Near Keysville in Charlotte County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Early Exploration

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 24, 2021

1. Early Exploration Marker

Inscription. Abraham Wood, a trader and militia commander, commissioned Thomas Batte and Robert Hallom to explore the Appalachian Mountains in 1671. Their objective was to search the western slopes for tidal rivers, an indication that the Pacific Ocean was nearby. The expedition left the vicinity of present-day Petersburg on 1 Sept. and passed through this area on 3 Sept. Guided first by Penecute, an Appomattox Indian, and later by Saponi and Totero Indians, Batte and Hallom became the first known Anglo-Virginians to cross the Appalachian Mountains. They reached a point about 260 miles west of Virginia's English settlements and believed they observed tidal waters before turning back.

Erected 2017 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number F-77.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1671.

Location. 37° 3.389′ N, 78° 28.778′ W. Marker is near Keysville, Virginia, in Charlotte

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County. It is on Four Locust Highway (Business U.S. 15/360) 0.1 miles north of Crouch Lane, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1156 Four Locust Hwy, Keysville VA 23947, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Four Locust Farm (approx. half a mile away); Keysville World War II Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Keysville Vietnam Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Keysville Korean Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Keysville (approx. 1.1 miles away); Campaign of 1781 (approx.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 24, 2021

2. Early Exploration Marker

1.7 miles away); Southside Virginia Community College (approx. 2 miles away); Old Briery Church (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Keysville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Early Exploration (has been replaced with this marker); a different marker also named Southside Virginia Community College (was approx. 2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "Early Exploration".

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 456 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.