Rye New York African American Cemetery Where USCT & 54th Massachusetts Rest

Right off of I-95 in Rye, New York lies a forgotten cemetery where for 120 years local African American families had buried their dead. The cemetery had its first burial in 1840. While the official date of the cemetery’s “opening” is twenty years later, it appears that Black families buried their dead there since 1840.

Rye, New York, like communities in what is now New York City and the Hudson Valley, had slavery during the 18th Century. In 1798 there were 123 slaves in Rye. Slavery was outlawed in the 19th Century, although under “gradual emancipation” some slaves were held during the early years of the 1800s. After emancipation, many formerly enslaved families stayed in the region.

By 1837. the Greenwood Union Cemetery was founded next door and it became the resting place for the white community. Underhill Halsted, the wealthy owner of the land where African Americans had been buried, donated the land to the Town of Rye for a cemetery for the Black community.

The site was used for burials up until 1964, when it was closed. According to records from the early part of the 21st Century, it was forgotten, at least by those without family buried there. In the last two decades the Friends of the African American Cemetery and other groups have researched the burials, maintained a dirt road into the site, and have cleared away the rubbish that accumulated over the previous half-century.

If you go into Greenwood Cemetery you can find the dirt road at this site.

 

This site was one of the first sites added to Westchester’s African American Trail.

While the idea of driving on a dirt road might scare New York drivers, this is a very short road and it is well-maintained.

 

 

At the entrance to the cemetery there are three large panels explaining the history of the site, especially the Civil War. There are also explanations of the natural beauty of the site. These were put in over the last decade and they show a renewed interest in preserving the history of this Black community.

Unfortunately, several years ago the site was vandalized, with many American flags being stolen. The perpetrators were never caught.

In 1864, the site received its first soldier from the United States Colored Troops (USCT) named John Randell. On a separate panel, the kiosk lists all Civil War and other veterans and has some details about their records. In a few, it offers photos.

 

Here are some of the veterans’ entries from 1864 to 1964.

One of the Civil War veterans I came across was John Ruben. He was from Company G of the 90th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops according to the cemetery. This was not a New York regiment. The unit’s original designation was the 19th Infantry Corps d’Afrique from Louisiana. Frankly, the regiment on the tombstone does not look like it is the 90th regiment to me. To me, it looks as though he was in the 30th USCT, which was organized in Maryland, but which included men from Connecticut and New York.

 

While this cemetery was a dumping ground back during the 1970s, you can see it has been restored and it is in good condition.

The next grave was that of George Butler. He was a landsman in the Navy. According to the cemetery, he served in 1864 and 1865.

As I was walking around the burial ground, many headstones are too decayed to convey much information.

Many of the graves have flags and Grant Army of the Republic (GAR) markers, which would designate the graves containing Civil War veterans.

 

The next grave I came across identifies the remains of a veteran of the 29th Connecticut Regiment. This was a Black regiment raised in Connecticut. There is a striking modern monument in New Haven where the unit trained before being sent South. Rye is just a few miles away from Connecticut. The soldier’s name was Joseph Thomas and he was in Company C. The cemetery says he was born around 1836 and he lived until 1914. 29th Conn. Memorial

 

Thomas’s regiment was photographed in Beaufort, South Carolina, where Harriet Tubman was helping Union forces to free African Americans.

 

I then came upon the grave of Enoch Hearn, also of the 29th Connecticut. He was domestic and a chauffer in civilian life.

 

John Perkins was in Company E of the 29th Connecticut. He served from April 12, 1863 to September 12, 1865. He was born around 1845, so he was a teenager when he enlisted.

Here we can see someone who was in the 29th Connecticut, but his name could not be made out.

 

Another veteran of the 29th Connecticut is James Roberson. He was born around 1836. He was wounded at Kell House Virginia on October 27, 1864. He stayed in the army until October, 1865.

 

I do not know if the other cemetery in Rye did not allow Blacks to be interred, but when we see the African American Cemetery used for 120 years, the odds are that these descendants of people who were enslaved were not welcome where other local people were buried.

 

I came upon the grave of a twenty-seven year old man that said “After Toil, Rest Is Sweet.”

 

William H. Vincent is listed as a Civil War veteran. His wife is buried in the cemetery. He was the father of six children.

Below is the grave of Frank Woods, who was born in 1832. He was in the 20th USCT Regiment in Company E.

 

Amos Williams was in the 31st Regiment of the USCT. He was a corporal in Company D. The regiment was involved in the Siege of Petersburg and pursued Lee’s retreating army during the Appomattox Campaign.

 

Edward Hall served in the 29th Connecticut Regiment in Company G. He was born March 15, 1844 and died November 15, 1901. He would have been a teenager when he enlisted.

Edwin Purdy is listed as a “Sailor” on the U.S.S. Monadanack, an advanced “Monitor” built in 1864. This ship had two turrets, unlike the single-turreted original Monitor built in 1862.

 

Some of the families must have known Reverend Isaac Jenkins.

 

One of the largest monuments marks the grave of Samuel Bell of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the regiment in the movie “Glory.” Bell was born on February 12, 1836 and he lived until March 4, 1882. He was a farmhand. Bell is listed in the regimental roster as a 26 year old from New York. He was promoted to corporal. He appears to have enlisted after the assault on Battery Wagner.

 

After I photographed Bell’s marker, I headed back to my car for the ride back to Long Island.

 

A recently placed sign gives more information on the African Cemetery.

In the Greenwood Union Cemetery there is a monument to those who served the United States during the Civil War.

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