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
Malbone, Simon
In Memory of
Simon
son
of
Peter and Barry Malbone
died 16th May 176(3)?
in the 9th year of his age
Marsh, Bristol
In Memory of
Bristol
Marsh
who died April 6, 1761
age about 82 years
Marsh, Caesar
Caesar Marsh
died Nov 5
1740
age 26 years
Marsh, Merean
Merean
ye wife of Bristol
Marsh
died January 12, 1753
age 52 years
Merriott, Quarker
In Memory of
Quarker
Merriott
Died July 1784
Age 55 years
Miller, Adam & Belinda
In Memory of
Adam
Miller
Died at Sea 1799
Age 43 Years
Also
Belinda
his Wife
a Faithful Servant of Samuel Freebody,
Esq.
Died 9 April 1807
Age 60 Years
*Adam Miller is listed as a Free Black and a paid subscriber in 1793 of
Systems of Doctrines by Rev Samuel Hopkins.*
Miller, Adam Jr
In Memory of
Adam
Miller
Servant of Elizabeth Miller
and son of Adam and Belinda Miller
Died December 12th 1792
Age 12 years
Morris, Hulday
Hulday Morris
1797
Foot
stone - marker missing
*Daughter of Mintus Brenton & Mereah Brenton. Died October 1, 1797 age 39*
Mowatt, John
In Memory of
John Mowatt
who
departed this life
Feb 12th 1859
in the 81st year
Patience his wife died 11 Dec 1865
age 78 years
Mowatt, Patience
In memory
of
Patience
wife of
John Mowatt
December 11 1865
age 78 years
Mowatt, Patience (daughter)
In Memory
of
Patience
daughter of
John and Patience Mowatt
died Aug 29 1812
age 10 months 7 days
Mumford, M
M ?? Mumford
ye wife of Sango
Mumford
died August 3 1745
aged about 40 years
Newport
In Memory of Newport
son of Mingo ?? &
Sabina
who died ?? 1748
age ?? months
Newton, Cesar
In Memory of Cesar ye
Serv.
to Capt.
Simon Newton
died March y 26, 1759
age about 20 years
Newton, Geney
In Memory of
Geney
Newton
wife of Cesar Newton
died September 1777
in 25th year
