Freed Slave Graveyard

In the quiet embrace of Hunts Point, lies a place of profound significance, the Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Freed Slave Graveyard. This park, initially a memorial to poet Joseph Rodman Drake and colonial landowners, now stands as a testament to a more complete history. It acknowledges the enslaved individuals integral to the area’s narrative. The Freed Slave Graveyard whispers stories of resilience and hardship. It holds the unmarked graves of those enslaved by local families before New York abolished slavery in 1827. These individuals, whose names remain unknown, rest in anonymity. Their burial ground remained unmarked until recent years. A state grant funded an archaeological study, bringing local students from P.S. 48 into the heart of this historical rediscovery. Their involvement has awakened the community to the site’s layered past. The Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Freed Slave Graveyard contains two distinct cemeteries. One, the Hunt-Willett-Leggett Cemetery, holds the remains of the area’s early settler families. The other, the Freed Slave Graveyard, serves as a poignant reminder of the silenced voices of those who labored under their rule. The juxtaposition of these two cemeteries, separated by the former Hunts Point Road, offers a unique glimpse into the stark realities of colonial life. Remarkably, this arrangement, a visible separation of the enslaved from their enslavers, has survived in this public space, a powerful testament to a history often overlooked. The park itself sits on land once inhabited by the Siwanoy people. They were displaced by English settlers. During the 1700s, both New York City and Westchester County were deeply entrenched in slavery. The families who enslaved African and Indigenous individuals are interred in the Hunt-Willett-Leggett Cemetery. The Freed Slave Graveyard stands in silent contrast, the names of those buried there lost to time. Although 20th-century records and a historic photograph hint at the presence of headstones, no physical markers remain today. The story of the Freed Slave Graveyard is one of rediscovery and reclamation. Forgotten for a time, recent research and the work of local schoolchildren have brought this sacred ground back into public awareness. The park’s renaming in 2021 to Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved African Burial Ground reflects this renewed understanding and community engagement. New signage throughout the site guides visitors through this complex history. The landmark designation of the Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Freed Slave Graveyard is a significant step in preserving this important site. It recognizes the contribution of all who lived and labored in Hunts Point, both the prominent and the forgotten. This space invites contemplation and remembrance. It honors the legacy of the enslaved, ensuring their stories, though silenced for a time, will not be erased.