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
Burdin, Sarah
Here lieth
Sarah
daughter
of Alderman Burdin
and of Anna his wife
dyed Aug ye 12th 1728
aged 20 mo. and 6 days
Butcher, Hector
Here lyeth
Hector
Butcher
Negro Late Servant To Ann Butcher
of Barbados Age About 37 Years
Died August 12, 1720
*Another 17th
century African that arrives to Newport from Barbados. Many Newport Africans would originate from West Africa via Barbados,
Jamaica and Antigua.*
Cahoone, Fisherman
Fisherman
Cahoone
died November 12th, 1760
52 (?) year of his age
Cahoone, Fortin
In Memory of
Fortin
Cahoone
Died December 23, 1749
Age about 32 Years
Cahoone, Sarah
In Memory
of
Sarah
servant of
James Cahoone
she died December ?4th, 176?
Aged about ??
Carpenter, Ann
In Memory of
Mrs. Ann
Carpenter
died Aug 20 1768
age 40 years
Carpenter, Rose
Rose
Servant of
An??
Carpenter
she died August the
20th 1768
age 40 years
Carr, Cuffe
Cuffe
Ye Son of
Jack & Vilut
Carr
died 19 February 1745
Age 7 Years 5 Mo.
*"Jack" Carr would soon revert to his African name of
"Sango" as detailed in the later markers of his children Ellik, Nancy & Tom. He is listed in the 1774 census as a
free head-of-household with five persons living with him.*
Carr, Ellik
In Memory of
Ellik
Son of
Sango & Vilat Carr
died 28 Jan 1750
Age 20 Months
Carr, Nancy
In Memory of
Nancy
Daughter
of Sango & Vilate Carr
died 4 August 1754
Age 19 Months
Carr, Samson
Samson
Son of
Jack Carr
&
Hager Baley
died August 5th 1753
aged 19 months
Carr, Tom
In Memory of
Tom
Son of Sango &
Vilat Carr
died 14 December 1747
Age 13 Months & 11 Days
Chaloner, Phillis
In memory
of
Phillis
wife of
Charles Chaloner
died May 7th 1770
in the 50 year of her age
Chaloner, Susan
Susan
daughter
of
Charles and Hannah
Chaloner
died 29th December 1842
age 61 years
Champlin
In Memory of the Children
of
Prince Champlin and Lydia his wife
Chloe Died 2nd October 1794
in her 7th year
---
Henry
died June
1795 in the 5th year
