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James P. Goodwyn
Member From: 1874 - 1875
- Birth Date: 1840 Birth Place:Petersburg
- Gender: Male Race: African American
- Spouse: Kitty (Keziah) Jones (m. September 12, 1865)
- Children: 6 sons and 2 daughters
- Religion:
- Education:
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession: Porter, whitewasher, Lighthouse keeper,
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Additional Info Links:
Bio from the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
Encyclopedia Virginia Biography
- Bio: James P. Goodwyn represented Petersburg in the House of Delegates from 1874 to 1875. Born in the 1830s, reportedly in Petersburg and probably into slavery, Goodwyn was elected as a Republican in 1873 and appointed to a seat on the important Committee on Privileges and Elections. During his tenure he sought, among other things, to invite ministers of Richmond churches, regardless of color, to open the house with prayer; to refer to the Committee on Propositions and Grievances the section covering African Americans in the superintendent of public instruction’s annual report; to reintroduce the popular election of judges; and to incorporate the Masonic Temple Association of the City of Petersburg. These efforts were ultimately unsuccessful save the last. He also opposed, unsuccessfully, the erection of a statue of Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson in Richmond’s Capitol Square. Goodwyn did not seek or was not nominated for reelection. Sometime after 1883 he moved with his family to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he worked as a porter until 1910. The date and place of his death are not known.
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1874-1875 | Petersburg | Republican | Privileges and Elections |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.