Evidence of the early history of African Americans in New England is dramatically found in the many ancient burying grounds and cemeteries of the region, oft-times in locations that are hidden and were once largely forgotten. In this work, the first of its kind to discuss these important burying places found in each of the New England states, the reader will discover the burial sites of many African Americans, both the enslaved and the free, and gain an understanding as to how they came to their final resting places.

The lives of well-known early African Americans such as Venture Smith and Elizabeth Freeman are discussed in the context of these burial sites, as are the lives of many other ordinary individuals, including military veterans, business men and women, common labourers, and children, all of whom led equally fascinating lives. Through an examination of these historic sites and the interesting gravestones found within the reader will learn of the clues hidden in plain site that help to document the lives of black New Englanders and gain a better overall understanding of the African American experience in New England from the 1640s down to the early 1900s.