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
AB
This may be the footstone of Abraham Bours. A Cuffe Bours is also located in the general area of this marker.
Allen, Phillis
In memory of
Phillis
Allen
died Aug 22 1779
aged 55 years
Almy, Catharine
Catharine Almy
wife of
Hurricane Dunbar
died Aug y 1 1743
Aged about 35 years
Almy, Cato
Here lyes the Body of
CATO
formerly Servant of Job Almy &
Lately Servant to Silas Cook of this Town.
He died May 13, 1763
Age About
40 Years
Amy, Prince
In Memory of
Prince
Son
of
Prince & Bynah Amy
Died 4 May 1778
Age 4 Years 4 Months
*Prince Amy is an active member of the African Union
Society in 1780
Amy, Thomas
In Memory of
Thomas
son
of
Prince Amy &
Bynah his wife
died Oct 13 1777
age 1 year 8 months
Aubrey, Thomas
Thomas
Son Of Pedro
Aubrey
Died 1773
Age 3 Years & 8 Months
Ayrault, Lucy
In Memory of
Lucy
wife
of
Cato Ayrault
died Aug 24 1793
aged 50 years
Bailey, Catherine
In memory
of
Catherine
daughter of
Prince and Diana Bailey
who died June 10th 1816
age 16 years
Banister, A
In Memory of
A??
Wife of
S??
Banister
Oct y 20 1746
Aged about 32 years
Banister, Phyllis
In Memory of
Phyllis
wife of Pero Banister
and servant of Charles Wickham
died 30 July 1773
age about ??
Banner, Frankey & Judey
Here Lyeth Two
Negro
Servants of
Mr. Edward Banner
Frankey & Judey
died September ye 14 1732
*This marker depicts two servants that
are buried together and may have died together.*
Barker, Moll
Here lieth
Moll
wife of
Peter
servant to Robert Barker
died October 14, 1723
Barker, Peggy
In memory of
Peggy
Barker
died April 3rd 1767
in 28th year of age
Barker, Sa??
Here lieth Sa??
negro servant
of
Wm Barker
age 50 years and
died Sept 12th 1739
