African Burial Customs
One surviving aspect of African custom and culture in early America is the custom of funeral and burying rituals. In Newport, both the enslaved and free African community, largely coming from what is today Ghana, would provide elaborate funerals for their dearly departed. The funeral was as much a celebration of life as it is a bid farewell to the dead. Most importantly it signified the departure of souls in their next journey to join their ancestors.
On May 18th, 1770, 70 year old Quash Dunbar died. In his diary on May 20th of that same year, Rev. Ezra Stiles wrote:
“A Negro Burying, the Church bell tolled (all our Bells sometimes toll for Negroes), a procession of Two Hundred Men and One Hundred & Thirty Women Negroes.”
The funeral often included dancing, singing and public recognition of the relevance of the life of the departed. In an African funeral in Newport, the leaders of the community would lead a procession with the body on a wagon from the center of the town to the burying grounds. The procession would be organized by a ceremonial undertaker, a well-respected position within the African community.
Click here to learn about Mintus the “Last Colored Undertaker” of Newport and how he presided over 18th century burials in God’s Little Acre.
Burial Markers in God’s Little Acre
Dunbar, Quash
In Memory of Quash Dunbar Died 18 May 1770 Age About 70 Years *See African Names page*
Dunbar, Robin
Robin Dunbar Died June ye 11 1742 aged about 40 years
Dyer, Jane
Jane daughter of Domine Dyer & Philis Bull died May 2 1740 age 4 months
Dyre, Domine Jr
Domine son of Domine Dyre & Philis Bull died November y 12 1740 age 4 years 5 months
Dyre, Jenny
Jenny daughter of Domine Dyer & Philis Bull died Jan 15, 1743 in y 15 year of her age
Easton, James
James son of Bristol Easton & Silva Holmes died July 1753 age 6 years, 9 months, 6 days
Easton, Phillis
Phillis 1774/5 footstone
Ellery, Henrietta
In Memory of Henrietta Ellery died December 1 1848 age 79
Ellery, Juda (Adjua)
In Memory of Juda Daughter of Sharper Ellery & Dinah Died May 7th 1747 Age 7 Months 3 days (Possibly "Adjua" Ellery) See 'African Names' page
Ellery, Judah
Judah Daughter of Sharper Ellery & Dinah Coggeshall Died August 30th 1750 Age 15 Months
Ferguson, Charles
In Memory of Charles son of Thomas Ferguson and Phillis his wife who died Dec 28 1781 aged 4 years
Ferguson, Phillis
In Memory of Phillis Wife of Thomas Ferguson died Sept 18, 1814 aged 70 years
Ferguson, Thomas
In Memory of Thomas Ferguson died May 17, 1800 age 56 years *He was an active member of African Union Society between 1780 to 1800*
Flagg, Arthur
In Memory of Arthur Flagg Who changed this world for the better March 16, 1810 at the age of 77 years "How sweet the remembrance of the just Shall flourish while they sleep in eternity" *Arthur Flagg was also known by his African name "Tikey". See the marker for his son, Solomon Nuba Tikey*