Liverpool in Merseyside, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

Abell

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 13, 2026

1. Abell Marker

Inscription. Abell
An enslaved African and the first recorded black resident of the city
Buried in this churchyard
1st October 1717

This stone was unveiled in
October 2020

Erected 2020.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is October 1, 1717.

Location. 53° 24.411′ N, 2° 59.663′ W. Marker is in Liverpool, England, in Merseyside. It can be reached from the intersection of Old Churchyard and Chapel Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Old Churchyard, Liverpool, England L2 8TX, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North West England.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: SS Atlantic Conveyor Memorial (here, next to this marker); MV Derbyshire

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(here, next to this marker); James Harrison (a few steps from this marker); Church of Our Lady & St Nicholas (a few steps from this marker); Church of Our Lady and St. Nicholas (within shouting distance of this marker); Arctic Campaign Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of the Atlantic Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Saint Nicholas's Church Yard (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Liverpool.

Also see . . . Monument in churchyard tells sad story of Liverpool's first known black resident (Liverpool Echo).

In 1717, the death of a Liverpool resident, Abell, was listed in the records of Liverpool Parish Church, now better known as the Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas. Abell was an African man who is believed to have been enslaved and brought to the city where he lived and died over 300 years ago. Buried in the churchyard of Liverpool Parish Church on October 1 that year, little else is known about him. A monument for Liverpool's first recorded black resident was finally unveiled in 2020 - after historian Laurence Westgaph
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, September 13, 2026

2. Abell Marker
The memorial stone is located within Our Lady and St Nicholas Church Garden, a burial site that was partially destroyed during World War II.
campaigned for Abell to be suitably commemorated.

(Submitted on October 17, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 17, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.