ORIGIN OF THE MARSH - NATURAL OR MAN-MADE? 



Possible natural origin 



Whether the original marsh was of human or natural origin 

 may never be known unless historical research uncovers some 

 account from the early period of settlement. It is clear, however, 

 that a much larger grassy wetland once existed. 



In 1762 a land company of which George Washington became a 

 member purchased 40,000 acres in the Dismal, and the following 

 year he explored the area on horseback. Washington made the notes 

 below on October 15, 1763: 



"From Mossey Swamp to a branch, and a large one it 

 is, of Oropeake (not less than 80 yards over) is reckoned 

 4 miles; two miles short of which is a large plantation 

 belonging to one Brindle , near to which (on the south 

 side) passes the Carolina line. 



The Main Swamp of Oropeake is about i a mile 

 onwards from this, where stands the Widow Norflets , 

 Mi & Luke Sumner's plantations . This swamp cannot he 

 less than 200 yards across, but does not nevertheless 

 discharge as much water as Cypress Swamp, 



At the mouth of this swamp is a very large meadow 

 of 2 or 3000 acres, held by Sumner, Widow Nor f let, 

 Marmaduke Norflet , Powel and others, and valuable ground 

 it is. 



From Oropeake Swamp to loosing swamp is about 2 

 miles, and this 70 yards across." 



In several other letters Washington mentions his private 

 land purchases in the Dismal, in addition to his 10% holdings 

 in the Company (Washington 1784) . He refers to a purchase from 

 Marmaduke Norfleet, presumably the same person he listed as one 

 of the owners of the large marsh (Washington 1794) , and else- 

 where mentions sharing a half interest in land with a Mr. 

 Norfleet's father (Washington 1784). It is not clear from his 

 letters what use Washington made of the property. 



McClenny (1933) says that George and John Washington owned 

 a plantation in Gates County and that "there had been a large 

 field cleared in the swamp and that rice was attempted to be 

 grown on a commercial scale." 



It would have been not at all uncharacteristic of an 

 enterprising planter like Washington to experiment with a rice 

 plantation in the marsh that he found in Dismal Swamp in 1763. 



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