Builder Isaac Hammett

The Hammett Shipyard in Harmar, Ohio built many fine boats. I don't know which of the Hammetts operated the yard though. "Roddy" Hammett was related to this branch of the family. Jeff Spear would be a good person to contact about the Hammetts, but I don't believe he's on-line.

Another thought popped into my head. There might be more info on the Hammett Yard and its principals in J. Mack Gamble's published masters thesis 'Steamboats on the Muskingum." I can't get to my copy right now, but I believe that there might be an index to it on-line.

I just checked the index for "Steamboats on the Muskingum" and there is no mention of Issac Hammett. The only mention of Hammett Boat Yard is in a cutline for the photo of the str. KID on page 52J. You can fine this index, and others, on steamboat.org

*RE: Isaac Hammett*

Hi, Matt & Frank:
The Isaac Hammett mentioned in the 1st posting relating to Matt's quest hailed from Pittsburgh, Pa. He had building experience with owners on Chautaqua Lake. Other than that I don't know much as I'm grabbing minutes from my desk work here.

Go on your search machine [Computer], type in Isaac Hammett, Lake Chautaqua and hit 'GO.' References linking him to the Str. JAMESTOWN should pop up at 1st at the top. Other references may be found it you scroll on down. Hope this helps. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

PS> There ARE references to an Isaac Hemmitt [Note spelling] in WAY'S TOWBOAT DIRECTORY as having workked in Pittsburgh using Rees engines on the Str. DICK FULTON No. 3. The variation in name spelling has me wondering. Who knows? Spelling in names varied. Just a thought.

R. Dale Flick;27412 wrote: Hi, Matt & Frank:
The Isaac Hammett mentioned in the 1st posting relating to Matt's quest hailed from Pittsburgh, Pa. He had building experience with owners on Chautaqua Lake. Other than that I don't know much as I'm grabbing minutes from my desk work here.

Go on your search machine [Computer], type in Isaac Hammett, Lake Chautaqua and hit 'GO.' References linking him to the Str. JAMESTOWN should pop up at 1st at the top. Other references may be found it you scroll on down. Hope this helps. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

PS> There ARE references to an Isaac Hemmitt [Note spelling] in WAY'S TOWBOAT DIRECTORY as having workked in Pittsburgh using Rees engines on the Str. DICK FULTON No. 3. The variation in name spelling has me wondering. Who knows? Spelling in names varied. Just a thought.

Hello Dale,

Yes I've look around a bit online, without much result, what I'm getting information from is newspaper articles from the area here when the vessel was being built, he was brought in for the Str. Jamestown, but the article mentions that he was well known for steamers on the upper Mississippi and not on Chautauqua Lake.

Upper Miss boat builders

Don't know the years they were open offhand, but if Hammett was well-known on the UMR, you might want to look into Dubuque Iron Works and the Swains in Stillwater for starters. I don't recall his name in regards to Kahlke, which didn't build the larger boats he must have been involved with.

MAT: I think the man your looking for information on was Isaac Hammitt, Jr. He operated a boat yard at Elizabeth, Pa. His father, General Isaac Hammitt, Sr. had originally started that yard. Isaac Hammitt, Jr. not only built some fine big towboats but also did design work for other yards. Some of the very best and largest towboats were of his design. His son was Capt. J.M. Hammitt who had a yard at Marietta/ Harmer. Somewhere along the line some of the family went with the Hammett spelling.

Hamit. Hammitt, Hammett, etc.

As Capt. Bill mentioned, the spelling of the Hammett name changed over time. The family cemetery at St. Mary's, West Virginia, where Capt. Roddy, his parents and many ancestors are interred, contains quite a number of old monuments which show how the name evolved.

Due to the construction of a power plant, the Hammett property, known as Waterside, fronting the Ohio River was taken by eminent domain in the early 1970's. The family cemetery is now in the middle of the plant, enclosed by a fence with a locked gate and accessible by its own lane.

Thanks everyone for your responses, they are greatly appreciated.

The Hammitts of Pittsburgh

My Pittsburgh family is related to both the Rees and Hammett families of Pittsburgh who were riverboat builders. I do believe we have relatives in Chautauqua and Jamestown. One well known relative in the area was Bishop Stephen V Ryan, the Catholic Bishop of Buffalo NY.

