|
SEE MORE PHOTOS at bottom of page Historian Valerie Cunningham placed the location of the missing cemetery at the corner of Chestnut and Court Streets, precisely where the remains were discovered. This has been stop #10 on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail that points out locations important to African American history in Portsmouth. Instituted in 1705, the separate cemetery location was assigned to blacks who were not allowed to be buried in white cemeteries. It now appears possible that the burial grounds were simply paved over and not moved as rumors have long indicated. The location of the cemetery is hinted at in a 19th century history of Portsmouth by Charles Brewster. In a chapter about the sale of the downtown church or "glebe" land in 1705, Brewster refers to the burial ground. He even published a map of the area that helped place it on the Black Heritage Trail. Portsmouth has a number of historic cemeteries long listed in local guidebooks -- including the North Cemetery, South Cemetery and Point of Graves. Those sites are each surrounded by stone walls and maintained either privately or by the city. Stay tuned for further details.
Copyright © 2003 SeacoastNH.com
More Photos of Grave
Discovery
New | Site Map | Talk | Store | Mail (c) Copyright 2003 SeacaostNH.com. All rights reserved
|
