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| The Unnamed Slave Gravesite |
Last year while researching African American history in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana., I came across an article written and posted by Dr. Charles Smith about an unnamed slave buried in a Hammond Cemetery on Charles Street. Laying behind the white picket fence in a corner close to the E. Charles street is the gravesite of Gaston.
In the cemetery on East Charles Street, Peter Hammond the founder of the City of Hammond and several of his family members are buried there. His wife Caroline, his unmarried daughter Maria. His daughter Sarah and her husband F. Robertson; and another daughter Clorinda, wife of E. DeSouge, and a granddaughter Elisa and her husband W.S. Wall.
A couple months back, Kenneth Harris, Councilman Lemar F. Marshall, a descendant of Peter Hammond and I had a conversation about the unnamed slave and finding his name. The blog post I wrote last year started African Americans in the community to at least talk about slavery and some went to visit the cemetery. Many African Americans in Tangipahoa Parish had no idea the gravesite was there.
An article was written and published in the Hammond Vindicator by Velmarae Dunn indicated that his name was Gaston. The article also stated that Gaston died of yellow fever. Gaston died in the early 1860s and was buried before Peter Hammond and his family. The Hammond Preservation Commission Director Leah Solomon and Commission Shauna Seals organized today memorial event to place a wreath on Gaston's gravesite. Hammond President Councilman Lemar F. Marshall was present. Historian Howard Nichols, who is also a Commission Member join in for the discussion at the City Hall.
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| Pouring of Libation |
At the gravesite, Mayor Peter Panepinto spoke to the occasion followed by Prayers by Rev. Shelton Myers of St, James A.M.E. Church. The pastor of Grace Memorial Episcopal Church laid the wreath at the grave. Mayor Panepinto has committed to replacing with a headstone that has Gaston's name on it.
We are hoping to learn more about Gaston life through genealogy and historical research. I talked with my colleague Bernice Alexander Bennett who specialize in Livington Parish research about Peter Hammond. She may have some research tips that could be helpful. I'm happy to see that the community leaders and others in the community are embracing this long overdue subject. I would like to see more African American historians not just locally get involved with the people in the community. As we approach the 2018 Black History Month, we are looking forward to an event that would commemorate the discovery.
I've visited several slave cemetery in St. Helena Parish with Mrytis Johnson who's mission is to preserve the abandoned cemeteries and slave cemeteries. Now our mission is to find out as much as we can about Gaston. Some of the questions I want answers to:
Where did Gaston come from?
Did he have family members on the plantation?
What did he do on the plantation?
Was he purchased from someone else?
Was anything ever recorded about him?
I was hoping to see the pouring of libation in memory of Gaston, African dancing, and drumming. This is an African tradition that dates back to the book of Genesis. Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He has spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he out a drink offering on it; he poured oil on it. Gen 35:14
