Portsmouth in Rockingham County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)
Negro Pews
Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail
Photographed By Bryan Simmons, July 2012
1. Negro Pews Marker
Until the mid 1800's, most New England churches assigned pews to parishioners by their social rank. Black people, enslaved or free, usually were seated as far as possible from the pulpit.
Negro pews in the North Meetinghouse, which stood here from 1711 to 1854, were located in the upper balcony high above the front door.Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1711.
Location. 43° 4.603′ N, 70° 45.479′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in Rockingham County. Marker is on Congress St (U.S. 1) close to Church Street, on the left when traveling west. Located in small fenced in area next to church. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth NH 03801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Original New Hampshire State House (within shouting distance of this marker); 18 Congress (within shouting distance of this marker); Nation's Oldest Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Treaty of Portsmouth 1905 (within shouting distance of this marker); The South Church
Photographed By Bryan Simmons, July 2012
2. North Meetinghouse
this page online
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail
Also see . . . Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail.
In the colonial era some white people objected to the Christianization of enslaved Africans and didn’t take their slaves to church. Pious whites catechized their enslaved people and took them to church. Many slaves later became active church members. Isolated in balcony “Negro Pews” in most churches, some were bored by didactic sermons and played quiet games or smacked. (Submitted on April 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 693 times since then and 8 times this year. Last updated on April 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 28, 2012, by Bryan Simmons of Attleboro, Massachusetts. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
