THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170178
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Olde Towne Journal
SOURCE: Alan Flanders
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Records show that during the federal government's 1801 purchase of Gosport Shipyard from Virginia, local naval agents might have mismanaged public funds.
William Pennock was the yard's naval agent when it was owned by Virginia in 1794. Daniel Bedinger was Gosport's first superintendent after federal purchase from Virginia June 15, 1801.
Documents suggest that Pennock and Bedinger conspired to inflate the value of the original tract from $100 an acre to $750 and simultaneously use the yard's wharves and docks for privately owned ships.
The activities of Pennock and Bedinger were described in detail by the yard's first historian, Commander Edward P. Lull.
In his 1874 publication, ``History of the United States Navy Yard at Gosport, Virginia,'' Lull builds a case against both by referring to government records suggesting that Pennock and Bedinger were motivated more by personal greed than patriotism.
Lull begins the story with Pennock's removal as superintendent in 1799 for ``not having exercised the degree of economy which the (Navy) Department desired.''
Controversy continued to plague the yard during diplomatic negotiations and material changes to the frigate Chesapeake. Pennock apparently had several run-ins with the ship's builders as he often was preoccupied with the 40-odd ships he privately owned in his merchant fleet to concentrate on completing the Chesapeake.
After the frigate was modified to overcome delays and cost readjustments, it was launched in 1799.
Pennock, meanwhile, was holding a 19th-century version of a pink slip. But his influence was far from over.
When the federal government decided to purchase Gosport in January 1800, Pennock was rehired, this time to represent the United States. Fellow merchantman Thomas Newton was selected to represent the state.
In April 1800, both were directed by Navy Secretary Benjamin Stoddart ``to ascertain the value of the lands required.'' Stoddart further told Newton that ``less the amount paid for the property the more there would be available for improvements, and suggested $100 per acre as a fair valuation.''
According to Lull, Stoddart was certain the entire deal with Virginia would not exceed $2,000.
Instead Pennock and Newton negotiated the land at $750 per acre, or $12,000. Stoddart wrote Pennock that the price was ``exorbitant'' and that ``the ground should have been given to the government without charge.''
On Jan. 24, 1801, however, $12,000 was sent to Richmond; on June 15, 1801, a deed was executed by Gov. James Monroe, passing the title to the United States.
Controversy over the purchase arose in the House of Representatives Committee on Naval Affairs when the legal authority to make such a deal was questioned as was the $4,000 appropriation for Pennock to make general repairs at the yard.
Again Pennock was asked to leave the shipyard.
On April 26, 1802, Daniel Bedinger was sent to replace him, becoming the first Navy agent and superintendent of Gosport under federal ownership.
But the problems continued.
Bedinger was sent $10,000 in April 1803 ``to build a warehouse and timber-shed at Gosport,'' Lull wrote.
``Instead of expending the money for the purpose authorized, Mr. Bedinger built with it, first, a brick wall . . . secondly, a brick dwelling house for himself within the yard, and which was afterwards, for many years, used as the commandant's house, and, with what money was left, a very indifferent shed for timber, and a warehouse, which afterward had to be taken down to prevent its falling,'' Lull wrote.
In May 1805, Bedinger was ordered to repair the wharves that had been reported ``much out of order.'' A Feb. 6, 1806, report stated that ``$42,748.78 had been expended in improvements and repairs at this yard, and yet, except the wall, scarcely anything of permanent value seems to have been done.''
Bedinger's appointment was revoked Feb. 10, 1808, following complaints of ``having used the public wharves and property in repairing his own vessels.'' by CNB