An Unmarked Grave for Timby-- Part 7: A Man of Many Inventions and Litttle Profit

Will Carleton told how Timby, who was born in Duchess County, N. Y., in 1819, had invented a floating drydock at the age of 16.

"Some older men told the boy that his invention was no good in salt water," said Mr. Carleton.  "Then they took it over to Austria and made $4,000,000 out of it.  When Timby was  19 years old he was crosiing New York Bay on a ferryboat and saw the round, turret-like shape of Castle Williams on Governors Island blazing in the sunlight.  This suggested to him the idea of the revolving turret, which has revolutionized modern naval warfare.

"Timby made forty to fifty good inventions, but he reaped such meagre rewards from them that he frequently had to walk the streets.  We human beings don't know what the subtle connection is between the soul and the body.  But I believe that Theodore Ruggles Timby is conscious of the tribute we are paying to him and knows that we are going to take his body home."

"The casket containing  the dead inventor's remains was carried to the Dock Department tug Manhattan and around Governors Island within sight of Castle Williams, the vessel making the same trip which the ferryboat in which Timby had been inspired with his first revolving turret idea had made.

"The body will be taken to Washington this morning on a special train on the Baltimore & Ohio.  The burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at the capital."

--Old B-Runner

An Unmarked Grave for Timby-- Part 6: They Both Deserve Credit

Park Commisiiner Stover told of a visit he paid to Timby in Brooklyn two years ago, only a few days before his death.  Timby was then in his ninetieth year.

"I became deeply interested in Mr. Timby and his rights in the invention of  the revolving turret," said the Park Commissioner.  "I attended Mr. Timby's funeral and since have always wished to have the fame of both Ericsson and Timby written according to each one's merits." 

"The recently discovered letters of the syndicate which built the Monitor show that they recognized the priority of Mr. Timby's rights.  One member of the syndicate states in one letter that he doesn't see the use of trying to break Timby's patent.  Timby unquestionably carries out the whole plan  of the revolving turret in 1842.  Ericsson is, on the other hand, entitled to the credit for putting Timby's invention into practical exemplification."

--Old B-Runner

An Unmarked Grave for Timby-- Part 5: 'To Honor the Man Whose Invention Enabled the Monitor to Do Its Work'

Disappointed in this, Mr. Timby's friends have recently arranged on their own responsibility to have his remains taken to Washington. Yesterday, the body was removed from the public vault at Evergreen Cemetery and taken to Battery Park, where it was placed on the bandstand.

Above the coffin was a big monitor of red and yellow chrysanthemums with a turret of white chrysanthemums was placed.  The coffin itself was opened, and those who gathered to witness the ceremonies were allowed to view the dead inventor's keen-featured, clerical-looking face.

The Rev. H. A. Tupper made a speech, saying that the meeting was not meant to belittle the fame of John Ericsson, who made the revolving turreted monitor a practical achievement, and whose memorial monument stood only a few yards away in Battery Park

"The purpose of this meeting is to honor the man whose invention enabled the Monitor to do its work," Dr. Tupper said.

--Old B-Runner

An Unmarked Grave for Theodore Timby-- Part 4: Died a Poor Man With Needy Family

The recently discovered books of the syndicate of capitalists who backed Ericsson in the building of the first Monitor show, according  to Timby's friends, that Timby claim to the revolving turret idea was recognized by the syndicate to such an extent that they paid him several thousand dollars in royalties on the first four monitors.

These few thousand dollars, although he had been exhibiting the device for almost  twenty years and had taken out patent papers for it,  were all the returns he ever got for it, and when he died in Brooklyn two years ago, he was in debt and left an invalid daughter and a disabled granddaughter wholly without support.

His friends, among who are the Rev. Dr. I. K. Funk, Park Commissioner  Stover, and Will Carleton, the poet, have been trying to raise a trust fund for the daughter and granddaughter, and have been trying to persuade the Federal authorities at Washington to honor the inventor's memory in some way.

