Historic
Mount Olive Cemetery
Wilmington,
Delaware
Cemetery
Names
The
burial location indicated in the Delaware Death records is usually clearly
listed as 'Mount Olive'. In earlier records, though, various references
appear. Even though these are alternate names, at least one person has been
identified in Mount Olive where the burial location is indicated by a different
name or description.
A text extract of the
earliest state-wide Delaware death records which
mention African-Americans (including enslaved persons) has been included here to assist in family history research. These
earliest records do not reference cemeteries by name. Several persons mentioned
in this file do have relatives buried in St. Peters.
From 1872 - 1885, burials appear at the cemetery identified as '12th and
French', 'Old Union' and 'Old AUMP'. These burials are included in the Union
listing. The Lockman family, for example,
has members buried in Union Cemetery, St. Peters Cemetery and Mount
Olive. Other early cemeteries of interest for African-American genealogy
include the Baptist cemetery at 10th and King St; Delaware City, Pigeon Run,
Old Cathedral, Wilmington and Brandywine, Mt. Zion, Silverbrook
and the public burials grounds (these include New Castle County Cemetery, Poor
House, Alms House and Potters Field).
Between 1885 and 1895, the most active cemeteries in the Wilmington area
include St. Peters, Union, Ezion, old Baptist and Mount Zion.
After 1895, Mount Zion becomes the most active cemetery; followed by St.
Peters. No further mention in the records appears for Union, old Union or
Ezion.
Although other cemeteries (Old Swedes, Wilmington and Brandywine, old
Cathedral, Cathedral) are shown in Wilmington-area maps (city directories or
local play maps) - none of the African-American cemeteries are shown on any
historic map located so far. The 1868 map of Christiana district shows 3 small
dots labeled as 'Aff Cem' on the city line.
There was a caretakers house on the property from 1914
until after 1939. Undoubtedly both burial records and plot maps were kept at
that time. If anyone knows of the existence of these records and would like to
help reconstruct the cemetery records, please contact me.
Undertakers who served families at St. Peters and Mount Olive include:
L. W. Palmer
Joseph Bass
S.V.B. Carty
Wm. E Grinnage
Annie Brierly
Ed R Bell
Wm. E Grey
Wm Gumby
1861
Mother AUMP Church purchases
land for a cemetery. Burials prior to this date may have been at the old Union
Cemetery, at French above 12th Street. Several early death records refer to
American Union cemetery.
1868
A map of Christiana - Centerville shows three dots,
apparently labeled as Aff. Cem - one west of Front
and Union and two east of Front and Union; south of Pyle's property.
If the dots represent early cemeteries where St. Peters and Ezion grew; was
there a cemetery west of Front and Union?
1870
- St. Peters - an historic moment
St. Peter's African Union Methodist
Protestant Church, was founded by Rev. E. H. Chippey
who preached on a platform in a graveyard on Union
street and built their first church in 1870. (History of the State of
Delaware, vol 2, pg 35e, pg
793. Henry Clay Conrad - available at www.ebooksread.com)
Death Records in the period
1870 - 1890 mention burial locations:
St. Peters (included in this site)
Front and Union (included in this site)
Union at 12th and French (included in a text file)
Ezion (2nd and Union - included in a text file)
Mt. Zion
Baptist Cemetery (10th and King)
1870 Wilmington
City Directory
No specific African-American cemeteries are mentioned.
Churches include:
African Union, French above 8th
Union American, French above 12th
E. Zion, 9th and French
Wesleyan Union, Poplar above 5thCemeteries which appear in the maps and city
directories include "old" Cathedral (also called St. Peter's RC),
Wilmington and Brandywine, Cathedral, Old Swedes and Riverview.
1879/80
Wilmington City Directory
Union
American, 12th above French. The burial ground identified as 'Old Union'
is located at 12th and French.
No specific mention of African-American cemeteries appears.
Churches mentioned include:
Union American, French above 12th
Mount Olive Chapel, Poplar above 5th
St. Peters Chapel, Second above Union
Ezion M.E. Church, Ninth and French
African Union, French above 8th - this is the original cemetery where Peter
Spencer was buried. Referred to as AU Churchyard in burial records.
819 French St
1879
Wilmington City Directory
St. Peter's Chapel . 2nd above
Union. St.
