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.
Early Exploration. . 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.
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.)
Location. 37° 3.389′ N, 78° 28.778′ W. Marker is near Keysville, Virginia, in Charlotte County. Marker 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
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. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1156 Four Locust Hwy, Keysville VA 23947, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "Early Exploration".
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 24, 2021
2. Early Exploration Marker
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 192 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