Mr. Timby's remains since his death have laid in a public vault in Evergreen Cemetery.  The Rev. H. A. Tupper, Park Commissioner Stover, Will Carleton, and others attempted to persuade Congress and the Navy Department to assign a battleship to carry Timby's remains from this city to Washington, but the application has never come to anything.

--Old B-Runner

An Unmarked Grave for Theodore Timby-- Part 3: A Memorial Service Two Years After Death

From Find-A-Grave.

From the October 13, 1911, New York Times  "Late Honors Paid To Inventor Timby:  His Body Taken to Battery Park Where Speakers Credit Him  as Inventor of Monitor.  Ericsson Came After Him Using Revolving Turret Idea, Which Revolutionized Naval Warfare--  Timby to Rest in Washington."

Almost a thousand persons collected around the bandstand yesterday afternoon to witness a memorial service in honor of Theodore Ruggles Timby, the inventor of the revolving turret for the battleships,  who died in obscurity in Brooklyn two years ago, sixty years after he made his invention known.and for which he was never compensated.

Timby conceived then idea for the revolving turret in 1841, after showing a small ivory model of the invention to John C. Calhoun. Timby's friends have always inssted that John Ericsson, who has received credit for inventing the first "Monitor" appropriated Timby's design without giving Timby sufficient credit or turning over to him enough of the Monitor profits.

--Old B-Runner

An Unmarked Grave for Theodore Timby-- Part 2

From Find-A-Grave.

THEODORE RUGGLES TIMBY

BIRTH:  5 April 1819, Dover Plains, New York

DEATH:  9 November 1909, Brooklyn, New York (aged 90)

BURIAL:  Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

PLOT:  536 East

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Famous inventor:  in 1841 he conceived the idea of the revolving gun turret.

On October  12, 1911, his casket was removed from a public vault in Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, and taken to Battery Park for a ceremony, during which it was opened for a viewing.

The body was taken to Washington, D.C., on October 13 on a special train on the Baltimore & Ohio.

Source:  The New York Times October 13, 1911.

Old B-Runner

The Timby and the Monitor Blog: An Unmarked Grave for Theodore Timby

The Timby and the Monitor blog says this about Theodore Timby's grave:

"Theodore Ruggles Timby, brilliant inventor of the technology that revolutionized  the United States' and world's navies, lies today in an unmarked grave on a remote, sparsely grassed hill in Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C..  It is the shame of the  government of the United States of America and in part to the  companion duplicity of one of the principle actors in this story, for the consummate failure to recognize this man, who was responsible in no small part for the preservation of that government at a critical time in its history.  How did this happen?"

I would say this short blog is going to be a defense of Mr. Timby's good name.

Like I said, I had never heard of him before, nor had members of my Civil War Round Table when I asked them.

His name should be right up there with John Ericsson's when the name USS Monitor is mentioned.

--Old B-Runner

A Blog About Theodore Timby

While researching this man (whom I had never heard of) I found that there had been a short-lived blog on him dating back to 2008.  It was titled "Timby and the Monitor."

It was written by Theodore Walcott Dickes, writer and great great grandson of Theodore Ruggles Timby who he described as the forgotten inventor of the U.S.S. Monitor's revolving turret and of Civil War fame.

Mr. Dickes was living in Encinitas, California, at the time.

His reason for writing the blog was  to bring forth information of Timby and make his accomplishments known.

Unfortunately, there were only six blog entries.

I will be taking a look at them.

--Old B-Runner

The USS Monitor the Result of Two Inventors: Theodore Timby and John Ericsson

From the January 30, 2022  Retronewser site "First U.S. ironclad warship, the USS Monitor, launched during the American Civil War 160 years ago #On This Day (Jan 30, 1862)."

The design of the ship was  distinguished by its revolving turret, which was  designed by American inventor Theodore Timby.  It was quickly duplicated and established the monitor class and type of armored warship built by the American Navy over the next several decades.

