Surratt House and Tavern: Built in 1852 as a middle-class plantation home, historic Surratt House also served as a tavern and hostelry, a post office, and polling place during the...

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Surratt House and Tavern

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Jul 29, 2012 20:14:06 #

Wizz Loc: Maryland, USA

Built in 1852 as a middle-class plantation home, historic Surratt House also served as a tavern and hostelry, a post office, and polling place during the crucial decade before the Civil War. During the war, it was a safehouse for the Confederate underground which flourished in Southern Maryland. It was the country home of Mary Surratt, first woman to be executed by the United States government after being found guilty of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.
Restored in 1976 by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, today the museum presents a variety of programs and events, recapturing the history of mid-19th century life and focusing on the fascinating web of the Lincoln conspiracy

As part of a plot to kidnap President Abraham Lincoln in March 1865,John Surratt Jr, (Mary's son); his friend,George Atzerodt, and co-conspirator David Herpld hid two Spencer carbines, ammunition, and some other supplies at the Surratt tavern in Surrattsville. On April 11, Mary Surratt rented a carriage and drove to her Maryland tavern. She said she made the trip to collect a debt owed her by a former neighbor. But according to her tenant, John Lloyd, Surratt told him to get the "shooting irons" ready to be picked up. On April 14, Mary Surratt said she would once again visit the family tavern in Surrattsville to collect a debt. Shortly before she left the city,John Wilkes Booth visited the Surratt townhouse and spoke privately with her. He gave her a package (later found to contain binoculars) to give to Lloyd for pick-up later that evening. Surratt delivered the package that afternoon, and (according to Lloyd) again told Lloyd to have the "shooting irons" ready for pick-up. (Booth and Herold would pick up the rifles and binoculars that evening as they fled Washington after Lincoln's assassination.)

Booth and Herold stopped at the Surratt house briefly on their flight out of the District of Columbia after assassinating Lincoln.

Surratt was sentenced to death on June 30, 1865, for being a co-conspirator in the plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. She was hanged on July 7, 1865, at about 1:31 P.M.

Surratt House