Staten Island · NYC landmark
Rossville A.M.E. Zion Church Cemetery
Crabtree Avenue, west of Bloomingdale Road · Staten Island, New York City
Learn about Sandy Ground’s free Black oystermen and the family networks preserved in their burial ground.
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NYFE Summary
Free Black oystermen and their families moved here from Maryland, where laws restricted their work and daily lives. They helped build Sandy Ground into a community of boat owners, tradespeople and farmers. The congregation’s first wooden church stood beside this burial ground before worship moved to Bloomingdale Road.
Small headstones and family plots record names including Bishop, Harris, Henry, Landin, Purnell and Stevens. The cemetery continued to connect the community after polluted waters ended the local oyster industry and a large brush fire destroyed many homes.
NYFE summary from the official history and visitor sources linked below.
Plan a visit
Check the operator’s current opening, admission and access information before travelling. Historic status does not guarantee public access to every interior.
Official visitor information ↗