Guest BlogPost- The Naval Career of Alfred Hingerty

 The Naval Career of Alfred Hingerty

Alfred Hingerty (1804-1875)- the likely ancestor of all native born Hingertys in the United States- spent most of his life as a boatswain in the United States Navy. 

During his long naval career, Alfred served on the maiden voyage of the first steam-powered warship in the United States Navy, and as boatswain on the Navy's last all-sail ship, the USS Constellation. 

This blog post provides only a partial summary of his long career. much ore detail can be found in the log books for his naval career. most of which survive in the United States National Archives. additional insight into his career can be gained by visiting his last ship, the USS Constellation, which survives as a floating museum in Baltimore Maryland's Inner Harbor.

Alfred's sailing life before his commission in 1842- when he would have been almost 40 years old- is unknown. At some point in Alfred's youth, his father William had moved to Alexandria, Virginia, then one of the last active ports in the United States. As Alfred is not listed in his father's 1820 census record, it seems likely he left Alexandria for the sea at a young age. He remained in contact with Alexandria, however, marrying there in 1834, but by 1838 had relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia, home of the large Gosport Shipyard.

Alfred received his commission as boatswain in January 1842, while living at Portsmouth, Virginia, with directions to serve on the newly constructed USS Mississippi, the first modern all steam ship in the US Navy, then berthed in New Castle, Delaware. While Alfred served only a brief two-month tour of duty on the Mississippi as it sailed off the mid-Atlantic and up the Potomac to Washington, the ship would later have a storied career, serving as Commodore Perry's flagship when he 'opened' Japan to the West.

USS Mississippi

Alfred's next assignment in 1843 was as boatswain on the USS Erie, a three mastered sloop of war built in 1813, and recently converted into a supply ship in Charleston, Massachusettes. On board the Erie, Alfred sailed around Cape Horn to Chile on a supply mission for the Navy's Brazil Squadron.

USS Erie

Back in Gosport in May 1844, he was assigned to the USS Falmouth, a twenty gun sloop of war, and subsequently to the sloop-of-war USS Decatur. During the Mexican-American war, Alfred continued his service on the USS Decatur, supporting the blockade of Mexico and military operations on the coast, including attacks on the fortifications at the mouth of the Alvarado river in august 1846 and the seizure of the fortified port of Tuxpan in April 1847.

Expedition against Tuxpan

The Decatur was among those hardest hit by an outbreak of yellow fever in the squadron. Alfred's pension records indicate that Alfred was among those affected, and that he suffered vertigo, nausea, bilious vomiting and 'febrile excitements' (Aug 8, 1848). Eventually, Commodore Perry sent the Decatur back to Pensacola, Florida, and on the Charleston, Massachusetts in an effort to get rid of the fever.

In 1848, the Decatur was attached to the African Squadron, whose mission was to intercept slave ships off the coast of Africa, and cooperate with the British fleet which was combating the slave trade. Among other activities, on April 17, the Decatur "boarded a Brazilian schooner having 235 Negroes on board". Log books also contain reminders of the boatswain's role as disciplinarian on board, with a note that on July 7, a seaman was jailed "for insolence to the boatswain". In November 1850, Alfred was detached from the Decatur and returned to Norfolk, Virginia, where he apparently remained for the next two years.

Alfred would spend June 1852 until May 1855 on his next ship, the USS St Louis, cruising in the Mediterranean. The log book lists stops at locations such as Gibralta, Stromboli, Malta, Genoa, Naples, Pireus (Athens) and Barcelona. While at harbour in the ancient port of Smryna on the coast of Turkey, the St Louis was embroiled in the Kaszta affair. Martin Koszta, an Hungarian-born separatist, had fled to the United States as a political refugee, and initiated steps to become an United States citizen. Before finalizing his citizenship, he returned to Turkey on business, only to be taken prisoner by Austrian officers and placed in chains on the Austrian brig, the Huszar, also at Smyrna. On July 2, 1853, the captain of the St Louis demanded his release, threatening to open fire on the Huszar if the demand was not met. A diplomatic solution was eventually concluded.

USS St Louis drawn by Alfred's shipmate, gunner Moses Lane, while in the Mediterranean.

Sometime in early 1854, Alfred experienced a serious accident on the St Louis. Navy records state that Alfred "had the alveola portion of his upper jaw crushed by the fall of large iron hook from the foreyard of the St Louis. This occurred...whilst Mr Hingerty was in the discharge of his duty on the forecastle; and since then, pieces of the bone have bee detaching themselves from the wound, causing much pain and inconvenience."

Alfred returned to the African Squadron in April, 1859 as boatswain on the USS Constellation, which was being outfitted in Boston as the flagship of the African Squadron. In December 1859, the Constellation seized the brig Delicia which was fitted to carry slaves, and the following year she seized the barque Cora with 705 slaves on board.

USS Constellation

While the Constellation was off Africa, the Civil War had begun in the United States. After being at sea for over 400 days, on September 28, 1861, the Constellation arrived at Portmouth Naval Yard in Kittery, Maine (across the river from Portmouth, New Hampshire). Alfred was assigned to duties at the shipyard, where he would remain until the closing days of the war.

The Portmouth Naval Shipyard was a major shipbuilding facility for the United States Navy during the war. When Alfred arrived, the USS Kearsage, which would famously sink the CSS Alabama off Cherbourg Harbor several years later, was under construction at Portsmouth. In addition to ship repairs and re-fitting, twenty-five ships were built at the shipyard during the war. As of November 1862, the payroll included 1800 men. While Alfred was at Portsmouth Naval yard, there were also labor disputes, industrial accidents and a draft riot. From July 14 to 16, 1863, the Portsmouth draft riot erupted, one of several such protests against the draft and the war. Marines from the shipyard helped subdue the rioters.

At times, Alfred suffered after-effects from his exposure in Africa. On March 24, 1862 he was attacked with "paralysis of left side...while attending to duty: this is second attack; had a sunstroke on the coast of Africa in the last cruise." On March 14, 1863, he was diagnosed as having "catarrh, sore throat and slightly paralytic."

In early 1865, the Navy Yard activity was reduced as the end of the war appeared to be in sight. On January 9, 1865 Alfred was detached from the Navy Yard to await orders, and on Feb. 8, 1865 he was ordered to return to the Constellation. The Constellation joined the fleet on the James River in support of the final assault on the Confederate forces defending Richmond and Petersburg.

After the war, Alfred returned to Virginia with his family, and became a foreman of laborers at the Navy yard Norfolk, Virginia, remaining on duty until 1868, well into his 60's. 

Alfred died "near Suffolk...on or about the 27th day of July 1875, of paralysis of left side the result of injuries received whilst in the U. S Navy".

This blog post was written by MH a Hingerty descendant in the USA.

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