Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-12-12
MORE ABOUT JAMES RuMsEY.

James Rumsey's first experiments with
the steamboat at Shepherdstown. AT
ter referring to many inventions orig
mated by southern men the writer
says:
The most interesting of these early
inventions is that of Rumsey, the first
steamboat. The Washington Spy,
newspaper published at Hagerstown'
Nd, for March Is, 1898, contains the
following: "Mr. Rumsey, ofthis State,
who has distinguished himself by sew
oral useful mechanical inventions, and
latterly applied to prOpelling vessels
by the force of steam, died on the Oath
of December last in London, in a sud-
den manner.
James Rumsey, whose death is thus
recorded, was born in Bohemia Manor,
Cecil county, Nd, in l743. He
learned the trade of a millwright and
made valuable improvements in mill
ing machinery. At the outbreak of
the revolutionary war he enlisted in
the army and probably attracted the
attention of General Washington, for
when the war was over and Washing
ton organized the Potomac Navigation
Company he appointed Rumsey super
intendent of the work. 1t was in con-
nection with the navigation Of the Po-
tomac that Rumsey first turned his at
tention to the application Of steam to
boats. In his petition to the Leglsla-
ture of Maryland for patent right,
read before that body November II,
1884, he set forth that he had been
several years engaged in perfecting
plans for moving boats by steam. AT
that time there was not steam en-
CINE in America and Watts's improve
ments were not known here
Rumsey's first experiments were
made in the Potomac at Sir John S
Run, Va, near Berkeley Springs, or
Bath, as it was then known, where he
then resided. In the summer of 1854
these experiments were made, and that
dali the Virginia Legislature passed an
act giving him the exclusive right of
steam navigation on the rivers OF that
State. Maryland gave him a similar
right in that State in January, 1888.
The machinery for Rumsey's boats
there were several of them-was made
by the country blacksmiths. The
boiler Of the first was potash kettle,
with cover fastened down with bolts,
rivets and hard solder. This one
Washington saw and gave him a GER
tifcate.
The Virginia Argus of October 9,
1888, published at Richmond by Sam
uel Peasants, has the following:
"By the following certificate it will
appear that our beloved General, in
his retreat from the glories of the field,
still continues to encourage and pay
attention to such undertakings as are
pregnant with great utility to his
country. Mr.. James Rumsey, late OF
Baltimore, having been happy in a
mechanic discovery, could not for some
time impress his fellow-citizens with
an idea of its practicability, but by a
audableperseverance he hath at length
obtained, not only by the appreciation
of General Washington, but of Gener-
al Wood, the Honorable Mr.. Randolph,
of the Council, Doctor Craig and sew
eral members of the Legislature of the
State and other gentlemen of character
and distinction, so that now he may
expect a reward from his grateful
country that may, in some measure,
compensate him for his ingenuity"
The certificate is as follows: 81 have
seen the model of Mr.. Rumsey boat,
constructed to work against steam, ex-
amined the powers upon which it acts,
been the eye witness to an actual ex-
pertinent in running water Of some ra-
pidity, and give it as my opinion, al
though / had but little faith before,
that he has discovered the art Of work
ing boats by mechanism and small
manual assistance against rapid cur
rents that the discovery is Of vast
Importance may be of the greatest
usefulness in our inland navigation
and if it succeeds, Of which / have no
doubt, that the value of it is greatly
enhanced by the simplicity Of the
works; which, when seen and explained
to, may be executed by the most CON-
mon mechanic
"Given under my hand at the TOwr
of Bath, County of Berkeley, in the
State of Virginia, this 9TH Of septem.
Der, 1884. GEORGE WAsHIScTos."
The principal trials were made II
the Potomac. in Washington county
Nd, at shepherdstown, Va, on De
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