Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Saponi Religious Beliefs Explained

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

1. Saponi Religious Beliefs Explained Marker

Inscription. On 12-15 October 1728, Col. William Byrd II and his party camped just west of here while surveying the Virginia-North Carolina boundary. Bearskin, Byrd's Saponi guide, described his tribe's religious beliefs, which, wrote Byrd in his diary, contained "the three Great Articles of Natural Religion: the Belief of a God; the Moral Distinction betwixt Good and Evil; and the Expectation of Rewards and Punishments in another World." Bearskin's religion also included a Hindu-like belief in reincarnation.

Erected 1987 by Department of Conservation and Historic Resources. (Marker Number L-53.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1728.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 36° 32.458′ N, 79° 27.922′ W. Marker was in Danville, Virginia. It was at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Danville Expressway (U.S. 58), on the right when traveling north on U.S. 29. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Danville VA 24541, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Southside Virginia

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Pittsylvania County Confederate Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Rockabilly Pioneer Janis Martin (approx. 1.2 miles away); Schoolfield School (approx. 2.9 miles away); Schoolfield (approx. 3 miles away); Schoolfield Welfare Building (approx. 3 miles away); Site of the Schoolfield Recreation Center (approx. 3.1 miles away); Garden of Peace (approx. 3.3 miles away); Ballou Park History (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.

US 29 & US 58 (facing north) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

2. US 29 & US 58 (facing north)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,717 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 16, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.