The remainder of the ship was designed by  Swedish-born engineer and inventor John Ericsson, and built in only 101 days beginning in late 1861.  (And a good thing it was built that quickly because as it was, the Monitor arrived just in time to save the Union fleet from the CSS Virginia in March 1862.)

The Monitor presented a new concept in ship design and employed a variety of new inventions and innovations in ship building that caught the attention of the world.

--Old B-Runner

See the Remains of the USS Monitor-- Part 4: About the Museum

Her resting place is now at the  Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia.  This is located only a few miles from where the Monitor fought the CSS Virginia  in that legendary battle (The Battle of Hampton Roads).  The relics of the ship make up the heart of the museum's USS Monitor Center. The exhibit is dedicated to the USS Monitor and the strategies, people, technology and science behind its tale.

VISITING THE MARINER'S MUSEUM

The museum is open every day during normal business hours and admission is a token $1.  For another $6, visitors can upgrade their admission tickets to include a 3D documentary movie at the Explorers' Theater.  The documentaries that they show are not necessarily about the Monitor, but often about the batural world.

OPEN:   Daily

MUSEUM HOURS:   9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESS:  The Mariners' Museum and  Park, 100  Museum Dr., Newport News, Virginia.

PHONE:  (757) 596-2222.

--Old B-Monitor

See the Remains of the Monitor-- Part 3: The End

Continued from June 10, 2022.

The battle lasted four hours as the ships shot at each other but were unable to do serious damage.  The final outcome  of the battle was cannonballs bouncing off each other.  Both eventually retired from battle unable to beat the other.

As fate would have it, the Confederates  scuttled and destroyed their ironclad, while the USS Monitor eventually foundered while under tow in a storm.  Neither ship survived 1862.

DISCOVERY AND RECOVERY OF USS MONITOR

The USS Monitor sank off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in 1862.  She remained underwater for  over a hundred years until she was discovered in 1973 (the year I started teaching).  Since then, she has been partially salvaged and her relics are on display at the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Virginia.

REDISCOVERED: 1973

SALVAGE:  It has been partially salvaged.  (The turret was salvaged completely.)

Today people can visit the relics and view a full-scale replica of the ship.  They can also see her two cannons, engine and other recovered objects.

--Old B-Runner

Theodore Timby-- Part 4: A Writer, Inventor and John Ericsson

During his later years, as a resident of  Brooklyn, New York,  he occupied himself with literary avocations, publishing several small volumes of  poems and essays, including "Bridging the  Skies" (1883),  "Beyond" (1886), "Stellar Worlds and Other Didactic Literature" (1896) and "Lighted Lore for Gentle Folk" (1902).

He died in Brooklyn, New York, on November 9, 1909, and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C..

ACHIEVEMENTS

He is credited as the inventor of the revolving gun turret that was used on the USS Monitor.

He also patented a wide variety of other inventions such as a door sash, water wheel, paper cutter, needle case and a globe clock that was sold in such numbers that some can be seen today at auctions.

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The Washington Post stated in 1909, shortly after Timby's death,  that "John Ericsson has for years monipolized all of the credit for inventing and building the Monitor, but as a matter of fact he was joint inventor with  Theodore Timby."

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In 1844, he married  Charlotte M. Ware.

His father was George  W. Timby and mother was  Sarah (Johnson) Timby.

--Old B-Runner

Theodore Timby-- Part 3: Where Should the Credit for a Revolving Turret Go?

In later years, a controversy followed as to credit for the idea of a revolving turret or battery tower.  Ericsson arguing that the idea for a revolving fort long antedated the 19th century.  Thus it was  one of the concepts  of military engineering that belonged as common property.

Supporters of Timby pointed to his earlier  caveat as proof that credit should go to him.

