Sandy Ground

As one of the oldest continuously inhabited free Black settlement in the United States, Sandy Ground is a place of great historical significance. Founded in the early 19th Century, the community arose from a settlement of free Blacks from New York, Maryland, and Delaware. By harvesting oysters and farming, this fledgling neighborhood was able to thrive and became a safe haven on the Underground Railroad. Today, Sandy Ground is home to 10 families that are descendants of original settlers. (Text courtesy of Sandy Ground Historical Society).

Many of the entries in this tour have ties to Sandy Ground. Louis Napoleon's home was in the Sandy Ground settlement, as was Rev. Isaac Coleman's home, and the Rossville AME Zion Church. Rev. Thomas James and Jeptha Barcroft were both early pastors as the Rossville AME Zion Church in Sandy Ground. Thomas P. Robinson was born in Sandy Ground, and William Henry Singleton's second wife came from a long-standing Sandy Ground family. Moses Harris was one of the founders of the community, and was sold the land by famous abolitionist Gerrit Smith. With numerous other connections to Staten Island's African American history the Sandy Ground settlement is a central part of this heritage.

Visit the Sandy Ground Historical Society at: https://tinyurl.com/yyhsbuej.

Take a look back at images of Sandy Ground collected by the Staten Island Advance at: https://tinyurl.com/y5zr6rkh.