Mission 02: Tucker Cemetery Update

On Friday, June 10, Veronica A. Davis of Virginia Roots and William Tucker of William Tucker Enterprises met with the Pastor of New Covenant Church in Hampton, Virginia who will be representing an organization of 8 churches who are signing on to work with the Tucker Cemetery Restoration. Work is to begin in September and the group will continue their efforts for 8 months.

I am still trying to work with African American Churches to help them to understand the importance of the historic burial grounds; unfortunately my efforts are falling on deaf ears. I must admit this is very embarrassing that area African American churches have no regard for the upkeep of the burial grounds where their congregants that built their churches are buried. Have the "Religious Leaders" forgotten that these were the people that fought for them to be able to preach without witness, risked their lives for them to be educated and provided the monies that established the Theological Schools where they trained. It is hard for me to understand how they can hold their heads up!

Please we need everyone to help to restore respect to the historic cemeteries. If your church is not involved in restoring a cemetery locate the cemetery where are great deal of your congregants are buried and clean it up. I have a dollar that says if there are trees in the back of the cemetery you will find more graves.

There are many efforts being led to save the Slave burial grounds in preparation of the Commemoration of the Arrival of the Africans by the British in 1619. Please visit historiccemeteries.net to add your cemetery to the list.

Blessings to you all,

Mission 002: Community Partners for Tucker Cemetery

I am so happy to announce that Tucker Cemetery has community partners!!! On yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with a Mr. William Tucker (NO RELATION TO THE 1619 TUCKER FAMILY). Who had approached the city some months back about the neglected cemetery. He was as excited as I was about the restoration of the cemetery. We spoke briefly about the strategic plan for the restoration and we will follow up with more information soon.

Another community partner that has come forth is Project 1619, a non-profit organization that is on a mission to have a commemorative statue erected on Fort Monroe in memory of the 20 some odd slaves that arrived on the shores. We are still in negotiations on how this group will be reaching out to us but we are happy that they have joined the effort.

And of course you are familar with Virginia Roots. This 10 year veteran of Historical Interpretation and cemetery restoration is leading the restoration of the cemetery. Virginia Roots, rep Veronica Davis is currently developing a special tour for Tucker Cemetery. The proceeds from the tour will be donated to the cemetery restoration campaign.

Mission 003:Develop Community Partners-Churches

Hope everyone Sunday was a Blessing!

I have a special survey for all churches in Virginia to complete in our first effort to create community partnerships for the restoration of the neglected Cemeteries. Our Civic Leaders feel that our churches will be more benevolent to reaching out to help restore our cemeteries.

In an effort to save time we are sending out this survery for churches to complete. We will not accept surveys completed by members. Surveys must be completed by a Church Administrator.

Survey can be found at the Historic Cemeteries Website

Thanks

Mission 002: Tucker Family Cemetery Research Notes

On January 3, 1624 in Jamestown, a healthy male African was born to Anthony and Isabelle indentured servants of accomplished sea captain, William Tucker. Captain Tucker was the Commander of Kecoughtan (what would become known as Elizabeth City County and later present day Hampton) and a wealthy plantation owner.

Now let’s get the facts as we know them straight, God knows it has been totally confusing over the past 400 decades!

At one time Jamestown encompassed the shores that extend from the Chesapeake Bay to the present day National Park site of the Jamestown Village outside of Williamsburg. This would explain why the history reads William Tucker was born in Jamestown. Actually he was born on the property of Captain Tucker that was located in West Hampton between the interstate and Aberdeen Gardens. Today we know this property as Blue Bird Gap Farm. Clearly this was a massive piece of property at one time in that the Tucker Cemetery is actually located about a ½ mile from the present day Blue Bird Gap Farm.

His parents Anthony and Isabelle are said to have been a married couple. Now according to the interpretations given at Colonial Williamsburg a standard indenture contract was five years. At the end of their contract they were legally married what’s speculative is that who married them, as a sea captain William Tucker could have performed the ceremony.

Soon after the birth of baby William he was baptized and recorded in the Church register. The question is was he registered in a Church nearer to the present site of the Jamestown Village or was he recorded in the St. John’s Church in the present day Hampton. There is much about baby William that is still being researched,

Little Known Facts about Tucker Cemetery

·         According to the city of Hampton, Captain William Tucker was buried with his slaves in the Tucker Cemetery. The problem is that there is only one grave that has been disinterred, could this have been the resting place of Captain William Tucker?



·         The cemetery is owned by the Old Dominion Land Company closed business.

·         It is 2 acres.

·         We know that there are over 100 burials in the cemetery. 

·         The cemetery may have also been referred to as Little Zion Cemetery. Proof or dispelling of this will be provided as we are restoring the cemetery.

Courtesy of City of Hampton

More information on the Cemeteries can be found at

historiccemeteries.parks.officelive.com



Mission 002: Tucker Family Cemetery

Welcome to the Tucker Family Cemetery, as it is stated on the entrance signage this is the first recorded African American Family in 1619. How sad that the cemetery is now overgrown and neglected as shown in these pictures. I can;t help but wonder if anyone is paying attention to what is happening to our history and historical landmarks. It is really time that we wake up from this nightmare and work as a race to save our history.

    

The property is privately owned, but not by the Tucker Family! That means that the family was responsible for the maintenance. I can't help but wonder why did the family allow the cemetery to fall into this condition? I know that one or two of the family members have moved away. Two years ago when I was doing the radio show I did a call of action and people were responding until a family member called and said that the cemetery was in excellent condition. I guess she must not have known that William Tucker was in the forest behind the mowed section of newer graves.

Enough complaining now it is time for action!!! If you would like to work on this project please give me a call at 757.332.4042. Virginia Roots will extend it's fund to include Tucker Cemetery. We hope to have this cemetery restored by 2019. Check back for regular updates.

Assignment: Identify Historic African American Cemeteries in Virginia

Though I can not reveal who my source is but I was asked to identify African American Burial Grounds across Virginia. I am not getting paid for this assignment even though Virginia has a land area of 39,594 miles which according to today’s gas prices means that I will be paying a little more than $138,579.00 for gas. Be sure to send a donation SMILE!!!

Virginia is made up of 39 independent cities and 95 counties, within each of these municipalities there are at least 20 resting places that equates to at least 2,680 burial grounds. Don’t get me wrong this is not a finite number. What is certain is that across Virginia this equates to millions of people who are laid to rest in the cemeteries some identified some not.

Over the next year and a half my son and I will endeavor to visit each city and county to identify these vital resting places. For this assignment I will write a blog for each city that I visit that will include the names of groups that are in the restoration process, and information on how people can get involved. I am not a master at blogging, so be patient over time I will learn how to upload videos and pictures. I welcome any advice that anyone has to help make this happen.

Again prayers, advice, site suggestions, and donations are welcomed.

Today we are riding out to Surry County.