At this intersection, where Turner’s force had turned toward Jerusalem (now Courtland), the severed head of a black man was displayed on a post and left to decay to terrorize others and deter future uprisings against slavery. 1831, following the revolt led by enslaved preacher Nat Turner, white residents and militias retaliated by murdering an indeterminable number of African Americans-some involved in the revolt, some not-in Southampton County and elsewhere. Currently there are more than 2,600 official state markers, most maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, and by local partners in jurisdictions outside of VDOT’s authority.

Route 1, is considered the oldest such program in the nation. Virginia’s historical highway marker program, which began in 1927 with the installation of the first historical markers along U.S. The marker’s manufacturing costs were covered by its sponsor, Citizens Create Change. The marker was approved for manufacture and installation earlier this year by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources, which is authorized to designate new state historical markers. In 2021, the name was changed to Signpost Road. At the intersection where the marker is located, the severed head of a Black man, who may have been an enslaved blacksmith named Alfred-who was not implicated in any revolt killings-was placed on a post “to terrorize others and deter future uprisings against slavery,” the marker states. McEachin.įollowing Nat Turner’s revolt in August 1831, “white residents and militias retaliated by murdering an indeterminable number of African Americans,” according to the marker. Additionally, Sylvia Copeland, from the Office of Congressman Donald McEachin, will read a message from Rep. Renna Ebron, of Lambda Psi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Timothy Mays, of Franklin-Southampton Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and former chair of the Va. Board of Supervisors Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton Co. After the formal ceremony, attendees will visit the marker, located at the intersection of Route 35 and Meherrin Road in Courtland, to unveil the sign.Įvent speakers will include Carl Faison, of the Southampton Co. 11, beginning at 10 a.m., at Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 30188 Shiloh Road, Boykins (23827). The marker will be dedicated during a public ceremony on Saturday, Dec. RICHMOND – This weekend sponsors will dedicate a state historical marker issued by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources that highlights one legacy of enslaved preacher Nat Turner’s revolt in Southampton County, when after the uprising the severed head of a Black man was displayed on a post and left to decay, giving rise to the name of Blackhead Signpost Road, which was recently renamed. Contact: Randy Jones, Signpost Road was so named after the severed head of an enslaved man was set on a post and left to decay after Nat Turner’s revolt.

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