The location of St. Peter's cemetery is refered
to as '2nd and Union' or 'Front and Union', but is not mentioned in the city
directory
1884
Cemeteries named in the Wilmington area death records
include:
St. Peters (Front and Union, 2nd and Union)
Mt. Zion
Union or Old Union (12th and French)
Baptist (10th and King)
Ezion
1884
Wilmington City Directory
St. Peter's Cemetery - located between Front and Second;
and Union and Pyle
Most African-American cemeteries do not appear in the city
directory.
Ezion Cemetery - burial ground of the Ezion M.E. Church.
Located between 2nd and 3rd and Union and Pyle's Lane
1890 Wilmington City DirectoryEzion Cemetery -
Burial ground of Ezion M.E. Church, located between 2nd and 3rd and Union and
Pyle's LaneNo mention of St. Peters or Union
Cemetery1895 Wilmington City DirectoryEzion
Cemetery - Burial ground of Ezion M.E. Church, located between 2nd and 3rd
and Union and Pyle's LaneNo mention of St. Peters or
Union Cemetery
1898/99
Wilmington City Directory
UNION
(colored) - West of Union on Pyles lane from Lancaster to Second St. (no
reference to St. Peters)
Because 'Union Cemetery' may refer to either the cemetery
located on French above 12th or St. Peters (and some stones have been located
in Mt. Olive from burials listed as 'Union' cemetery) available. 
1898/99
Wilmington City Directory
EZION
cemetery - Burial Ground of Ezion M.E. Church; located between Second and
Third; and Union and Pyle's Lane.
(text file - Ezion)
1899
- 1914
Both Mount Olive and St. Peters are active In burial records between 1899 and
1914, both St. Peters and Mount Olive are named as active cemeteries.
References to 'old Union' cemetery (12th and French) are not found. 1905
Wilmington City Directory Ezion Cemetery - located between 2nd and 3rd and
Union and Pyles' Lane.
Union (colored) - West of Union on Grant, from Lancaster Ave to 2nd St By 1906
St. Peters Cemetery was faced with serious maintenance
problems.1910 Wilmington City DirectoryEzion Cemetery - located between
2nd and 3rd and Union and Pyles' Lane.
Union (colored) - West of Union on Grant, from Lancaster Ave to 2nd St1910
Wilmington City DirectoryEzion
Cemetery - located between 2nd and 3rd and Union and Pyles' Lane.
Union (colored) - West of Union on Grant, from Lancaster Ave to 2nd St28 Jul
1910 -Mary Bacon is buried at Mt. Olive
1914
- Cemetery Move
General Contractor
Gilpin Ave
May 26 1914
Union Church of African Members
I will move all the bodies of the graves of St Peters Cemerty
at Front and Union Sts and bury them in Mt. Olive
Cemetery, for the sum of two thousand four hundred and fifty dollars.
William Campbell
Contracts dated Jun 1914 - work to be completed within four months. Plain pine
boxes were to be provided if original coffins not intact; all headstones,
footstones, markers and ornaments to be moved and re-interred
St.
Peters and Ezion were adjacent cemeteries.
It
is possible that some burials from Ezion were re-interred in Mount Olive
at that time.
1919 Wilmington City DirectoryEzion Cemetery - located between
2nd and 3rd and Union and Pyles' Lane.
Union (colored) - West of Union on Grant, from Lancaster Ave to 2nd StThe city directory still lists both cemeteries at these
locations.1939 - WPA (Works Progess Administration)Surveys
are made of Mount Olive Cemetery (459 stones and plots identified) and old
Union Cemetery (5 stones identified)BAPTIST
An African-American burial ground was located on King St. above 10th. It
appears in records 1881 - 1890. It is referred to as 'Baptist Burying Ground'
(col).
Mount Olive appears in death records from about 1910 to 1984.
Some burial records are unclear - two places of burial
appear on this death record
NOTES:According to local neighbors, many
coffins were found during the construction of Bancroft Parkway. In 1972,
a supermarket was renovated at 2nd and Union, and additional burials were
discovered during the renovation. In 1996, the old Union Cemetery at 12th and
French was moved during construction of the MBNA complex downtown. News-Journal 15 Aug 1996. 305
burial features were discovered during archeological work at 1206 N French St.
301 contained human remains. Identities were confirmed for a number of
residents. Remains were re-interred at Mount Pisgah Church, Summit Bridge.
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1895 map of Wilmington -
although several African-American cemeteries were active, they are not noted
on this historic map. Approximate locations are shown |
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