Although I believe the Rees and Hammett families were Methodist, Bishop Ryan had a brother who was a Methodist Bishop.

Daniel

I've been working on updating some of our historical commentary about previous vessels that were here on Chautauqua Lake, and the largest vessel which was known as the JAMESTOWN (built in 1874-75) was designed and construction overseen by an Isaac Hammett. It says in the old newspaper article he was a prominent individual with the design and construction of many river steamboats.

Has anyone ever heard of him or have any information? Thank-you. Mat

Daniel McIntyre;28030 wrote: My Pittsburgh family is related to both the Rees and Hammett families of Pittsburgh who were riverboat builders. I do believe we have relatives in Chautauqua and Jamestown. One well known relative in the area was Bishop Stephen V Ryan, the Catholic Bishop of Buffalo NY.

Although I believe the Rees and Hammett families were Methodist, Bishop Ryan had a brother who was a Methodist Bishop.

Daniel

Way back one of Roddy's relatives, on his father's side, married a Catholic girl, so Roddy was baptised and buried Catholic. Before that Jeff Spear recently told me the Hammetts were, "Church of England."

Frank's posting brought to mind Roddy telling me, long ago, that he was "dismissed from duty" by the priest at St. John's Catholic Church, his hometown parish, when, as a young altar boy, he persisted in ringing engine room signals on the consecration bells!

I can see it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Ryans and McCloskeys

Bishop Ryan's brother was married to Mary McCloskey the sister of Cardinal McCloskey. Mary's other brother was Bishop William McCloskey of Louisville KY.

The Hammet's I believe were Methodist connected to Pittsburgh lawyer Edwin M Stanton. You can read about Edwim M Stanton in Benjamin P Thomas's book STANTON the life of Lincoln's Secretary of War.

Daniel McIntyre;28038 wrote: Bishop Ryan's brother was married to Mary McCloskey the sister of Cardinal McCloskey. Mary's other brother was Bishop William McCloskey of Louisville KY.

Let me get this straight. Mary McCloskey's husband was a Methodist Bishop. One of her brothers was a Catholic Cardinal while another was a Catholic Bishop in Louisville.

The Ryan Brothers

There were three Ryan Brothers. One was Catholic Bishop Stephen V Ryan, the Bishop of Buffalo NY. Another brother, Methodist Bishop Mort Ryan. I believe he was out Kansas way. Then a third brother, Union Major James Ryan married to Mary McCloskey. They lived in Pittsburgh.

Mary McCloskey had two brothers. Cardinal John McCloskey of Albany NY and Bishop William McCloskey the Bishop of Louisville KY.

I believe the Pittsburgh boat builder Hammetts were Methodist. Although some could be Catholic. If some were Catholic, that could answer a few questions at the Hammett cemetery plot in Pittsburgh.

Frank X. Prudent;28039 wrote: Let me get this straight. Mary McCloskey's husband was a Methodist Bishop. One of her brothers was a Catholic Cardinal while another was a Catholic Bishop in Louisville.

Mr S

I have a copy of the obituary of St Clair (Sinclair) Chrissinger. He was "a ship-builder by trade, .. During the civil war he was employed by the government in the boatyards near Pittsburgh,…" The reference in his obituary is probably to the Hammitt, Miliken, and Chrissinger boatyard, near McKeesport, and purchased from Coursin in the 1860's.

I "googled" the boatyard name and got some hits in Rootsweb and ancestry.com. Most of the hits were related to Chrissinger but there was secondary info on Hammiitt, ie Isaac Hammitt was "91 years old in the 1930's"; towing coal on the Ike Hammitt during the civil war;.

For more info on the Ike Hammitt see Way's Towboat Directory.

Stw tb wh 1860 - 1886 ? b. McKeesport PA. , 142 x 24 x 5
Engines 17 1/2's-6ft. stroke . Three boilers .

I believe Isaac Hammitt was a boat builder from the Pittsburgh area, whether Elizabeth or McKeesport, in the 1860's.

