Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Memorandums from John Baptist Ashe, James Iredell, and Hugh Williamson concerning George Washington's southern tour, including related map
Ashe, John Baptista, 1748-1802; Iredell, James, 1751-1799; Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819
1791
Volume 15, Pages 379-383

-------------------- page 379 --------------------
MEMORANDUM OF DISTANCES.
[Letters to Washington, Vol. 115, Page 127½]

[This memorandum was furnished for Washington's tour in 1791, but the data applies to the Revolutionary period. W. C.]

Distances.
Miles.
From Petersburg to Cabin Point
26
From Cabin Point to Smithfield
37
From Smithfield to Suffolk
22
85
From Suffolk to Riddick's
12
From Riddick's to Mitchel's
21
From Mitchell's to Edenton.
21
54
From Edenton across the Ferry
12
From Ferry to Jackson's
25
From Jackson's to Washington
20
From Washington to Curtis's Ferry
30
From Curtis's Ferry to New Bern
10
Exclusive of Ferry.
85
224
Distances.
Miles.
From Petersburg to Oliver's
28
From Oliver's to Hick's Ford
19
From Hick's Ford to Halifax
28
From Halifax to Tarborough
36
From Tarborough to Greenville
25
From Greenville to Blount Hall
16
From Blount Hall to Curtis's Ferry
30
From Curtis' Ferry to New Bern
10
192

MEMORANDUM FOR MAJOR JACKSON CONCERNING THE ROAD THROUGH NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

I am not acquainted with the road from Petersburg to Halifax, nor with that from Halifax, by way of Tarborough, to Newburn. but at Petersburg the best information can be obtained of the former and at Halifax of the latter.

Road from Newburn to Wilmington. The road I am best acquainted with between these two places, and which I believe is really the best, is, as nearly as I can recollect, as follows: It is usually called the Middle Road.

-------------------- page 380 --------------------
Distance
Miles.
From Newburn to Collier's (a tolerable house)
8
From Colliers to Trenton (I am not well acquainted with this stage)
12

Note: Within about three miles of Trenton lives one Clifton, who has a very small, indifferent house, but usually keeps good provender for horses.

Distance
From Trenton to Shines (one of the best)
9
From Shines to Mrs. Williams' (indifferent)
7
From Mrs. Williams' to at what they call the Chapel (indifferent)
4
From the Chapel to Foy's (but tolerable) I believe about
13
From Foy's to Sage's (a good stage)
19
From Sage's to Jennett's (indifferent), about
11
From Jennett's to Wilmington
17

WILMINGTON TO GEORGE-TOWN.

The accommodations on this road are, in general, very bad. It will be better to obtain at Wilmington fuller information than I can give. The Stages, such as they are, which I am acquainted with, are as follows:

Distance
Miles.
From Wilmington to Daniels, at Four Creek, (a very indifferent house indeed)
10
From Daniels to Rose's (also very indifferent)
16
From Ross's to William Gosse's (also very indifferent)
13
From Gosse's to the Boundary, no public house
10

Note.—A Mr. Dupree lives near this, a very obliging hospitable man, but who lived in a very small house when I was last there.

-------------------- page 381 --------------------
He did live at the Boundary House, which is a pretty good one, and I think he intended to go there again, but am not certain. It would be very desirable to rest some where about this place, on account of the distance necessary to go upon the next Stage, & the uncertainty as to the proper time of crossing the Long Bay. It may be proper to enquire here about a proper house to stop at next.

Distance
Miles.
From the Boundary to the Long Bay
14 or 15

Note.—One Varcer lived at this side, near the Long Bay, and a little out of the road, where a public house was formerly kept. But I believe there is none there now. The son lives at the house, which is a wretched one. But I believe there are one or two others on this side the Bay, tho' not public ones that I know of, nor am I at all acquainted with them.

It will be necessary to make enquiry as to the proper time of tide for crossing the Long Bay. It is a sand Beach on the Seaside, and at low water it is delightful to cross in; you ride about 14 miles upon it.

Distance
Miles.
Over the Long Bay to McGill's (a tolerable house.
15

After this I know none but private houses to Winyaw Bay.

Miles.
From McGill's to Mr. B. Mstons. (?)
11
B. Mstons. to Colo. Heriott's (on Winyaw Bay)
17

This gentleman is extremely respectable and hospitable, and is a man of large Fortune. He will undoubtedly meet the President long before he reaches his house, if he should go that way. I know not the way by the Common Ferry, nor what accommodations there are there.

Distance
Miles.
Across the Bay from Colo. Heriott's to George Town, about
2 or 3

There will be no doubt of your obtaining at George Town full information of the Road from there to Charleston, upon which the stages are better than before.

-------------------- page 382 --------------------

At Charleston there will be the fullest information of the Road to Savannah.

The Road from Savannah to Augusta I am not acquainted with.

The only Road from Augusta through South & North Carolina that I am acquainted with is Columbia and Camden in South Carolina and Fayetteville in North Carolina. But in general the accommodations are very wretched, and the country a very miserable one, and I don't doubt the upper road that goes through Charlotte and Salisbury in North Carolina (and which I am told the President intends taking) is preferable. Of that I can give no particulars.

From Petersburg, in Virginia, to Charleston, S. C., via Edenton, is 504 miles, to-wit:

Distance.
Miles.
From Petersburg to Suffolk
84
to Edenton
58
to Washington
60
to Newburn
40
242
to Newriver
60
to Wilmington
41
to Boundary House
40
to Georgetown
60
to Charleston
61
504

From Petersburg to Charleston, via Halifax, N. C., is 460 miles, to-wit:

Distance.
Miles.
From Petersburg to Oliver's Tavern.
26
to Hicks' Ford.
19
to Halifax, N. C
28
to Slaughter's Tavern
21
to Tarborough.
14
to Greeneville.
25
to Allen Tavern
11
to Curtis's Ferry.
1 22
to Newburn
10
to New river
61
to Wilmington.
40
-------------------- page 383 --------------------
to Boundary house
40
to Georgetown.
60
to Charleston.
60
437

Route from Richmond in Virginia to Edenton in North Carolina.

Distances.
Miles.
Richmond to Petersburg 25 miles, viz.:
Richmond to Osborne's.
15
Osborne's to Petersburg
10
25
Petersburg to Suffolk 81 miles, viz.:
Petersburg to Geary's
15
Geary's to Cabin Point
11
Cabin Point to McIntosh's
14
McIntosh's to Smithfield
19
Smithfield to Suffolk
22
81
Suffolk to Edenton 54 miles, viz.:
Suffolk to Riddick's
12
Riddick's to Mitchell's
21
Mitchell's to Edenton
21
54
Richmond to Edenton
160



Additional Notes for Electronic Version: This document appears to be a compilation of four memorandums written individually by Ashe, Iredell, and Williamson to either George Washington or William Jackson. The map may have been drawn by Williamson.