Colonel Abram Penn

1743–1801

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 27, 2013

1. Colonel Abram Penn Marker

Inscription.
200 yards south is “Poplar Grove,” Penn’s old home and burial place. At age 21 he “won his spurs” leading a company under General Lewis at Point Pleasant. During 1780–81 he organized the first Revolutionary troops from Henry and adjoining counties, and led his regiment to aid General Greene in the battles of Guilford Court House and Eutaw Springs. He helped organize Patrick County.

Erected 1950 by Virginia Department of Highways. (Marker Number HD-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 36° 40.941′ N, 80° 5.495′ W. Marker was in Critz, Virginia, in Patrick County. It was at the intersection of Abram Penn Highway (County Route 626) and Kootes Mill Road (County Route 703), on the left when traveling north on Abram Penn Highway. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Critz VA 24082, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker was in Southern Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in 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 5 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Col. Abram Penn (here, next to this marker); Tobacco Barn (approx. 4.1 miles away); Family Cemetery (approx. 4.1 miles away); The Reynolds Homestead (approx. 4.2 miles away); Plantation Kitchen (approx. 4.2 miles away); Creamery & Ice House (approx. 4.2 miles away); Historic Home (approx. 4.2 miles away); Rock Spring Plantation (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Critz.

More about this marker. This is the only Virginia marker number in the “H” series. Abram Penn Highway was once a Virginia

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 27, 2013

2. Colonel Abram Penn Marker

primary route, Route 105, but in 1942—coincidental with the abandonment of the Danville and Western Railway through Critz—it was downgraded to secondary route 626. Is this marker located where it was originally erected? Both Peter’s 1985 and Salmon’s 1994 guidebooks both locate the marker in in Patrick County on US 58 1.86 miles S.E. of the Henry County line, except that Patrick County is west of Henry County, so “southeast” does not make any sense because the county east of Henry on US 58 is Pittsylvania, not Patrick. Arnold’s 2007 guidebook agrees with its present location.

Also see . . . Abram Penn. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 25, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,168 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 9, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of Poplar Grove and gravesite • Can you help?