'One of the Oldest Gravestones of a Free Black Person in America' Discovered in Boston

Early 18th-Century Tombstone of Free Black Man Identified in Boston - Archaeology Magazine

Gravestone of "Boston" in the Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Masschusetts BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS—Live Science reports that conservationists identified the gravestone of a formerly enslaved man who died in Boston in the early eighteenth century. The stone is located in the Granary Burying Ground, which was established in 1660 and contains more than 5,000 graves. “I was reviewing the photos of headstones, and then I noticed that the stone only had…

'One of the oldest gravestones of a free Black person in America' discovered in Boston

A team of conservationists has discovered and restored the tombstone of Sebastian, a formerly enslaved man who died free in 1729. "That discovery is likely one of the oldest gravestones of a free Black person in America," Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston, said in a July 4 speech. "It's been there all along. We just had to go look and share the story." The stone marker is inscribed with Sebastian's chosen name, Boston, and features an image commo…

Boston Restores 200-Year-Old Grave Site of Freed Black Man

For over 200 years, a freed Black man was buried alongside Declaration of Independence signers, Paul Revere and Crispus Attucks. Now, Boston has finally uncovered his story. Read more...

‘Share the story’: Gravesite believed to belong to one of the oldest free Black persons in America restored in Boston

A view of City Hall in Boston, Mass. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Mayor Michelle Wu called for a deeper look into American history after the discovery and marked the moment during the city’s July 4 festivities. In light of America’s 250th birthday on Saturday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu revealed that conservators at the city’s historic Granary Burying Ground discovered what is believed to be one of the oldest headstones belonging to a free…