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
Ferguson, Charles
In Memory
of
Charles
son of Thomas Ferguson
and Phillis his wife
who died Dec 28
1781 aged 4 years
Ferguson, Phillis
In Memory
of
Phillis
Wife of Thomas Ferguson
died Sept 18, 1814
aged 70 years
Ferguson, Thomas
In Memory of
Thomas
Ferguson
died May 17, 1800
age 56 years
*He was an active member of African Union Society between 1780 to 1800*
Flagg, Arthur
In Memory of
Arthur
Flagg
Who changed this world for the better
March 16, 1810
at the age of 77 years
"How sweet the remembrance
of the just
Shall flourish while they sleep in eternity"
*Arthur Flagg was also known by his African name
"Tikey". See the marker for his son, Solomon Nuba Tikey*
Flagg, Flora
In memory of
Flora
wife of
Arthur Flagg
who fell asleep in Christ
Jan the 12th 1802
age 75 years
She was a worthy member of
the
Sabbatarin Baptist Church & was
faithful to the cause of Christ
Depart my friend, wipe off your tears
there
must rest till Christ appears
Flagg, George
SACRED
To the Memory
of
GEORGE ALFRED
son of
Abraham & Dianna Flagg
Died Jan 22nd 1828
in the 19th year
Flagg, Hannah Eliza
In Memory of
Hannah
Eliza
daughter of
Arthur & Susan
Flagg
died
Sept 9 1861
age 54 years
Flagg, Nancy
In Memory of
Nancy
Daughter
of Arthur & Flora Flagg
Died Oct 6th 1801
Age 17 Years
"Life how short, Eternity how long."
Flagg, Rose
In Memory of
Rose Flagg
who
died October ??
1773
age about ??
Foldger, Phillis
Phillis
Daughter of John
Foldger
& Jane Pearce
died Aug ye 5th
1758 in the 21st year
Folger, Jane
In Memory of
Jane Folger
who
departed this life
May 10th 1788
aged 81 years
Fowler, Thomas
Thomas
servant of
Samuel
Fowler, esq.
who departed this earth
July 12, 1786
age 40 years
Gardner, Bristow
In memory of
Bristow
Gardner
and his wife
Venus Gardner
and their children
Josiah, Hannah, Cambridge, Jane
also
Rosanna
who
died 17 November 1900
Gardner, Charles and Abraham
In
memory of
Charles Quamine and Abraham
sons of Newport Gardner and
Limas his wife
Charles died
June
14th, 1798
age 4 years, 4 months, 25 days
Abraham died
July 17th, 1798
age 2 years, 10 month, 5
days
"Suffer not the children to come unto me"
Gardner, Dinah
In Memory of Dinah
daughter
of Pompey Gardner
& Jenny his wife
departed this June 28, 1782
13th year of her life
