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
Quamino, Duchess
In Memory of
Duchess
Quamino
A Free Black
of distinguished excellence:
Intelligent, Industrious, Affectionate, Honest
and of
Exemplary Piety
Who deceased
June 29, 1804, aged 65 Years
"Blessed thy slumbers in this house of clay
And
bright thy rising to external day"
*This marker represents one of the great tragedies of the burial ground. Most
of the etchings are unreadable due to historical wear. Quamino started as a slave in the William Channing household and
became one of the most prominent Africans of her time.*
Quamino, Violet
In the Memory
of
Violet
Daughter of John & Duchess Quamino
who died January 25th, 1792
age 15 years, 8 months, 21
days
"Behold, thou hath made my days as a hand breadth and my age is as nothing before thee."
Psalm 39:05
*This is one of the most descriptive markers. Not only do the Free African parents convey their strong bond with child,
but also their religious beliefs by quoting biblical scriptures.*
Read, Lucy
In Memory of
Lucy
Daughter of Cudjo
Read & Phillias Gardner
Died July 1758 In The 9th Year of Her Age
Redwood, Diana
In Memory of
Diana
Redwood
Died 22nd April 1822
Age 83 years
Redwood, Newport
Newport
Servant of
Abraham
Redwood
Died February 21, 1766
Age About 50 Years
*Little is known of Newport Redwood, however, his master,
Abraham Redwood is the founder of Newport's Redwood Library presently the oldest library in America.*
Redwood, Thomas
Thomas
servant of Abraham
Redwood
died February 19 1767
age 35 years
Richardson, Ceasar
In Memory of
Ceasar
Richardson
who died 3rd of April 1756
age 28 years
Rivera, Judith
In Memory of
Judith
Servant of Jacob Rodriguez Rivera
Who Died Nov 9, 1773 In The 26th Year Of Her Age
Rivera, Margaret
In Memory
of
Margaret
Ye Wife of
Quarker Rivera
Died March ye 16th 1771
in ye 26th year of age
*A servant in
the Jacob Rodriguez Rivera Household. Rivera's home located at Bridge and Washington Street included twelve servants in
1774.*
Rivera, Phillis
In Memory of
Phillis
Rivera
The Wife of
Peter Cranston
died 11 February 1791
age 64
Rivera, Phylis
In Memory of
Phylis
Rivera
Wife of Cato Cranston
Rodman, Cuffe
Footstone,
Marker -
broken
Died 16th Sept 1809
age 40 years
Rodman, Curbay & Benjamin
In Memory
of
Curbay Rodman
who died 7 May 1806 age 70 years
Depart my friend wipe off your tears for in Christ you will
find happiness
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Also thier son
Benjamin
Rodman
died at Sea Jan 31, 1806 age 20 years
O traveller if thou can't read
look down upon this stone .
Do
all we can it's death O man
that never spareth none
Rodman, Harriot
In Memory
of
Harriot
daughter of
Nathanial Rodman
who died August 182?
age 18 years
Rodman, Mary
To the Memory of
Mary
Rodman
born January 25 1812
died November 22 1894
