New Historic Markers placed and planned in Northampton

Photo attached:  Dedicated the marker were DAR District I Director Jane Amelon, Chapter Vice-Regent Julie Badger, Chapter Regent Katharine Lehman, project chair Gloria Bailey Johnson, and Jeff Holland, Executive Director of the CBBT.

Northampton County is expanding its efforts to preserve and share local history through the installation of several new historical markers. At its April meeting, the Northampton County Board of Supervisors approved three markers under the county’s new “Local Marker Program,” a legacy project of the Northampton Virginia250 Local Commission. The markers commemorate key moments and locations reflecting the Constitutional freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion, and are designed to encourage both residents and tourists to explore the county’s historical landscape.

The approved markers will recognize the 1652 Northampton Protest, the Quaker Meeting House in Franktown, and Shorter’s Chapel in Bridgetown. Each was submitted through individual applications and will be fabricated by a foundry before being placed at their designated locations.

The marker for the 1652 Northampton Protest, submitted by Dr. David Scott, will read: “1652 PROTEST – First organized protest in Colonies against taxation without representation in response to poll tax at nearby tavern, March 1652.” It will be placed at the entrance of Chatham Vineyards.

Luke Kelley submitted the application for the Quaker Meeting House marker, which reads: “FIRST QUAKERS – South of here was the first Quaker Meeting House on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, built in the late 1600s on Meetinghouse Creek.” The marker will be installed near the historic Franktown Town Hall.

The Shorter’s Chapel marker, submitted by Mandy Giddens and Annie Hess, reads: “SHORTER’S CHAPEL – A.M.E. Church worship began circa 1866 by Rev John Offer in the Freedman’s Bureau Bridgetown school. Church additions added 1883–1886.” It will be placed at the church site in Bridgetown.

Applications for additional markers may be submitted by individuals or groups following the guidelines provided on the county’s website. While these markers are separate from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources program, they offer a more accessible way to commemorate significant local people, places, and events. National Historical Marker Day will be observed on April 25, 2025, and residents are encouraged to participate by gently cleaning existing historical markers.

In addition to the county’s initiative, the Northampton County Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recently installed a separate historical marker through a nationally competitive grant from the Pomeroy Foundation. The marker honors local Revolutionary War efforts and reads: “LOCAL PATRIOTS – In 1776, county officials took an oath of fidelity to Virginia and provided men, food, and supplies during the fight for independence despite the threat of privateers.” The marker is located at the entrance of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Southern Gateway Welcome Center at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

The installation ceremony drew more than fifty attendees and featured remarks from CBBT Executive Director Jeff Holland, DAR member Gloria Bailey Johnson, and DAR District I Director Dr. Jane Amelon. The Children of the American Revolution’s Battle of the Barges Chapter participated in the unveiling.

In other historic marker news, the marker honoring the life of Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup was officially placed this week on Route 13 in Nassawadox.

The Pomeroy Foundation, established in 2005, supports historical preservation through grants for roadside markers and plaques. The organization has funded over 2,600 historical markers across the United States. More information about their grant programs can be found at www.wgpfoundation.org.