Wythe Monument

Monument to mark George Wythe's burial at St. John's Episcopal Church, East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia.

A smaller plaque at the base of the column was placed by Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Inc., to commemorate Wythe as a signer.

In 1922, a monument was erected by "patriotic citizens of Virginia" in the churchyard of St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia, to "mark the site where lie the mortal remains of George Wythe." Following his state funeral at the Richmond Capitol building, Wythe had been buried without a tombstone, and the exact location of his grave had been forgotten: as early as 1884, Wythe's namesake George Wythe Munford wrote, "There is no monument or other mark to designate the spot where his remains repose; but it is believed he was buried on the west side of the church, near the wall of that building." Indeed, at the time of his death in 1806, the Richmond Enquirer commented that "the venerable GEORGE WYTHE needs no other monument than the services rendered to his country, and the universal sorrow which that country sheds over his grave."

An unmarked grave was not unusual at that time, even for such luminaries as signers of the Declaration of Independence. In October of 1899, Mary Mann Page Newton, chairman of the Landmark Committee for the Virginia Association for the Preservation of Antiquities, reported:

Another important work to be done at St. John's is to place some monument on the unmarked grave of Chancellor George Wythe, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and one of our greatest jurists and purest statesmen. The site of Judge Wythe's home, at the southeast corner of Grace and Fifth streets, now occupied by the residence of Mr. Beverley B. Munford, should also be marked...

Though the glory of the signers of the Declaration of Independence is also Revolutionary, it would doubtless come with perfect propriety within the scope of our own work to mark the places where they sleep. As I have said, George Wythe's grave in St. John's churchyard, has no monument, and it is believed that this is also the case with the last earthly resting-places of Benjamin Harrison, Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot Lee, and Carter Braxton.

Detail of bronze plaque inscription on the Wythe monument, featuring the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, designed by Wythe in 1776.

Reports of the Virginia State Bar Association

1920

Letter from Arthur B. Clarke, President of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

1921

Special Committee to Aid in Securing Suitable Marker for Grave of George Wythe: Robert M. Hughes, of Norfolk; Eppa Hunton, Jr., of Richmond; and Eugene C. Massie of Richmond.

Sons of the Revolution in State of Virginia

April, 1922, p. 38

Reports of the Virginia State Bar Association

1922

June, 1922. Report of Committee on Library and Legal Literature

Report of Special Committee on Memorial to George Wythe

Proceedings of the Virginia State Conference of the Daughters of the American Revolution

October, 1922. Report of State Historian, Mrs. Robert L. Pierce. Commonwealth Chapter reports:

On Revolutionary Day, May 24th, [Sons of the Revolution in State of Virginia, and the Sons of the American Revolution] and the William Byrd Chapter joined with us in services in old St. John's Church to commemorate the birthday of Patrick Henry and to unveil a tablet to George Wythe, the great Chancellor, and one of the Virginia Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Rev. Hugh Sublett conducted the ceremonies and Governor Trinkle, Dr. Freeman and Mr. George Bryan spoke. Passing out to the churchyard, a wreath was laid on the tablet by the Regent of the Chancellor Wythe Chapter [Mrs. Manly B. Ramos].