Dr. Samuel Mudd House

History: On the morning of April 15, 1865, John Wilkes Booth arrived at the home of Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd and his wife, Sarah Frances Dyer with his conspirator, David E. Herold. They asked Mudd to help with Booth’s broken leg. As Booth rested, Dr. Mudd went into Bryantown, which was occupied by Federal troops, where he learned that the search was on for Lincoln’s assassin. He returned and sent Booth and Herold on their way. When he was questioned by U.S. authorities, Mudd said he did not know that Booth was a murdering fugitive or that he was being sought.

Witnesses stated that late in 1864, Booth had met Dr. Mudd on numerous occasions, both for business and socially. He was charged with conspiring with Booth from the beginning, while Mudd claimed that the earlier meetings were innocent. Mudd was convicted and sentenced to life in prison at Fort Jefferson in Florida, but President Andrew Johnson pardoned him in 1869. Mudd died on January 10, 1883 and is buried at St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery.

More to Explore: Stretch your legs at Cedarville State Forest in Waldorf. It offers primitive camping, and hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Nearby, the Piscataway Indian Museum displays the lifeways and history of Piscataway people. To let off some steam go ahead and play at the Capital Clubhouse, a 90,000 square foot year-round sports center with an ice rink, rock climbing wall, workout gym and a Power Play Arcade.

Photo Credits:
   1. “Portrait of Dr. Mudd” Courtesy of Maryland Office of Tourism.
   2. “Modern Day Mudd House” Courtesy of Maryland Office of Tourism.
   3. “Samuel Mudd House” Courtesy of National Park Service.