Old Ironsides and the Haverford Connection

The ship known as Old Ironsides was in the news this weekend.  The naval warship, officially known as the USS Constitution, left its home port of Charlestown, Massachusetts and sailed under its own sail power in Boston Harbor on Sunday, to commemorate its victory over the British warship, the HMS Guerriere, in the War of 1812. 

The Constitution is the oldest commissioned vessel in the U.S. Navy, having been built in 1797 in Boston.  Despite her nickname, she was built entirely of wood, as were all ships of that era.  Her sides were built of 21” thick planks of southern live oak imported from Georgia.  Paul Revere made copper bolts and other hardware that went into the ship.  She gained the nickname “Old Ironsides” when in the duel with the Guerriere, according to the Wikipedia entry “[a]dding to their astonishment, many of their shot rebounded harmlessly off Constitution's hull.  An American sailor reportedly exclaimed "Huzzah!  Her sides are made of iron!" and Constitution acquired the nickname "Old Ironsides".”

So what is the local connection?  The Constitution was designed by a local boy made good, Joshua Humphries of Haverford.  Humphries was born on June 17, 1751 in Haverford, to Joshua Humphries, Sr. and Sarah Williams Humphreys.  As a young man, Humphreys worked as an apprentice to a ship carpenter in Philadelphia.  He rose through the ranks, and eventually established his own shipbuilding yard in Philadelphia and taught himself naval design. 

While born a Quaker, during the American Revolution he had a hand in the design of several warships.  As his skill grew, his reputation spread beyond Philadelphia.  In 1794, the relatively new Congress authorized the construction of six new frigates to form the backbone of the fledgling U.S. Navy.  Humphreys was awarded the contract to design them and oversee their construction. 

Three ships were built in 1797, the Constellation, the Constitution, and United States (built in Philadelphia).  The three remaining frigates, Congress, Chesapeake and President, were completed by 1800.  In the following year Humphreys was given the task to build a shipyard for the use of the Navy.  The result was the Philadelphia Navy Yard, which continued in operation until the Navy officially closed the Yard in 1995.  However, a Navy presence remains – as you notice when you cross the Girard Point Bridge on northbound I-95, and see huge naval ships in mothballs at the old Navy Yard. 

And his six frigates?  They all saw active service with the Navy.  Two of them survive to this day, and you can visit each, the Constitution in Charlestown, Mass (near Bunker Hill!) and the Constellation, in Baltimore.  (Though the history of the original Constellation is subject to an interesting historical dispute – see the entry for the Constellation here). 

Humphreys married Mary Davids in 1776, and they had eleven children.  His brother Charles was a member of the Continental Congress.  Son Samuel was also a naval architect and chief Naval constructor, like his father, from 1826 to 1846.  Grandson Andrew Atkinson Humphreys was a Union general during the Civil War.  Joshua Humphreys died on January 12, 1838, at his home at Pont Reading, which is not anywhere close to Reading, Pennsylvania, but in fact is here in Delaware County.  His home exists today, in private hands, and the sharp eyed and the history buffs know exactly where it is – on Haverford Avenue, behind a high fence, near the Ardmore Junction stop of the Route 100 trolley line.  A Pennsylvania historical marker is in place across the street, and reads:

                                 JOSHUA HUMPHREY

                              Designer of the frigate

                          Constitution, “Old Ironsides,”

                             lived (1803-38) in the

                          Pont Reading House, which

                             stands opposite.  The

                            present house was built

                          at dates from 1683 to 1813.

A collection of Humphreys papers, including daybooks, ledger books, letter books, financial records, and hand-drawn diagrams, are available to scholars at the Pennsylvania Historical Society.  The Haverford Township Historical Society hosts a webpage with background on the Humphrey family and home at Pont Reading here. 

When you see news of “Old Ironsides”, be proud of its long history, and just as proud of its connection to Joshua Humprheys of Haverford, Pennsylvania!