The Legend of Anna Asbury Stone is a cherished story. Anna Asbury Stone was born in Virginia about 1748 to George and Hannah Hardwick Asbury. She married Reverend Benjamin Stone (1743-1833) about 1767 in Culpeper, Virginia.

 

While her husband and brothers were serving and wintering at Valley Forge, Anna rode 200 miles on her horse, Nelly to bring food and supplies to them. 

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In York, a member of the Continental Congress asked her to carry a message to General George Washington. A man pursued her and attempted to take the letter, but he was not successful.  

 

Arriving at Valley Forge, Anna was reunited with Benjamin and hand-delivered the letter to General Washington. Anna returned to Virginia with a military escort. Benjamin Stone also served the South Carolina militia before returning home from the war in 1781.

 

Benjamin was a Baptist preacher serving churches in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Anna served by his side. Her name is logged on the 1818 membership roll of the Salt Fork Baptist Church in Guernsey County, Ohio. From 1823 to 1830, Benjamin was the pastor at Clear Fork Baptist Church in Guernsey County, Ohio.

 

Anna Asbury Stone remained active until the end of her days. She would ride her horse to visit neighbors as she aged.

 

Benjamin and Anna died in 1833, and are buried in the Stone Cemetery, which is located on private land in Harrison County, Ohio.

 

Mary Augusta Stone and Harriet Lura Bassett Stone, direct descendants of Benjamin and Anna, organized the Anna Asbury Stone Chapter of the DAR in Cambridge, Ohio, in 1923.

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In 1981, a memorial stone was placed in Cadiz Union Cemetery in honor of the couple.

 

Benjamin and Anna had eleven children. 

 

This was recently updated by Tracy Stone Lawson, chapter member and a direct descendant of Anna and Benjamin Stone.

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References available on request.

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