Thirty-years-old Mary Hicks died of Puerperal Fever or “childbed fever” on this date, February 28th, in 1823 and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. The disease is a bacterial infection of the female reproductive tract following childbirth or miscarriage. It usually occurs after the first 24 hours and within the first ten days following delivery. From the 1600s through the mid to late 1800s, the majority of childbed fever cases were caused by the doctors themselves. With no knowledge of germ, doctors did not believe hand washing was needed. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerperal_infections.)

Ms. Hicks was seen by a doctor, Samuel M. Fox,  from the Southern Dispensary. It was one of the three free clinics in Philadelphia created in the early 1800s by wealthy citizens (“subscribers”) to treat the poor. Young doctors would donate their services to gain clinical experience. They visited the sick in their homes and would treat fractures, burns and extract teeth. The sick that could walk went to the Dispensary office to be treated where free prescribed medicines were also available. Smallpox vaccinations were dispensed and serious illnesses were referred to Pennsylvania Hospital for surgery. Indigent pregnant women were given the options of entering the hospital or home delivery where the doctor and possibly a midwife would attend. It appears that Ms. Hicks chose the latter. In all probability, it was the Dr. Fox who infected her with the germs that killed her. (Priscilla Ferguson Clement, Welfare and the Poor in the Nineteenth-century City: Philadelphia, 1800-1854, 145-146.)

The building that housed the Southern dispensary is at 318 Bainbridge Street in the Southwark district of the city.

Dr. Belfast Burton died this date, February 27th, in 1849 from a stroke and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. At the time of his death, he was residing at Buckley Street, now Cypress Street, between 5th and 6th Streets and Spruce and Pine Streets in the Cedar Section of the city.

Belfast Burton was born enslaved in the township of Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware in 1775. In the spring of 1798 his freedom was purchased by friends and was bound to Dr. Charles Caldwell as an indentured servant. It was not long before the well-respected physician became aware of Mr. Burton’s capacity and thirst for knowledge. Dr. Caldwell provided two years of education with both English and French tutors. Starting out with only “a bare acquaintance with the English alphabet,” Burton excelled and finished his tutelage with a high proficiency in math and reading. In addition, he was able to read French and converse in the language in such a way that he was able to teach it to others and was often “taken as being French.”

Dr. Caldwell was so satisfied with his progress that he believed Burton to be “qualified for the attainment of medical knowledge” and voided his indenture contract on the condition that Burton “commence immediately the study of medicine, and devote to it faithfully and intensely his time and powers.” Caldwell made arrangements for Burton to attend medical lectures at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. But “for reasons which to me were never satisfactory, such obstacles thrown his way as finally defeated him his laudable intentions,” states Dr. Caldwell. The first African American to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School would be 81 years later in 1882. 

Nathan Francis Mossell (July 27, 1856 – October 27, 1946) was the first African-American graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1882.

Dr. Burton was “mortified” at the offense and declared that he wanted nothing more to do with the medical profession. However, with the support of Dr. Caldwell and others he refocused his attention to complete his apprenticeship under his mentor. Burton finished his “pupilage” with Caldwell and threw himself into his practice and was characterized by Dr. Caldwell as being “exemplary” in his devotion to his work and his patients, a “credit to his race” and “well-qualified to be useful to mankind . . . “* It was now 1800 or 1801. 

Dr. Julie Winch observes that “Belfast Burton emigrated to Haiti in 1825 where he apparently did well, but he eventually returned to Philadelphia. He was a delegate to the convention of 1830 and 1831 having been admitted to the 1830 meeting only after an acrimonious exchange with Bishop Allen who apparently saw the redoubtable Burton as a rival in the struggle for influence within the African-American community. For three decades, Belfast Burton was a highly respected member of St. Thomas’ African Episcopal Church, but towards the end of his life he converted to Methodism and joined the congregation of Mother Bethel.” (The Elite of Our People: Joseph Willson’s Sketches of Black Upper-Class Life in Antebellum Philadelphia, p. 134.)

