Research Topic

Canal

An important highway and shipping lane, the C&O Canal was an imperative part of everyday life for many eastern Jefferson County, WV families. Explore its impact from Shepherdstown to Harpers Ferry.

This topic appears in 101 indexed records between 1823 and 1919.
101 Indexed Records
1823 Earliest Record
1919 Latest Record
Harpers Ferry Strongest Location
Explore Records

Explore Records

November 18, 2025

Freshet in the Potomac

GREAT FRESHET IN THE POTOMAC.– The rains of last week melting the masses of snow on the Alleghany Mountains caused a sudden and heavy freshet in the Potomac River. The water rose higher than at any […]
September 12, 2025

Flanagan; Knott ask Canal Board Not to Raise Limestone Tolls

PROCEEDINGSof theCHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL COMPANY. […] Mr. J. P. Ingle presented a memorial from Easby & Hanly, and one from James Flanagan and Samuel Knott, asking that the rate of tolls for the transportation of […]
November 18, 2025

Laborers In Distress; Lowered Wages Less Work

WORKING MEN, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT? — The Hagerstown Torchlight says that “the laborers on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, west of Harper’s Ferry, at the commencement of that work received $1.25 a day — […]
October 19, 2025

Disturbances on the Canal

DISTURBANCES ON THE CANAL.A correspondent of the National Intelligencer writing from Clear Spring, under the date of 31st August, thus speaks of the measures adopted by the military who have marched to the line of the […]
July 28, 2025

Riot On The Canal

RIOT ON THE CANAL.– The Hagerstown Herald of Freedom states that a riot on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal occurred in Washington county, about 58 miles above Hancock. The fight took place between the German and […]
Time Periods

Time Period Concentration

This topic appears most frequently during the following decades.

1830s 42 records
1890s 13 records
1850s 5 records
1880s 5 records
1840s 4 records
1820s 3 records

Timeline Help

A chronological listing of historical events which may have affected the lives of residents in eastern Jefferson County and surrounding areas.
1Where is this information from?
The vast majority of these accounts are taken from newspaper articles of local papers of the time period.
2How can I apply this information to my own research?

We use this timeline to help us understand the events that may have affected or shaped a person's life. Here are some ideas as to how this timeline may help your further your own research:

  • View events that may have affected a particular ancestor or their family members.
  • Uncover events which an ancestor may have participated in, leading to more sources of information.
  • Discover more about the history and culture of the area in which an ancestor lived.
  • Evaluate possible concerns and popular pastimes of an ancestor.
3I want to view a timeline of events in a specific area.
Click on "Location" in the "Filter by" bar. This will drop down a list of locations which currently have happenings in the timeline. Clicking on a location will show only events related to that specific area. Note that clicking on a county or state will show all happenings related to any location within that county (and any county within a state).
4I want to see timeline items between two years.
Click on "Years" in the "Filter by" bar. This will drop down a form which accepts a starting year and an ending year. Filling out both fields will display timeline items which took place in and between the two years. Filling out only one field will display all timeline items beginning at or ending on the years inputted.