William Cooper

Laurel Cemetery; burial ground for Baltimore slaves and free Blacks in the 1800's. The final resting place of Daniel Payne; the founder of the nation's 1st HBCU (Wilburforce University); Frederick Douglass was one of the speakers at his funeral. Over 10,000 African Americans are buried in Laurel Cemetery, including 200 Black soldiers who fought in the Civil War.

I’m here in Baltimore meeting up with my big sister. As my mentor and our family genealogist, she sparked my interest in genealogy back in 2004, taking me to woods behind a White's only cemetery in Texas in search of my Father's lineage. It impressed upon me the impact of racism and bias...even in death. It also impressed upon me the scope of de-identification and lack of documentation as a means of devaluing people.

Well, here we are again, on another trip in honor of our ancestors; this time to the burial location of my Mother's lineage; specifically to the burial location of Addie Cooper (my GG Grandmother) as well as William & Rebecca Cooper (my GGG Grandparents). We know they're here because it says so on their Death Certificates.

William Cooper (my GGG Grandfather) served in the Union Navy during the Civil War. Enlisting on February 9th, 1864, he served aboard the USS Commodore Perry, USS Wyalusing and USS Albermarle; the Albemarle was originally a Confederate ship that was sunk by torpedo, raised then recommissioned as a Union ship. My GGG Grandfather was aboard the USS Wyalusing during the first attempt to sink the Albemarle. He was also aboard the Wyalusing when it fought and captured Fort Williams from the Confederacy, took prisoners and retook Plymouth.

Unfortunately, Laurel Cemetery was paved over in the 1950's; it's now Belair Edison Shopping Center. In 1911, many of the 200 Civil War veterans buried here were removed and reinterred at Loudon Park National Cemetery. Unfortunately, my GGG Grandfather wasn't amongst the bodies moved. So, he's here...somewhere amongst the 14,000+ remains under this lot.

We are now working to get at least a memorial placed at Loudon Park National Cemetery in honor of my GGG Grandfather, even if his remains will not be there.

More to come…