Moss Neck in Caroline County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Third Lederer Expedition
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2009
1. The Third Lederer Expedition Marker
Inscription.
The Third Lederer Expedition. . In 1669 and 1670, German-born John Lederer led three expeditions to explore Virginia’s Piedmont and the Carolinas that encouraged further European exploration. The third expedition began nearby at Robert Talifer’s house near the Rappahannock River on 20 Aug. 1670, Col. John Catlett, “nine English horse,” and five Indians accompanied Lederer. They reached the junction of the Rappahannock River and the Rapidan River two days later and followed the former inland. At the river’s headwaters they approached the Blue Ridge Mountains and reached the summit of one of its peaks on 26 Aug. From there they viewed the Shenandoah Valley, then returned the same way they had come.
In 1669 and 1670, German-born John Lederer
led three expeditions to explore Virginia’s
Piedmont and the Carolinas that encouraged
further European exploration. The third
expedition began nearby at Robert Talifer’s
house near the Rappahannock River on 20
Aug. 1670, Col. John Catlett, “nine English
horse,” and five Indians accompanied Lederer.
They reached the junction of the Rappahannock
River and the Rapidan River two days later
and followed the former inland. At the river’s
headwaters they approached the Blue Ridge
Mountains and reached the summit of one of
its peaks on 26 Aug. From there they viewed
the Shenandoah Valley, then returned the
same way they had come.
Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number N-8.)
Location. 38° 13.296′ N, 77° 18.138′ W. Marker is in Moss Neck, Virginia, in Caroline County. Marker is on U.S. 17 just north of Ware Creek Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rappahannock Academy VA 22538, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker replaced an earlier marker erected by 1932 with the same name and number that read “The explorer John Lederer and his companions started near here in August 1670 on their way to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lederer was one of the first to explore the Piedmont north of the James River.”
Also see . . . The Discoveries of John Lederer. According to this essay by Walt Smith, Lederer was looking for a route to the Indian Ocean. “Having failed to find a passage in Southern Virginia, and perhaps part of Carolina, by late summer Lederer was ready to
try again, in the northern part of the colony. ‘On the twentieth of August 1670, Col. Catlet of Virginia and my self, with
nine English horse, and five Indians on foot, departed from the house of one Robert Talifer, and that night reached the
falls of Rappahanock-river,
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2009
2. The Third Lederer Expedition Marker
in Indian Mantapeuck (near today’s Fredericksburg). The next day we passed it over where it
divides into two branches north and south (fork with the Rapidan), keeping the main branch north of us. The three and
twentieth we found it so shallow, that it onely wet our horses hoofs. The four and twentieth we travelled thorow the
Savanae amongst vast herds of red and fallow deer which stood gazing at us; and a little after, we came to the
Promontories or spurs of the Apalataean-mountains.’ After four days of traveling, the party had reached what is today,
Rappahannock County. Lederer describes how beautiful was the sight of the Savanae, an area with marshes and
waterfalls beyond, created by melting snow, beginning about the first of June. ‘Their verdure is wonderful pleasant to the
eye, especially of such as having travelled through the shade of the vast forest, come out of a melacholy darkness of a
sudden, into a clear and open skie... and flowry meads.’ ” (Submitted on September 20, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,767 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 20, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
