Newburyport in Essex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Historic African American Section of the Old Hill Burying Ground (Est. 1729)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 1, 2024

1. Historic African American Section of the Old Hill Burying Ground (Est. 1729) Marker

Inscription. This area has a concentration of graves and stone markers for Black men, women, and children buried in the 18th and 19th centuries. There are also many unidentified graves here, found by ground penetrating radar, which are now marked “Once Known” – all were individuals known in their day even if we no longer know their names today. This section of the cemetery is across the street from an historic Black neighborhood called “Guinea Village” during that era.

Mercy Small (1782-1783) • Susanna Cogswell (1749-1805) • Enoch S. Garrison Loring (1817-1833) • Fortune (d. 1804) • Nancy Haburn (1782-1863) • John C.H. Young (1817-1889) • Frankin James Douglas (1802-1836)

Erected 2024.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1729.

Location. 42° 48.447′ N, 70° 52.628′ W. Marker is in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in Essex County. It is on Auburn Street north of Pond Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22A Auburn St, Newburyport MA 01950, United

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Massachusetts’ North Shore,

in Greater Boston,

and in the Merrimack Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

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 one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Within Lie Buried (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Bartlet Mall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bombshell (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic 1893 Newburyport Train Station (approx. ¼ mile away); Dalton House (approx. 0.3 miles away); William Lloyd Garrison (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wm. Lloyd Garrison (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Wm. Lloyd Garrison (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newburyport.

Regarding Historic African American Section of the Old Hill Burying Ground (Est. 1729). At least 18 unmarked graves in

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 1, 2024

2. Historic African American Section of the Old Hill Burying Ground (Est. 1729) Marker

the cemetery's African-American section have been found using ground-penetrating radar. During a May 2024 ceremony, plaques with the words "Once Known" were installed over those graves.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 230 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.