Brief History

The Richbell Cemetery was established in 1684 and is one of the oldest cemeteries in Westchester County. The three necks of Mamaroneck, including the land for the cemetery, were bought by John Richbell in 1661. The people buried here consist of 36 Revolutionary War soldiers, 9 War of 1812 soldiers, and 56 Civil War soldiers. Sadly, most of the stones are so old that there is no readable text on them.

Family History

John Richbell was an English trader who bought Mamaroneck from the Wappaquewam and Mahatahan tribes in exchange for tools and clothing. John and his wife, Ann Richbell, lived in Mamaroneck with their children for the rest of their lives. After receiving his land after John died, Ann sold it to Caleb Heathcote and left the money from the sale to her daughters in her will.

In the 1698 census, there was an African American woman listed under Richbell’s “possessions,” This enslaved woman was the first enslaved worker reported in Mamaroneck, and she gained freedom in 1701, February 19.

Additionally, in 1700, Ann Richbell wrote in her will:

The will was proved on February 19th, 1701, and the woman was freed.

Relation to Slavery

In 1647, 21 enslaved persons were purchased from Director Kieft of New Amsterdam. John Richbell took 19 of them back to Charleston, where he lived during that time. Despite this, there are no records that show an involvement in the slave trade.

In 1657, Richbell owned an indigo plantation in St. Christopher in the Caribbean. The plantation had originally belonged to John Redman, Ann’s late husband. Although enslaved people may have worked on the island, they did not belong to John Richbell - He rented the island out to others who did own slaves before selling it in 1662.