Historic Mount Olive Cemetery -
Wilmington, Delaware
The
burial location indicated in the Delaware Death records is usually clearly
listed as 'Mount Olive'. In the earliest records - some locations are indicated
as rough street addresses.
Mother
A. U. M. P. Church is located at 819 French St. Peter Spencer originally was a
member of Asbury Church. The church was built in 1813, rebuilt in 1827 and
enlarged in 1842. There is a small graveyard to the rear of the church. Union
American M. E. Church, colored, is located at 1206 French St. There is a
graveyard to the rear of the church. St. Peter's U. M. P. Church, colored. The
first services of this church were held in the colored cemetery on Union St.,
near Front St. They purchased a lot at 2nd and Union Sts.
There was a caretakers house on the property from 1914 until after 1939.
Undoubtedly both burial records and plot maps were kept at that time. If anyone
knows of the existence of these records and would like to help reconstruct the
cemetery records, please contact me.
Undertakers who served families at St. Peters and Mount Olive include:
L. W. Palmer
Joseph Bass
S.V.B. Carty
Wm. E Grinnage
Annie Brierly
Ed R Bell
Wm. E Grey
Wm Gumby
Extracts of the earliest
state-wide Delaware death records which mention African-Americans (including
enslaved persons) has been included to assist in family history research. These
earliest records do not reference cemeteries by name. Several persons mentioned
in this file do have relatives buried in St. Peters. The burials marked
'unrecorded' in these pages may refer to the 'Affr Cem' found on the 1868
county map - the marked site would be close to the Front and Union St location
of the later St. Peters and Union cemeteries. The unrecorded burials may also
be on King Street. By 1861, further burials at the site of Peter Spencer's
grave were banned by city ordinance.
The earliest recorded
burials in Wilmington (1847ff) are found on film 005190436 (accessible through
www.familysearch.org). Although no place of burial is recorded, these entries
are included with the note 'early burial'.
Prior to the building of the
new Almshouse at Farnhurst in 1884, there was a “Poor Ground” or
Potter’s Field for the New Castle County Poorhouse/Almshouse when it was
located in downtown Wilmington on Broome Street, between Front and Fourth
Streets.
https://www.farnhurst.com/timeline-of-potters-fields.html
Active known African-American
burial grounds at that time were the churches downtown, including Peter Spencer
plaza (African Union); a small cemetery at 2nd and Tatnall and the African
cemetery indicated at the edge of Wilmington in the 1868 Beers New Castle
County map.
http://nc-chap.org/chap/beers.php
The online
Delaware death records (www.familysearch.org)
were the primary source for much of this information. There are at least 3
different sets – Wilmington City records, Delaware state records and
Tatnall Tombstone extracts.
The death
records may contain mention of a cemetery – but an exact location is not
usually included.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/786107
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/784075
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1520546
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1448976
Newspapers.com
was used to identify obituaries referring to the cemeteries.
1853
The earliest mention of a
cemetery name in a death record (most early death records do not mention a
cemetery)
17 Jul 1853 – Catherine
Anderson, aged 36yr – Union Cemetery
1861
- Several
African-American cemeteries, close to churches, are active in Wilmington prior to
1861, when this ordinance was enacted. Despite the ordinance, burials continued
at several sites, most notably at 12th and French. An ‘Affr
Cem’ is indicated outside the Wilmington city limits. Mt. Zion and St.
Peters were both outside the city limits at the time of their establishment.
1868
- A map of Christiana
- Centerville shows three dots, apparently labeled as Aff. Cem - one west of
Front and Union and two east of Front and Union; south of Pyle's property. If the dots represent early cemeteries
where St. Peters and Ezion grew; was there a cemetery west of Front and Union?
View and Enlarge this map to
see the church locations (12th and French, 10th and King)
1870
- St. Peters - an historic moment
St. Peter's African Union
Methodist Protestant Church, was founded by Rev.E. H. Chippey who preached on a
platform in a graveyard on Union street and built their first church in 1870.
(History of the State of Delaware, vol 2, pg 35e, pg 793. Henry Clay Conrad -
available at www.ebooksread.com)
1870 Wilmington City Directory
- No specific
African-American cemeteries are mentioned. Churches include: African Union,
French above 8th; Union American, French above 12th; E. Zion, 9th and French;
Wesleyan Union, Poplar above 5th
Cemeteries which appear in the maps and city directories include
"old" Cathedral (also called St. Peter's RC), Wilmington and
Brandywine, Cathedral, Old Swedes and Riverview.
