The Lett Settlement

Side A: Near this location stood the settlement of African American families known as “The Lett Settlement.” The Lett Settlement was a self-sustaining community of mixed race families, including the Caliman, Guy, and Lett families. The families had formed ties through marriage and common background during the mid-1700s in Virginia and Maryland. These early African American pioneer families came to Ohio as “free people of color,” and began acquiring land in Meigs Township, Muskingum County, and surrounding townships in adjacent counties during the 1820s. They were soon joined by the Brown, Clifford, Earley, Simpson, Tate, and Pointer families. The families of the Lett Settlement were land owners and tax payers in Ohio before the Civil War and challenged the State of Ohio for the right to vote and for access to education during the 1840s, 1850s, and 1860s. (Continued on other side) Side B: (Continued from other side) Descendants of the Lett Settlement families are located throughout southeastern Ohio and many other places around the United States. Their history in America reflects the pursuit of freedom dating from the English Colonial Period in Maryland and Virginia to the pioneers in Ohio and many other states. The Lett Settlement families’ ancestry includes African American scientist Benjamin Banneker from Maryland and Ohio pioneer Revolutionary War Veteran Basil Norman. The Lett Settlement produced Underground Railroad operatives Joshua Simpson and Tom and Maria Pointer, abolitionist writers Lloyd Guy and David Lett, attorneys J.R. Clifford and James H. Guy, and many others. Numerous names of the Lett Settlement families can be found among Civil War Veterans from Ohio who served with the 5th and 27th United States Colored Troops Regiments.