It seems clear that the  honor of first publicly urging this form of gun housing on governmental authorities belongs to Timby, while the honor of first using the idea in actual construction goes to Ericsson, who may or may not have known of Timby's design.

In 1857 and 1862, Timby received patents for a barometer; in 1869, he patented a turbine water wheel, amd in 1871, a gun carriage; he also devised  a process of  printing terrestrial globes in colors and a process for quickly ripening coffee.

His inventions seem to have brought little financial return, however,  and his family was supported in part by friends who memorialized Congress and the New York state legislature in his behalf.

--Old B-Runner

Theodore Timby-- Part 2: About Those Revolving Turret Patents

During the 1850s, he urged the revolving battery on  Emperor Napoleon III, but it appears that his innovation was not accepted by anyone until 1861-1862.  Then it was utilized by inventon John Ericsson as a distinctive feature on his first  Monitor.  (Some say it was the ship's most distinctive innovation.)  

After the Monitor proved successful, Timby, then a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts,  was granted two patents on July 8, 1862 (No. 35,846 and No. 35,847), for a revolving battery tower discharging guns by electricity,

In September he received another patent for a revolving battery tower.  Ericsson's associates in the business of building  monitors for the government acquired these patents almost at once and thus silenced  all claims if infringement.

--Old B-Runner

Theodore Ruggles Timby

From Prabook.

He was born  on April 5, 1822,  in Dutchess County, New York,.  He was the son of George W. and Sarah (Johnson) Timby, formerly of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

He grew up on his father's farm and attended common schools.

During his teens, he is said to have invented a form of floating drydock.  As early as 1841, he exhibited a model and plans for a revolving  battery for coast desfense to the War Department in Washington, D.C..  He siad he came up with the idea from Castle William on Governors Island in New York.

He seems to have come up with a similar idea for ships of low freeboard (the Monitor was a ship of low freeboard).

On January 18, 1843,  he filed a caveat covering the invention of  the revolving turret for use on land or sea.  It appears that  in the spring of the same year, he sent a model to China by Caleb Cushing, the United States minister there.  In June he exhibited a model to President  Tyler and his cabinet.

Nothing came of these efforts.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher State Historic Site to Hold Living History Program

Okay, I kind of missed printing this before the date it happened.  My excuse is, "I forgot to run it."  However, it's good to see the Fruends of Fort Fisher, to which I belong, getting operative again after you-know-what.

From the May 24, 2022,  WECT (Wilmington, N.C.)

In coordination with a Friends of Fort Fisher capital campaign to fund new earthwork projects at the site, a living history program  will be held on Saturday, June 11.

It is a free event and will highlight the history of the blockade runner Modern Greece and include the always popular cannon firings, a Confederate soldiers encampment, artillery and infantry demonstrations, guest speakers and  special guided tours.  (There will be a small charge for some of the tours.)

Re-enactors will also  demonstrate routine activities  like sick call, pay call, rationing and weapons training.

The day's events are scheduled to run from 10 am to 4 pm.

At noon, the Friends of Fort Fisher (to which I belong) will kick off a capital campaign for work to be done to the fort's earthworks.  All of the fort's programming is made possible by the Friends of Fort Fisher, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing this national treasure.

--Old B-Runner

So, Who Was Theodore Timby-- Part 2: What Did Ericsson Do?

Meanwhile, a Swedish-born architect named John Ericsson had submitte a proposal to build an ironclad warship for the Union Navy.  The Monitor was built for $195,000 and was sold to the Navy for  $270,000.  Timby received a  5 percent  commission of $13,500.

Timby spent much of his life in Saratoga Springs, New York, having moved there in 1860.

He patented a wide variety of other inventions such as a door sash, water wheel, paper cutter, needle case and a globe clock that was sold in such great numbers that some can still be seen at auctions today.

