DAR’s Ketoctin Chapter gives patriots a proper burial site

To the sharp crack of musket fire, the Ketoctin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution paid tribute to patriots Charles and Elizabeth “Betty” Lewis Carter with a celebration marking their restored graves at North Hill Estate, Berryville, on October 31.

The event marked the culmination of two years of historical research, fundraising, and restoration work after North Hill’s current owner, Tim Lindsey, discovered the blackened and cracked Carter graves, their brick burial vaults sunk into the ground. Upon learning of the graves and their condition from Lindsey, Ketoctin member Gina Blake called on the chapter for help.

“The preservation of the cultural American Revolutionary War heritage is one of the core objectives of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution,” Ketoctin Chapter Regent Kecia Brown told the event guests, including direct Carter descendant Victoria Daly. “So, we are proud to have played a role in helping repair and preserve this piece of not only Clarke County and Virginia history but also American history.”

Before acknowledging restoration supporters, Brown brought to life the storied past of the Carters and North Hill, which sits above the Shenandoah River at the Virginia Route 7 bridge crossing.

Charles and Betty Carter were descendants of several of America’s most renowned families and Revolutionary War patriots, including the Washingtons, Carters, Lewises, and Fieldings. Betty Lewis Carter (1765-1830) was the daughter of Fielding Lewis, a Revolutionary War officer and a relative of explorer Meriwether Lewis, best known for the Lewis & Clark expedition. Her mother, Betty Washington Lewis, was George Washington’s only sister to live to adulthood. Charles Carter (1764-1827) descended from Tidewater’s Robert “King” Carter, who, as agent to Lord Fairfax, accumulated vast wealth and lands. Charles’s relative and contemporary, George Carter, founded Oatlands Plantation and built the mansion there. 

Married in 1781, the Carters moved to North Hill in 1807, while Thomas Jefferson was serving as president, and remained there until 1813, when James Madison occupied the White House. 

Ken Fleming, Kecia Brown (Regent Ketoctin chapter), Virginia State Regent-LeAnn Turbyfill, and Tim Lindsey. 

“Later,” Kecia Brown explained, “the Carters lived for some time at Deerwood Plantation in Culpeper. Charles passed away and was buried there in 1827. Betty then moved to Audley Farm, the home of her brother, near North Hill. When she died in 1830, she was interred at North Hill where three of the Carters’ seven children had been buried. Eventually, Charles would be reinterred here in the 1960s.” 

Graves Restoration: When Lindsey and the DAR decided to restore the gravesites two years ago, they called on Kenneth Fleming, an eighth generation Loudoun County Virginian who has been recognized with numerous awards for his restoration work, including the graves of 100 veterans and their family members. 

Fleming set about restoring the marble capstones and reconstructing the vaults with local 18th century brick. He also erected monument stones in memory of the three Carter children buried there. And, with the help of Chase Schneider of Round Hill, Fleming restored and installed a wrought iron fence and gate. 

On behalf of the Ketoctin Chapter, Kecia Brown recognized Tim Lindsey and Ken Fleming with Excellence in Historic Preservation Certificates given to individuals who save and preserve local history. She also acknowledged the financial and/or in-kind contributions of Tim Lindsey, Kenneth Fleming, Ketoctin DAR chapter, the Bank of Clarke County, Loudoun Lumber, and Ketoctin member Carol Browning and her son, Jeff, of Browning Equipment. Tim Richards donated a 30-foot flagpole. 

A new DAR commemorative marker now adds to the historic significance of North Hill, which is listed on the National Registry and Virginia Registry of Historic Places for its association with the Civil War Battle of Cool Springs.

The Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) presented the colors, fired the musket salute, and played taps. Among the other ceremony participants were State Regent LeAnn Turbyfill and District VIII Director Margaret Stromberg; Ketoctin Chapter officers Nancy Watford, Gail Lataille, Joan Whitener, Stacey Bassett, Erin Smith, and Sandra Hodges; Stone Bridge Chapter Regent Sherryl Belinsky, Cameron Parish Chapter Regent Shawn Beyer, Fort Loudoun Chapter Regent Sara Boppe. The Sons of the American Revolution were represented by officers Bill Schwetke, Charles Jameson, Jim Simmons, Leamon Duncan, Ken Bonner, and Dale Corey. Chaplain Pat Brouwer gave the invocation. David Weiss represented the Clarke County Board of Supervisors, and Nancy Watford, Lindsey Hope, Melody Cavicchi, Joan Whitener, Susan Webber, and Linda Sittig served as hosts.

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