Vera in Appomattox County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Thomas S. Bocock

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 30, 2013

1. Thomas S. Bocock Marker

Inscription. Thomas S. Bocock, lawyer and politician, was born in present-day Appomattox Co. (then part of Buckingham Co.) on 18 May 1815. In 1846, he was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives and served there until 1861. In 1859, Bocock was nominated for Speaker of the House, but withdrew after eight weeks of debate and multiple ballots failed to elect a speaker. He served in the unicameral Provisional Confederate Congress (July 1861 – Feb. 1862) and as the only Speaker of the Confederate House of Representatives (Feb. 1862 – Mar. 1865). After the Civil War, Bocock resumed his law practice and remained active in politics. He died at his nearby home, Wildway, on 5 Aug. 1891 and was buried in the family cemetery there.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number MG-3.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 18, 1815.

Location. 37° 24.697′ N, 78° 45.838′ W. Marker is in Vera, Virginia, in Appomattox County. Marker is at the intersection of Old Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 24) and Old Grist Mill Road and Wildway Road (

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County Route 616), on the right when traveling west on Old Courthouse Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Appomattox VA 24522, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lee’s Rear Guard (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Lee's Rear Guard (approx. 0.4 miles away); ANV Headquarters (approx. 1.7 miles away); Lee’s Last Headquarters (approx. 1.7 miles away); Confederates Trapped (approx. 1.7 miles away); Historic Vegetation (approx. 1.8 miles away); Lee's Apple Tree (approx. 2.3 miles away); Artillery Park (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vera.

More about this marker. This marker replaced a 1930 marker at this location with the same number but titled “Wildway.” It read “Three miles north is Wildway, home of Thomas S. Bocock, member of the United States Congress and only speaker of the Confederate House of Representatives. He was born May 18, 1815, and died August 25, 1891.”

Also see . . . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress - Bocock, Thomas Stanley, (1815 - 1891). (Submitted on April 1, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, March 30, 2013

2. Thomas S. Bocock Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 616 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 31, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of Wildway and of his gravesite. (From 1937 Survey Report: 5 miles east of Appomattox, Virginia, on Route #24; hence 3.5 miles north (left) on Route #616. House on north side.) • Appomattox County • Can you help?