AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF JAMES HOBAN, ARCHITECT AND BUILDER OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND PROMINENT CITIZEN AND PUBLIC OFFICE-HOLDER IN WASHINGTON CITY,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOR FORTY YEARS

 

Part 1

 

based on the first known (if brief) biography of the man, written by M. J. Griffin and published in the journal American Catholic Historical Researches, Vols. 3-4, pp. 34-52, 1896.

 

James Hoban was born in 1758 at Tullamore (recte Tullamaine, a townland adjacent to Desart in the parish of Cuffesgrange Ed.), near Callan, County Kilkenny, Ireland, of Edward and Martha [Bayne] Hoban, being the second issue of their marriage, the first child, Joseph, dying in infancy, a daughter, Ann, being the third. Nothing has been discovered concerning his youth or training, but it is believed that he was sent to Dublin for instruction. He was so well perfected in the profession he had chosen that in his twenty-second year he won the medal of the Dublin Society for “drawings of brackets, stairs, roof, etc.” It was presented on November 23, 1780. It is now in the possession of his grandson, James Hoban, Esq., of Washington. Nostri Plena Laboris is the inscription thereon.

    In the indefinite time, “after the Revolution,” young Hoban came to the new United States, landing at Charleston, South Carolina (in fact he lived and worked first in Philadelphia, from about 1785 Ed.). Here he soon became well known as an architect and builder of several stately mansions and buildings of lesser import, not only in that city but elsewhere. Among those of note was the State House at Columbia, South Carolina, which, in February, 1865, was destroyed when the City was burned by Sherman’s army. It was designed by Hoban after Columbia, in 1786, had been chosen the capital. An engraving of it was made by James Aikin, of Philadelphia, in 1794.

    Congress had, in obedience to the requirement of the National Constitution, established on the Potomac River the TEN MILE SQUARE CITY provided for by that instrument as the seat of the General Government and named it “Washington in the Territory of the District Of Columbia.”

Daniel Carroll [a Catholic], Dr. David Stuart and Thomas Johnson were appointed commissioners to lay out the new City and provide for the erection of the public buildings needed.

    On March 14, 1792, they advertised for plans for the Capitol and for the President’s Palace, offering a premium of $500 or a medal Of that value for the~best designs submitted for examination prior tO July 15th. '

    When, in 1791, Washington visited South Carolina, Col. Laurens and others recommended to him the abilities as an architect and the executive worth of James Hoban, the Kilkenny Irishman, who had, since his arrival, added to the growth and adornment of that city and neighborhood by the exercise of that skill and ingenuity which the new country so much needed.

    So when the Commissioners of the new Federal City made announcement of seeking plans James Hoban came to Philadelphia, the temporary seat of the Government. Presenting himself to President Washington and making known his intention to present a plan he was by Washington given this letter of introduction to the Commissioners of the new City:

 

Philadelphia, June 18, I792

 

“The bearer of this, Mr. James Hoban, was strongly recommended to me by Col. Laurens and several other gentlemen of South Carolina, when I was there last year, as a person who had made architecture his study and was well qualified not only for planning or designing buildings but to superintend the execution of them.

    “He informs me that he intends to produce plans of the two build— ings next month agreeably to the advertisement of the commissioners and is now on his way to view the ground on which they are to stand. I have given him this letter of introduction in order that he might have an opportunity of communicating his views and wishes to you or obtaining any information for completing the plans. But as I have no knowledge of the man or his talents further than the information I received from the gentlemen in South Carolina, you must consider this letter merely as a line of introduction for the purpose mentioned.”

 

Mr. Hoban went to Washington city and submitted to the Commissioners a plan for the President’s Palace, or House. His plan was accepted immediately and without hesitation after a view of the drawings which were submitted.

   There could be no doubt of the wisdom of the selection, says Glenn Brown’s History of the Capitol. The drawings are not now known to be in existence. Mr. Hoban did not compete for the Capitol. For that building the plan of Stephen Hallett was adopted by the Commissioners, but Mr. Hoban was made, on September 23, 1793, the Superintendent of the work of construction.

