NC Business History - North Carolina Steamboats 1881

The steamboat transportation industry in North Carolina was much larger than previous reports. We have identified about 100 (at present) steamers plying North Carolina rivers, canals and sounds prior to 1861, with an additional 100+ such boats (excluding steamer flats and tugs) built and operating between 1861 and 1899. These lists are expected to grow. This comprehensive listing does not contain the occasional ocean-going steamship that once or only a few times on an irregular basis stopped at Wilmington or Smithville (now Southport) or other NC seaports. The intent is to list cargo and passenger steamers, not tugs. Note: There were many lighters — large flat-bottomed barges — that are not included in this list, as these vessels were not considered "Steam Boats" by contemporary sources. There is an exception for the Hamilton (1884) which had a iron or steel hull and was federally registered. Links are provided to some steamers to provide additional information and drawings/photos, where available. More information on specific steamers is constantly being added. Steamers in North Carolina from 1812 to 1849 (click link) are contained in this list. Steamers in North Carolina from 1850 to 1860 (click link) are contained in this list. Steamers in North Carolina from 1861 to 1880 (click link) are contained in this list. Steamers in North Carolina from 1881 to 1899 (click link) are contained in this list. Listing of Steamboats (Cargo and/or Passenger) on NC rivers and sounds (does not include tugs) Wheel types - P (sidewheel); W (stern or center); S (screw drive); Service - f (ferry)
Year Built	Name of Vessel	Wheel Type	Tons	Built In	First Home Port	NC River/Sound Routes/Dates	Final Disposition
1881	Bessie	S	23	Tottenville, NY	1888 - Wilmington, NC
1881	Conoho
1881	Diamond A
1881	Diamond C
1881	Glide
1881	Mountain Lily	P		French Broad		French Broad River	Abandoned 1885
1882	Bonito	S	33	Lenoxville, NC
1882	Cumberland (II)
1882	Florence	S	8	Vanceborough, NC	New Berne, NC		Swift Creek Line; J. M. Ipoch, captain, in 1896
1882	Kinston	P	97	New Berne, NC	New Berne, NC	Kinston - Trenton and various points	Neuse & Trenton Steamboat Co.
1882	L. H. Cutler	S	30	Swift Creek, NC	New Berne, NC	Kinston - Trenton and various points	Neuse & Trenton Steamboat Co.
1882	Lisbon (I)	W	67	Point Caswell, NC	Wilmington, NC	Black River	Damaged ice 1893; abandoned 1897
1882	Saugerties	P		NC		New Bern & Elizabeth City	Burned in 1903 in New York
1882	Wilmington	S	110	Wilmington, DE	Philadelphia, PA	Wilmington to Southport (1891 - )	Sold overseas, still was operating in 1977
1883	Beaufort	S	188	Washington, NC	Washington, NC	Tar River
1883	Bladen		100	NC		Cape Fear	Burnt 1885, rebuilt; burnt 1886
1883	Blanche (II)
1883	Charles
1883	Margie				Washington, NC	Tar River
1883	Meteor
1883	Plymouth	S	210	Norfolk, VA	Edenton, NC	Edenton - Plymouth
1884	Bettie (II)	P	64	Elizabeth City, NC
1884	Cleopatra
1884	Eva
1884	Eaglet		386			New Bern & Washington-Kinston, etc.	Sold to Clyde Line in 1891. Operating in 1896 as part of Eastern Dispatch Line between Newbern - Elizabeth City
1884	Excelsior	S	45	NC		Cape Fear; on Black River 1885	Burned April 1885, rebuilt
1884	Hamilton (steam barge; iron or steel hull)
1885	Delta	W	24	Delta, NC	Wilmington, NC	Northeast & Black Rivers	Boiler exploded 1887, rebuilt; served after 1889, unknown disposition
1885	Eva Parker
1885	Hercules
1885	R. L. Myers (II)	S	83	Washington, NC	Washington, NC	Tar River - Washington to Greenville, NC	Sold to Norfolk & Southern RR in 1905, dismantled in 1908.
1885	Seabright						Sank off Bald Head 1901
1886	J.C. Stewart			built for SC company

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