Stories of Appalachia

47 Years a Hermit: The Strange Afterlife of William Hewitt

July 18, 2026·15 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

In the late 1780s a man from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, William Hewitt, crossed the Ohio River seeking to find solitude in the Appalachian wilderness after heartbreak changed his life forever. Living alone in caves and rough dugouts for nearly fifty years, Hewitt lived in peace alongside the Shawnee, served as a scout during the War of 1812, and became a legend across southeastern Ohio. But the strangest chapter of his story began after his death.Join us as we tell the haunting true story of the Hermit of Hewitt’s Fork.Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app.Thanks for listening!

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Stories of Appalachia and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.