Hampton University Cemetery
Mary Pretty Hair is not buried in our cemetery. Mary is buried in the cemetery of Hampton University, along with 37 other Native Americans who, like Mary, participated in the Hampton University Indian program. The common cause of death was tuberculosis. Between the years 1878-1923, about 1,300 Native Americans, many Sioux from Dakota Territory, were brought to Hampton in an effort to educate and “Americanize” them. According to program protocols, participants were required to cut their long hair, wear American clothing, and speak English. Punishments were earned for speaking in native languages. Only 160 Native Americans successfully graduated. The program was an abysmal failure in part because the Native Americans did not want to be “Americanized”.
During the late 19th century, the clergy at St. John’s were kept busy attending to the needs of parishioners. However, other communities provided pastoral care as well—soldiers at Fort Monroe, veterans at the National Soldiers Home, and Native Americans at Hampton. The Rev. J. J. Gravatt officiated at the wedding of James All-Yellow (son of Big Mouth) to Jane Eagle Face (daughter of Chief Charging Thunder) in 1887. Bishop A. M. Randolph confirmed Paul Porcupine in 1889 and David Plenty in 1891. Charlie Pretty Flute and John Blue-Boy received the sacrament of baptism in 1887. On Easter 1898, James Firecloud and Louis Firetail received their first communion. And included in the listing of St. John’s communicants in this era are the names of Charles Spotted Eyes, Maggie Crow and George Greycloud.
Between 1879 and 1890, our clergy officiated at thirteen burials of Native Americans at the Hampton University cemetery. Among the thirteen: Virginia Medicine Bull, William Little Crow, and Mary Pretty Hair.
Originally published in St. John’s Newsletter, April 2021.