by Linda Straker
- Government House has been the official residence of British-appointed governors since 1780s
- Frederick Newcome Esq, secretary to British Governor Charles Green, was buried on 25 November 1797
- Senator Chester Humphrey, President of the Upper House will ensure Newcome site is protected
He has watched over the city for hundreds of years from the Upper Gardens of what was then part of Government House compound, and most recently he watched the construction, opening and functioning of the new Parliament building as he laid there in silence.
Located directly in an area beneath the Parliament’s carpark and alongside the newly paved road used to exit from Parliament on special days, is his tombstone. To many, it may have gone unnoticed, but to others who have seen it looking at them in the face, they often wondered who is resting there in peace.
I was one of the persons who observed that tombstone last week Wednesday, 20 November 2019 as I exited the Parliament compound. Walking out of the compound in that newly paved road is my normal route once I attend a session.
As I walked, I observed the recently planted trees that will eventually add beauty to the scenery. Then suddenly close to a tree that was obviously saved by the excavators when the land was being cleared to construct the road and the building, was the unkept tombstone, standing there like an unwanted piece of concrete — but the shape shouted tombstone.
I tried to get some photos but the distance at where I stood did not allow; the earth was soft from the recent rain so I decided not to venture into the area.
That evening, I had a conversation with a former staff of the Ministry of Works who confirmed that he was aware of the tombstone but had no knowledge of the identity of the person. The next day I called the Office of the Governor-General which was unable to help. This did not dampen my spirit and promised myself to make this my personal project. I continued calling persons whom I felt would assist, but most were shocked to learn of the findings.
I then spoke with Darryl Brathwaite, a member of the National Trust, who in turn established contact between myself and John Angus Martin. Through a video produced by Kenrick Fletcher and posted online in 2013 that was sent to me by Martin, we were able to determine the name of the person buried in the upper Gardens.
His name is Frederick Newcome Esq and he was the secretary to the governor, Charles Green (1797–1801). An online search of the colonial records through the Gentleman’s Magazine shows that Governor Green was the fourth person to be governor after the killing of Ninian Homes by Julien Fedon in 1795.
The Gentleman’s Magazine was a monthly magazine founded in London, England in January 1731, which ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years.
The magazine further confirmed that Newcome died on 25 November 1797 after a short illness. My answer came on 25 November 2019 – 222 years after his funeral. Newcome was buried the same day that he died.
It was a rainy day and all the officers of the garrison and almost all the respectable inhabitants of the town attended his funeral. “His death will be long and sincerely regretted by society, to which he was a valuable acquisition,” said the announcement of his death. He was survived by his wife and an infant child.
With this knowledge, I then informed several persons to whom I spoke with earlier that I can confirm the name of the person who is watching the parliament. I also informed the Office of the Governor-General. I also spoke with other persons whom I believe can influence the cleaning and protection of the tombstone.
“We are aware of the tombstone located there but I am personally not aware who is buried there,” said Senator Chester Humphrey, President of the Upper House when asked if he had seen the stone and knows who is buried there.
“His name is Frederick Newcome and I can confirm that because after observing the stone I embarked on researching about it,” I informed him.
Happy to learn that at last parliament can now put a name to the gravesite, Humphrey gave the assurance that as President of the Upper House he will ensure that measures will be taken to bring the history of the deceased to life.
“We have no reason to remove this grave, so it will not be moved, but I will talk with the Speaker of the House and we will ensure that the site is protected. It’s our history,” he said.
Government House has been the official residence of the British-appointed governors sometime after 1784, and of the Governors-General since 1974, until Hurricane Ivan greatly damaged the building complex in 2004.
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In terms of our history this site and grave stone is significant and the government is quite right to preserve it. Too many of us are too quick to get rid of historical things that are irreplaceable. Should we get rid of Government House too? The people of the world today are not responsible for what our ancestors had to endure. We should be proud of our history.
Lord Constantine used to proudly state that his grandfather was a slave but he ended up in the UK House of Lords and recently I saw our current Prime Minister Dr. Mitchell live on British television at Buckingham Palace and at Windsor Castle as a guest of Her Majesty the Queen representing our country as a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. That is part of our history.
With the Houses of Parliament in place once Government House is restored the area can become a major tourist attraction. The views of our Capital from Mt Wheldale is absolutely stunning – a view to die for. With the restoration of Government House and its gardens this area could well become a major tourist attraction; something that is missing in terms of a statement of the history of the people of Grenada.
We ought to be thankful for what our ancestors left us and it is our duty to cherish and preserve it. We have no right whatsoever to destroy it.
Where can I find the tombstone of M.Bishop, N.Bain, F.Bain, J.creft, F.Maitland and others who died in 1983. I would love to have that site to visit and I’m sure the families as well as others would too.
I, too wondering what significance those this gentleman have on Grenada BUT! If we desecrate his remains, won’t it be same as if we did that to our ancestors?
He had to have some significance on the then governor for him to have buried in his garden and plus it’s been there for over 200years.
Great work! I have mixed feelingd in regards to the immediste comments. Subject to further research.
To the people who wants to speak about our History we need to put things into perspective. We cannot selectively choose what we want to remember and what we do not want whether it is good bad or ugly – It is all our history!
The people that came to Grenada in historical time were the original amerindian people, Awarwacks, Caribs, Europeans, African Slaves, East Indian indentures servants and everyone else. Yes- these are all our ancestors which include the gentleman which is buried in the article. This does not take away the fact we should not honour others but this is an article from someone who saw a tombstone and researched the details which is part of our history and should be commended. The town of St Georges and its Design is based on our European ancestors. Our ancestors were no all good people from ALL who came but the fact is that it is OUR history and we cannot change that. Writing about one aspect should not be looked at as diminishing another. Now People who believe that other aspects should be highlighted and written can do the research and educate others.
Love this! Thanks for the info.
I don’;t get this story at all. We should not honor people who supervised our oppression. I urge the write to research the locations where our ancestors are buried. We have probably erected roads and concrete structures desecrating the dead enslaved persons who made it possible for us to be here now and to be free persons.
Where are they buried? When we unearth the souls of these brave and worthy men and women then perhaps I’d worry about the dead English and their agents who ensured our enslavement and oppression for far too long.
Well said
Jerry Edwin… Thank You for this reply! I am so tired of this lack of consideration for our direct ancestors. The people whose bloodlines have dictated our music, foods, rhythms, language and our expressions. This reminds me of the cross that is built on top of Leapers Hill in Sauteurs (my hometown). Why not a beautiful sculpture honoring the Caribs who resisted the evil of French Colonization? We black people across the diaspora, are always honoring these long dead Europeans who saw us as nothing but cattle. Not-quite-human property, only fit for their subjugation and convenience. Press on and move those European instigated mental blocks.
Well said, Jerry Edwin!!
I thought about this, but how will we know? Who honoured the slaves with a tombstone? Remember how they were treated. In any case, it would be great to have some monument to them in the plantation estates where they toiled. Surely there should be some information about the people who worked there. Or even the names of slaves and where they came from in an archivr open to the public so we can be aware of our ancestors.
Thankyou for this almost forgotten piece of history.
Whoi this is amazing investigative work. I absolutely love this!