The Reverend David Ware, 43, died this date, September 21st in 1848 and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground on the 27th. He was stricken with Tuberculosis six months before his death and bore his illness with “Christian fortitude” according to his obituary.* Rev. Ware was a school teacher, principal, Bethel Church deacon, steward, secretary, trustee and considered “one of the ablest men of his day,” according to African Methodist Episcopal history.** 

Rev. Ware was a teacher and principal of his own private school. In 1847 enrollment at the school was reported to be 56 students from 4 different districts in the County and City of Philadelphia. For many years he was the superintendent of  Bethel’s Sunday School with an enrollment of 300 students and a staff of 24 teachers.*** Before his death he was tasked with creating a high school for Black students. His illness prevented him from fulfilling that assignment. **** 

The Ware family lived in the 600 block of Lombard Street only yards away from Bethel Church. The Philadelphia African-American Census of 1847 reported 6 total members of the family (2 males; 4 females; Under 5 Yrs., 1; Under 15 Years, 1; Under 50 years, 4). A total of five family members could read and write with all the children being educated at Rev. Ware’s school. The four females in the family were employed as a teacher, dressmaker and two were engaged as domestics.  

Sadly, the Ware family suffered the loss of their son and brother, William J. Ware on November 21, 1847. He was nineteen at the time of his death from tuberculosis. The same disease that took his father. It is very likely they are buried next to each other at Bethel Burying Ground.

*Public Ledger, September 23, 1848, p.2. 

** Bethel Gleanings, Rev. Joseph S. Thompson (1881), p. 40. Available at  http://stillfamily.library.temple.edu/bethel-gleanings-page-1; in the same reference (p. vii), Bishop Payne makes note of Rev. Ware “beauty of penmanship” and substantial “detailed entries” as Secretary of Bethel Church for many years. As a layman, Rev. Ware was not considered a minister and Payne points this out as he laments the total lack of literacy among A.M.E. itinerant ministers. It is apparent that Rev. Ware was responsible for the recording and documenting numerous aspects of the Church’s organization during his adult lifetime.  

*** A statistical inquiry into the conditions of the people of colour of the city and districts of Philadelphia, p. 21. Available at http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.319510023192154;view=1up;seq=3.

**** History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop David Alexander Payne, pp. 142 and 177. Available                                                  at http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/payne/payne.html

Forty-year-old George White died this date, September 19th, in 1840 from a “Sudden Visitation of God” and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Five days later the Public Ledger newspaper would report that Mr. White collapsed on Shippen Street (now Bainbridge) and died from Consumption (Tuberculosis). *

From Federal Census Records and Philadelphia city directories it appears that Mr. White and his family lived at 160 S. 5th Street in the block north of Independence Hall. He was employed as a porter earning approximately $5 a week if he was able to find full-time employment. There is no additional information on his family members at this time.

This perspective map shoulds the location of the White’s home (circle) in relationship to Independence Hall (arrow) on Chestnut Street. In the early 1950s the homes on the White’s block were torn down to create the Independence Square Mall. 

Below is a photo from the Evening Bulletin (Philadelphia) dated November 1, 1951. It shows the complete demolition of the three blocks directly north of Independence Hall (in the background) which included the White’s address. 

*Public Ledger, September 21, 1840

                                                     Public Ledger, 9 September 1843

The Reverend Joseph Cox, 65 years of age, died of an intestinal problem on this date, September 5th, in 1843 and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. He was pastor of Bethel Church from 1834-1840. Originally a tanner, he became a preacher and then an elder of Bethel AME Church in the 1820s. Bishop Cox was the brother of preacher Rebecca Cox Jackson. His funeral was on September 8th at his late residence on Gaskill Street, a few doors below Fifth. His funeral procession to Bethel Burying Ground was several blocks in length according to The Public Ledger (9 Sept 1843). In all likelihood he was buried next to the body of his son John who died of Tuberculosis at the age of nine in 1832 and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground.

For much more information on Rev. Cox and Rebecca Cox Jackson please see – Gifts of Power: The Writings of Rebecca Jackson, Black Visionary, Shaker by Rebecca Jackson. It is available at Google Books.

Ten-year-old Albert Washington died this date, September 4th, in 1848 of Chronic Hydrocephalus and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. He was the son of George Washington, a boot black, who lived at 166 S. 5th Street and worked at 75 Chestnut Street (Front and Chestnut Streets). Albert’s mother name is unknown at this time, however, the 1847 African American Census reports that she was employed as a shopkeeper earning about $80 a year. George is reportedly earning about $17 a month. The rent for their room is $92 for the year. Both parents attended religious services.