By 1870, the Secretary of War recorded 3 veterans' burials at St. Peters.
1872 - 1885,
burials
appear at the cemetery identified as '12th and French', 'Old Union' and 'Old
AUMP'. The Lockman
family, for example, has members buried in Union Cemetery, St. Peters Cemetery
and Mount Olive. Other early cemeteries of interest for African-American
genealogy include the Baptist cemetery at 10th and King St; Delaware City,
Pigeon Run, Old Cathedral, Wilmington and Brandywine, Mt. Zion, Silverbrook and
the public burials grounds (these include New Castle County Cemetery, Poor
House, Alms House and Potters Field).
1879/80
Wilmington City Directory
Union
American, 12th above French. The burial ground identified as 'Old Union' is
located at 12th and French.
No specific mention of African-American cemeteries appears.
Union American, French above 12th
Mount Olive Chapel, Poplar above 5th
St. Peters Chapel, Second above Union
Ezion M.E. Church, Ninth and French
African Union, French above 8th - this is the original cemetery where Peter
Spencer was buried. Referred to as AU Churchyard in burial records.
819 French St
1879
Wilmington City Directory
St.
Peter's Chapel. 2nd above Union. St.
The location of St. Peter's cemetery is refered to as '2nd and Union' or 'Front
and Union', but is not mentioned in the city directory
Between
1885 and 1895, the most active cemeteries in the Wilmington area include St.
Peters, Union, Ezion, old Baptist and Mount Zion. After 1895, Mount Zion
becomes the most active cemetery; followed by St. Peters. No further mention in
the records appears for Union, old Union or Ezion. Although other cemeteries
(Old Swedes, Wilmington and Brandywine, old Cathedral, Cathedral) are shown in
Wilmington-area maps (city directories or local play maps) - none of the
African-American cemeteries are shown on any historic map located so far. The
1868 map of Christiana district shows 3 small dots labeled as 'Aff Cem' on the
city line.
Cemeteries
named in the Wilmington area death records include:
St. Peters (Front and Union, 2nd and Union)
Mt. Zion
Union or Old Union (12th and French)
Baptist (10th and King)
Ezion
1884
Wilmington City Directory
St.
Peter's Cemetery - located between Front and Second; and Union and Pyle
Most African-American cemeteries do not appear in the city directory.
Ezion Cemetery - burial ground of the Ezion M.E. Church. Located between 2nd
and 3rd and Union and Pyle's Lane
1887 - Memorial Day events
Delaware Gazette and State Journal 2 Jun 1887 pg 2
Sumner Post sent details to decorate the graves in
Ezion and the Old Union cemeteries and this afternoon they proceeded in a
parade to the Union cemetery on West Front street. They were accompanied by
Harding's Band, and were followed by several wagons loaded with flowers.
The request for flowers with which to decorate the
graves of the country's dead brought a hearty response from old and young, men
and women. The flower display was larger and more varied than in previous
years, and the deft fingers of the ladies soon wove the pretty blossoms into
wreaths, bouquets and various other beautiful designs. Women and children were
busily engaged yesterday in plucking daisies which were contributed in large
quantities as were also roses.
Ezion
Cemetery - Burial ground of Ezion M.E. Church, located between 2nd and 3rd and
Union and Pyle's Lane
No mention of St. Peters or Union Cemetery
1895
Wilmington City Directory
Ezion
Cemetery - Burial ground of Ezion M.E. Church, located between 2nd and 3rd and
Union and Pyle's Lane
No mention of St. Peters or Union Cemetery
-
although several African-American cemeteries were active, they are not noted on
this historic map. Approximate locations are shown:
Front, Union, 2nd, 3rd
French
above 12th, King above 10th
UNION
(colored) - West of Union on Pyles lane from Lancaster to Second St. (no
reference to St. Peters)
'Union
Cemetery' may refer to either the cemetery located on French above 12th or St.
Peters
(and
some stones have been located in Mt. Olive from burials listed as 'Union'
cemetery.
EZION
cemetery - Burial Ground of Ezion M.E. Church; located between Second and
Third; and Union and Pyle's Lane.
