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
Hicks, Samuel
In memory of
Samuel
Hicks
son of
Cudjoe & Freelove Hicks
who died
August 11, 1861
aged 70 years 4 mos
Howard, Jem
In Memory of
Jem Howard
A twin
Brother of Quam
Son of Phillis
Died 17 July 1771
*Possibly son of Primus Gibbs. See Susey Howard note.
Howard, Susey
In memory of
Susey
Howard
daughter of Primus Gibbs
who died Sept 26 1770
aged 3 years 9 months
*Susey lies between her father and
Jem Howard, son of Phillis. It is possible that Phillis is the mother and Primus the father of both children.
Jacob, Sarah (Bors)
In Memory of
Sarah
Jacob
widow of Abraham Boss
who departed this life September 9, 1774
age about 84 years
Johnson, Lucia
Lucia Johnson
wife of
Cudjo Heatley
died 1783
age 33 years
Jordan, Daniel
In Memory of
Daniel
Jordan
died April the 4th
1775 in 50th year of his age
Keith, Lymas
In Memory of
Lymas Keith
who
departed this life
April 21, 1796
age 65 years
Now he has run his race,
and Death has set him free,
(rest
hard to read)
Key, Peter
In memory of
Peter a
Negro
servant to Mr. Key
died June ye 10 1740
age about 60 years
Linsey, Luse
Luse Linsey
wife of Pompe
Frebody
died September 4 1750
aged 20 years
Littlefield, Lyman
In Memory of
??
Burke died 24 December 1832 ?? year of her age.
also
Lyman Littlefield
drowned in the Tobagos River 10 May
1822
Age 38 Years
*The first name of the female on the marker is unknown, but it is possible she was the daughter
of Lyman Littlefield, the second person on the marker. Littlefield was the husband of Phebe Overing (later Brown).
Lopez, Cujo
Cujo Lopez
died February 9th
1769
age (?) Years
(?) months
Lyndon, Pompey
In Memory of
Pompey
a
Beloved Servant of Josiah Lyndon who
Died September 11, 1765
Age 28 Months & 8 Days
Cut By P.S. (Pompe
Stevens)
Malbone, Mingo
Mingo
Malbone
1770
*Mingo is the servant to Godfrey Malbone heir to one of the oldest family estates in America. The Malbone estate
still exists in present day Newport.*
Malbone, Nancy
died 1771
*Marker broken
and unreadable*
Malbone, Sarah
In Memory of
Sarah
Malbone
who died March 2, 1818
age 33 years
