Near Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Asbury’s Deathplace

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 15, 2007

1. Asbury's Deathplace Marker

Inscription. A short distance southeast is the site of the George Arnold House where Bishop Francis Asbury died, March 31, 1816. Asbury, born in England in 1745, came to America in 1771 and labored here until his death. He was ordained one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America at the Baltimore Conference of December, 1784.

Erected 1982. (Marker Number EH-8.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Francis Asbury, Traveling Methodist Preacher, the United Methodist Church Historic Sites, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1864.

Location. 38° 7.147′ N, 77° 37.564′ W. Marker is near Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is on Partlow Road (County Route 738) 2.6 miles south of Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 208), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5871 Partlow Rd, Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: John J. Wright Parksite (approx. 2.8 miles away); Spotsylvania Sunday School Union Parksite (approx.

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2.8 miles away); Secondary Education for African American Children (approx. 2.8 miles away); John J. Wright School (approx. 2.9 miles away); Penny’s Tavern Site (approx. 3.2 miles away); Third Spotsylvania County Courthouse Site (approx. 4.4 miles away); Turn in Sheridan’s Raid (approx. 5.3 miles away); Batter Up: Spotsylvania Yellow Jackets (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Also see . . .
1. Asbury Church Marker. Asbury Church was named for Bishop Francis Asbury. (Submitted on August 30, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

2. An account of Asbury’s last sermon and death in Spotsylvania. (Submitted on September 20, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
3. Bishop Asbury Bicentennial Audio. This 2016 podcast, released on the bicentennial of Asbury's death, presents a dramatic detailing of Bishop Francis Asbury's last week alive. (Submitted on December 9, 2019, by Al DeFilippo of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.)

Additional commentary.
1.
The marker is incorrect. It states the Arnold house site was to the southeast—in reality it was to the southwest of the marker.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 15, 2007

2. Marker along Partlow Road
— Submitted July 21, 2025, by Dennis Gallahan of Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Home of George Arnold Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W.

3. Home of George Arnold Marker

On this spot stood the home of George Arnold where Bishop Francis Asbury died March 31, 1816. Erected by the Epworth Leagues of the Washington Disctrict, Baltimore Conference M.E.C.S., December 1906

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,813 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on December 5, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Separate HMdb entry for the marker in picture 3. • Can you help?