There was an effort in the early 1900s to give credit to Timby for his turret  invention.  The Washington Post stated in 1909, shortly after his death that "John Ericsson has for years monopolized all of the credit for inventing and building the Monitor, but as a matter of fact he was a joint inventor with Theodore Timby." 

--Old B-Runner

So, Who Was Theodore Timby?-- Part 1: The Revolving Turret

In the last post I wrote that the USS Monitor was designed by John Ericcson (which I knew) and Theodore Timby.  But, who was Theodore Timby?  I'd never heard of his name.  Turns out, he had a whole lot to do with the success of the Monitor.

From Wikipedia.

THEODORE TIMBY

Theodore Ruggles Timby (5 April 1809 - 9 November 1909) is credited as the inventor of the  revolving gun turret that was used on the USS Monitor.  (I always was of the opinion that that was Ericsson's invention.)

He was born in Duchess County, New York.  Early in his life, at the age of 16,  he invented  a method for raising ships out of the water for repairs by  sinking a water-filled box beneath it and then forcing the water out through pumps in order to raise it.

Throughout the 1840s, Timby perfected a revolving gun turret for use on the land and water.  He constructed a  21-foot long model and brought it to Washington, D.C., but met with little success as war was not imminent.  However, with the outbreak of the Civil War, Timby brought his model to the Abraham Lincoln White House, and this time met with much more success.

Something About This New Kind of a Ship to Be Called the Monitor.  --Old B-Runner

See the Remains of the Monitor-- Part 2: Just the Facts

THE USS MONITOR:  

DESIGNED:  By Theodore  Timby and John Ericcson

BUILT:   Early 1862

FIRST:     The Union's first ironclad warship

The USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship built for the Union Navy.  She fought the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads.   The CSS Virginia engaged the Monitor after she had already destroyed the sail frigates USS Cumberland and USS Congress the day before.  She had also run aground the steam frigate USS Minnesota.

FOUGHT:  The CSS Virginia

CSS VIRGINIA FATE:    Scuttled and blown up by her crew to prevent capture.

USS MONITOR FATE:  Foundered in rough seas.

BATTLE:  Battle of Hampton Roads'

--Old B-Runner

See the Remains of the Iconic USS Monitor at This Museum

From the June 8, 2022 The Travel.com. by Aaron Spray.

Especially of interest in that an official survey was made a short time ago of the wreck of this famous ship.  But artifacts from the Monitor can be seen at the Mariner's Museum.

Despite having only a short naval career, the USS Monitor was one of the most consequential and revolutionary ships ever built by the Union and the US Navy.  She was completed in 1862 and famously took part in the Battle of Hampton Roads where she squared off against the ironclad CSS Virginia for the Confederacy.  The outcome of this battle changed naval warfare forever.

Today, parts of this revolutionary ship built to counter the South's own revolutionary ship have been discovered, recovered, and are on display in Newport News, Virginia.  Newport News is also by the U.S.  Norfolk Naval Base, the largest  naval base in the world.  (There are also  cruise tours of it.)

The USS Monitor was one of the most unusual ships ever built and was distinguished by its revolving turret.  She was built in only 101 days in Brooklyn, New York, and ushered in a new age of ironclad ships.  She was hurriedly built by the North when they got news that the Confederates were building an ironclad ship of their own.

--Old B-Runner

Something to Think About the Next Time You're Tromping Around Fort Fisher

From the Channel 11 ABC Eyewitness News (Wilmington, N.C.) "Alligator caught sunbathing at  North Carolina beach."

A five foot alligator took itself a beach break earlier this week.  

Brandi Anderson took a few pictures of it sunbathing Sunday at Fort Fisher.

Park rangers at Fort Fisher said alligators are a fairly common sight along the shore, especially during warmer months of the year.

They said that the best thing to do if you encounter it is not to attempt petting it.   Actually, no.  Give the gator plenty of space and let them enjoy their time in the sun.

--Old B-Gator

David L. Bass

From Find a Grave.

