Pioneering explorer mapped Carolina's backcountry
Plus: The news of the week — Armed security coming to uptown parks; Meck Dec blowout celebration planned; Temporary library closures scheduled; Bill would raise tobacco age; Teen Talk returns!
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John Lederer: German native set out to chart the uncharted, braving dense forests, rugged mountains and unfamiliar cultures
Editor’s note: You see their names on street signs or parks, but who were some of the big-name people from decades ago who shaped Charlotte? They have fascinating stories, and for the next few Saturdays, we’re sharing them with you.
by John Short
Much about the Carolina backcountry was a mystery to early European settlers — including whether the Pacific Ocean lay just beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Resolving that matter, and exploring this part of the New World, fell to one man: John Lederer, a German physician turned explorer.
Lederer was one of the first Europeans to survey the Virginia and Carolina territories of North America. His expeditions provided some of the earliest and most vivid accounts of the area’s wilderness and indigenous populations.
Between 1669 and 1670, Lederer embarked on a series of expeditions beyond the frontiers of English settlement, braving the dense forests, formidable mountains, and the unfamiliar cultures of the native people.
Though his discoveries were initially met with skepticism back home, history has vindicated his efforts. He is recognized as a pioneer whose records and maps helped shape the course of European expansion into the South.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, around 1644, Lederer spent his early adult life training in medicine and the sciences. In the late 1660s, he arrived in the Virginia colony with ambitions to learn more about the New World.
The prevailing belief then was that a route to the Pacific lay just beyond the mountains to the west. Driven by that possibility, Virginia’s Governor (from England) William Berkeley commissioned Lederer to explore the Carolina interior.
This map was included in Lederer’s book entitled “The Discoveries of John Lederer,” which covered “Virginia to the West of Carolina and other parts of the Continent.”
Lederer led three expeditions into the as-yet-uncharted wilderness of the Carolina Backcountry:
◼️The First Expedition (March 1669): Lederer’s journey took him west toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. The terrain was daunting, and supplies ran low, forcing him to retreat before he could cross into the unknown lands beyond. Though unsuccessful in reaching his goal of the Pacific Coast, the trip laid the groundwork for his future attempts.
◼️The Second Expedition (May-June 1669): A few months later, Lederer set out again, this time with a more targeted strategy and the aid of indigenous guides. He successfully traversed the Blue Ridge Mountains, becoming one of the first Europeans to set foot in what is now North Carolina’s Piedmont region. His descriptions of the plains, forests and thriving native villages were the first of their kind and offered a new perspective on the interior’s richness and potential.
◼️The Third Expedition (1670): In his most extensive journey, Lederer pushed even farther south, reaching as far as the present-day South Carolina high country. In his meticulous fashion, he recorded the languages, customs and trade practices of the native peoples he encountered, providing an invaluable glimpse into the indigenous societies of the region.
Lederer’s expeditions yielded some of the first detailed maps of the Carolina Backcountry for European colonists to come, which would provide invaluable for future Europeans settlement in the region. These maps outlined the potential of the Piedmont for agriculture, commerce and settlement — and brought into focus the path for an eventual westward push that would ultimately define the Carolinas of today.
Specifically, these travels provided firsthand descriptions of the Blue Ridge Mountains, demystifying the geography of the region and proving that it was in fact possible to travel beyond the mountains — and that the Pacific Ocean wasn’t on the other side.
Lederer also interacted with the Catawba, Saponi, and Tuscarora tribes, which offered unprecedented insights into their societies, challenging European notions of the cultures, and providing a foundation for future diplomacy and trade.
Despite the esteem with which we currently hold his discoveries, at the time Lederer’s findings were met with skepticism and hostility from his European peers. His German heritage and unorthodox methods made him an outsider, and his reports, with their contrarian point of view to prevailing myths of the Americas, were dismissed by many.
Disheartened but undeterred, Lederer compiled his discoveries into a formal account, “The Discoveries of John Lederer,” published in 1672 in both English and Latin. Over the decades, his work was more accepted and was relied on extensively by subsequent explorers such as Thomas Batts, Robert Fallam, and John Lawson. Their later expeditions would validate many of Lederer’s original reporting.
John Short is a freelance writer and co-host of The Charlotte Podcast who loves digging up Charlotte’s past and pondering its future. Say hey when you see him on the streetcar.
Today’s supporting sponsor is Carnegie Private Wealth. At Carnegie Private Wealth, we bring clarity to complexity. Through thoughtful planning and personal attention, we transform your financial aspirations into actionable strategies. Providing you with less stress and greater confidence in your future.
