Petersburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mayfield

Circa 1750

Photographed By James Dean, October 15, 2022

1. Mayfield Marker

Inscription. Mayfield, a classic example of Colonial Virginia architecture and the oldest standing brick house in Dinwiddie County, was once the manor house of a 1400-acre plantation. The probable builder and first owner was Robert Ruffin, friend of George Washington and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. Later owners were Robert Thomas Tabb Bolling; Revolutionary War Col. Peterson Goodwyn, who served in the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress; and Edward O. Goodwyn, militia captain in the War of 1812. Early visitors to Mayfield included James Monroe during his campaigns, and John Randolph of Roanoke.

During the Civil War, Capt. Thomas Whitworth, great-grandfather of actor Joseph Cotten and later member of the House of Delegates, saved his home from burning by bravely confronting advancing Union soldiers. Confederate May. Gen. William Mahone, hero of the Battle of the Crater and later U.S. Senator, headquartered here during the winter of 1864-1865, and on April 2, 1865, Gen. Robert E. Lee observed his army’s final defense of Petersburg from Mayfield before surrendering at Appomattox.

Eventually surrounded by Central State Hospital buildings, the house was moved a mile intact to its present site in 1969 and restored. British Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson, and David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower were overnight guests

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here during the 1990s.

Erected 2020 by U.D.C. (United Daughters of the Confederacy).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1750.

Location. 37° 12.979′ N, 77° 26.891′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia. Marker is on West Washington Street (Business U.S. 460) west of Rawlings Lane, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3348 W Washington St, Petersburg VA 23803, 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. Central State Hospital (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Edge Hill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Southside Virginia Training Center (approx. half a mile away); The Battle of Fort Whitworth (approx. one mile away); Confederate Fort Whitworth (approx. one mile away); Central State Hospital Cemetery (approx. 1.1 miles away); Mattoax (approx. 1.1 miles away); AKA Delta Omega (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

More about this marker. The marker was created in 2020 (hence the date on it) but it was not put in place until 15 October, 2022 because of the lockdown.

Also see . . .

Photographed By James Dean

2. Mayfield Marker

1. Dinwiddie County: Mayfield Cottage. National Park Service (Submitted on October 24, 2022.)

2. Mayfield Cottage. Virginia Department of Historic Resources (Submitted on October 24, 2022.)

Mayfield, Virginia Landmark sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Dean

3. Mayfield, Virginia Landmark sign

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2022, by James Dean of Chesterfield, Virginia. This page has been viewed 181 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 23, 2022, by James Dean of Chesterfield, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 24, 2022, by James Dean of Chesterfield, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 25, 2022, by James Dean of Chesterfield, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.