Red Lion Hundred in Delaware City in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Polktown's Cemetery Rediscovered

— African Union Church Cemetery —

Photographed by Pete Skillman, April 9, 2024

1. Polktown's Cemetery Rediscovered Marker

Inscription. The African Union Church once stood on this site adjacent to the cemetery. The church was a branch of the original "Spencer Churches," founded by Wilmington's Peter Spencer in 1813. In 1835, five trustees of the church - Perry Reynolds, Noah Chambers, William Jones, Shadrach Boyer, and Solomon Dean, paid $80 for a half acre of land. The lot was part of a larger tract belonging to the Newbold family, founders of Delaware City. By 1876, the congregation moved to a small church on the grounds of Fort DuPont for services until 1931. The cemetery is owned by Mt. Salem UAME Church, part of a descendant community here in Delaware City.

In 1990 the cemetery was rediscovered. Local children found a marker labeled "USCT" in the marsh. Research has shown that this cemetery is the resting place of five of the more than 200,000 United States Colored Troops who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1996 the Friends of the African Union Church Cemetery was formed to restore, protect, and interpret the cemetery. The Friends group is partnering with the Mt. Salem UAME Church and the City of Delaware City to bring alive this

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forgotten story.

Erected by Friends of the African Union Church Cemetery.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1990.

Location. 39° 34.023′ N, 75° 35.543′ W. Marker is in Delaware City, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Red Lion Hundred. It can be reached from Michael N. Castle Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1843 Michael N Castle Trl, Delaware City DE 19706, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Wilmington and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: United States Colored Troops in this Cemetery

Polktown's Cemetery Rediscovered Marker wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, April 9, 2024

2. Polktown's Cemetery Rediscovered Marker wide view

(a few steps from this marker); Who is Buried Here? (a few steps from this marker); Polktown, Delaware (within shouting distance of this marker); African Union Church Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Equal Suffrage Study Club (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort DuPont (approx. ¼ mile away); Michelle N. Smith Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); Chapel (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Delaware City.

Also see . . . The Friends of the African Union Church Cemetery. This organization was founded to care for and promote the cemetery. (Submitted on April 10, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)

Wide view of the cemetery itself image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, April 9, 2024

3. Wide view of the cemetery itself

Sign at the cemetery plaza entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, April 9, 2024

4. Sign at the cemetery plaza entrance

Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 233 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 10, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.