This is a long shot but possibly helpful.  The records of the U.S. customs service at the National Archives(record group 36) includes registers of seamen's protection certificates and copies of some of the actual certificates.  They decline dramatically in number after the War of 1812, but they continued to be issued until mid-19th century.  If you'll contact me offlist ([log in to unmask]) with more detail, I may be able to supply more information.

Al Tillson

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Nicholls
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 9:55 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VA-HIST] Virginia Port data

I am tracing the work of some free men of color, owners or operators of watercraft on the James and lower Appomattox Rivers. I have found some arriving and departing from Petersburg, Norfolk and Richmond through the shipping news sections of newspapers, especially after about 1810. Does anyone know if anyone has created a databank of shipping to and from VA ports in the early national era; or if there are records extant of Virginia ports, either at the state or national level? Thanks--Mick

Michael L. Nicholls
Professor of History, Emeritus
Dept. of History
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-0710

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