The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-08
HISTORIC MARKER
BROUGHT TO CITY
Stone Which May Have Stood
Over Powhatan's Grave Re-
moved From old Graveyard.
BEARS INDIAN DESIGNS
Later Used to Mark Resting
Place Of William Mayo, the
Surveyor.

Bearing inscriptions of more historic
value, probably. than any property of
its kind in Virginia. the famous pow
hatan" rock has been brought from
It's resting place In an old graveyard
on James River, below Richmond, and
is now IN possession of p. II. Mayo.
who proposes TO present 1t 10 the city
of Richmond. Aside from its historic
value MS bearing tile earliest traditions
OF the colonists OF Virginia, woven
around the life OF the Indian King,
Powhatan. and his princess daughter,
Pocahontas. the stone also has pc
culiar historic significance to Rich
mond. having been used 10 mark the
final resting place of William Mayo,
surveyor. who laid of the city OF Rich
mond at tho falls OF the James. and
the city of Petersburg at the falls OF
the Appomattpx. under direction OF
Colonel William Byrd OF MISSIONER
atayo's survey is to this day the basis
of all subdivisions OF the older part OF
the city. and frequent recourse is made
10 II In. examinations OF title and
transfers of property.
Has Ancient INSCRIPTIONS.
The stone bears the plain inscrIp-
tion: "Mayo--lI4o." The Significance
Of the date lies In tile fact that Rich
mond was not chartered until i742-
two years after the death OF the sur
vcyor, who did not live 10 sec tho
fruits Of his iabors. tHH M
Other portions of the stone show
traces of older Indian inscriptions.
probably cut with stone Instruments
before The date OF the landing at
jamestown in 1907. It is supposed TO
have marked the grave of the Indian
king Powhatan. or else to have been
set up BY the Indians to mark a place
OF assembly, gathering spot round
which various tribes rallied for war
like purposes.
Stonc Moved TO Itichmond.
Later the stone was taken to mark
the burying spot of the Mayo's, just
below Richmond The farm. except for
II small plot believed 10 have been the
burying ground has passed from the
Mayo family, and OH last Wednesday
T. H. Mayo. Mayor u. &. Richardson.
Judge Daniel GrInnan. DIR. St. George
Grinnan Thomas y. Carter. Bishop
Gibson and several others went down
TO the site 10 superlntend the removal
of the stone. Excavations were made
beneath st In the hope OF finding the
remains of the surveyor. who laid off
Richmond--thc founder OF tho Mayo
family In Virginia-so that he might
be given n fitting resting place in one
of the city cemeteries, but no trace
was found.
The stone was hauled to Mr. Mayo's
home on West Franklin Street He
will have it carefully cleaned and the
inscriptions examined by experts to
determine their historic value. Later
he will present 1t TO the city. and
plans will be formulated for Its per-
petual preservation.
Surveyor Mayo was known as a
friend Of Colonel william Byrd. OF
Wcstover. and it was he who suggest
the adyisability OF establishing trading
posts and towns at the falls of the
James and of the AppomattoX. at the
head OF navigation. 1t was his son who.
according to tradition. built the first
bridge over the James River, near the
site OF the present layos Bridgc--a
structure of logs rivited together. and
floated OIL pontoons. 1t is said that the
first bridge required two generations
to construct.