The Eastern Shore 1850

The only contagious diseases that have prevailed in my district during the past year, are the mumps and whooping cough; the latter of which has proved fatal in few instances. My district is situated in an exceedingly level section of country, extremely well-adapted for railroads, which may here be constructed at less expense than perhaps in any other part of the United States.

It has long sustained the reputation abroad, of being very unhealthy, in so much that strangers regard it as a sort of death spot. But its exceeding healthiness for the last six years has contributed greatly to retrieve its character in that respect. Indeed, I believe it to be as healthy as any part of Virginia, which is not mountains. It is true, that the mortality on this Shore in bye-gone days was very great, but that, I think, was owing more to the luxurious and Epicurean style of living which then prevailed than to the climate. For now, when terrapin and oyster suppers and bacchanalian carousals have become less frequent, a very decided improvement in the health of the Peninsula has taken place; which is likely to increase as the Sons of Temperance are making very strenuous and successful efforts to do away the use of intoxicating liquors, that well known source of disease and premature death.

The District is free from rocks, and contains but little timber adapted to ship building purposes. However there is enough, that is useful for building small schooners; and also the erection of dwelling houses. The most common tree [is the] common pine, which grows very rapidly, the leaves of which are much [used for] making beds for hogs and cattle. And when decomposed and compounded [with] other substances make a very excellent manure, and is very generally used. There is a sea grass, denominated among us "sea oats," which has also been found to be highly useful as fertilizer of the soil owing to the salt [with] which it is very strongly impregnated, our lands requiring manure of [this] character. This grass is washed in great abundance to our bay and ocean. It is also much used in our ice houses for covering ice, which it has the [illegible] of preserving. Marl & ore is unknown on the Eastern Shore. Much lime, however, is manufactured from the shells of the oysters which abound in our waters. This when combined with vegetable matter, has proved highly beneficial to our lands, which from long continued cultivation, need renovating. Some foreign manures have been used by our farmers, but those that have acted most beneficially are Chappels Chemical Salts and Peruvian Guano. Our soil is not very well adapted to wheat, it not being stiff enough, and consequently but little is grown among us. But vast quantities of corn, oats and sweet potatoes are produced, the latter which constitutes our most profitable crop.

My district boasts the honor of a battle during the last war, in which our arms gained a decisive victory, and also a naval engagement during the Revolution off Tangiers, against a party of the British fleet, on the side of the "Mother country," and a few small boats on that of the United Colonies, commanded by the brave and patriotic Commodore Whaley, who fell in that engagement mortally wounded. He now sleeps in a private graveyard in Onancock. Formerly a weeping willow marked this last resting of this hero, but now that too, has fallen and decayed.

There are a great many water courses in my District. It also includes some islands distant some twenty miles from the main land, which renders it very inconvenient for one engaged in taking the Census, and protracts his labors.

The county in which my district lies is called Accomac, from a tribe of Indians, that once inhabited it, denominated Accawmacks, which in the Indian language signifies "fish-eaters." In times past many relics of this peculiar race were excavated such as arrow heads, tomahawks, pipes &c.

John H. Snead, Assistant Marshall of St. George's Parish, Accomac Co., E. shore, Va.