1899
- 1914
Early
burials
Hamilton,
Daniel – May 1900 - both Mt. Olive and St. Peters are listed as burial in
different newspapers and death records.
Watson,
James T. (a soldier killed in the Philippines)
d
12 Sep 1900; buried 20 Apr 1901
Bayard,
Frederick M d 1 Jul 1901 aged 5m
Loper,
Rita (Everetta) d
8 Nov 1901 aged 17y
Services
at St. Peters Chapel, 2nd and Union St.
Internment
at Mt. Olive
Loper,
Elmer d
22 Jul 1902 aged 9m
Both
Mount Olive and St. Peters are active, although is appears St. Peters was used
for infants. In burial records between 1899 and 1914, both St. Peters and Mount
Olive are named as active cemeteries. References to 'old Union' cemetery (12th
and French) are not found.
Ezion
Cemetery - located between 2nd and 3rd and Union and Pyles' Lane.
Union (colored) - West of Union on Grant, from Lancaster Ave to 2nd St
Wilmington
Star, 26 Apr 1906 ‘Conditions at Saint Peters Cemetery’
The
report was to the effect that for years the cemetery has been full and that no
more permits for internments should be given to any undertaker. The report
declared that the law has been grossly violated as the graves in some instances
have been dug only two feet deep. “The colored people have a new cemetery
beyond Silverbrook and no more internments ought to be tolerated in St. Peters
cemetery”
1909
– Unidentified Cemetery discovered on W. Second St.
News-Journal,
Wilmington DE 08 Jan 1909 pg 5 - Had struck a colored Cemetery,
the existence of which many had forgotten.
1910
Wilmington City Directory
Ezion
Cemetery - located between 2nd and 3rd and Union and Pyles' Lane.
Union (colored) - West of Union on Grant, from Lancaster Ave to 2nd St
The Morning
News (Wilmington, Delaware) 20 Sep 1910, Pg 12
City
Council members, accompanied by members of the local Board of Health, will make
an inspection of the cemeteries next Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
The
cemetery which is bounded by Lancaster Avenue, Second Street, Grant Avenue and
which lays against the rear of eleven hourses in Anderson’s Row, is owned
by the A.U. Church in French Street between Eighth and Ninth streets; know as
St. Peters. This cemetery is used for burying infants but the company owning it
also owns Mt. Olive Cemetery, which is about two miles from the city on
Lancaster turnpike.
Mt.
Zion cemetery, which is owned by Ezion Methodist church, is on the west side of
Second Street, between Union Street and Grant Avenue; between Union Street and
Grant Avenue. The avenue runs along
the extreme western end of the land to old Cedar Grove lane, which is about 100
feet east of third street. Besides those who complained of the odor, other
complained against the disorder of the occupants of Anderson’s Row, which
according to the neighbors, is most disagreeable. This appears to be at its
zenith every Saturday night.
The Morning
News (Wilmington, Delaware)
The
lines of the two blocks show, according to records at the City Registry Bureau,
an area of 158,259 square feet, divided as follows: 93,833 square feet in the
block bounded by Second Street, Third Street, Union Street and Grant Avenue. Of
this tract, 48,729 square feet is owned by the Zion cemetery, whose lands run
north of Second street in the land of William Boyd, which contains 50,105 sq
feet. The deed of the land owned by the Zion cemetery calls for a strip along
Union Street, which is owned by the Old Company Road. This strip, which is very
small, lays but a few feet back from thebuilding line. The Mon Company also
owns part of the bed of Grant Avenue and some land on the west side of Grant
Avenue which totals to about 15,300 square feet. The St. Peters cemetery owns,
according to the records, about 63,000 square feet in the block running along
Lancaster Avenue, Grant Avenue, Second Street and in the rear of
Anderson’s Row. This row, which is owned by Helen Anderson, contains
22,800 square feet and on it are erected the eleven buildings known as
Anderson’s Row in Union Street, north of Lancaster Avenue; along with a
blacksmith shop on the corner, a small one-story store on Lancaster Avenue
besides the adjoining house. 1911 – City Council
The Morning
News (Wilmington, Delaware) 27 Jan 1911, Fri, Pages 1& 2
From
a demand for $20,000 to a sum hardly more than nominal is the drop taken by the
trustees of the cemetery of the African Union church at Front and Union Street
in the negotiations that have been going on for some time … of the city
acquiring the cemetery land to be converted into park purposes or to be sold in
order to abate an alleged nuisance. The following proposal was submitted to the
trustees of the Mount Ezion and St. Peter;s cemeteries for their consideration.
