Elizabeth River

Portsmouth County · dedicated 1958 · Crawford Parkway, at Court Street

The Elizabeth River, explored by Captain John Smith in 1608, was named for Princess Elizabeth. Shipbuilding activity began in 1620 when John Wood, a shipbuilder, requested a land grant. Many historic ships were built at the naval shipyard here, including the USS Delaware, first ship dry-docked in America, and CCS Virginia, (Ex-Merrimac), first ironclad to engage in battle.

John Carter Brown Library, Brown University

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under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

what this marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years here

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