Stevensville in Queen Anne's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Wesley M.E.C. Cemetery

Photographed by Pete Skillman, February 17, 2026

1. Old Wesley M.E.C. Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Cemeteries, along with churches and schools, were some of the first institutions founded by African Americans after the Civil War. For African American persons in particular, burial grounds have often been regarded as places where ancestors could be properly honored and provided with the dignity, care, and respect in death that had often been denied them in life.

This is the original site of Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church and cemetery founded in 1876. This site housed one of the oldest black churches in Queen Anne's county and was established by a group of ex-slaves with help from white Methodists.

This cemetery is lovingly managed by the Trustees and congregation of NEW United Methodist Church located in Chester, MD

Grounds renewal, history signage, veterans markers, bench, and digital records compiled for NEW UMC are part of the 2024 Eagle Scout Project of Samuel R-T. Member BSA Troup 1631, Christ Church Kent Island

Erected 2024 by BSA Troop 1631.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures

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• War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 38° 59.371′ N, 76° 18.413′ W. Marker is in Stevensville, Maryland, in Queen Anne's County. It is on Benton Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 Benton Rd, Stevensville MD 21666, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

in the Tidewater,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

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

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of Stevensville Station (approx. ¼ mile away); Christ Church Glebe Farm (approx. 0.7 miles away); Stevensville Bank (approx. 0.7 miles away); Country Store (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Stevensville Post Office (approx. 0.7 miles away);

Old Wesley M.E.C. Cemetery Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, February 17, 2026

2. Old Wesley M.E.C. Cemetery Marker - wide view

Cray House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Stevensville Train Depot (approx. 0.7 miles away); Grollman's Store (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stevensville.

Also see . . . New United Methodist Church - About.

The church has been in existence for over 114 years.

In the early 1800’s there were three small areas on Kent Island where the black residents gathered for worship. The black families who lived south of Stevensville were in the Batt’s Neck area, “Fredericktown”, those north of Stevensville to Love Point were Stevensville or on the “Lot” and others east of Stevensville lived in Chester.

On July 5, 1873, Mr. Samuel Ringgold and his wife, Mary E. Ringgold acknowledged a forgoing deed to be their respective act. This act was testified by Mr. John O. Phillip, one of the Justice’s of the Peace of Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. This deed was to the land where Wesley Episcopal Church was built along with land for burial purposes.

(Submitted on February 17, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)

Old Wesley M.E.C. Cemetery Marker - cemetery sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, February 17, 2026

3. Old Wesley M.E.C. Cemetery Marker - cemetery sign

Located at the corner of Old Love Point Road and Benton Road.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 40 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 17, 2026, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.