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

Edmund Ruffin's Grave

January 31, 2009

1. Edmund Ruffin's Grave Marker

Inscription. Here at Marlbourne is the grave of Edmund Ruffin (1794-1865), one of the leading American agriculturists of the 19th century. He published and edited the Farmer's Register, an agricultural journal, for several years. In 1843, Ruffin moved to Marlbourne, where he performed many experiments to maintain the fertility of the soil using marl (a natural deposit of calcium carbonate) as fertilizer, resulting in increased crop yields. An ardent secessionist, he fired one of the first shots at Fort Sumter on 13 April 1861, and kept detailed journals documenting events during the Civil War. Despondent over the South's defeat, he committed suicide in June 1865.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-24.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • 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 April 13, 1861.

Location. 37° 39.329′ N, 77° 13.583′ W. Marker is near Mechanicsville, Virginia, in Hanover County. It is at the intersection of Mechanicsville Turnpike (U.S. 360) and Spring Run Road, on the right when traveling east on Mechanicsville Turnpike. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mechanicsville VA 23111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: “The Old Church” (approx. 0.8 miles away); Stuart's Ride (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Stuart’s Ride (approx. 1.2 miles away); Cavalry Action At Linney's (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named Stuart's Ride (approx. 1.8 miles away); Cornwallis's Route (approx. 2.7 miles away); "Hanover Town" (approx. 3.1 miles away); Union Army's Crossing of the Pamunkey River (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Henry's Call to Arms (was approx. 2.7 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Marlbourne 1966 Nomination (pdf file). National Register of Historic Places. (Submitted on September 11, 2009.)

2. Edmund Ruffin (1794–1865). CivilWar@Smithsonian. (Submitted on September 11, 2009.)

3. Edmund Ruffin. Find A Grave (Submitted on November 30, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Edmund Ruffin's Grave Marker on Rte 360 (facing east). image. Click for full size.

January 31, 2009

2. Edmund Ruffin's Grave Marker on Rte 360 (facing east).

Edmund Ruffin's grave image. Click for full size.

April 21, 2012

3. Edmund Ruffin's grave

Edmund Ruffin, agricultural reformer image. Click for full size.

4. Edmund Ruffin, agricultural reformer

Library of Congress [LC-BH83- 969]

Edmund Ruffin, Southern firebrand image. Click for full size.

5. Edmund Ruffin, Southern firebrand

National Archives [530493]

Marlbourne, Hanover County image. Click for full size.

Photographed by National Register Nomination

6. Marlbourne, Hanover County

Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,650 times since then and 115 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2009. 3. submitted on June 12, 2012. 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.