Colored Cemetery in Montgomery
Montgomery, NY - August 15, 2010
While driving around Orange County looking for photos to shoot, Vi and I came upon this "Colored Cemetery" in the Village of Montgomery. There are about 100 graves which hold the remains of what are believed to be African American slaves brought in by early settlers in the 18th Century.

One grave is inscribed 1756 -- twenty years before America's declaration of independence.

According to wikipedia.org, the cemetery was neglected until the town rededicated it in 1995. The inscription which they placed on a stone at the cemetery's entrance reads:


"COLORED CEMETERY"

Not all who arrived in this "New World" came of their own free will. There were those brought in heavy iron shackles -- victims of the cruel and inhumane institution known as slavery.

According to records, 236 slaves, and 17 free blacks and American Indians lived in the town of Montgomery in 1790. Since then, the veil of time has obscured much of the information about them and this half acre of sacred ground. It is known, however, that the cemetery was established in the mid-18th century and most likely used for slaves owned by some of the original palatine settlers. Within the boundaries of this historic site are more than 100 markers; two of which are known to be inscribed. One bears the date of 1756.

This cemetery is an important link to our past and an everlasting reminder of the contributions and sacrifices made by the souls interred here in the establishment of this nation and the town of Montgomery. They helped to open what was once the American Frontier. May this site always be respected and treated as hallowed ground.

Robert L. Williams - Town Historian, 1995

The restoration of this cemetery has been made possible through the generosity of many donors and the encouragement of the Montgomery Town Board.


Click on a picture to enlarge.
Across the road from this open farmland...
...is a cemetery for what are believed to be African American slaves of the 18th Century.
Entrance to
Inscription. We're not sure what the stones on top of the rock are for or who placed them there.
Looking out the road from the cemetery.
Pipes were placed beside the original stone markers.
We're not sure who placed this totem. It does not appear to be very old.
Two graves have discernible inscriptions.
For the rest, stones will do to mark the spot where the dead are buried.
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