Joseph Mayo was born on November 16, 1795, at Powhatan Seat, a plantation in Henrico County, Virginia, about two miles east of what would become downtown Richmond.
His great-grandfather was emigrant William Mayo (1684-1744), the surveyor who struck the dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina and who was featured in Wm Byrd's manuscript on that expedition.
[5] Another Joseph Mayo Esq (1756-1785), a close family member whose parentage has not yet been established, but who was likely descended from William Mayo's (Surveyor) brother Joseph (who emigrated with William from Barbados to Virginia) wrote a will in 1780 in which he attempted to free his slaves (as was illegal at the time, so he asked his executors to seek special legislation after his death to free them), and as an alternative asked his executors to divide them among named relatives.
[7] After admission to the bar, Joseph Mayo for thirty years served as Richmond's city attorney, handling both civil and criminal matters from 1822 until he assumed the mayoralty in 1853.
He also led many public meetings, including dedication of the new equestrian statue of General George Washington in Capitol Square in 1858 and greeted the Prince of Wales during the royal visit of 1860.
On May 29, 1861, Mayor Mayo greeted Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and with the City Council arranged to give him a refurbished mansion originally built by Dr. Brockenbrough (and later owned by J.A.
Mayo also continued to preside over the Mayor's Court, and became known for his authoritarian manner, especially for stern treatment (including whippings) of free blacks accused of non-felonies (such as stealing small amounts).
On March 13, 1863, a factory on Brown's Island in the James River that manufactured ammunition for Confederate troops exploded and burned down, killing many women and girls, so Mayor Mayo organized donations to assist their families.
[18] Weeks later, on April 2, 1863, Mayor Mayo addressed a crowd of women and young boys marching on the Confederate commissary and plundering food from stores.
After speeches by President Jefferson Davis, Governor Letcher and bishop McGill also failed to stop the rioters, the Public Guard led by Captain Gay, fired upon and dispersed them.
On April Fool's Day, 1865, Mayor Mayo protested when he heard about Confederate General Robert E. Lee's order of several weeks previous, that evacuating troops should destroy all government-owned cotton, tobacco and military stores in the city.
Major Isaac Carrington had reported to General Richard Ewell even before the defeat at the Battle of Five Forks that Richmond warehouses contained little cotton but much tobacco.
After the Confederate government left Richmond on April 2, 1865, the departing troops burned the tobacco storehouses as Mayor Mayo and city council president David J. Saunders had feared.
Early the following morning, Mayo rode his carriage eastward out of the city, seeking a Union officer to whom to surrender Richmond, as well as plead for assistance in suppressing the fire.
[27] About an hour later, Stevens' commanding officer, Gen. Godfrey Weitzel, rode with his staff on the same turnpike into Richmond, and Mayor Mayo repeated the symbolic surrender.
Gen. Weitzel then filled out a military telegraph form for his commander, General Ulysses S. Grant, disclosing the city's surrender at 8:15 a.m., the fires, and the enthusiastic reception his troops received.
The military governor (now John Schofield) again removed Mayo from office on May 4, this time appointing New York-born George Chahoon Richmond's Mayor on May 6, 1866.