News
A new C&O Canal Historical Documents section of our website is devoted to resources for everyone wishing to learn about the canal's history. The initial contents of the section include: family histories; documents concerning canal boat registration; and compilations of canal boat mortgages. All were recently written or transcribed by William Bauman, a C&OCA member and a volunteer with the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
The family histories provide biographical and genealogical information about people who helped to make the C&O Canal an important artery of transportation, serving in such positions as boat owners, boatmen, captains, and lockkeepers. The histories are illustrated by multiple photographs.
The boat registers offer a window into the working operations of the C&O Canal during certain years from 1851 to 1880. The varied information that they provide include such data as the boats' names, date of registration, dimensions, hauling place, captains, and ownership. The mortgages, dating between 1857 and 1873, provide information on the ownership, financing, and operation of many canal boats.
These interesting documents are useful reference material, and others like them will be added as they become available.