DAVID L. BASS

BIRTH:  3 February 1842,  Hope Falls,  New York

DEATH:  15 October 1886 (aged 44), Little Falls, New York

BURIAL:  Wilcox Cemetery, Little Falls, New York

--Old B-Runner

David Bass's Brother Alpheus Bass of the 32nd New York

The Find a Grave for David Bass listed him as having one brother, Alpheus Bass who was a Union soldier.

BIRTH:  1 June 1839, New York 

DEATH:  15 August 1862, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

BURIAL:  Philadelphia National Cemetery, Pennsylvania.

Enlisted  at age 22.

Mustered into Company C, 32nd New York Infantry.

Died of disease at Satterlee Hospital, West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Admitted to the hospital from Harrison's Landing, Virginia. 

Originally buried Woodlawn, Pennsylvania.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on David L. Bass-- Part 2: Medal of Honor Recipient from Fort Fisher

He married Delia Walrath on August 9, 1868,  and had three children:  Everett James Bass,  William Henry Bass and  Cora Riley Bass.

He died at age 44 on 15 October 1886 and was buried at Wilcox  Cemetery in Little Falls.  The cemetery was abandoned and in  disrepair for many years.  Due to the efforts of local volunteers, Bass's gravesite was located, cleaned up and properly decorated.

The gravesite was rededicated on May 24, 2012.

Bass's great- great- great grandson is currently running  for Congress to represent New York's 24th Congressional District.

--Old B-Runner

Some More on David L. Bass-- Part 1

In the last two posts, I wrote  about David L. Bass, a sailor of the USS Minnesota, who received a Medal of Honor for his actions with the Naval Column's attack on Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.

He was not awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.  His Medal of Honor was  awarded to him on June 22, 1865.

He  is buried in the Wilcox Family Cemetery in Little Falls, New York.

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From Wikipedia

His middle name was Lawrence.

There is some confusion as to where he was born.  Some military records say, incorrectly, that he was born in Ireland.  The Wikipedia article says he was born in Hope Falls, New York, 2 February 1842.

After the war, he lived in Little Falls, New York, and worked as a blacksmith.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Medal of Honor Recipient's Grave Cleaned-- Part 2: David L. Bass

David Teall made phone calls to veterans, got everyone organized, and then got them to work on the site.

Ron Williams,  one of the volunteers and a Korean War veteran said that it used to be all World War II veterans that would come out to maintain the site.  "When we first cleaned it up years ago, the stone was lying flat.  Members of the VFW used to show up the most," he said.

John Frazier, a Vietnam War veteran stated, "I never even knew about this until about eight years ago when  they came up here and really cleaned it up.  I didn't even know we had a Medal of Honor winner here."

Last year, Frazier contacted David Teall and they went up in fall to look and see what else needed to be done.  "The flags needed to be replaced and the stone was leaning over and needed cleaning and this was all overgrown.  This guy deserves more respect," he stated.

Frazier said, "We wanted to get it done before Memorial Day, and here we are."

Thank You Gentlemen.  --Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Medal of Honor Recipient Gravesite Cleanup in New York

From the May 31, 2022, My Little Falls (Herkimer County, New York) "Veterans clean up Medal of Honor winner gravesite in Little Falls" by Dave Warner.

A group of Vietnam and Korean War veterans decided to spend part of their Memorial Day Weekend cleaning around the gravestone  of David L. Bass of Little Falls, who received  the Medal of Honor during the Civil War at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.

Bass's citation reads, "On board the USS Minnesota in action  during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865.  Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Seaman Bass advanced to the top of a sand hill and partly through the breach in the palisade despite enemy fire which killed and wounded many officers and men.

"When more than two-thirds of the men became sized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained  with the party until dark, when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms, and its colors."

Bass was born  on February 3, 1842 in Ireland, and died in Little Falls on October 14,  1886, buried just south of  the Holy Trinity Cemetery.

--Old B-Runner