Twenty-seven-year-old Vincent Durham died this day January 29th, in 1841 of an “Inflammation of the Stomach” and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. The Durhams were a large African American family in 19th century Philadelphia. Out of surviving records, there are a total of fifteen Durhams buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Several members of the clan (including Vincent) lived on Marriott Street (now Montrose) in south Philadelphia. 

Marriott (now Montrose) Street as it looks currently.

Vincent Durham worked as a laborer but wanted to improve his situation by becoming a merchant marine sailor. His first step in doing this was getting his Seaman Certificate that proved he was a citizen of the United States. This certificate was an early form of a passport that also stated that Mr. Durham was a free Black man and not enslaved. 

Tragically, Mr. Durham did not see his dreams fulfilled. He received his Certificate in July of 1839 and passed away a year and a half later. He is buried with a large number of his family members.

Seventy-five-year-old Hester Jeffries* died this date, January 26th, in 1847 from complications of a stroke but wasn’t buried at Bethel Burying Ground until the 28th of January. The newspaper obituary for Ms. Jeffries states she died on the 26th although the death certificate states the 28th. This discrepancy is unexplained. 

Ms. Jeffries was employed as a dressmaker throughout her adult life, but it is unclear how much she could do during her final days. Her spouse William died in December of 1850. He worked as a whitewasher** for decades. The Jeffries were longtime residents of Philadelphia and the 1840 Federal Census reports that one of the Jeffries was formerly enslaved and eventually manumitted. 

Black Philadelphians like the Jeffries took what was available to them from a racist society and they created a thriving community of businesses, churches, schools, and beneficial societies. This is a story of self-preservation and resilience that should not be forgotten.

*The attending physician misspelled the last name. All census and city directories spell it without the middle “e.”

**Whitewash is a solution of caustic lime, chalk, and water used for painting walls whiter.

Sixty-one-year-old Stephen Henry died this date, January 8th, in 1854 of Enteritis* and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Mr. Henry and his spouse Ann Marie (49 y/o) were both bakers of cakes and pies that they sold on the street around the local farmers’ market. The family included one child William (14 y/o) and one-hundred-year-old Rachel Thompson who appears to be Ms. Henry’s mother as they both were born in Maryland. The males were born in Pennsylvania. According to the 1847 Philadelphia African American Census, Ms. Thompson was formerly enslaved and had suffered a stroke.

Philadelphia was peppered with farmers’ markets where citizens daily bought their meat, vegetables and dry goods such as candles and brooms. These markets were massive open-air structures with iron sheeted roofs. They would run for blocks often situated in the middle of the street. The vendors would rent stalls from the city that made and enforced laws governing the day to day operation of these markets. City officials would enforce the quality of the products being sold and also make sure that weights and measures were being honestly kept. There was one of these bazaars only a couple blocks from the Henry’s residence in Gray’s Alley and likely a place where they peddled their cakes and pies. 

These “Market Houses” were open Monday through Saturday. On Sunday mornings and early afternoons, the massive sheds were used by itinerant preachers that held impromptu services. They were also a favorite place for politicians to hold political meetings and rallies.

With the death of Mr. Henry, the family would have needed fourteen-year-old William to work full time if he hadn’t been already. The family now faced not only a “spartan” existence but one where life itself hung precariously in the balance. 

19th century “Pie Boy.”

As Mr. Henry’s coffin was lowered into his final resting place, Ms. Henry may have been silently reciting Psalm 44 to herself.

Our most gracious Lord

Life has beaten me down today

Lift me to see You in moments of my day

Let me feel Your presence in my pain 

Amen

*Enteritis: Inflammation of the intestine and possibly the stomach.

The above Death Certificate is extremely faded but states that the six-month-old son of Elizabeth and James Massey died this date, January 2nd, in 1854 of swelling of the brain (“Dropsy”) and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. James (34 y/o) was employed as a coachman and Elizabeth (29 y/o) as a laundress. He was born in Maryland and she was born in Pennsylvania. According to the 1847 Philadelphia African American Census, they had a male child under the age of five years old. In the 1850 Federal Census, this child is no longer reported and presumably had died during that time period.

The family lived at 14 Burd’s Court in a small room for which they paid $3.33 a month. The narrow block-long thoroughfare was near 10th and Spruce Streets in center city Philadelphia.

19th century African American coachman

From the available census records, it is apparent that Mr. Massey was a public hack driver as opposed to a private driver who is employed by a wealthy family and also has domestic duties in the family’s home, such as being a butler. Public drivers are divided into those that own their horse and carriage and those that work for a company that operates coaches, much like the taxi companies of today. Mr. Massey likely would have been the latter. The 1847 African American Census lists 106 Black men employed as coachmen. 

“The Laundress” by Robert Henri

Elizabeth Massey worked as a laundress. A job that taxed her body and spirit. Water had to be drawn and carried from the nearest hydrant, firewood had to be obtained, fires had to be started and heavy bundles of clothes had to be picked up and returned to her customers after the clothes and sheets were hung up, dried and folded. All this in the heat and cold, while taking care of children and shopping for and preparing the family’s meals, often while pregnant. It was an undertaking for only the strong and strong-willed.

After 1854, Elizabeth and James Massey disappear from public records. Their child died of swelling on the brain from either Meningitis or Encephalitis. The adults may also have succumbed to the infection, although there are no surviving death certificates on record of that occurring.