The North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island, was established in 1700 and is one of the most historic cemeteries in New England. It serves as the final resting place for many women and men prominent in Rhode Island and American history (to include Rhode Island governors, entrepreneurs, famed abolitionists, and veterans of the American Revolution and Civil War). Today, the still active cemetery provides an opportunity to walk in the steps of those who came before us and offers a peaceful place to reflect on life.
History
Providence’s North Burial Ground was established in 1700 as the city’s first public cemetery, following a town vote to establish one (previously, most were buried in family cemeteries on the family’s farm/land). From the beginning, North Burial Ground accepted men and women of all faiths, creeds, social status, and even emancipated slaves.
Despite being established in 1700, North Burial Ground did not have its first internment until 1711, when Samuel Whipple was buried. For the next 20 or so years, the burial ground interred only 1-2 people per year, until 14 people were interred in 1736.
Over the decades, the burial ground gained more use and by the mid-1800s, was spruced up to make it a more peaceful and attractive location. To this day, the North Burial Ground is an active cemetery that accepts approximately 225 burials every year.
Interesting Facts
- North Burial Ground covers over 110 acres and is one of the largest properties in all of Providence
- There are approximately 40,000 marked graves, but nearly 80,000 people buried in North Burial Ground
- North Burial Ground was Providence’s first public cemetery when it was established in 1700. Today, it remains an active cemetery that accepts approximately 225 new burials a year
Notable Burials
North Burial Ground (5 Branch Avenue, Providence, RI) is located north of downtown Providence and easy to access if you are visiting the city. The cemetery is open to the public 7 days a week, 8AM – 4PM. Their website offers an outstanding array of interactive tour maps, which prove to be very helpful due to the large size of the property (it is much more comprehensive and effective than anything we could create!).
While there are dozens of notable burials at the North Burial Ground, only a few are highlighted here (we found it easiest to drive counter-clockwise through the cemetery to see most of these notable burials). Specifically, we list: Stephen Hopkins, William Barton, Esek Hopkins (brother of Stephen), members of the Brown family, Cyrus Butler, Thomas Smith Webb, Moses Brown, Edward & Christiana Bannister, and Colonel Israel Angell.
Stephen Hopkins (March 7, 1707 – July 13, 1785)
- Signer of the Declaration of Independence (one of only two signers from Rhode Island). He suffered from palsy and used his left hand to steady his right hand when he signed the declaration. He famously stated “my hand trembles, but my heart does not.”
- He served as the 28th, 30th, 32nd, and 34th Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (from the 1750s – 1760s)
- He was a prominent merchant in Providence, who outfitted ships. He was vital to the economic and commercial growth of the town. Additionally, he was one of the founders of the Providence Athenaeum (a library for the community to utilize)
- Served as the first Chancellor of Rhode Island College (now Brown University)
- By the 1770s, owned at least 6-7 slaves (this made him one of the largest slaveholders in Providence at the time)
William Barton (May 26, 1748 – October 22, 1831)
- Served as a Colonel in the American Revolution (he was a hatter prior to the war). He is best known for the capture of British General Richard Prescott (who commanded the British force that occupied Aquidneck Island) on the night of July 10-11, 1777.
