Near Boykins in Southampton County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Nat Turner’s Insurrection

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, September 27, 2009

1. Nat Turner's Insurrection Marker

Inscription. On the night of 21-22 August 1831, Nat Turner, a slave preacher, began an insurrection some seven miles west with a band that grew to about 70. They moved northeast toward the Southampton County seat, Jerusalem (now Courtland), killing about 60 Whites. After two days militiamen and armed civilians quelled the revolt. Turner was captured on 30 October, tried and convicted, and hanged 11 November; some 30 blacks were hanged or expelled from Virginia. In response to the revolt, the General Assembly passed harsher slave laws and censored abolitionists.

Erected 1991 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number U-122.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.

Location. 36° 37.143′ N, 77° 11.336′ W. Marker is near Boykins, Virginia, in Southampton County. Marker is on Maherrin Road (Virginia Route 35) south of Cross Keys Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker was south of Courtland and the Southampton Parkway (US Highway 58) and north of the town of Boykins near

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the North Carolina border. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Boykins VA 23827, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Thomaston (approx. 5½ miles away); a different marker also named "Thomaston" (approx. 5½ miles away); Nottoway Indian History (approx. 6.1 miles away); From Barter… To Buffer… (approx. 6.1 miles away); 1705 Nottoway Reservation (approx. 6.1 miles away); Blackhead Signpost Road (approx. 6.1 miles away); Dred Scott And The Blow Family (approx. 6.7 miles away); Buckhorn Quarters (approx. 6.7 miles away).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. These are other markers that pertain to the Nat Turner rebellion.

Also see . . .
1. PBS' Africans in America: Nat Turner. (Submitted on September 28, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
2. Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion. (Submitted on September 28, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
3. “Nat Turner” (song). Written by Joe DeFilippo and performed by the R.J. Phillips Band. (Submitted on August 5, 2019.)

Additional keywords. Southampton Insurrection; slave resistance; rebellion.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, September 27, 2009

2. Nat Turner's Insurrection Marker

view looking south.

Meherrin Road (VA 35) and the Nat Turner's Insurrection Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, September 27, 2009

3. Meherrin Road (VA 35) and the Nat Turner's Insurrection Marker

view looking north toward Cross Keys Road.

"The Discovery of Nat Turner" image. Click for more information.

Via Wikipedia Commons

4. "The Discovery of Nat Turner"

Wood engraving illustrating Benjamin Phipps's capture of Nat Turner (1800-1831) on October 30, 1831. The original print is in the Bettman Archive and was reproduced for Wikipedia from the Encyclopedia Virginia.
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 10,568 times since then and 266 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week August 21, 2016. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 28, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.