That the trustees make a proposaition of the sum for which they can secure a
tract, say five acres, for a new cemetery, including the question of removal of
bodies; the city to take the old cemetery and agree to turn over to the
cemetery trustees any equity aquired by the city by sale of same within a given
period, say five years from the date of the agreement. Wilmington Del Jan 10,
1911. As counsel for Mount Zion Cemetery Association I submit their offer to
sell the city their land at Second and Union Street, now used as a cemetery.
The city to pay my clietns $25,000, furnish them with five acres of land on the
Lancaster Turnpike outside of Wilmington adjoining a cemetery alongside of the
Peoples farm, and thereupon my clients will remove all bodies and convery their
land at Second and Union Streets, to the city.
George Lodge
Wilmington Del Jan 12 1911
Referring
to the cemetery of the African Union Church, situate on Lancaster Avenue, north
of Union street in this city, I beg to advise you that my clients have found it
difficult to procure satisfactory bis for the removal of the bodies buried in
the said cemetery, and have found that such removal will be much more expensive
than anticipated. However they authorize me to offer their entire cemetery to
the city for the sum of $20,000, for which price they will purchase a new
cemetery outside the city and will bear the cost of removing and reinterring
the bodies now buried in the present cemetery. On Jan 18, 1911 the committee
held a meeting with A.G.B. Anderson, who owns several properties at Lancaster
Avenue and Union Street ; who made the following proposition – to dispose
of his entire holds for the amount of $22,000. 1914 - Cemetery Move
The Evening
Journal (Wilmington, Delaware) · Thu, May 21, 1914 · Page 9
St.
Peter’s colored cemetery at Second and Union Streets, is to be abandoned
and the bodies removed to another cemetery….The cemetery is controlled by
the trustees of the African Union Church of this city, and they intend to
remove the bodies in the cemetery to the Mt. Olive cemetery, west of
Silverbrook Cemetery and outside the city limits. Zion cemetery, which is in
the same vicinity, will not be removed. Johnathan Chippy is chairman of the
board of trustees. The cemetery is about 60 years old. General Contractor
Gilpin Ave
May 26 1914
Union Church of African Members
I will move all the bodies of the graves of St Peters Cemerty at Front and
Union Sts and bury them in Mt. Olive Cemetery, for the sum of two thousand four
hundred and fifty dollars.
William Campbell
Contracts dated Jun 1914 - work to be completed within four months. Plain pine
boxes were to be provided if original coffins not intact; all headstones,
footstones, markers and ornaments to be moved and re-interred
St. Peters and Ezion were adjacent cemeteries.
It is possible that some burials from Ezion were re-interred in Mount Olive at
that time. 1919 Wilmington City Directory Ezion Cemetery - located between 2nd
and 3rd and Union and Pyles' Lane.
Union (colored) - West of Union on Grant, from Lancaster Ave to 2nd St
The city directory still lists both cemeteries at these locations. 1919 - Removal of Ezion Cemetery The
cemetery at 2nd and Union (called Ezion, Union, and sometimes Zion in the early
death records) was sold and the burials transferred to the new Mount Zion
cemetery. The Morning News (Wilmington, DE) 26 Oct 1918 page 8. Bids have been
advertized for by William E Grinnage for the removal of several hundred bodies
from the Negro Burying ground at Second and Union St. The cemetery was
established about 75 years ago. Some of the stones in the cemetery bear dates
as early as 1843.
New Mt Zion cemetery on the Lancaster Pike adjoining the P & R Railway at
Silverbrook, a burial ground exclusively for Negroes is now finished.
The Evening
Journal (Wilmington, Delaware) 20 Sep 1919 Sat pg 8
Bids
have been advertised for by William E Grinnage the undertakes for the removal
of several hundred bodies from the Negro buying ground at Second and Union
Streets. This cemetery contains over an acre, and is so filled with bodies that
no more can be accommodated. The cemetery was established about 75 years ago.
Some of the stones bear dates as early as 1843. There is no possible way of
learning how many bodies have been buried at the cemetery as no definite
records have been kept and what records have been preserved through the years
are not available. The bodies are to be removed from their present location to
the Negro cemetery, on the west side of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad
tracks along the Lancaster turnpike.