- After the war, he was appointed Major General of the Rhode Island militia (he served in this capacity from 1802 – 1809)
- Served as a delegate to the Rhode Island convention that ratified the United States Constitution (he was a proud Federalist). After Rhode Island ratified the Constitution, Barton had the honor to personally deliver the news to President George Washington in New York
Esek Hopkins (April 26, 1718 – February 26, 1802)
- Brother of Stephen Hopkins, the signer of the Declaration of Independence
- Was a skilled sailor who served faithfully throughout the American Revolution. He is considered the first Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy
- Served as deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly through 1785
- His house still stands at 97 Admiral Street in Providence, Rhode Island (it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places)
- In 1900, bodies were moved from the Hopkins Family Burial Ground and re-interred in the North Burial Ground (Esek’s body was among those moved)
Brown Family Plot & Mausoleum
- Numerous members of Providence’s well-known Brown family are interred within and just outside the Brown Family mausoleum
- Nicholas Brown III (1792 – 1859) is interred here, along with members of his family
- The grey obelisk monument is for Nicholas Brown II (1769 – 1841), who Brown University is named for (he donated $5,000 in 1805 for the honor)
- The four Revolutionary-War era Brown brothers (Nicholas Brown Senior, Joseph Brown, John Brown, and Moses Brown) are buried elsewhere in the cemetery (close to Stephen Hopkins). They were highly successful merchants in Providence and participated in the “Triangle Trade” (they were active in the slave trade). Today, John Brown’s house still exists and is open for tours
Cyrus Butler (May 9, 1767 – August 22, 1849)
- Entered into the business of his father (Samuel Butler), which was that of a merchant (shipping, trading, and commerce). By 1827, he was considered the wealthiest man in Providence
- A founder of the Providence Athenaeum
- Donated approximately $40,000 to the Rhode Island Hospital for the Insane. As a thanks for his generous gift, it was later renamed “Butler Hospital” in honor of him
Thomas Smith Webb (October 30, 1771 – July 6, 1819)
- Born in Boston, MA and worked as an apprentice printer in his early years. He later moved to Keene, NH to continue that work
- Became a prominent member of the Freemasons. In 1797, he published the work The Freemason’s Monitor, or Illustrations of Masonry (this greatly contributed to Masonic Ritual in the United States). His contributions did not stop there- in 1797, he also created the general Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Providence
- He was a lover of music and in 1815, helped establish the Handel and Haydn Society (he served as the society’s first president)
Moses Brown (1738 – 1836)
- Known as a merchant, patriot, and philanthropist. He was also an abolitionist who pushed for an end to slavery
- Pushed for better sanitary conditions in Providence during the 1797 yellow fever epidemic (he was the one to introduce the smallpox vaccine in Rhode Island)
- A founder of the Providence Athenaeum
- Being a Quaker, Moses Brown is buried in the Quaker section of the cemetery
- Lived to the remarkable age of 97 years, 11 months, and 13 days
Edward M. Bannister (1828 – 1901) & Christiana Babcock Carteaux Bannister (1819 – 1902)
- Edward & Christiana Bannister are perhaps the most interesting individuals buried in the North Burial Ground (they were wed in June 1857)
- Edward Bannister was Canadian-born to parents from Barbados. For a time, he worked as a live-in servant for a white family in New Brunswick, but later moved to Boston, MA. While in Boston, Edward learned to paint and even took classes at the Lowell Institute
- Christiana Babcock Carteaux (or Madame Carteaux as she was known professionally) was a wigmaker and hair dresser in Boston. She owned shops in Boston, Worcester, and Providence (she was half-black/Narragansett Indian)
- During the American Civil War, they both were involved with the Underground Railroad. Additionally, Christiana fought for equal pay for black soldiers in the Union Army
- Edward’s skill as an artist continued to improve- he was considered one of Providence’s most talented and accomplished artists
Colonel Israel Angell (August 24, 1740 – May 4, 1832)
- Israel was born to Oliver Angell and Naomi Smith in North Providence. He was afforded an education at a young age and he took interest in various subjects such as science, natural history, and astronomy
- When the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, Israel Angell was commissioned Major in a regiment under Colonel Daniel Hitchcock. This regiment participated in the siege of Boston throughout 1775 – 1776. When the Second Rhode Island Regiment was created to serve in the Continental Army, Angell was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel to again serve under Hitchcock; however, he took over the regiment after Hitchcock’s death
- Colonel Angell fought in the Battle of Brandywine, suffered through winter quarters at Valley Forge from 1777 – 1778, and participated in the Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Rhode Island
- After the war, he operated a public house/tavern in Johnston, Rhode Island and lived to be a remarkable 92 years old
Memorial to French Allies in the American Revolution
- Dedicated “by the citizens of Providence” on July 4, 1882 to honor the French soldiers who died while in camp in Providence between 1780 – 1783
- Commissioned in the early 1880s to F. F. Tingley for the Smith Granite Company and made of 8 tons of granite form Westerly, RI
