A stillborn baby was born to Mary Ann and William Griffin on this date, December 23rd, in 1850 and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. The Griffins lived at 172 Locust Street. He was employed as a waiter. I cannot locate any further information on Ms. Griffin. Astonishingly, out of those that have been identified so far the Griffin baby is one of 83 other stillborn children buried at Bethel Burying Ground. The exact number maybe 200+. Overall approximately one-third of all those buried at BBG were two-years-old and younger.
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John Alleneese, 68, died this date, December 19th, in 1848 of heart disease and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Formerly enslaved in Maryland, he purchased his release for $500. John and Rachel Alleneese had three children in their late teens when he died according to the 1847 African American Census. They had two daughters, Mary Jane and Rachel, Jr. according to the records of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society. Two of the women in the household worked as cloth washers and one as a dressmaker. John is reported at his death as a “tradesman” It may have well been a dealer in shoes since he was once employed as a bootblack and his son was listed as a shoemaker according to the 1847 Census. John was a Freeman and a member of the Grand Temple Lodge.
The Alleneese family lived at #2 Little Pine Street, now 502 Addison Street, which is within sight of Mother Bethel AME Church.
Mr. William Charles Young, 50, died this date, December 11th, in 1852 of Tuberculosis and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. He worked as a porter in a store likely near the family’s home at #5 S. Pine Street in the Moyamensing District of the city just south of the 5th and South Streets area. The Youngs had five children, 2 of which attended the St. Mary’s Street School and one other attended the Lombard Street School. The Youngs paid $5 a month for rent, according to the 1847 African American Census, which would have been one week’s earning for Mr. Young.
Mr. Young was born in Delaware and had resided in Philadelphia for the last 27 years. His death certificate is signed by the prominent African American physician, civil rights activist and Bethel Church member Dr. J.J.G. Bias.
Presently, there are 2,490 individuals identified out of the approximately 5,000+ buried at Bethel Burying Ground.
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