Conservationists Find 1729 Gravestone of Sebastian at Boston Burial Ground

3 articles · Updated · Livescience.com · Jul 11

A restoration project at Boston's Granary Burying Ground uncovered the gravestone of Sebastian, a formerly enslaved man who died free in 1729 and took the name Boston.
Photos of headstones led conservationists to a marker bearing only the name "Boston," prompting archival research that identified Sebastian and traced his life in the city.
Historical records show he was emancipated after the death of the man who enslaved him and was known around Boston as a hardworking handyman.
The find is being described as one of the oldest known gravestones of a free Black person in the United States, adding new detail to Boston's early Black history.

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Gravestone of Sebastian, Free Black Man Who Died in 1729, Found in Boston

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Conservators in Boston have restored a gravestone believed to belong to Sebastian Lake, a formerly enslaved man who died free in 1729. Mayor Michelle Wu says the discovery may be one of

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TheGrio - Conservators in Boston have restored a gravestone believed to belong to Sebastian Lake, a formerly enslaved man who died free in 1729. Mayor Michelle Wu says the discovery may be

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Sebastian Lake’s 1729 Gravestone Restored: Illuminating the Lives of Free Black Bostonians in Colonial America

Overview

On July 4, 2026, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the discovery and restoration of Sebastian Lake’s gravestone, believed to be one of the oldest for a free Black person in America. Conservators at Granary Burying Ground found and identified the headstone, revealing Lake was once enslaved but died free in 1729. This discovery is part of a broader initiative to highlight hidden stories in Boston’s history, including new historical markers across the city. The gravestone’s date reflects a historical calendar change, connecting Lake’s life and legacy to the wider narrative of early Black Americans and Boston’s inclusive history efforts.

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