Dr. Burton was a founding member of the Union Society that was established in 1810 with the mission of improving the “conditions of coloured people.” He was close friends with the Rev. Absolom Jones and was the executor of his will after his death in 1818. (See Ancestry.com)

*In the May 5, 1827 edition of The Ariel: A Literary Gazette, published in Philadelphia, there were several letters published that included one from a member of a long established Philadelphia family (Bonsall), a prominent Philadelphia businessman (Abercombie), a clergyman’s wife and Dr. Caldwell himself. The letters documented Burton’s professional skills with a long list of satisfied patients and were written in the hope of acting as “a tribute of justice due to Dr. Burton.” For the full document see – http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101065266478;view=1up;seq=1.

The stillborn daughter of Major and Hannah Robinson was born this date, February 24th, in 1848 and was buried in Bethel Burying Ground. The Robinson family lived at 242 Lombard Street where rent was $4.50 a month. Mr. Robinson drove a furniture cart (see below) and Ms. Robinson was a laundress. Both were born enslaved and purchased their freedom from their enslavers. 

A furniture cart of the type that would have been used by Mr. Robinson.

As a furniture mover, Mr. Robinson’s busiest day would have been “Moving Day.” Moving Day (May 1^st) was a phenomenon going back to the colonial era. February 1st was known as “Rent Day,” when landlords would inform their tenants about how much their rent would be increased come the time to renew their leases on May 1^st. Renters would search for the next three months for accommodations at a lower rent. Subsequently, come May 1st there was a mass exodus of tenants scurrying around to move their furniture and belongs all at one time.*

*For more information on “Moving Day” see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_Day_(New_York_City)

“Dinah, Portrait of a Negress” by Eastman Johnson

There is no Cemetery Return (aka death certificate) for Ms. Moore. Either one never existed or it did not survive. Nevertheless, below is her obituary, published this date, February 11th, in 1864, identifying Bethel Burying Ground as her final resting place. 

“DIED – On the 6^th of January, 1864, Sister ALICE MOORE, aged one hundred and three years, and was interred in the old Bethel burying ground, in this city, on the 8^th of January.Sister Moore as a member of Bethel church for many years, faithful and true. She died in the triumphs of faith. Another vacant chair – another mourning household – and another glad spirit joyfully entered to dwell with the Redeemer at home!” The Christian Recorder, February 13, 1864

Ms. Moore is one of the two individuals buried at Bethel Burying Ground that reached the age of 103. There are none older according to surviving records. In 1846 at 85 years old, she told a census worker that she was single and working as a washerwoman and was continuing to go to Bethel Church Sunday School to learn how to read the New Testament of the Bible. Additionally, she was described as being “lame” and living at 88 Gaskill Street where her living quarters consisted of a 9 ft. x 9ft. room.* In 1846-47, Ms. Moore was the next door neighbor of Ignatius Beck. See Mr. Beck’s biography on this website. 

*1847 African American Census

On this date, February 11th, in 1850 the six-month-old son of Josiah and Mary Purnell died of Pneumonia and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Josiah worked as a waiter and Mary worked performing “domestic duties,” according to the 1847 African American Census. It appears they were private servants to a wealthy family that lived on the south side of Washington Square. Josiah was born into slavery in Delaware and was freed through manumission. In the 1847 Census, Josiah, 29 years of age, is described as “Mulatto.” It also reports that Mary, 22 years of age, was born free.

A Delaware family of Moors ancestry.

Mr. Purnell’s family’s origins might have sprung from the family group known as the “Moors of Delaware.” The Moors are a tri-racial group of interrelated white, Native American and African families with origins on the Delmarva Peninsula of Delaware. Buried at Bethel Burying Ground are members of the Le Count family whose ancestry can be traced back to the early “Moors.”. See http://www.moors-delaware.com/gendat/moors.aspx.

 For additional reading on the “Moors of Delaware” see Delaware’s Forgotten Folk by C.A. Weslanger.