In May 1819, most of the Washington Navy Yard 300 or so employees were paid a per diem wage. A much smaller group of employees such as those listed below were salaried or annual employees. The average WNY per diem laborer or mechanic would have earned somewhere between $ 1and $2.00 per day. In contrast salaried employees were typically among the top of the naval yard hierarchy. As annual salaried employees they made somewhere between four and five times the money paid to per diem workers. Some salaried employees such as Clerk of the Yard, Benjamin More, were provided with housing. In the early 19th century naval clerks occupied positions of responsibility and influence and often acted for the WNY Commandant within their delegated area. During most of the 19th century these salaried employees were either appointed by the political administration in office or later the Board of Naval Commissioners. A Master Blacksmith or Mechanic such as Benjamin King would often supervise as much as fifty or more Yard employees.

After the Washington Navy Yard was burned in September 1814 almost all of its employees were laid off for various periods of time hence the ’Remarks” column notes the date an employee was reappointed. After the fire all employee pay was suspended for per diem workers and most salaried employees as well. Only when the Yard was rebuilt sufficient to resume normal shipyard operations were all salaried employees reappointed.

Mordecai Booth, Commandant's Clerk ( 1765-1831) is one of the unsung hero's of the War of 1812 (August 22-September 10, 1814) Mordecai Booth supervised the removal of the gunpowder from the Washington Navy Yard to the farm of Daniel Dulany near Falls Church, VA, and its subsequent return to the magazine. At great personal risk ( Had Booth been captured he would have been subject to summary execution as a spy) he scouted British military movements and helped WNY Commandant Thomas Tingey set fire to the Navy Yard less it fall to British hands . Mordecai Booth is buried at the Congressional Cemetery R 53 S 2 Washington DC

Benjamin King, Master Blacksmith (1779-1837) worked at the Washington Navy Yard for many years . During the War of 1812 he fought at the Battle of Baldenberg. He directed the establishment of the WNY Blacksmith Shop and supervised much of the early iron work at the White House. King took an active interest in politics but came into trouble with Commodore Isaac Hull the 2nd Commandant of the Yard who considered him insubordinate this ultimately let to his demotion to a non supervisory position. Benjamin King is buried at the Congressional Cemetery R 35 /81Washington DC

Thomas Tingey, Commandant Washington Navy Yard ( 1750-1829). Thomas Tingey was born in London and had served in the British Navy but later became an American citizen and a commisioned naval officer in 1798. He was the first Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard serving from 1801 until his death in 1829. He directed the destruction of the Navy Yard during the War of 1812 less it fall into British control and managed the rebuilding after the war. Thomas Tingey is buried at the Congressional Cemetery R 57 S 1 Washington DC

John Rose Senior, (born Louis Rose ca 1749, death January 1828) was a native of the port of L'Orient France. He became a block maker and quickly became prominent in that trade. Rose constructed block mills for the French naval yard but after nineteen years left France about 1805 and immigrated to the United States. Rose built a block mill in Philadelphia where he came to the attention of Benjamin Henry Latrobe Architect and Engineer for WNY who provide a letter of introduction to Captain John Cassin, second in command at WNY and another to letter of recommendation to Commandant Thomas Tingey. Latrobe convinced Tingey to hire Louis Rose at the salary of $1,500 per annum. Latrobe's rationale was that a new block mill would save the yard considerable money and allow WNY to rapidly fill the needs of the fleet. The War of 1812 resulted in the destruction of much of Rose's equipment, tools and designs. After the war government was unable to provide sufficient funds to erect the block mill but Rose remained as a senior block maker and skill machinist. In 1817 the United Sates government amidst growing concerns about the security of its naval yard and the beginnings of an economic recession declared that all government employees must be US citizens and that all non citizens and or foreign nationals must be dismissed. Louis Rose (In an effort to Americanize himself Rose changed his name to John. John Rose Senior lived on 8th Street, opposite the Marine Barracks. He wrote the following letter to the Board of Naval Commissioners declaring his loyalty to the United States and his intention to become a naturalized citizen.

								Washington 22 April 1817

	Sir

		Yours I received and am Sorry that a Neglect on my part of becoming a Citizen, should 
	have been deferred for such a length of time, as it is always been My earnest desire to become 
	One and I hope it is not too late. I quitted the French government with the intention to Conform to 
	every law and regulation that might be required of me, and am Resolved at an 
	Advanced age to devote all my inventions and talents for the Utility of the Country which I 
	have adopted. 

	Conformable to the Law for the Encouragement of Aliens, in Feb. 1814 I took out a patent for 
	the Block Mill Machines; with the intention of giving the invention, to the sole Us of the U.S. 
	Navy. At the same time the greatest part of the Machines were Completed, and in full Activity 
	in the Navy Yard ; My first  Argument I fulfilled with that fidelity and integrity , becoming an 
	honest man which I think you can testify.  Since that period, on the 15th of March 1815 I 
	made a fresh agreement with the Hon Secretary of the Navy to be Retained in the Service, and 
	to build another Block Mill, and likewise for that purpose to hold myself in readiness to proceed to 
	such Navy Yard, as should be hereafter mentioned. 

			I am Sir, 

				Respectfully your most Obdt 
					humble Servant 

						John Rose Senior 
	Th Tingey Esq

On 2 May 1817 the Board of Naval Commissioners stated that "The Aliens therein named who declared their intention of becoming citizens of the United States , previously to the date of the order from this office of the 11th Ult.- may be continued in the Yard on giving positive proof of their having made such declarations before the proper authority" Louis Rose's request was granted and he was allowed to continue to work at WNY.