The first known school in Southampton County was a boarding school operated by Samuel Nelson at Broadwater in 1771.[10]
Millfield Academy, located between Berlin and Ivor, gained a wide reputation for educational excellence in the 1780’s and 90’s.
Enacted by the General Assembly, December the 20th, 1790. “That it shall and may be lawful for John S. Wills, Benjamin Blunt, James Wilkinson, William Urquhart, John Taylor, Francis Boykin, George Purdie, James Wills and Samuel Kello, to raise by one or more lotteries[1], a sum not exceeding three hundred pounds, to be by them applied towards erecting an academy in the county of Southampton, which shall be called by the name of Millfield Academy.”[2]
Millfield Academy was built on the second acre across the road from present Millfield Baptist Church.[3]
Millfield Baptist was organized on Aug. 20, 1836, when 13 members of Black Creek Baptist Church acquired the abandoned Millfield Episcopal Church, a log cabin, which sat on the same site it does today.
The Episcopal congregation, which was organized in 1791 on one of two acres on Millfield Road near Ivor donated by the Rev. Thomas Burges and his wife, Sally, had disbanded.
The origin and early history of Millfield Church, mentioned in different records, are not clear. It is believed to have been erected through the efforts of the Rev. Henry John Burges, according to Meade. It was situated at the head of Lightwood Swamp. Following the Revolutionary War, it was taken over by Baptists, probably about 1836, and in 1854 it was still standing. It was then replaced by a frame church on the opposite side of the road, which was in turn replaced by the present Millfield Baptist Church in 1902. The old colonial version of Millfield Church was a brick building, according to tradition, situated in the woods across the road from the present church.
Millfield Academy is known for having former U.S. President William Henry Harrison as one of its students.[6][7][8][9]
Martin’s correspondent (Temp. 1835) states: “Millfield Academy, a flourishing and well conducted seminary, on the main road leading from Jerusalem to Smithfield in Isle of Wight, 14 ms. from the former, and 18 from the latter. This school was first commenced in 1830, under the superintendence of Mr. Edward Smith, a gentleman distinguished for his classical knowledge, and his happy facility of imparting instruction. It is now under the superintendence of Mr. Wm. C. Clarke, a gentleman eminently qualified to discharge the duties of principal. The course of instruction is quite extensive, embracing all the higher branches of science and literature usually taught in schools of the first class. In 1835, it numbered upwards of fifty pupils—some of them from adjacent counties and a neighboring State. The institution is under the direction of a president and eighteen trustees.”
The current address for Millfield Baptist Church is
31389 Millfield Rd Wakefield, VA 23888 at Latitude: 36.8793171 Longitude: -76.967461[1] This was the favorite means of raising money for internal improvements.
[2]Hening, Statutes at Large% XIII, 173.
[3]Millfield Baptist celebrates milestone: Millfield Baptist Church recently marked its 175th anniversary with a homecoming service attended by nearly 200 people.
[4]The Beginnings of Public Education in Virginia, 1776-1860, Study of Secondary Schools in Relation to the State Literary Fund – Alfred James Morrison
[5]Martin, Gazetteer of Virginia, p. 279.
[6]William Henry Harrison : The Young Scholar, Pt. II
[7]THE HISTORY OF LOWER TIDEWATER VIRGINIA