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
Benson, Mary Ann & Margaret
In
Memory of
Mary Ann & Margaret
Two daughters of
Cuffe Benson & Phebe his wife
Mary Ann
died 1801 age ? ?
Margaret
died 1802 age 16 months
Benson, Mary Jane
Mary Jane Benson
Died
May 2, 1863
age 51 years 9 months
Bors, Abraham
In Memory of
Abraham
Bors
December ye 18 1750
age 58
Bours, Cuffe
In Memory of
Cuffe
Bours
Died Dec ye 1, 1760
aged about 35 years
Bowler, Adam
In Memory of
ADAM
Servant of
Metcalf Bowler
who died Sep. 27, 1777
Age About 43 Years
*Little is known of Adam, but his Master is a member of
the Rhode Island General Assembly and prominent Newport merchant.*
Brenten, Anna
In memory of
Anna wife
of
??? Brenten
died July ye ?? 1749
Brenton, Catherine
In Memory
of
Catherine ye
wife of Mintus
Brenton died
April ye 4th
1750 in ye 35th
year of her age
Brenton, Jenny
In Memory of
Jenny
Daughter of Amboy Brenton
Died Feb 16, 1774
Age 3 Years 18 Days
Brenton, Mintus
In Memory of
Mintus
Brenton
he departed this life
August 4th A.D. 1774
aged about 52 years
Brenton, Peg
In Memory of
Peg
Brenton
wife of York Harrison
died Nov 10th 1760
in 30th year and
daughter of Peg
died March 1762
age 1
year
Brenton, Pompey
In Memory of
Pompey
Brenton
who died Aug. 5, 1772
Age About 55
*Brenton was the servant of Rhode Island Governor Brenton. Later as a
free man he would become "Governor" of the Free Africans of Rhode Island elected by the African community during
their annual "Lection Day" ceremony. At the time of his death, he was one of the most prominent free Africans of New
England.*
Brenton, William
William Brenton
servant
of
Jahleel Brenton Esq.
died 27 April 1759
age about 62 years
Brinley, Ann
In Memory of
Ann
Brinley
daughter of Peter & Barry Malbone died Jan 4th, 1762 aged 25 years 4 days
Brinley, Cato
In Memory of
Cato
servant
to Mr. Brinley and worthy member of the Baptist Church under the pastoral care of the Rev. Gardner Thurston who died in the
faith in July the 19, 1774 age about 70 years
*Cato's marker with detailed inscription of his devout Christian faith
is indicative of the life of many Africans in Newport who would convert to their Master's faith.*
Brinley, Tower
In Memory
of Tower
Brinley
died 23 June 1775
in the 19th year of his age
