapable of making any defense. That the inhabitants were in great confusion, cach shifting for himself. He went,,on board his ship and got her into the Southern Branch be- fore the shipyard, where he targied until next morning. About to o'clock, the enemy being: within cannon-shot of the fort. he sailed with- out a pilot three or four miles up the river and grounded. Ile fastened a small cable to a tree on shore and waited in that situation until the next morning, having passed a very tedious night. the sailors with matches in. their hands to burn the ship in the event of threatened at- tack. He received information that the Brit- ish had landed with 2.500 men and made them- selves masters of the fort and were preparing to come up the river. His ship had seven guns but his sailors showed no disposition to fight. he called his officers together in council of war and all agreed to burn the ship, to prevent a valuable cargo and the ship, which with a small expense might be fitted out as a frigate- of-war, falling into the hands of the enemy. He caused all the pitch and tar to be put under the scuttles of the main deck ready to be fired on the approach of the enemy. Ile put into the long boat such provisions as were neces- sary should the crew be compelled to fly to the woods for safety. About seven o'clock next morning he saw a defile of boats coming with great swiftness toward him, on which he dis- patched the long-boat and crew, reserving the boatswain to light the fire, which being fully accomplished they proceeded to join the long- boat's crew.

This statement was also affirmed by Ist Lieut. Pierre Vallet, and 2nd Lieuts. Louis Virginer and Armie Bourgeois.

These court orders throw some light on the reports of the British commanders aforemen- tioned.

The Virginia Navy was employed mainly for the defense of the bays and rivers of the State. Commodore Samuel Barron was ap- . pointed its commander-in-chief, being styled "Commodore of all the armed vessels of the Commonwealth."

In May, 1776, an ordinance of the Virginia

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

Convention appointed Thomas Whitney, John Hutchings, Champion Travis, Thomas New- ton, Jr., and George Well naval commissioners to direct the naval affairs of the Colony.

On the 24th of December, 1790, the legis- lature passed an Act placing Mary Boush, wife of Capt. Goodrich Boush, on the pension list, allowing her three years' half-pay of a captain in the navy of the state for immediate relief and also allowing hier annually said half-pay for seven years, reciting in the preamble that Goodrich Boush entered into the service of his country at the first establishment of a naval armament and continued in the service until his death, leaving his widow and four young children in distressed circumstances.

On October 30, 1789, Jack Knight and William Boush, two negro slaves belonging to the Commonwealth, were mannumitted for faithful service on board armed vessels of the State, which were no longer continued in the public establishment.

On the 27th of Marchi, 1794, by an Act entitled an "Act to provide a naval armament," the President was authorized by Congress to procure, by purchase or otherwise, equip and employ, to protect our commerce from the Al- gerines, four ships to carry 44 guns each and two ships to carry 36 guns eachi, and to ap- point the requisite number of officers to com- mand them. The duty of carrying out the pro- visions of this law was assigned to the Secre- tary of War, Hon. Henry Knox.

It was resolved that the ships should be built, and immediate preparations were made for procuring materials and plans for executing the work. Joshua Humphreys was appointed naval constructor, and seems to have had the general charge of all the ships that were laid down. Six captains were appointed, and one was assigned to duty as superintendent of the construction of each of the frigates.

In a report submitted to the House of Rep- resentatives by Secretary Knox, under date of December 27, 1794, after stating the character, armament, etc., of the vessels ordered, the materials to be used and how to be obtained and

prepared, he goes on to say that, in order as well to distribute the advantages arising from the operation as to ascertain where the work could be executed to the greatest advantage, the building of the ships had been ordered in six different ports of the Union: one of the ports selected was Portsmouth, Virginia, where a frigate of 44 guns was laid down. The Secretary further says that the following ar- rangement had been adopted for the construc- tion and equipment of the frigates, viz :

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History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900, Part 61

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1054

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1054