Saturday, Nov.10th, the Franklin County Historical Society will conduct a ceremony to relocate the once missing grave stone of Revolutionary War Pvt. Martel LeSueur.
Saturday, Nov.10th, the Franklin County Historical Society will conduct a ceremony to relocate the once missing grave stone of Revolutionary War Pvt. Martel LeSueur. The stone was held by a Roanoke antiques dealer more than 30 years. After a period of wrangling, the dealer agreed about two months ago to turn the tombstone over to Franklin County Historical Society after they were able to prove the stone was shipped to the Henry Rail Road Station in the late 1920s. Interestingly, the stone was ordered from the federal government by Walter LeSueur Turner who was a member of Fincastle Resolutions Sons of American Revolution.
The effort to recover the tombstone attracted the attention of area news media because the antiques dealer advertised it for sale at auction. Then when he found out selling it was likely to incur federal charges, he took it off the market but still refused to turn it over for proper placement in the Prillaman-Turner Cemetery. Family members urged him to allow the Historical Society to obtain the stone. Once the agreement was made, Lynch Funeral Home employees Randy Sink and Jackie Spence retrieved the stone from Roanoke, and then placed it in the cemetery for the Historical Society. Since that time, other LeSueur family stones in the cemetery have been repaired and arrangements made for about 50 family members from several states to attend the dedication ceremony.
This tombstone is the federal military issue for Revolutionary War Pvt. Martel LeSueur. He was born 1761 in Powhatan County, VA. He entered service at age 16 or 17, serving two times as a substitute then drafted and then volunteering continually until 1781 when Cornwallis surrendered his army. He married Elizabeth Bacon in Chesterfield Co June 10, 1781. They lived for a time in Charlotte Co, Henry Co, Patrick Co, Grayson Co and finally Franklin Co where Martel died Aug. 10, 1843.
At the time of his death, LeSueur owned land adjacent to the cemetery where the stone has been placed and where the ceremony will be conducted. The ceremony will honor LeSueur’s military service to the emerging United States of America. Virginia's Old Carolina Road Chapter is serving as host for the program and will provide light refreshments. Franklin County High School JROTC will provide color guard.
To attend the service, Travel VA 40 W past Rocky Mount and Ferrum, to Henry Road/Va 605 (A&A Market at Crossroads). Turn left. Travel 3.9 miles to Nicholas Creek Road (highway sign obscured by brown Jamison Mill Park sign). Right turn. Cemetery is 4/10-mile on the right. Officers will be in place at the two turns beginning at 11 a.m.
Take a look at the photos taken at the service:
Set 1 -
Set 2 