Good luck with your research.
Fran Nash

Yes Isaac Hammitt is buried at Versailles Cemetery in McKeesport. Captain Daniel Pollard was his business partner also buried at Versailles Cemetery. The way I understand it, Captain Daniel Pollard was General Grant's flagship captain at Vicksburg.

The Coursin's could be related to Meriwether Lewis. This is someting I am working on. The Sinclairs are also buried at Versailles Cemetery. Samuel Sinclair married Elizabeth McKee of the McKeesport McKees. Records suggest they were from Baltimore.

Francis Nash;28061 wrote: Mr S

I have a copy of the obituary of St Clair (Sinclair) Chrissinger. He was "a ship-builder by trade, .. During the civil war he was employed by the government in the boatyards near Pittsburgh,…" The reference in his obituary is probably to the Hammitt, Miliken, and Chrissinger boatyard, near McKeesport, and purchased from Coursin in the 1860's.

I "googled" the boatyard name and got some hits in Rootsweb and ancestry.com. Most of the hits were related to Chrissinger but there was secondary info on Hammiitt, ie Isaac Hammitt was "91 years old in the 1930's"; towing coal on the Ike Hammitt during the civil war;.

For more info on the Ike Hammitt see Way's Towboat Directory.

Stw tb wh 1860 - 1886 ? b. McKeesport PA. , 142 x 24 x 5
Engines 17 1/2's-6ft. stroke . Three boilers .

I believe Isaac Hammitt was a boat builder from the Pittsburgh area, whether Elizabeth or McKeesport, in the 1860's.

Good luck with your research.
Fran Nash

Hi all
I am not sure where to put this but this seemed to be a good place. I do a lot of Genealogy of old river families and I also ways tell a client to give me all they have not only of a male (capt) but his wife and Parents if they have any, why because a captain with a marriageable daughter seems to have brought home a bachelor cub pilot if he thought he had a chance of making good.

Captain Enoch Cox had three daughters. Catherine married Capt Daniel Pollard their daughter Mary Cox Pollard married William Woods O'Neil of the O'Neil coal company.
Hannah Cox married Isaac Hammitt Jr. the boat builder who took over his father's yard in Elizabeth, Penn. started by General Isaac Hammitt. Jr and Hannah's son J Muratt Hammitt had the shipyards in Marietta and Harmer, Ohio So Daniel Pollard and Isaac Jr were brother-in-laws. Enoch's oldest daughter Emaline married a Swanger. That is as far as I have traced them but I have a feeling that Roddy ties into J. Muratt.

Captain Issac Hammitt

Issac Hammitt is in lot B41 about 100 ft away from Captain Daniel Pollard and his son in lot E23. B40 are the McKees. The O'Neils and Coursins are next to the Hammitts. Everyone is at Versailles in Mckeesport just 50 ft from the Lewis and Clark lot C32.

Lots A,B,C,D and E are all on about a 3 acre area and are intermixed. So someone in B lot could be just a few feet from someone in E lot. Everyone seems to be related to everyone else.

I guess General Isaac Hammitt was in the War of 1812. Do you know his history? Col Jessie Sill of the War of 1812 in C99 is next to the Lewis and Clark lot C32.

Carl Jones;28067 wrote: Hi all
I am not sure where to put this but this seemed to be a good place. I do a lot of Genealogy of old river families and I also ways tell a client to give me all they have not only of a male (capt) but his wife and Parents if they have any, why because a captain with a marriageable daughter seems to have brought home a bachelor cub pilot if he thought he had a chance of making good.

Captain Enoch Cox had three daughters. Catherine married Capt Daniel Pollard their daughter Mary Cox Pollard married William Woods O'Neil of the O'Neil coal company.
Hannah Cox married Isaac Hammitt Jr. the boat builder who took over his father's yard in Elizabeth, Penn. started by General Isaac Hammitt. Jr and Hannah's son J Muratt Hammitt had the shipyards in Marietta and Harmer, Ohio So Daniel Pollard and Isaac Jr were brother-in-laws. Enoch's oldest daughter Emaline married a Swanger. That is as far as I have traced them but I have a feeling that Roddy ties into J. Muratt.