The Richmond Baptist Church and Burying Ground

The Richmond Baptist Church was the first church to be organized in the city of Richmond, Virginia. The Old Baptist Church Burying Ground (circa 1780–1802) is an American cemetery, an early burial site for enslaved and free Black people, connected to the Richmond Baptist Church "old Baptist Church" on Cary Street. It was later developed over, effectively removing it from sight and memory; which also happened to the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground (Active 1799–1816), and the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground (Active 1816–1879) which it predates.

Established in 1780 as the Richmond Baptist Church (now First Baptist Church), this was the first church of any denomination organized in the city of Richmond, Virginia.^[1] This meeting house in this location would be refereed to in time as the 'old Baptist Church'. It was also the first Baptist church founded in a Virginia city.^[2][3] Initially, the congregation gathered in private homes before constructing its first meeting house, at or near the north east corner of Cary at Second Streets. The church building no longer exists, but it was located in what today is the 200 block of E Cary St.^[1] This meeting house in this location would become known in time as the 'old Baptist Church'.^[1] It was described as follows: '“One small wooden house, with a shed at either end, stood not far off, in which service was performed by Baptist preachers, for want of a better place of worship. Its locality possessed the advantage of being near the Penitentiary pond -- convenient for immersion--for it was then pure water."^[1] The church later became officially known as the First Baptist Church after the formation of the Second Baptist Church in 1820. The congregation moved to a new location at what is now E Broad St. and College St. in 1802. The church's congregation was diverse, with about half of its early members being enslaved and free people of color. By 1840, the church had a significant Black membership, with 1,700 Black members compared to 373 White members.^[4][5] In 1841, the congregation split along racial lines, leading to the formation of the First African Baptist Church.^[1][6]

The Old Baptist Church Burying Ground is a historically significant burial ground associated with the "old Baptist Church" (also known as the Richmond Baptist Church) on Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia. Established circa 1780 and active until approximately 1802, it served as an early burial site for both enslaved and free Black people connected to the church. The period of its use likely corresponds with the congregation's presence at the Cary Street location.^[1]

According to a newspaper article in the Daily Dispatch, the burying ground was described as "Extending back from the place of execution towards Main street was a piece of wooded land, attached to the old Baptist Church in which the senior Father Courtney preached. This land was a kind of potters' field, used principally for the burial of negroes, but unenclosed. Here were interred the bodies of Gabriel, Solomon, and Peter, and others who suffered death for participation in the insurrection of 1800, and it was probably their remain that were disturbed by Capt. Coke's workmen."^[7] The article directly states that Gabriel and some of his followers, including his brother Solomon and Peter, were interred here after their 1800 execution for involvement in a planned slave insurrection aimed at gaining control of Richmond and negotiating an end to slavery in Virginia.^[8][9] Whalthall's 'Hidden Things Brought to Light' (page 33) provides evidence for the burying ground's visibility in 1861, noting that tombstones were reported protruding from the ground at 2nd and Cary Streets. Walthall states that the First Baptist people had selected it for a site. ^[10] The First Baptist Church was first known as the Richmond Baptist Church.

In 1871, human remains were discovered during excavations for a new residence (belonging to Capt. John A. Coke) at the corner of Cary and 3rd streets.^[8][11][12] This plot (#659) was previously part of the old Baptist Church property.^[1] Newspaper speculation of the time suggested these remains might belong to Gabriel, Solomon, Peter, and others executed on Gallows Hill and buried in the burying ground based on accounts of their burials at that location.^[8][9][13] Interviews, such as one with long-time Richmond resident Dr. John Dove, indicated that Gabriel and his followers were buried in the burying ground attached to the old Baptist Church.^[9][8]

The primary site for public executions in Richmond in 1800 was Gallows Hill, near Canal and 1st Streets, located within a few blocks of the old Baptist Church.^[14][15] The Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground became the main execution site after 1806, and the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground after 1816.^{[9][16][17][18]}

For several years following its rediscovery in the 1990s, the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground, was believed by some to be the execution and burial site of Gabriel and his followers, after their failed rebellion.^[19] However, research of municipal records by scholars like Michael L. Nicholls and others indicates that the 'usual place' of execution in Richmond at the time of their 1800 condemnation was Gallows Hill, located near Canal Street and 1st Street, a few blocks from the old Baptist Church. ^{[20][9][21][22][23][24][25]} The Burial Ground for Negroes in Shockoe Bottom, as it was known historically, only became the 'usual place' of execution after 1806.^{[26][27][28][9][29]}

The 1871 article in the Daily Dispatch, published after the discovery of human bones at Cary Street at 3rd Street, provided information about Gabriel's burial.^[30][9]