    The Commissioners, under date of Georgetown, July 19, 1792, wrote to President Washington:

 

“Yesterday the Commissioners contracted with Mr. Hoban for his services by the year at 300 guineas. His draft and attention may be confined to the Palace or extended to other objects as they may Choose. This morning we went with Mr. Hoban to the site of the Palace, that he might lay out the foundations. The plan being much less than Major L’Enfant’s design will not fill up the diverging points marked by the stakes. This will necessarily occasion a division of the excess on the two sides, or to recede the whole distance on one side.This does not seem to create so much embarrassment as might be expected, but as the work may go on without any waste of labor, till you shall be here again, we have left the choice open, to be made by you on the spot. Hoban’s affairs require his absence about a month. His return is expected to be as soon, as he will be much wanted.”

 

President Washington, in a letter to the Commissioners of subsequent date, from Mount Vernon, says, among other things: “I think you have engaged Mr. Hoban upon advantageous terms, and hope, if his industry and honesty are of a piece with the specimens he has given of his abilities, he will prove a useful man and a considerable acquisition.’’

    On July 25, 1792, the Commissioners wrote Washington that Mr. Hoban had been informed that the foundation of the Capitol would be begun upon the plan exhibited by Mr. Hallet. Washington and Jefferson preferred the plan submitted by Dr. Thornton, an Englishman, and desired that it should be substituted for that of Mr. Hallett.

    Hoban’s plan of the President’s Palace, or House, being adopted the selection of the site on which to erect it required the personal attention of President Washington himself. So on August 2, I792, the Commissioners and President Washington “viewed the ground, particularly at the place for the Palace. It has given him considerable trouble and difficulty to fix his mind,” wrote the Commissioners.

Hoban’s design of the President’s House contemplated a central building with wings. President Washington, writing to the Commissioners from Philadelphia, March 3, 1793, said:

 

“When it was suggested to increase the dimension of the President’s House one-fifth, I had no idea that it would carry the expense of that building to anything like the sum of £77,900, which is estimated by Mr. Hoban, and if that should be the case, I am decidedly of opinion that it would be the best to take the plan on its original scale as you mention.

    “It was always my idea (and if I am not mistaken, Mr. Hoban coincided in the propriety and practicability of it), that the building should be so arranged that only a part of it should be erected at pres— ent. But I confess that I cannot see how so great an increase Of expense would arise from the small increase of dimensions proposed, and am much mistaken, indeed, if it does not far exceed any ideas he let out at the time his plan was adopted.”

 

On September 13, 1793, President Washington laid the corner stone of the capitol. At this ceremony Mr. Hoban assisted as the Master of Federal Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, which he and a few others had organized on September 6. They assembled on the square opposite the President’s House, now Lafayette Square; there met Washington and proceeded to the site of the Capitol.

    The History of the Lodge, by Charles F. Benjamin, says: “This Lodge was founded by Freemasons brought to the new city to engage in the erection of the public buildings, chief among whom was james Hoban, architect of the Executive Mansion and the Capitol. He' was one of the many Irishmen and devout Romanists among the early members.”

    The membership of the Lodge was not large, for in November, 1794, when Hoban was treasurer, there were but fourteen members, which, the historian of the Lodge says, were “a combination of Irish Catholics and Scotch Presbyterians no longer usual.” Hoban became High Priest of the Royal Encampment in I 798, but the encampment dissolved in 1799 and with it “the Masonic life of Captain Hoban,” reads the record. The Lodge, too, was in a bad condition. It was reorganized. Among the new members were Patrick Healy and Philip O’Mara.

     Catholics must not nowadays be horrified at Mr. Hoban or other professing Catholics being at that time members of the Masonic Order. Rev. Joseph La Grange, a French priest of Philadelphia, who died of the yellow fever September I, 1798, was a member of L’Amenite Lodge, No. 73, chartered May 20, 1797, and disbanded in 182 3. In 1829 Rev. Thomas T. Da Silva of St. Mary’s Church, Philadelphia, entered Lodge No. 158, but made no further progress, though ' he had on his arrival, destitute, from Portugal been assisted by Masons as a brother.

    Perhaps “the Masonic life” of Mr. Hoban ended on his marriage to Susannah Sewell, in January, 1799. The license, dated January 12, is now in possession of their grandson. From this marriage the issue was: Martha, Helen, Ann, Catharine, Edward, James, Francis, Joseph, Henry, Clement. The latter died in infancy. James, who died January 19, 1846, was U. S. District Attorney and an orator of such power and eloquence that he was said to surpass Daniel Webster. He married Margaret Neale, from whom the issue was: Henry, Clement, Margaret, Susan. (James Hoban Sr.'s son) Henry became a Jesuit.

