Near Mechanicsville in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Historic Polegreen Church

Photographed by Bernard Fisher

1. Historic Polegreen Church Marker

Inscription. In 1747, the meetinghouse here became vital to the colonists' struggle for religious and civil liberty when Samuel Morris and other Hanover Presbyterian dissenters called the Rev. Samuel Davies (1723-1761) to become pastor. Davies, a great orator who inspired Patrick Henry, was Virginia's first licensed non-Anglican minister. He promoted literacy among enslaved Africans in several colonies with funds he raised in England. In 1759, he became president of the College of New Jersey (Princeton University). Polegreen Church burned in June 1864 just before the Battle of Cold Harbor when Confederate artillery fired on it to dislodge Union sharpshooters.

Erected 2007 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-141.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1864.

Location. 37° 38.746′ N, 77° 19.807′ W. Marker is near Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. It is on Heatherwood Drive 0.1 miles east of Rural Point Road (County Route 643), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6411 Heatherwood Drive, Mechanicsville VA 23116, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Welcome to Historic Polegreen Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Polegreen Story (within shouting distance of this marker); Polegreen Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Polegreen Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Polegreen Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Polegreen (about 300 feet away); Battle of Totopotomoy Creek (about 300 feet away); The Reading Room (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.

Also see . . . Historic Polegreen Church Foundation. (Submitted on February 3, 2009.)

Historic Polegreen Church Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 31, 2009

2. Historic Polegreen Church Site

Photographed by Pete Payette, March 24, 2018

3. Historic Polegreen Church Marker

Site of Polegreen Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 31, 2009

4. Site of Polegreen Church

Polegreen Church Site Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 31, 2009

5. Polegreen Church Site Marker

Hanover Meeting House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Payette, March 24, 2018

6. Hanover Meeting House

Virginia Historic Landmark Register Plaque

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,171 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 3, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on March 25, 2018, by Pete Payette of Orange, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on February 3, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on March 25, 2018, by Pete Payette of Orange, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.