Bethel Burying Ground Project

The ten-month-old son of Elizabeth “Elisa” Clift* died this date, June 5th, in 1848 of Cholera and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Ms. Clift resided at 13 St. Mary’s Street and reported her occupation as a washerwoman in the 1847 African American Census. However, the social worker that interviewed Ms. Cliff for the Census intimates that Clift is a prostitute in a “bawdy house” with four other women. See http://fm12.swarthmore.edu/1847/full.php?rid=648&trc=4308

St. Mary’s Street was the center of prostitution, gambling, and violence for many decades in the 7th Ward. For further reading on the history of Black prostitution in 19th century Philadelphia and its role in the larger narrative of the institutional oppression of Black women during that era see, Colored Amazons by Kali N. Gross.

*Dr. Ashton spelled the family  name “Cifft.” The 1847 Census spells it “Clift,” which I have chosen to go with. In addition, the Census records the mother’s first name as “Elizabeth.”

On this date, June 1st, in 1844 Bethel Church pastor Rev. Richard Williams (1840-1844) died in a coma and is buried at Bethel Burying Ground. He was praised by Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne as a man who “performed some of the most painful, laborious and important missions of the itinerant service.” (History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church: Electronic Edition. Payne, Daniel Alexander, 1811-1893; edited by C.S. Smith.)

Elizabeth Ann Shire, 8 years of age, died this date, May 26th, of Tuberculosis and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Elizabeth attended school at 6th and Lombard and could read and write and had a brother and sister, according to the 1847 African American Census. Her father, Joseph, was a porter and her mother worked as a washwoman to meet the needs of their growing family. They rented a single room for $64 a year at 45 Quince Street which was located from Walnut to Locust Streets between 11th and 12th streets. 

The year after Elizabeth Ann died the family had to move because the city was demolishing their home to make way for the new Ramsey School for Colored Children. This probably was a blessing considering their immediate neighborhood had a startling number of fires accidentally and purposely set according to newspaper reports. 

Fillis Garnet, 113 years of age, died this date, May 22nd, in 1823 and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. It is stated that her cause of death was “old age.” Nothing more is known about Ms. Garnet. Although it can be assumed that she was of strong character and spirit.

DROWNED

“The coroner held an inquest yesterday on the body of John Miller, colored, who was drowned on Sunday morning by accidentally falling from the steamboat Trenton [into the Delaware River]. The deceased was second cook onboard the Trenton.” (Phila. Inquirer, May 14, 1848)

Mr. Miller’s body remained at the coroner’s until May 21st, when an unknown individual claimed the body and proceeded to have the remains buried at Bethel Burying Ground.

 Mr. Miller was a single gentleman who rented a room for $2 a month at 111 Buford Street (now Kater) near the Walnut Street Dock where the Trenton was berthed. The steamboat was built in 1825 and used to ferry passengers on day trips to the open spaces of Bristol, Burlington and Taconey. It also served as a water connector between stagecoach lines for Philadelphia, Trenton, New Brunswick and New York City. 

Rendering of the steamboat Trenton.

The Parker twins were stillborn on this date, May 14th and buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Stephen and Elizabeth Parker lived at 19 South 17th Street with another child, according to the 1820 Federal Census. Mr. Parker’s was listed as “boot cleaner” in the 1820 City Directory. There are 15 other documented individuals buried at Bethel Burying Ground with the surname Parker.

The Parker’s residence was demolished in 1825 to make way for Franklin High School. The first public high school in Philadelphia. The school was shut down in 1837 and used as the Atwater Kent Museum; now known as the Philadelphia History Museum.