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
Cranston, Peter
In Memory of
Peter
Cranston
Who died August 12 1787
in the 64 year of his age
Cranston, Peter Jr
Peter
son of
Peter
Cranston &
Phylis his wife
was drowned
Sept 7 ye 1771
to loss of his parents & Ms (Master) A. Lopez
Davis, Fanny
In Memory
Fanny
Widow
of
Jack Davis
who died
April 24, 1843
Davis, Jack
In Memory of
Jack Davis
who
died
October 17 1836
aged 80
DeBlois, Primus
In Memory of
Primus
DeBlois
Who died in the faith
November 27th 1775
Age about 20 years
Dunbar, Quash
In Memory of
Quash
Dunbar
Died 18 May 1770
Age About 70 Years
*See African Names page*
Dunbar, Robin
Robin Dunbar
Died June ye 11
1742
aged about 40 years
Dyer, Jane
Jane daughter of
Domine Dyer
&
Philis Bull
died May 2 1740
age 4 months
Dyre, Domine Jr
Domine
son of Domine Dyre
&
Philis Bull
died November y 12 1740
age 4 years 5 months
Dyre, Jenny
Jenny daughter of
Domine Dyer
&
Philis Bull
died Jan 15, 1743 in y 15 year
of her age
Easton, James
James son of
Bristol Easton
&
Silva Holmes
died July 1753
age 6 years, 9 months, 6 days
Easton, Phillis
Phillis
1774/5
footstone
Ellery, Henrietta
In Memory
of
Henrietta Ellery
died December 1 1848
age 79
Ellery, Juda (Adjua)
In Memory of
Juda
Daughter of Sharper Ellery & Dinah
Died May 7th 1747
Age 7 Months 3 days
(Possibly "Adjua" Ellery) See
'African Names' page
Ellery, Judah
Judah
Daughter of
Sharper
Ellery & Dinah Coggeshall
Died August 30th 1750
Age 15 Months
