Contemporary view from what would have been the Hutchins’ family’s front steps at #4 Little Pine Street now Addison. The home would have been where the small parking lot is on the right.
Sarah Hutchins died on this date, December 9th, in 1852 due to “convulsions” and was buried at the Bethel Burying Ground. The family of infant Sarah lived only yards away from the Bethel A.M.E. Church. Sarah parents, James H. (born abt. 1821) and Alice (born abt. 1825) Hutchins were representative of the poor working class of the 7th Ward. He was a waiter (sometimes a laborer) and she was a washerwoman according to the 1847 African American Census. James earned $10 a month while paying $4.50 for their #4 Little Pine Street (now Addison) apartment. Sarah was the Hutchins 5th child that lived beyond birth.* The other Hutchins children were Isabella, Sarah F., Catharine and Mary E. according to the 1850 U.S. Federal Census.
*James and Alice lost a 3 week old daughter to convulsions on October 17, 1851 and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground on the 25th of October. Convulsions were only a symptom of some other illness, such as, epilepsy, small pox, measles, teething, etc.
Bethel Burying Ground Project 