Tuckahoe River Trip - Bishop A. W. Wayman Memorial Tour

During the years of Reconstruction in the South, Bishop Wayman toured and supervised the A.M.E missions in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia, and organized conferences in those sates.  In 1872 he was assigned to supervise the district that included Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and California, and he made several trips to the Pacific Coast.

Wayman managed to take time from his busy ministry to visit Tuckahoe Neck every three years, on average.  During his October 1874 visit, Bishop Wayman dedicated the new Deep Branch Chapel near his native home.  But within hours of the dedication, he was en route to Springfield, Illinois, where he presided as chaplain at the unveiling of the Lincoln Monument.  Wayman and his church colleagues took part in the memorial procession led by Generals Grant and Sherman, Vice-President Wilson and ex-Vice-President Colfax.

Bishop Wayman returned to Tuckahoe in August 1877.  Of that visit, he wrote:

"Friday, August 3, I left Baltimore for Easton, spending the night there. Next morning I went to Tuckahoe and took a long walk; looked at some things that I used to see in my boyhood days, such as old houses and barns.  Saturday morning found me in sight of my brother, Charles H. Wayman's, and soon as his children saw me they started out to the road to meet me.  Sunday I attended a small camp-meeting.  Rev. A. M. Green met there by my invitation, and he gave us a grand sermon in the morning. Rev. T. M. Cole was the pastor.  I left for home on Monday."

He also briefly described his final visit in 1879:

"March 11, I went to Washington, D. C., to see President Hayes in relation to the appointment of R. Stockett Matthews, Esq., Judge of the United States Court in Baltimore. The interview was very pleasant indeed. I returned to Baltimore.  March 14, I crossed the Chesapeake Bay to Easton, Md., and then on up to Tuckahoe to spend one day with my brother.  Saturday afternoon I took a ride along the country road, and passed by the little log-house where I was born fifty-eight years ago. There I could look upon the graves of father and mother. I passed on to Denton.  Sunday, March 16, I returned to Denton and spent the day with Rev. Jeremiah Young, the pastor, and spent a very pleasant one.  Wednesday, March 19, I left for a tour to the West, passing through Pittsburgh..."

Bishop Wayman recorded no other visits to his birthplace in Tuckahoe Neck.  He continued active in the ministry until his death in Baltimore at age 74, on 30 November 1895.

Bishop Alexander W. Wayman’s life of public service began on the banks of the Tuckahoe River.  Explore and enjoy!