The History of Brewer Hill Cemetery

Prior to 1884 a group of men from the community purchased 4.5 acres of land from Judge Nicholas Brewer for a total of $787.50.The plot of land was originally part of

the estate of Anne Arundel County, Orphans Court Judge Nicholas Brewer. Brewer used the property to bury his slaves, servants and employees of the black

community. He also allowed his prominent white colleagues to bury their slaves here. The group incorporated themselves as The Peoples Brewer Hill Cemetery

Corporation of Anne of Anne Arundel County,Maryland. The purchasers were: William Henry Cooper, William H. Calhoun, Joseph A. Beall, Charles T. Harris,

William Phelps, George Davis, Robert Davis, Marcellus Hall ( Undertaker), James H. Wooten, Allen Brown Parker Garver and Joseph Allen.

More then 7,000 blacks are interred here; with some known buried as early as 1848 before it was purchased from Judge Brewer.

The earliest documented burials occurred in 1797, 1817 and 1819. In 1817 and 1819 two slaves named Dick and Tom, both men were accused of a crime and were hung. The oldest erected marker that still stands is dated 1848. This burial occured prior to the incorporation of the cemetery.

Another piece of history includes the hanging of Mary Naylor. Mary Naylor was accused of poisoning her "Master" in 1861. Again, Ms. Naylor denied that she did

not poison her " Master". Up until the moment of her death that was witnessed by two clergy and others . Ms. Naylor stated that her "Master" was just like family.

More than 100 years later, through research efforts, family history recollections ,documents and written statements from Civil War Soldiers. Ms. Naylor was hung for

a crime that she did not commit. More than 200 Veterans from all foreign wars,all counties across Maryland,other states and countries. and all ethnic backgrounds are interred in the historic cemetery.

Judge Nicholas Brewer

1795 - 1864

Marcellus Hall, Undertaker

Sources: 1880 United States Federal Census

Name:Marcellus Hall

Age:45

Birth Date:Abt 1835

Birthplace:Maryland

Home in 1880:Annapolis, Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA

Street:Gloucester Street

House Number:62

Dwelling Number:218

Race:Black

Gender:Male

Relation to Head of House:Self (Head)

Marital status:Married

Spouse's name:Cornelia Hall

Father's Birthplace:Maryland

Mother's Birthplace:Maryland

Occupation:Undertaker

Who's Buried Here?

People from all ethnic backgrounds.

Ellen Helen Brown Parker

First Female Undertaker

Memorial Marker Found

Fred Miller, age about 49 . His usual occupation was by trade a Tailor. He died on January 10, 1914, from pneumonia, birth date unknown,parents unknown and birth place unknown. He died in Jail in Annapolis, Maryland according to his death certificate. His burial took place on January 12,1914 at Brewer Hill Cemetery. Learn more about people from other ethnic backgrounds that include people from the Dominican Republic at Maryland Day.

There are more than 7,000 people who are interred in this historic cemetery. We are making an effort to document all of our loved ones. Please support our efforts by asking older family members to give information about people that they know who are interred in the cemetery. Look in old family bibles, check your old Funeral Programs , Death Certificates, Oral Histories and share them with us.

Here are some things listed that we are looking for. The burial locations of the occupants of the cemetery.

This stone is the memorial marker that was placed at the location of Mrs. Parker. She was the first known female to own and operate her own Mortuary. She operated her business from her home located on Clay Street, Annapolis, Maryland. Her great- grandaughter rememberd as a child where she was buried. In 2017, we finally found her final resting place.

Funeral Services Held

Reverend Alexander Dennis

Alverta Brice

Honoring Life

Let us know if your loved made any significant moments in their lifetime.

Allsup Julia Anna

BrownLeon B.

Brown Daniel

Cecil John J.Minister

Hammond Mary

Hutton Marry A.Walker

King Mary Corinne

Lane Henry

Parker Eva

Parker Baby

Queen John Henry

Simms Samuel

Spencer James

Walls Carrie

Warnock Joseph W.Jr.

Watkins Susan

Williams Margaret

Death Certificates

If you have Death Certificates please let us know about them. This will help us eliminate researching duplicate burials.

.

Funeral Programs

Funeral programs are a way to pay respect and give a lasting memory of your loved ones life experiences. They oftem give addtional information that may not be included in a death notice that has been placed in a local newpaper. In many instances the programs are accurated. However, their are some programs that do not give the accurate information.

Funeral Home Directors

In the earlier years during the establishment of Brewer Hill Cemetery History. Their were many Funeral Home Directors, who served the black communities. Samuel Hemsley Funeral Home was located in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge . His clients included many members of the

Old Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.

.

Alderman James Albert Adams served the community in Annapolis, Maryland and beyond. He was also a undertaker and blacksmith by trade.

He was a man that served in the community. In 1907, Adams purchased property, that was surveyed from the boundary lines of College Park to the Annapolis Elkridge Railroad. The property was dedicated and is now known as the J. Albert Adams Academy. He was member of St. Anne's Church, Annapolis, Maryland and is interred at St. Anne's Cemetery. Numerous black men from the community who served as Aldermen. They include; Wiley H. Bates and Raymond Dorsey Garver, son of incorporator Allen Brown Parker Garver, son of a former slave Jacob Garver of Pa.

