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 [log in to unmask] ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html