Burial Markers

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

Stodard, daughter

daughter of Fortin & Mary Stodard died 12th March 1801 age 7 years

Tanner, Hammond

In Memory of Hammond Tanner died June the 26th A.D. 1772 age about 37 years

Tanner, Lewis

Lewis son of Hammond Tanner & Dinah Tweedy died March ye 4th 1764 age 3 years 5 month 7 day (?)

Tanner, Zilpha

In Memory of Zilpha daughter of Hammond Tanner & (?) Rodman died 18 March 1767 age 8 months 3 days

Taylor, Amber, Betsy & Phoebe

In Memory of Phoebe, Amber, Betsey the daughters of Simeon and Roseanna Taylor Phoebe died June 13, 1800 age 9 months Amber died July 20, 1801 age 3 years, 7 months, and 13 days Betsey died Sep 17, 1801 age 2 years and 10 days

Taylor, Rosanna

Sacred in the memory of Rosanna widow of Simeon Taylor & daughter of Arthur Flagg who died May 18, 1847 in the 76th year

Taylor, Toney

In Memory of Toney Taylor Who died Jan 10th 1799 Age about 77 years He was a worthy member of the Baptist Church under the care of Elder Gardner Thurston in Newport *Anthony 'Toney' Taylor was President of the African Union Society in 1789*

Taylor, Tower

foot stone - T.T. 1773 original marker lost, bore inscription: In Memory of Tower Taylor died 18 July 1773 age 59 years

Tew, Lango and Eliza

Lango Tew died March ? 1829 age 50 years Eliza wife of Lango Tew died March 6 1865 age ? *Lango Tew and Eliza Peckham married November 18, 1810 in the 1st Congregational Church*