US 3¢ star-die #U26 tied blue NORFOLK / Va. // APR / 23 / 1861 dcds on fresh USPOD watermarked entire addressed to Edwd Wood Esq, Edenton, N.C. Scarce Independent State Use (only independent for 20 days), Ex Thayer. CCV $300. [VA] $300.

Hayes Planation (or Hayes Farm) is a historic plantation near Edenton, NC that belonged to Samuel Johnston (NC Governor 1787-89) and one of the states’ first two US Senators. The residence known as Hayes was completed by his son, James C. Johnston, a year after Samuel's death. There are numerous other structures on the property, some predating the Hayes house itself, including the Hayes Gatehouse, which James Johnston lived in prior to the construction of the Hayes house. James C. Johnston died a bachelor and left Hayes to his "friend and advisor" Edward Wood of Greenfield Plantation. Mr. Wood and his family moved to Hayes and members of the Wood family live there today. Wood developed it into his extensive farm and fishery properties at Edenton. It is still a working farm with numerous crops, including cotton, tobacco, peanuts and various grains.