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
Gardner, Janne
In Memory of
Janne
wife
of Pompe Gardner
died 7 ye Sep 1740
age about 20 years
Gardner, Judith
This stone is erected
by
Ahemer Gardner
as the last tribute of respect
in the memory of his faithful and affectionate
wife
Judith
daughter of James Hazard of South Kingstown
died Aug y 17 182?
aged 31 (?)
Gardner, Limas
foot stone
original
headstone lost.
died 13 July 1821
Wife of Newport Gardner
Gardner, Silva
In Memory of
Silva
Daughter of
Newport Gardner & Limas his Wife,
who died August 18th 1784
Aged 16 Months & 16
Days
*The Gardner Family are one of the most prominent free African families of Colonial America.*
Gibbs, Cuffe
This stone was cut by Pompey
Stevens in memory of his brother
Cuffe Gibbs
who died December 27, 1768
*This stone demonstrates the strong
familial bond within the Newport African community.*
Gibbs, Primus
Primus Gibbs
Died July 12,
1775
Aged about 48 years
Gray, Dinah
Dinah daughter
of Jo
servant
of Doct Eben Gray
died Sept 7 1754
age 12 years
Greene, Newport
Newport Greene
Died May
8, 1775
Age About 45 Years
Greenhill, Jubaafford
Jubaafford
daughter of Hartford Greenhill &
Jane Hart
died Jan 5 1755
age 6 years
Hammond, Peggy
In Memory of
Peggy
Hammond
Died Sep 15 1761
aged about 38 years
Hammond, Violet
In Memory of
Violet
Hammond
the wife of Cape Coast James who died Sep. the 3rd 1772 aged 26 Years
*This geographically descriptive
marker details Violet's husband's West African origins which would have been the Cape Coast region of Ghana.*
Hart, Peter
In Memory of
Peter
son of
Michael and Jane Hart
died November ye 5th 1763
in ye 10th year of his age
Heatley, Affe
In Memory of
Affe
Heatley
who departed this life
July ?? 1787
Age ?? years
Heatley, Cudjo & Flora
In Memory of
Cudjo
who was born 29 September 1771
died 12th Aug 1772
In Memory of
Flora
Died 12th March 1771
age 6
years 8 month 2 days
Bottom of marker contains unspaced lettering that appears to read
cudjo ekeley (heatley)
luce
Johnson
Most likely the parents
Hicks, Rosannah
In Memory of
Miss
Rosannah
Daughter of Cudjo and Freelove Hicks
died 16 April 1817 age 20 years