    The first census of the Federal City was taken by Mr. Hoban and two associates. Their statement reads:

 

“By a census of the inhabitants of the City of Washington taken August 12, 1793, it appears that the number exceeds 820 and that for the last six months there has been no death of either man or woman taken place in'the City It is to be observed that of the above number a great proportion are artists in the different branches of building and from difierent parts of America and Europe. The climate agrees with their constitutions and they enjoy in this city equal, if not superior, health to what they have experienced in any part of the continent.

Signed in behalf of the inhabitants of the City of Washington and at their request, August 12, 1793.

 

JAMES HOBAN,
COLLEN WILLIAMSON,
ELISHA O. WILLIAMS. 

 

The following extracts relating to Hoban’s transactions are taken from the original book in manuscript of the Proceedings of the Commissioners, now in the Bureau of Public Buildings and Works, Lemon Building, New York Avenue, Washington.

 

Volume I records that on September 23, I 79 3, the Commissioners directed that “Mr. James Hoban take on himself the general superintendency of the Capitol and that the work thereof be conducted agreeable to the orders and directions which may be given from time to time.” ,

   So a few days after the laying of the corner-stone of the Capitol Mr. Hoban had his authority extended, as originally contemplated, to superintending the erection of the stately mansion designed for the accommodation of the National Congress, though he had not drawn plans for its construction. Its planner, Mr. Hallet, was appointed assistant superintendent and draughtsman.

    Mr. Hoban also superintended the construction of the President’s House as steadily as workmen and material permitted. Opportunities like that recorded below had to be availed of in order to obtain proper material, as we find that on July 31, I79 3, the Commissioners notified Mr. Hoban: 

 

“We find from newspapers, and it is confirmed by other information, that a Spanish vessel with a considerable quantity of mahogany is captured and carried into Norfolk. We wish you to proceed thither, examine the mahogany, and if it is suitable quality, purchase what may be necessary at least for the President’s House (if the price be not too high), and if due consideration is had to the quality and the circumstances of ready payment, you will use your discretion also to purchase what may be necessary for the Capitol.”[Letter, Vol. I]. 

 

In January (21-31) 1794, the Commissioners desired and empowered Mr. James Hoban, on application ofmechanics, to permit them to set up temporary wooden houses for the accommodation of workmen as probably, without a great increase of such,accommodations for workmen will be much wanted early in the spring, but he is to be careful not to sufier such houses to be set up for different purposes under pretense of their being for the use of workers (p. 223).

    In April (15-21) Cornelius McDermott Roe’s proposal to do the mason work of the Capitol was referred to Mr. Hoban with power to contract with him on the best terms (p 238).

    On December 12, the Commissioners, Carroll, Scott, and Thornton, desired to know the cost to next January of the President’s House and the Capitol, Canal Bridge and Causeway, Logs, Wharves, Stone and Slate Quarries. He made a report, but the Board, January 8, I795, notified him: “Your report appears to comprehend only the last part of the reference to you. The Commissioners desire, without delay, to make report on the several other matters which were mentioned.”

    On March 25, 1795, Mr. Hoban submitted a report showing the advisability of enclosing the Capitol. He was authorized to procure the necessary material for making said enclosure.

    On April 2, I795, the Commissioners made a contract with Cornelius McDermott Roe, Patrick McDermott Roe, and John Delahunty to do all the brick and stone work at the Capitol and President’s House for the present season. Cornelius pledged all his real property in Washington. He had had the contract a year before for the mason work of the foundations. John Kearney did the plastering on the Capitol when it had become so far completed. Surely these contractors were Catholics and natives of Ireland.

    Thus far in our investigations we have found that a Catholic was one of the Commissioners; that two Catholics planned the city; that a Catholic designed and built the President’s House and also superintended the erection of the Capitol, which three Catholics contracted to build, and another did the plastering, while Patrick Whalen dug the canal. Surely Irish Catholics seem to have had a goodly share in the foundation of the Capital City.