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
Gibbs, Primus
Primus Gibbs Died July 12, 1775 Aged about 48 years
Gray, Dinah
Dinah daughter of Jo servant of Doct Eben Gray died Sept 7 1754 age 12 years
Greene, Newport
Newport Greene Died May 8, 1775 Age About 45 Years
Greenhill, Jubaafford
Jubaafford daughter of Hartford Greenhill & Jane Hart died Jan 5 1755 age 6 years
Hammond, Peggy
In Memory of Peggy Hammond Died Sep 15 1761 aged about 38 years
Hammond, Violet
In Memory of Violet Hammond the wife of Cape Coast James who died Sep. the 3rd 1772 aged 26 Years *This geographically descriptive marker details Violet's husband's West African origins which would have been the Cape Coast region of Ghana.*
Hart, Peter
In Memory of Peter son of Michael and Jane Hart died November ye 5th 1763 in ye 10th year of his age
Heatley, Affe
In Memory of Affe Heatley who departed this life July ?? 1787 Age ?? years
Heatley, Cudjo & Flora
In Memory of Cudjo who was born 29 September 1771 died 12th Aug 1772 In Memory of Flora Died 12th March 1771 age 6 years 8 month 2 days Bottom of marker contains unspaced lettering that appears to read cudjo ekeley (heatley) luce Johnson Most likely the parents
Hicks, Rosannah
In Memory of Miss Rosannah Daughter of Cudjo and Freelove Hicks died 16 April 1817 age 20 years
Hicks, Samuel
In memory of Samuel Hicks son of Cudjoe & Freelove Hicks who died August 11, 1861 aged 70 years 4 mos
Howard, Jem
In Memory of Jem Howard A twin Brother of Quam Son of Phillis Died 17 July 1771 *Possibly son of Primus Gibbs. See Susey Howard note.
Howard, Susey
In memory of Susey Howard daughter of Primus Gibbs who died Sept 26 1770 aged 3 years 9 months *Susey lies between her father and Jem Howard, son of Phillis. It is possible that Phillis is the mother and Primus the father of both children.
Jacob, Sarah (Bors)
In Memory of Sarah Jacob widow of Abraham Boss who departed this life September 9, 1774 age about 84 years