St. Mary's Church and Cemetery

History: On November 13, 1864, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd was introduced to John Wilkes Booth, the future assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. Booth had come to Charles County to contact the Confederate sympathizers there and recruit men to help him kidnap the president. Booth and Mudd met several more times before the doctor set Booth’s broken leg at Mudd’s home on April 15, 1865, an injury Booth incurred while jumping on stage after assassinating President Lincoln.

The Mudds are buried in the church cemetery. Dr. Mudd was born on December 20, 1833, and died on January 10, 1883. Sarah Frances Dyer, his wife, was born on March 15, 1835, and died on December 29, 1911. The church cemetery contains the graves of several Mudd and Dyer relatives.

More to Explore: Anglers will want to check out Aqualand Marina and Campground, located on the Potomac River and adjacent to the Harry Nice Bridge on Route 301. It offers the some of the best rock fishing in the state, with large-mouth bass fishing a short distance upstream. The marina offers a single concrete ramp, a ships store and gas. Restaurants and other services can be found in Newburg, Hughesville and Charlotte Hall.

Photo Credits:
   1. “St. Mary’s Church”   Courtesy of Tom Fuchs.