Maryland Day Photos

Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Announces Grant Awards of $310,000 to Local Heritage Organizations

The Hogan Administration and the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) today announced matching grants totaling more than $2.69 million to Maryland non-profits, local jurisdictions, and other heritage tourism organizations including museums, historic preservation, natural resources, cultural and educational organizations for projects involving historic preservation, natural resource protection, and educational programs in 13 designated Heritage Areas.

Capital Grants Awarded 2016

Brewer Hill Association, Inc.

The People’s Community of Brewer Hill Cemetery, research of community cemetery burials with associated public programs.

Conservation,Preservation and Documentation

You Are Not Alone

Thomas Edward Baden was born on March 6, 1880 according to his official Death Certificate in Anne Arundel County. He was the son of Augustus and Louise ? Baden. He passed away on February 16, 1964 and is interred at Brewer Hill Cemetery. Sources: Certificate of Death Citation :01436

IWilliam George Miller

Garver Family Plot

Allen B.P., Allen.Hester,Raymond Dorsey, and Annie Elliot Garver are interred in this burial plot.

There are two churches that make Brewer Hill Cemetery a part of their yearly budget.

Cecil Memorial United Methodist Church of Parole and Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church of Annapolis,Maryland

Thank-you for your support!

IThomas and Hattie Reid Baden interred at Brewer Hill Cemetery. They were the parents of Thomas Baden. Several of their children are interred at the cemetery.

THE GEORGE H. PHELPS HERITAGE GARDEN COMMITTEE

ADOPT-A-PLOT COMMITTEE:

The Adopt-A-Plot Committee shall assist in development of the administration of the Adopt-A-Plot program of the Historic Brewer Hill Cemetery. The George H. Phelps Heritage Garden Committee shall help to assist in maintaining and developing the Heritage Garden section of the Historic Brewer Hill Cemetery. In honor and memory of Pioneer George H. Phelps,Jr. Mr. Phelps helped to initiate and succesfully carry out our restoration project. He was a committed member of the Brewer Hill Cemetery Association Inc.,President and Founder of the corporation. Mr. George Phelps, Jr., was born in 1926 and passed away on February 15, 2015. Because of his commintment and passion to preserve this piece of our history in time. We would like to memorialize his efforts for his part in the history of Brewer Hill Cemetery.

We are asking everyone to contribute to a part of this part in our history. Since many generations of the original founders and people in the cemetery have passed on. We are asking individuals,families and organizations to adopt-a- plot. Mr. Phelps is not interred in this cemetery. However, his memory will still live on.

This will be a great Educational Mentoring Program for Girl Scouts,Cub Scouts or perhaphs an extra cirriculiam project for Middle,High School and College students. We are asking those of you to adopt a tombstone.

Research the surname
Research where the individual or family lived.
What they did for a living.
Find them in the census
Research the individual or family history back as far as you can.
Find a photo,birth,military,marriage or a newspaper article.
Take care of this marker by making a tax- deductible contribution. This will help with perpetual care.
How will you benefit from this Adopt-A- Plot Program?
You will receive your official adoption papers and certificate for the individual endangered marker or tombstone.
You will be given credit for your participation in this historic cemetery project.

Death Certificate

and

Genealogy Requests

We are happy to respond to requests for lot locations of deceased family members as a service to our visitors. It is best to submit your request in writing.

As we are a non-profit cemetery, we reserve the right to charge a nominal fee for research that is requested and takes significant time to complete. Submit a request form.

Research Fee – Members: $20.00 per hour; Non-members: $25.00 per hour
Minimum Request - 1 hour of research. Payment must accompany your request.
Copy Fee for successful results - $25.00 per copy, plus postage (if required)
We cannot guarantee that a search will be successful, and the research fee is not refundable. There are many people with the same first and last names and accurate information must be provided for Death Certificates. All burials have not been documented.

I'm William Diggs, past Cemetery Sexton of the People's Cemetery of Anne Arundel County. Prior to becoming the caretaker of this cemetery there were other people who maintained the cemetery. Many of them were former slaves who could not read or write. However, they knew exactly where everyone was buried. There are slaves,businessmen and women interred in this cemetery that I once maintained. Military men and women who served in the wars that have claimed many lives. There are preachers and teachers, Doctors, Lawyers and everyday people who helped to build the African-american churches,schools and communities of which my ancestors lived in. People from within Maryland and abroad the United States are interred in this cemetery and that includes the unknown people who, were identified as unknown and there are other people from other ethnic backgrounds who's remains are resting in this cemetery the was once maintained by me. Some may have a headstone, footstone or symbolic figure that marks the spot where they lie in state. Many do not have markers to identify the spot of where they are interred. With your help we can hopefully identify where they are. Consider joining the Brewer Hill Association,Inc. and make a difference with the preservation of my cemetery.

Our Team

Reginald M. Harris, Sr. President

Denise Howard, Vice President

Almaria Coates, Secretary

Frank Brown, Treasurer

Terrence Wright, Communications

Volunteer Researchers

Genealogists and Historians

Elinor Thompson

Donald Brown

Maryland Burial Coalition Members

Reggie Bishop

Planning to visit the cemetery?

Take a snapshot of your loved ones marker. It will also help us to document the burial section. Don't let our history be washed away.

Use your GPS and map it.

Thanks!!

We are seeking volunteers for Maryland Day 2020. If you would like to help us.

Please send an e-mail to historybrewerhill@gmail.com.

Subject line: Volunteer 2020

Brewer Hill Cemetery Association,Inc.

P.O.Box 2086

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Reggie Harris, President

Research requests:

Back in 1884

Brewer Hill Cemetery