1921
– Completion of Mt. Zion
The Evening
Journal (Wilmington, Delaware) 12 Sep 1921, Mon, Page 6
New
Mt Zion Cemetery, on the Lancaster Pike adjoining the the P&R Railway at
Silverbrook, a burial ground exclusively for Negroes is now finished and is a
source of pride to those who projected it and to colored residents in general.
They found a place in 1914, bought it, secured the deed and all necessary
papers that year. They went to work to build the cemetery. They cleared off the
rubbish, pulled down some of the hills, filled up gullies and low places, built
fences, laid out driveways and walks; planted trees and dug out a ditch. The
next thing was to remove the dead from the old to the new cemetery, which was
attended with much difficulty. The old graves were nearly filled with water and
made it very tedious.
Records at
the Delaware Historical Society included burial permits (1925-1931) –
which often contained a stone number or site designation.
A.U.M.P. Records. 1825-1969
https://7031.sydneyplus.com/archive/final/Portal/Default.aspx?lang=en-US
James T
Chandler and Son Funeral Records (Delaware Historical Society)
https://7031.sydneyplus.com/archive/final/Portal/Default.aspx?lang=en-US
Inventory of
the Tombstone Inscriptions in Mt. Olive - Historical Records Survey, WPA July
1939
https://7031.sydneyplus.com/archive/final/Portal/Default.aspx?lang=en-US
1938
The
Motorists Green Book Several residents of Mount Olive ran Tourist Homes in
their houses, and were mentioned in the Green Book. (NYPL)
1939
- WPA (Works Progress Administration) Surveys are made of Mount Olive Cemetery
(459 stones and plots identified) and old Union Cemetery (5 stones identified)
These
are available at the Delaware Historical Society library, Market St.
BAPTIST
- An African-American burial ground was located on King St. above 10th. It appears
in records 1881 - 1890. It is referred to as 'Baptist Burying Ground' (col).
Mount Olive appears in death records
from about 1899 to 1984. Some burial records are unclear - two places of burial
appear on this death record
NOTES: According to local neighbors,
many coffins were found during the construction of Bancroft Parkway. In 1972, a
supermarket was renovated at 2nd and Union, and additional burials were
discovered during the renovation. In 1988-89, the old Union Cemetery at 12th
and French was moved during construction of the MBNA complex downtown.
Memories
from Old Wilmington
The
Mother UAME Church Cemetery:
A
Late Nineteenth Century Black Urban Burial Population During the Summer of
1996, MAAR Associates, Inc. (MAl), was asked to undertake the excavation and
removal of burials at a documented cemetery located on French street in the
downtown area of Wilmington, Delaware. The cemetery property, associated with
the AD. 1853 Mother UAME Church, was scheduled to become the site of an eight
to twelve story MBNA America office tower, and the owners, working with the
Church and the Delaware Historic Preservation Office, contracted with MAl to
determine the limits of, removal, and analysis of the contents of the original
cemetery tract. To assist in the management of the project, representatives of
the client (both MBNA and the Mother UAME Church) and an Osteological Advisory
Committee were established. An MAl research team conducted excavations on a six
day-a-week basis in order to complete the burial removals within the allotted
two months. During this period MAl completed the identification, definition,
recording, and removal of more than 260 graves, including coffins, crypts,
items of clothing, and grave furniture. The next six months were spent in the
osteological IS study of the burial population, in artifact analysis, and in
the interpretation of funeral practices and the cemetery as a whole.
Comprehensive project reports have since been published.
Never
scrub. scour, scrape or use any brushes or other harsh tools on a
lichen-darkened stone. These can be very damaging to a stone’s surface. Enoch Jefferson, USCT. He enlisted in the US Navy in NY
Nov 1863 - 5'2", scar on chin. waterman. He had originally enlisted under
an alias, Samuel Jefferson (6th Regiment, Delaware Infantry Co F), but then
joined the Navy. He received a pension for his service; as did his wife. The
family appears on the 1880 census on DuPont St in Wilmington (Florence is 9 in
1880, Enoch works in a brickyard).
6 month time lapse. I sprayed them with D/2. Walked away. (I
flinch when I see videos of well-meaning and poorly-informed people scrubbing
tombstones... they are destroying them). Before / after Information
on D/2 – it’s expensive, but proper
care is critical.