Bel Alton in Charles County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Rich Hill

The Fugitives Seek Shelter

— John Wilkes Booth - Escape of an Assassin —

Rich Hill Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 22, 2021

1. Rich Hill Marker

Inscription. After leaving Dr. Samuel A. Mudd's house on April 15, 1865, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, and his accomplice David E. Herold avoided Zekiah Swamp and made a wide arc around the village of Bryantown. Unsure of their surroundings, they soon enlisted the aid of a guide, Oswell Swann, who led them across the swamp to Rich Hill, the home of Samuel Cox. They arrived here shortly after midnight on April 16. According to Swann, Cox admitted the pair to the house where they remained "3 or 4 hours." Cox, however, later denied that they came into the house, and a young servant girl supported his testimony. Nevertheless, Cox did arrange to conceal the pair in a nearby pine thicket for several days, where they received food, newspapers, and information. Rich Hill is now a private dwelling.

Erected by Maryland Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Booth's Escape, and the Maryland Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1854.

Location. 38° 28.267′ N, 76° 57.933′ W. Marker is in Bel Alton, Maryland, in Charles County. Marker can be reached from Bel Alton Newtown Road, 0.1 miles east of Rich

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Hill Farm Road, on the right when traveling west. As of 01/22/2019, the marker is near the house. It previously was at the intersection of Bel Alton Newtown Road and Rich Hill Farm Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bel Alton MD 20611, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rich Hill Through the Years (here, next to this marker); Archaeology Provides a Key to the History of Rich Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Rich Hill Farm in the 19th Century: Samuel Cox and his Award-Winning Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); Rich Hill Farm in the 20th Century (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Rich Hill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Wilkes Booth and David Herold (approx. 1.2 miles away); Pine Thicket (approx. 1.2 miles away); John Wilkes Booth (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bel Alton.

More about this marker. On the lower left of the marker is a portrait of Samuel Cox. In the upper center is a photograph of Rich Hill. On the right is a map of the Booth escape route, with red stars indicating Civil War Trails sites along the route.

Also see . . .
1. Booth's Escape Byway. Maryland Office of Tourism website entry (Submitted on January 16, 2019.)

2. Thomas Stone National Historic Site, National Park Service

Rich Hill exterior image. Click for full size.

National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, November 15, 2015

2. Rich Hill exterior

. Rich Hill is the birthplace of Margaret Brown Stone. Her husband, Thomas Stone, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. (Submitted on January 16, 2019.)

3. Rich Hill: Maryland's National Register Properties. (Submitted on January 16, 2019.)

Additional keywords. John Wilkes Booth Escape Route

National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, January 22, 2019

3. Rich Hill Marker

As of 01/22/2019, the marker is near the house. It previously was at the intersection of Bel Alton Newtown Road and Rich Hill Farm Road.

Photographed By David Lassman, November 15, 2015

4. Rich Hill exterior

Rich Hill sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alvin Brockway

5. Rich Hill sign

Rich Hill Marker2 image. Click for full size.

May 26, 2007

6. Rich Hill Marker2

Civil War Trails Marker is beside the Maryland Historical Society Marker

Rich Hill Marker at its new location image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 17, 2023

7. Rich Hill Marker at its new location

Rich Hill Farm House image. Click for full size.

May 26, 2007

8. Rich Hill Farm House

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2008, by Alvin Brockway of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,106 times since then and 189 times this year. Last updated on January 23, 2019. Photos: 1. submitted on September 4, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2. submitted on January 16, 2019, by David Lassman of Waldorf, Maryland. 3. submitted on January 16, 2019. 4. submitted on January 16, 2019, by David Lassman of Waldorf, Maryland. 5. submitted on January 1, 2008, by Alvin Brockway of Burke, Virginia. 6. submitted on January 2, 2008. 7. submitted on April 27, 2023, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 8. submitted on January 2, 2008. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.