Teen Talk — Build your vocabulary: ‘rizz‘
Charlotte’s favorite vocabulary lesson is back by popular demand! Impress and delight the teens in your life by using the words they use! The Ledger shows you how in this occasional Saturday feature.
Today’s phrase: Rizz
Pronunciation: riz, rhymes with is
Part of speech: noun or verb
Definition: A slang term for someone with charisma or a person who is charming. Also used as a verb as in “to charm.”
How to use the phrase as a noun:
Friend 1: Did you see that Carl has a new girlfriend?
Friend 2: Yeah, he’s had five girlfriends this school year. He’s got so much rizz.
How to use the phrase as a verb:
Grandma, remember the guy who held the door for you at the movies and tried to strike up a conversation? He was totally trying to rizz you up.
Ledger analysis: Teens will assert that “rizz” is simply the short form of “charisma,” but for us it calls up other words that evoke expressiveness and energy, like “pizzazz,” “snazzy” or “fizz.”
— Julia Bolling, age 13
This week in Charlotte: AvidXChange for sale?; Charlotte FC coach gets contract extension; Aldersgate crisis prompts bill; N.C. State names new chancellor
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
N.C. State names former student body president as chancellor: (WRAL) Kevin Howell, chief external affairs officer for UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health, was named chancellor of N.C. State. Howell, a Shelby native, was student body president at N.C. State before graduating in 1988.
Politics
Bills would raise tobacco age: (NC Health News) Bills in the N.C. House and Senate would raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21, which would give state law enforcement the ability to crack down on retailers who sell to teens.
Former Cabarrus manager sues, with colorful language: (Observer) The former Cabarrus County manager who was fired in January by commissioners sued the county for more than $488,000 in severance and bonus payments he says he’s owed.
Local news
Armed security coming to uptown parks: (Ledger🔒) Armed security guards will start patrolling several uptown Charlotte parks and a greenway this summer in response to rising crime.
Library upgrade closures: (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library) Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branches and book drops will temporarily close in April as the system upgrades its software, with services gradually shutting down from April 1 and all branches closing from April 18 to April 22. Digital library resources like Libby and Hoopla will remain accessible, and full operations are set to resume by May 5.
Business
AvidXchange for sale? (Biz Journal, subscriber-only) Charlotte-based financial technology company AvidXchange is considering a potential sale, unnamed sources told Bloomberg News. It had been approached by prospective buyers, including private equity firms, the sources said.
Sports
Athletic competition: (Observer) The Pentagon has officially backed Charlotte’s bid to host the 2027 Military World Games, an international competition featuring military athletes that could bring $3B in revenue to North Carolina. Charlotte still faces competition from South Africa, and the final selection remains uncertain.
Charlotte FC extends its coach’s contract: (Fútbol Friday) Charlotte FC has extended head coach Dean Smith’s contract through 2027 after a record-setting season and strong start this year.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Monday
Blowout celebrations planned for Meck Dec milestone: Charlotte will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence this May with festivals, re-enactments and events honoring the city’s bold claim as one of the first to declare freedom from British rule.
Plus: Aldersgate to vote on merger this month; Charlotte's med school admits first students; 🎧 New Ledger podcast about turning research into business; Fire destroys Morehead cocktail bar
Wednesday (🔒)
Long-serving Judge Robert Conrad retires; Bank of America economist says lower-income households are getting squeezed; Iron District and River District updates; 40 Over 40 nominees
Friday (🔒)
The bill that could prevent another Aldersgate crisis: A financial crisis at Aldersgate retirement community exposed gaps in state oversight, which has prompted new legislation aimed at improving transparency and protecting seniors in North Carolina’s retirement communities.
Plus: Sycamore to open new taproom in Cotswold; Golf simulator experience coming to Ballantyne hotel
Ways of Life (🔒)
Known for her warm heart, homemade soups and lifelong friendships, DeAnne McCorkle directed church choirs for over 30 years and built lasting connections wherever she went. She passed away in December at 78.
Fútbol Friday
Tim Ream is making Charlotte home: Charlotte FC’s veteran defender Tim Ream, 37, has settled with his family in Charlotte after a long career in England.
Toppman on the Arts
Arts critic Lawerence Toppman reviews the McColl Center’s exhibit “Sovereign: Honoring Bodily Autonomy,” which features works by over 50 artists exploring gender, reproductive rights and control over the body.
Real Estate Whispers
Charlotte’s real estate scene is busy with major projects including the Iron District plans, new luxury townhomes in the River District, expansions at The Sharon in SouthPark, rezoning for townhomes in University City and new restaurant and office leases across the city.
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