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
Newton, Sambo
In Memory of
Sambo
son of
Sambo Newton
who died ye 3 July 1755
in 21 year of his age
Nichols, Fortin
In Memory of
Fortin
Nichols
he died February ye 1760
age 5 years
Nichols, Hannah
In Memory
of
Hannah
wife of Coggo Nichols
died November ye 4th
1743
aged 55 years
Oliver, Ann
Ann
A Negro Child Belonging
To
Robert Oliver
Daughter To His Negro Mimbo
Died Two Years of Age
June 1743
*This is a curious
historical marker because an exact duplicate exists in the Dorchester, MA cemetery where Robert Oliver, Esq. had an
estate.*
Overing, Comfort
Sacred
to the
memory
Comfort Overing
wife of
Robin Overing
died January 5, 1844 (7?)
age 93
Overing, Mary
In memory of
Mary
Overing
who died
February 28, 1870
age 78 years
Overing, Pero
In Memory of
Pero
Overing
Died July 22 1771
Age About 22 Years
Overing, Robin
In Memory of
Robin
Overing
who died Oct 28th
1803
aged 60 years
Peabody, Violet
Violet
1792
footstone
- original marker lost
Pease, Cudgo
In memory of
Cudgo ye son of
Ebin & Vi?? Pease
died Nov 7 1744
age 7 years
Perro, Adam and Kedindo
Adam ye son of
Kedindo and Minne
Perro died 7 Oct 1748
age 7 months
Kedindo son of
Kedindo and Minne
died June 21,
1749
age 4 days
Pinniger, Sabrina
Sabrina
Pinniger
daughter to
Robin & Phillis
died Feb 1741/2
age 7 years 3 months
Prince
Prince
son of Mingo &
Sabina
died Aug 8 1735 in 15th year of his age
Quamency
Here lieth the body
of
Quamency
who died the 18th of October 1729
Quamino, Cynthia
Cynthia
daughter
of
John & Duchess
Quamino
died January 31, 1791
in the 18th year of her age
