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

The Letcher Overlook

Photographed by Craig Doda, July 26, 2020

1. The Letcher Overlook Marker

Inscription. Looking through the trees across the Ararat River you will see the grave site of William Letcher, an American patriot. William Letcher was born about 1750, and died in 1780 at the hands of a Tory by the name of "Nichols", who was later apprehended and paid the supreme price for his crime. Mr. Letcher was the maternal great-grandfather of General Stuart, and his is the oldest marked grave within Patrick County. In 1778, he married Elizabeth Perkins, and a daughter Bethenia was born to the couple in 1780. The couple built a home nearby, whose exact location is yet to be determined by an archaeological investigation. Nearby is a discontinuous hedge of boxwood plants, which according to oral tradition were planted by Elizabeth Pannill Stuart, the mother of General Stuart. These hedges may mark the original location of the Letcher home which may have been occupied by the Stuart family during the construction of the Laurel Hill home, and again occupied following the disastrous fire which destroyed the Stuart home during the winter of 1847-48. You may visit the Letcher grave site by returning to the Ararat Highway, turn left

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and cross Clark's Creek. A short distance later turn left on Letcher Lane and proceed to the end of the state maintained road, turn left and park adjacent to the grave site.

Erected 1999.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1750.

Location. 36° 33.883′ N, 80° 33.267′ W. Marker is in Ararat, Virginia, in Patrick County. It can be reached from Ararat Highway (Virginia Route 773) 0.3 miles south of State Line ROad ( Route 617), on the right when traveling south. On the grounds of Laurel Hill - Birthplace & Boyhood Home Of J.E.B. Stuart. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1091 Ararat Hwy, Ararat VA 24053, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Virginia

and in the Blue 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

Photographed by Craig Doda, July 26, 2020

2. The Letcher Overlook Marker

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 walking distance of this marker: The Slave Graveyard (within shouting distance of this marker); Native Americans At Laurel Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); The Stuart Kitchen (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Battle of Yellow Tavern (about 500 feet away); Mountain Road (about 500 feet away); The Death of Col. Henry Clay Pate (about 500 feet away); Beaver Dam Station (about 500 feet away); May 1864, Union Overload Campaign (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ararat.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. William Letcher Grave

The Letcher Overlook image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, July 26, 2020

3. The Letcher Overlook

The William Letcher Grave image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, July 26, 2020

4. The William Letcher Grave

On the grounds of the William Letcher Home Site.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 219 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 19, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.