First Stop: Edenton Harbor on the Maritime Underground Railroad

Edenton Harbor in North Carolina is the first harbor stop in my middle-grade book, where two enslaved children escape with their free Black father on the Maritime Underground Railroad in 1834. Edenton Harbor, where the Chowan River meets Albemarle Sound near the Great Dismal Swamp, thrived on timber, agriculture, and fishing. It was the second most important U.S. harbor during the Colonial period until a hurricane closed Roanoke Inlet in 1795. The Chowan River, a blackwater river, flows through forested swamps and wetlands, producing clear, dark water. Tannins from decaying plants color the river and help purify it, benefiting the seaport. Ocean-crossing ships could use the Chowan’s water because it stayed fresh longer than other sources.

Between 1810 and 1860, Edenton Harbor played an important role in boat repair, shipping lumber and farm products, and supporting the fishing industry. Both free and enslaved Black people were essential to these businesses. For example, enslaved craftsmen repaired and rebuilt wooden ships to keep them sailing, while enslaved women sold fish, oysters, stew, and cornbread to sailors and did laundry for ships at the docks. Many enslaved ferrymen also carried passengers and goods along the river from local docks.

The maritime industry fostered a network of informants, messengers, and go-betweens who aided escapes from slavery, making the Maritime Underground Railroad possible. One well-known abolitionist, Harriet Jacobs, born in Edenton, escaped enslavement in 1835 on the Maritime Underground Railroad.