Letter from John S. Boushell of Elizabeth City, NC to his son, Benjamin F. Boushell, 1861; also small history of the Boushell family in the shipbuilding business.
His narrative is the only known account of maritime life in North Carolina written by a former slave. Moses Grandy, born abt. 1786 in Camden Co., NC, was a ferryman and canal boat operator, trying to buy his freedom.
Abstracts include: Murder of James H. Gatling, brother of Richard J. Gatling, inventor of Gatling Gun 1879; Sgadric Brite, 52 hung self 1879; Abel Mann, 85, murdered someone 1879; post office at Newbegun, changed to Weeksville in honor of J. M. Weeks 1890.