Dismal Swamp Canal Company

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The Dismal Swamp Canal, which connects Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound, was proposed as early as 1763 when George Washington and five associates formed the "Adventurers for Draining the Great Dismal Swamp." This company abandoned the project as economically unfeasible. In 1784, the Dismal Swamp Canal Company was created. On December 1, 1787, the Virginia Assembly passed an "Act for cutting a navigable canal ..." Digging of the canal finally began in 1793. Most of the work was done by the slaves of nearby landowners. It took twelve years for the twenty two mile waterway to be dug.

Robert Andrews, Thomas Newton, Jr., John Cowper, Daniel Berdinger and Donald Campbell were directors of the company in 1794.

From the guide to the Dismal Swamp Canal Company Records, 1792-1834., (John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Whittle, Conway, 1800-1881. Papers, 1773-1911, 1801-1867. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Hagley Museum and Library. Regional Economic History Research Center. Map project data files, Transportation in the Middle Atlantic States, 1750-1860. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Virginia. Board of Public Works. Dismal Swamp Canal Company records, 1816-1871. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Dismal Swamp Canal Company Records, 1792-1834. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Dismal Swamp Canal Company. Dismal Swamp Canal Company papers [manuscript] 1794-1855. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Dismal Swamp Canal Company. Records, 1792-1834. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Dismal Swamp Canal Company. Papers, 1794-1854. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Collection of lottery tickets from Dr. B. Randolph Wellford's collection [manuscript] 1767-1887. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Allmand family. Papers, 1796-1891. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Allmand family. Papers, 1796-1891. Section 6. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Dismal Swamp Lottery Ticket, ca. 1825 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Smith, William Loughton, 1758-1812. William Loughton Smith papers, 1774-1834. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Anderson, Robert, b. 1781. Papers of Robert Anderson and Alexander Macaulay, 1770-1858. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Byrd, John,. John Byrd papers, 1794-1855 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allmand family. family
associatedWith Allmand family. family
associatedWith Anderson, Robert, b. 1781. person
associatedWith Andrews, Robert, fl. 1794. person
associatedWith Berdinger, Daniel. person
associatedWith Berdinger, Daniel. person
associatedWith Byrd, John, person
associatedWith Campbell, Donald, fl. 1794. person
associatedWith Cowper, John, fl. 1794. person
associatedWith Fairless, Joseph A. person
associatedWith Fairless, Joseph A. person
associatedWith Hagley Museum and Library. Regional Economic History Research Center. corporateBody
associatedWith Newton, Thomas, 1742-1807. person
associatedWith Parks, Marshall. person
associatedWith Smith, William Loughton, 1758-1812. person
associatedWith Stallings, Fruzy. person
associatedWith Stallings, Fruzy. person
associatedWith Virginia. Board of Public Works corporateBody
associatedWith Whittle, Conway, 1800-1881. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Dismal Swamp (N.C. and Va.)
United States
Dismal Swamp Canal
South Mills (N.C.)
Dismal Swamp Canal (N.C. and Va.)
North Carolina
Dismal Swamp (N.C. and Va.)
Deep Creek (Va.)
Dismal Swamp (N.C. and Va.)
Virginia
Dismal Swamp Canal (N.C. and Va.)
Virginia
North Carolina
Subject
Canals
Canals
Canals
Canals
Conveyancing
Conveyancing
Inland water transportation
Land use
Land use
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1794

Active 1854

Information

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