William Letcher's grave is the oldest in Patrick County, VA. He was killed by a British Tory at his doorstep in 1780. He was the great-grandfather of Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, who was born on the family farm called Laurel Hill.
William Letcher was born in 1750 and married Elizabeth Perkins about 1778. The home was located on the Ararat River. At the height of the Revolutionary War, Letcher a militia officer was murdered at his home by one "Nichols" a local Tory sympathizer.
William and Elizabeth Letcher were parents of one daughter, Bethenia, born March 21, 1780. Later, Bethenia married David Pannill in Pittsylvania County. This marriage produced 2 children, Elizabeth Letcher Pannill and William Letcher Pannill. Elizabeth Pannill later married Arhibald Stuart and became the mother of J. E. B. Stuart.
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