Tinbridge Hill in Lynchburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Uncle Sawney
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 14, 2021
Uncle Sawney (died 1839) was the legendary ferryman of Lynch's Ferry, which crossed the James River near the present Ninth Street Hill.
Judging by Senator John Warwick Daniel's remarks in his Lynchburg Centennial Address in 1886, Uncle Sawney was a cantankerous local "character" who hobbled about on one leg, having been wounded in the American Revolution while serving, with Lynch's Militia at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. He was noted for his homespun philosophy, his sharp tongue, and his fiddle playing.
His hand-carved gravemarker is near the fence to the west by the exit driveway.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Industry & Commerce • War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 37° 24.87′ N, 79° 9.351′ W. Marker is in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is in Tinbridge Hill. Marker can be reached from Taylor Street, 0.1 miles north of 4th Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Taylor St, Lynchburg VA 24501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jennie Hicks (here, next to this marker); Unmarked Graves (here, next to this marker); Daniel Butler (within shouting distance of this marker); Elizabeth Gavino Hubert Lushington (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Sawney Early, Malinda Speece, and Their Descendants (within shouting distance of this marker); Virginia M. Cabell Randolph (within shouting distance of this marker); John and Rachel Kinkle (within shouting distance of this marker); "Col'd" Gravestones (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lynchburg.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 14, 2021
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 237 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 18, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.