Guide to the Newport Gardner letter to Sarah Burk , 1821 October 16


Newport Historical Society
82 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-846-0813
Fax: 401-846-1853
email: info@newporthistorical.org

Published in 2012

Collection Overview

Title: Newport Gardner letter to Sarah Burk
Date range: 1821 October 16
Creator: Gardner, Newport, 1746-1826
Extent: 1 folder(s)
Abstract: This collection consists of one letter written by Newport Gardner to his niece, Sarah Burk.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Newport Historical Society
Collection number: MS-2012-2

Scope & content

This collection consists of one letter written by Newport Gardner to "Sarah Burk to the care of Mrs. Garnder Ladd, Alexandria." In the letter, Gardner grieves for the recent loss of his wife, Limas, and grandson, Solomon. He recounts that Solomon Gardner died of consumption aboard the USS Constitution. He also expresses gratitude that his son, Jacob, and his wife have moved to Newport from New York reuniting the family.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types Occupations

Arrangement

This collection has one series.

Biographical note

Newport Gardner was born Occarmar Marycoo in 1746 in Africa. He was brought to
Newport, Rhode Island as a slave around 1760, at approximately 14 years old. The ship captain who was entrusted with his care sold him to another ship captain, Caleb Gardner. Although Caleb Gardner changed Occarmar’s name to Newport Gardner, Gardner continued to use his given name, Occarmar, throughout most of his life.

Within four years of arriving in Newport, Gardner learned English, French, and the basics of music. Gardner became an accomplished musician. By the time he was 18, he had composed an anthem using words from the prophet Jeremia. He published many pieces and also taught music, a service for which he was paid. By 1796, Newport Gardner married a woman named Limas and had four children.

Records indicate that in 1791 Gardner and a few friends won almost $2,000 in a lottery. Using the funds from his music lessons and his share of the lottery winnings, Gardner was able to secure his freedom in 1792. After establishing a house on Pope Street, Gardner supported his family by teaching music. During this time, he became close with Dr. Samuel Hopkins of the First Congregational Church. Hopkins kept a room on
High Street, now
Division Street, and it was here that the first meeting gathered to form a society "where the Negro might worship God without segregation." From this gathering was born the Free African Union Society
, the first black cultural society in the United States. Gardner served as its first president.

In 1805, Gardner helped establish a counterpart to Free African Union Society for women, the African Female Benevolent Society. This group renames itself the African Benevolent Society
and includes both male and female members. The ABS financed and administered a school for African-Americans which Gardner helped run.

In 1824, Gardner became a deacon of the Colored Union Church
.

Towards the end of his life, Gardner became involved with the Back-to-Africa movement that encouraged African-Americans to return to Africa. He sailed to his homeland in 1826 with his sons, members of the African Union Society, and several neighbors. He was aided in these efforts by Dr. Samuel Hopkins and Ezra Stiles of the Second Congregational Church
. He and several of his followers became ill and died shortly after arriving on the African coast, and their goals were not achieved. Garnder died in Africa at the age of 80.



References:

Bernard, Akeia. (2008). The Free African American Cultural Landscape: Newport, RI 1774-1826. Unpublished dissertation. University of Connecticut: Storrs, CT.

Newport Historical Society. (2012). Self Guided Walking Tour. Newport, RI.

Stokes, Theresa Guzman. (2005). A Visual Remembrance: African Slave Markers in Colonial Newport. The Write Design.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment.
Use of the materials: Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from Newport Historical Society. Although NHS has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Newport Gardner letter, MS-2012-2, Newport Historical Society.
Contact information: Newport Historical Society
82 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-846-0813
Fax: 401-846-1853
email: info@newporthistorical.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: Purchased by the Newport Historical Society on February 2, 2012.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Stacie M. Parillo.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Stacie M. Parillo 2012 February 02
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material: The Newport Historical Society has related papers in its holdings including, the African Union Society records, the Ezra Stiles papers, the Samuel Hopkins papers, and the Union Congregational Church records.

Inventory

Box 1, Folder 1 Newport Gardner letter to Sarah Burk
Contents Note: The original letter and a typed transcription are included in this folder.

 1821 October 16