Downtown in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Scipio Gunney

(unknown-unknown)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2026

1. Scipio Gunney Marker

Inscription. A parishioner of Old South Meeting House, Scipio Gunney was a formerly enslaved man who spent much of his time attempting to gain freedom for his family, who remained in bondage. Very little is known about his life, but he represents the complex position that Black colonists were in during the Revolutionary era.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Colonial Era • War, US Revolutionary.

Location. 42° 21.42′ N, 71° 3.516′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of Milk Street and Washington Street, on the right when traveling west on Milk Street. The marker is one of several posted on the fence of the shop next to the Old South Meeting House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 310 Washington Street, Boston MA 02108, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Historic Boston. 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: Thomas Hutchinson (here, next to this marker); One Ticket. A Whole Lot of Revolution! (here, next to this marker); Samuel Adams (here, next to this marker); Phillis Wheatley (here, next to this marker); John Hancock (here, next to this marker); John Adams (here, next to this marker); See Where the Boston Tea Party Began (here, next to this marker); Old South Meeting House (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of

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Also see . . . Mapping Congregants of Color at Old South Church. This interactive article, written by Revolutionary Spaces and Carleton College students, looks at the Black congregants of Old South Church. According to the article, people of color who attended the church (like Scipio Gunney) were expected to sit in the third-floor balcony.

Excerpt: "According to church records, Scipio was enslaved by John Osborne. He lived at Osborne's house on Milk Street... right down the street from Old South."

(Submitted on November 12, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Front view of Old South Meeting House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2026

2. Front view of Old South Meeting House

Several markers are affixed to the small shop to the right of the entrance to Old South Meeting House.

South side of Old South Meeting House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2026

3. South side of Old South Meeting House

Part of the Scipio Gunney marker is visible in the bottom left corner of the photo.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on November 12, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on November 11, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.