Near Spencer in Patrick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Frontier Fort

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 9, 2017

1. Frontier Fort Marker

Inscription.
About three miles north stood Fort Mayo, commanded by Captain Samuel Harris in 1756 and visited in that year by Washington. This fort was the southernmost of the line of stockade forts built from the Potomac River to North Carolina as a frontier defense in the French and Indian War.

Erected 1939 by Virginia Conservation Commission. (Marker Number U-32.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • War, French and Indian. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1756.

Location. 36° 36.206′ N, 80° 3.257′ W. Marker is near Spencer, Virginia, in Patrick County. It is at the intersection of Jeb Stuart Highway (U.S. 58) and Penn Store Road (County Route 629), on the right when traveling east on Jeb Stuart Highway. It is just west of the county line with Henry County. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Spencer VA 24165, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Virginia

and in the Blue

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Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Henry County / Patrick County (approx. 0.3 miles away); Reynolds Homestead (approx. 5.7 miles away); Col. Abram Penn (approx. 5.8 miles away); a different marker also named The Reynolds Homestead (approx. 5.9 miles away); Rock Spring Plantation (approx. 5.9 miles away); Plantation Kitchen (approx. 5.9 miles away); Creamery & Ice House (approx. 5.9 miles away); Tobacco Barn (approx. 5.9 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Colonel Abram Penn (was approx. 5.8 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Old Fort Mayo.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 9, 2017

2. Frontier Fort Marker

1996 essay by O. E. Pilson. “George Washington, then 24 years of age, visited the three Forts in October 1756. He spent at least one night at Fort Mayo and wrote several letters from here, which are yet in existence. He was rather critical of what he saw. After his reports were received at Williamsburg, the Colonial Government decided to permanently garrison only one of the forts. Fort Mayo was the one chosen.” (Submitted on June 21, 2017.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,124 times since then and 208 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.