Reid's Ferry

Courtesy of Wayne Duncan. Hills and Hollers, My Mountain Home

1. K-250 Reid's Ferry Marker

Inscription. The village of the Nansemond Indians stood near here, 1608, when the region was first explored by the English settlers. These savages took part in the massacre of 1622, and in the war that followed their town was destroyed by Sir George Yeardley.

Erected by Conservation and Development Commission. (Marker Number K-250.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1608.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 36° 48.133′ N, 76° 34.675′ W. Marker was in Suffolk, Virginia. It was in Chuckatuck. It could be reached from Godwin Boulevard (Virginia Route 10). Location is an estimate (5.5 mi NW of Suffolk proper). Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Suffolk VA 23434, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally,

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this marker was in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Dumpling Island (approx. 1.2 miles away); Siege of Suffolk (approx. 3 miles away); James Bowser Plantation (approx. 3.1 miles away); Revolutionary Camp (approx. 3.3 miles away); Civil War Cavalry Skirmish (approx. 3.3 miles away); Nansemond Indian Villages (approx. 3½ miles away); a different marker also named Siege of Suffolk (approx. 3.6 miles away); St. John's Church (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Suffolk.

More about this marker.

History gets an update image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of The Sun.

2. History gets an update

Nine historical markers in Suffolk—two of which refer to Indians as “savages”—will be replaced next year. Under the new wording, approved by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources, the Dumpling Island and former Reid’s Ferry markers describe the area on the Nansemond River as “the ceremonial heart” of the Nansemond district. The marker replacement program is funded by federal transportation grant money, local governments and private sponsors. The Virginia Department of Transportation will review the marker sites before they are installed. —Regina Lightfoot” Dec 27, 1998 in The Sun, a part of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper.

A landmark named K-250 Reid’s Ferry was among the initial ones created when the Virginia Conservation and Development Commission began the historical marker program in 1927. The commission, a predecessor of the Department of Historic Resources (DHR), used designation symbols of “letter-and-number” and a title to name its landmarks.

Most likely erected between 1927 and 1928, K-250 Reid’s Ferry stood several decades before it was retired. But the symbol “K-250” was not. In 1998 it was assigned the title Nansemond Indian Villages (see nearby markers).

The background of K-250 Reid’s Ferry is hazy. For example, its original location and subsequent whereabouts are difficult to pinpoint. The marker was probably moved around, its inscription possibly revised, and its frame definitely refurbished. Evidence of this is illustrated chronologically in excerpts from 20th century publications describing the marker (see below).

Additionally, the marker and the “pre-updated” K-249 Dumpling Island had similar inscribed terminology. Both contained reference to “savages,” “1608,” and “the

K-250 Reid’s Ferry, 1931. image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc.

3. K-250 Reid’s Ferry, 1931.

The town of the Nansemond Indians stood near here when the region was first explored by the English, 1608. The savages took part in the massacre of 1622 and their town was destroyed by Governor Sir George Yeardley. Eight miles north of Suffolk —Virginia Highway Historical Markers, Fourth Edition (1931)

English”.

K-250 Reid’s Ferry, 1948. image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Virginia Department of Conservation and Development.

4. K-250 Reid’s Ferry, 1948.

The village of the Nansemond Indians stood near here, 1608, when the region was first explored by the English settlers. These savages took part in the massacre of 1622, and in the war that followed their town was destroyed by Sir George Yeardley. Nansemond County: 5.5 miles northwest of Suffolk —State Historical Markers of Virginia, Sixth Edition (1948)

K-250 Reid’s Ferry, 1985. image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission.

5. K-250 Reid’s Ferry, 1985.

The village of the Nansemond Indians stood near here, 1608, when the region was first explored by the English settlers. These savages took part in the massacre of 1622, and in the war that followed their town was destroyed by Sir George Yeardley. Suffolk (“old” Nansemond County): Route 10, 5.5 miles n.w. of Suffolk proper. —A Guidebook to Virginia’s Historical Markers, compiled by Margaret T. Peters (1985)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2020, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,187 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 20, 2020, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.