Descendant of Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground says more bodies are buried across Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A descendant with ties to Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground said there are even more bodies buried across the city that haven’t been claimed. The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground was a significant burial ground for Black Virginians between 1816 to 1879 -- established after free Black Richmonders petitioned for a new cemetery as conditions worsened at what is now known as the city’s first municipal African cemetery. Descendant Lenora McQueen, who’s done extensive research on these sites, said there are more than 22,000 bodies buried across the city -- spanning 31 acres. Richmond leaders recently declared a portion of property an official cemetery -- this being the city-owned portion at 1305 N. 5th St. -- during a city council meeting in November. PREVIOUS: Part of Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground officially designated as a cemetery However, according to McQueen, this only represents about 1.2 acres of the expansive burial ground. On the map below, parts owned by the city are in fuchsia, while parts in green have various owners. The center-most fuchsia section is 1305 N. 5th Street. The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground. Sections in fuchsia are owned by the city of Richmond, while areas in green have a variety of different owners. The center-most fuchsia section was recently designated as a cemetery by the city. (Photo: Lenora McQueen) “To make even a part of the burial ground officially a cemetery is an extremely big deal,” McQueen said of the decision. “However, it is just a small part of the burial ground itself. Many of their graves were destroyed, were put under the street and sidewalks -- even highways run through it.” One of the many businesses where bodies are buried is the Hebrew Cemetery, according to McQueen. 8News asked cemetery officials about their thoughts on the finding, asking if they were aware and if they plan on working with the city to claim bodies buried on their property. PREVIOUS: 'It's been erased,' Community engages in future of Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground The Congregation Beth Ahabah sent a statement regarding those questions, which read in part: “We are proud and pleased to help in the recognition and memorialization of the African Burial Ground. As Jews, we identify with other communities who have historically suffered discrimination and we empathize with those whose ancestors have been marginalized or erased from history. We share their desire to preserve the memories and history of our ancestors.” You can read the full statement below. CBA-responseDownload 8News also reached out to the City of Richmond’s Department of Planning and Development, which said: “[The department is] working with Baskervill Architects and the community to design a memorial for the 1-plus acres the city owns at Hospital and 5th. We have only done non-invasive archaeology on city property, so we don’t know if there are additional remains beyond those boundaries. [The city has] no plans beyond the corner parcel.” Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney also spoke on the recent findings. “We have to keep everything on the table,” Stoney said. “I don't think we should get into whether or not the city is going to buy or not, because, as you know, when the city says we're going to buy something, the cost to purchase goes up, the scales up.” VCU History Professor Ryan Smith, who wrote an award-winning article in 2020 about the destruction of Richmond’s African Burial ground, also backed McQueen’s research. He said it’s imperative the official cemetery site and others across the city aren’t forgotten. “These are part of the fabric of the city right next to our roads, right next to our schools, right next to our businesses,” Smith said. “Without the same kind of attention that the predominantly white sites have gotten over the years, we're not honoring the folks whose lives are connected here -- and we're not learning as much about our history as we should be.” 8News also contacted several other businesses where bodies are buried. As of the time of reporting, we haven’t heard back.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A descendant with ties to Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground said there are even more bodies buried across the city that haven’t been claimed.
The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground was a significant burial ground for Black Virginians between 1816 to 1879 -- established after free Black Richmonders petitioned for a new cemetery as conditions worsened at what is now known as the city’s first municipal African cemetery.
Descendant Lenora McQueen, who’s done extensive research on these sites, said there are more than 22,000 bodies buried across the city -- spanning 31 acres.
Richmond leaders recently declared a portion of property an official cemetery -- this being the city-owned portion at 1305 N. 5th St. -- during a city council meeting in November.
PREVIOUS: Part of Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground officially designated as a cemetery
However, according to McQueen, this only represents about 1.2 acres of the expansive burial ground. On the map below, parts owned by the city are in fuchsia, while parts in green have various owners. The center-most fuchsia section is 1305 N. 5th Street.
The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground. Sections in fuchsia are owned by the city of Richmond, while areas in green have a variety of different owners. The center-most fuchsia section was recently designated as a cemetery by the city. (Photo: Lenora McQueen)
“To make even a part of the burial ground officially a cemetery is an extremely big deal,” McQueen said of the decision. “However, it is just a small part of the burial ground itself. Many of their graves were destroyed, were put under the street and sidewalks -- even highways run through it.”
One of the many businesses where bodies are buried is the Hebrew Cemetery, according to McQueen.
8News asked cemetery officials about their thoughts on the finding, asking if they were aware and if they plan on working with the city to claim bodies buried on their property.
PREVIOUS: 'It's been erased,' Community engages in future of Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground
The Congregation Beth Ahabah sent a statement regarding those questions, which read in part:
“We are proud and pleased to help in the recognition and memorialization of the African Burial Ground. As Jews, we identify with other communities who have historically suffered discrimination and we empathize with those whose ancestors have been marginalized or erased from history. We share their desire to preserve the memories and history of our ancestors.”
You can read the full statement below.
8News also reached out to the City of Richmond’s Department of Planning and Development, which said:
“[The department is] working with Baskervill Architects and the community to design a memorial for the 1-plus acres the city owns at Hospital and 5th. We have only done non-invasive archaeology on city property, so we don’t know if there are additional remains beyond those boundaries. [The city has] no plans beyond the corner parcel.”
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney also spoke on the recent findings.
“We have to keep everything on the table,” Stoney said. “I don't think we should get into whether or not the city is going to buy or not, because, as you know, when the city says we're going to buy something, the cost to purchase goes up, the scales up.”
VCU History Professor Ryan Smith, who wrote an award-winning article in 2020 about the destruction of Richmond’s African Burial ground, also backed McQueen’s research. He said it’s imperative the official cemetery site and others across the city aren’t forgotten.
“These are part of the fabric of the city right next to our roads, right next to our schools, right next to our businesses,” Smith said. “Without the same kind of attention that the predominantly white sites have gotten over the years, we're not honoring the folks whose lives are connected here -- and we're not learning as much about our history as we should be.”
8News also contacted several other businesses where bodies are buried. As of the time of reporting, we haven’t heard back.
