Laurel Park in Henry County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Patrick Henry’s Leatherwood Home

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 8, 2017

1. Patrick Henry’s Leatherwood Home Marker

Inscription. Once located to the south was Leatherwood, the plantation of Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia and great orator of the American Revolution. Henry is especially famous for his “Liberty or Death” speech made in 1775 in Saint John’s Church in Richmond. Henry initially purchased ten thousand acres of land lying on Leatherwood Creek, built a house, and lived there from 1779 to 1784. While residing there, Henry served in the Virginia General Assembly (1780–1784). He was elected governor of Virginia in November 1784 and moved to Chesterfield County that same year.

Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number U-40.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Churches & Religion • Communications • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1779.

Location. 36° 40.706′ N, 79° 46.66′ W. Marker is in Laurel Park, Virginia, in Henry County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 58 and Business U.S. 58, on the right when traveling east on U.S. 58. Can only bee seen

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from U.S. 58 eastbound lanes. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Martinsville VA 24112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Chatmoss (approx. 2 miles away); Continued Connections (approx. 3.3 miles away); Connecting Communities (approx. 3.6 miles away); Dry Bridge School (approx. 4.1 miles away); The Dick & Willie Passage (approx. 4.1 miles away); a different marker also named The Dick & Willie Passage (approx. 4½ miles away); Changing With Industry (approx. 4.8 miles away); DeShazo's "Silo" (approx. 5.1 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker replaced a marker with the same number and title erected most likely in the 1970s. This previous marker was on Chatham Road (Virginia Route 57) 0.1 miles east of Blue Knob Road (County Route 628).

That marker read, “Leatherwood, ¼ mile to the south, was the home plantation of Patrick Henry from June 1779 until December 1784, when he left to serve his fourth term as governor of Virginia. Henry was one of the largest landowners of the area and served five terms as a member of the House of Delegates from Henry County.”

There is another Commonwealth of Virginia marker with this same number but with no

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 8, 2017

2. Patrick Henry’s Leatherwood Home Marker

relation to this marker. The other U-40 marker is titled “Berry Hill” and is located on U.S. Business 58 at Challahan Hills.

Also see . . . Leatherwood Plantation. “Patrick Henry purchased Leatherwood and jointly owned it along with his first cousin, Ann Wilson Carr and her husband, George Waller. After Patrick Henry completed his first term as the first elected governor of Virginia in 1776, he moved to a brick home on Leatherwood plantation. There he grew tobacco and practiced law. In 1780, Henry County was named in his honor, and sent him back to the capital as their representative to the Virginia House of Delegates. Several of his children were born there during his residency.” (Submitted on June 19, 2017.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 25, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,013 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 19, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of the 1922 DAR plaque on a boulder near Leatherwood, on its own page. • Can you help?