Two and a half-year-old James Pitts died this date, June 28th, in 1848 of Cholera and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. James lived with his parents Mark (44) and Ann (33). He had a nine-year-old brother William H. Pitts. Ann took in washing to supplement the family’s income and Mark had a used clothing business at 108 N. 2nd Street. His business would grow and in several years he moved his business to 1138 South Street. The used clothing business was traditionally a business dominated by Blacks. This started to change after the Civil War when it shifted to the Jewish community. (Early History of Negroes in Business in Philadelphia, p. 19.) In 1847 there were 52 used clothing businesses owned by Black Philadelphians according to the African American census.

According to the 1850 Federal Census, Mark was born enslaved in Virginia in 1805. Ann, born in Pennsylvania, was never enslaved and was born in Pennsylvania while William was born in Philadelphia. 

The Pitts family lived in a tenement room located near the corner of 17th and Market Streets (“Schuylkill 6th”) for which they paid about $9.00 a month. The living conditions of this environment likely contributed to the death of young James. 

Nine-month-old James Tate died this date, June 20th, in 1848 of Cancrum Oris*and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. The child’s parents were Arthur (41 y/o), and Margaret (30 y/o). Both were born in Maryland and one was formerly enslaved according to the 1847 Philadelphia African American Census. The rest of the family included Rachel (8 y/o), Daniel (7 y/o), John (6 y/o) and Samuel (5 y/o). All the children were born in Pennsylvania. Ms. Tate would give birth to another son, Frances, in December of 1849 according to the 1850 U.S. Census. 

In 1847 Ms. Tate reported her occupation as a day worker. Mr. Tate reported his occupation as “porter.” By 1850 he was employed as the sexton of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. His duties included the management of Bethel Burying Ground where he buried his baby son three years before. Mr. Tate was a valuable member of the African Methodist Episcopal community in Philadelphia.

From “Bethel Gleanings” by Rev. Joseph S. Thompson, 1881, p. 23.

The family paid 1.75 a month for their room on Lombard Street near 8th Street. The 1847 Census reports the Tates lived in a three-story brick building with three other families. 

*The disease that caused the child’s death is a very devastating bacterial infection of the mouth that erodes away all the tissue. Massive ulcers caused by bacterial infections infected the baby. Predisposing factors for the disease included malnutrition, dehydration, and unsafe drinking water. There was no treatment available at that time that would have saved the baby’s life. 

Fifty-nine-year-old Charles Davis died this date, June 15th, in 1854 of “Congestion of the Liver,” which is commonly associated with Congestive Heart Failure. Born in Frederica, Delaware he worked as a porter in Philadelphia for most of his adult life. He lived with his spouse, Rachael Molezton Davis, at 237 South 7th Street directly across from Washington Square. It is highly likely that Ms. Davis was a live-in domestic to the family that lived at such a prestigious address. The Davis family would have had a room in the basement for their living space. 

Remarkably the names of Mr. Davis’ parents were also recorded. They were Mark and Necy Carpenter Davis. Also uncommon was the documentation of the women’s maiden names. Out of the thousands of death records, I have inspected associated with Bethel Burying Ground this is the only one that contains such information. 

The Davis family resided at 237 S. 7th Street on the south side of Washington Square.

This is a photo of the south side of Washington Square taken in 1859, five years after Mr. Davis’ death. The red “X” in the background indicates where the Davis family resided.

According to Mr. Davis’ obituary, his funeral was held at this residence and then proceeded to Bethel Burying Ground. (Public Ledger, 14 June 1854)

Seventy-three-year-old Philip Nelson died this date, May 31st, in 1850 of Tuberculosis and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. He lived with his wife and several adult children on south 8th Street between Catharine and Queen Streets in the Southwark section of the city. The Nelson family residence was one room where four adults lived. The rent was $7.50 a month and was four blocks away from BBG. 

In the 1847 African American Census, Mr. Nelson reported his occupation as “Gentlemen’s Nurse.” It is unknown if he was employed at the time of his death. His obituary in the June 3, 1850, edition of the Public Ledger stated that he bore his illness “towards the last with Christian patience and resignation.”

Interestingly, the obituary also stated that Mr. Nelson was a member of the Dr. Henry Claggett family of Leesburg, Virginia, a white man and enslaver according to Federal Census records.  Mr. Nelson, his spouse, and children were all born in Virginia. 

Two-year-old Jeremiah Carpenter died this day, May 14th, in 1843 because of a convulsion and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. The cause of the convulsion is not reported. His family  lived at 92 Bedford street which is currently known as Kater Street. It runs between 6th & 7th between South and Bainbridge Streets. In 1843, Bainbridge was named Shippen Street. The baby’s father was William Carpenter and worked as a laborer according to the City Directory. I did not locate any information on the baby’s mother or siblings.

Bedford St. (now Kater) as it looks today. The Carpenter’s residence would have been on the right side of the street.

It is interesting to consider the possible experiences of the Carpenter family during the white supremacy violence of August 1-3, 1842.  Unfortunately, their home was in the middle of some of the worst mob violence. The attack on Mother Bethel Church and the burning of Pennsylvania Hall are well known. Lesser acknowledge is the attacks on The Moyamensing Temperance Hall on Bedford Street near 8th Street only two blocks from the Carpenter residence. This new brick building, dedicated February 23, 1842,  was the pride of the African American community. Alcoholism was devastating the community and this building and the organizing effort behind it was assisting in curbing the disease. This building became an instant threat to the vast Irish saloon business of Moyamensing, Southwark and the 7th Ward of Philadelphia. During the riot, there were two failed attempts to burn it down. What the mob failed to do the white city bureaucrats were more than happy to accomplish. A special grand jury ordered the building to be torn down because it was a “nuisance” and was in the interest of “public safety” simply because it existed. This occurred not two full blocks from the Carpenter’s home.

For further reading on this and the “race riots of the 19th century in Philadelphia see Noel Ignatiev’s “How the Irish Became White,” page 138.