Burial Practices and Faith in Colonial Delaware

• Blogs Home
• More Posts

One fascinating aspect of colonial life in Delaware is how people approached death and burial. As we celebrate America 250, many are looking to the past for inspiration and answers. For those settlers, burial practices reflected Christian faith and beliefs about life, death, and eternity.

Death was a common part of life in colonial Delaware. Disease and accidents to many lives. There was limited medical care for families who faced the loss of loved ones at young ages. Because of this harsh reality, Christian teachings about heaven, salvation, and eternal life played an important role in how colonists viewed death.

• 
  TELL US how The Bridge impacted your life!

• 
  SHARE The Bridge with family and friends!

• 
  GIVE financially to support The Bridge for future generations!

When someone passed, their family and neighbors would gather to prepare the body for burial. Funeral services were simple and focused on prayer, Scripture readings, and personal reflection. Ministers spoke about God's promises and encouraged those in attendance to live faithful lives. In many local communities, funerals were among the most significant religious gatherings outside of regular church worship.

Those colonial burials often took place in churchyards or small community graveyards. Grave markers varied from simple wooden crosses to carved stone monuments. Angels, crosses, and biblical inscriptions were symbols used to express Christian beliefs about resurrection and eternal life.

• 
  Feeding in the Revolution: Baking During the Revolution

  Explore the role of baking during the American Revolution. Come join us for great food and history!

• 
  Angels in Oilskins Festival

  Celebrate a monumental double anniversary: the United States’ historic 250th anniversary and the U.S. Coast Guard’s 236 years of service!

• 
  British & Hessian Retreat Fun Run

  Back by ridiculous demand! Moorestown250 presents: The 2026 British & Hessian Retreat Fun Run, a signature event for the nation’s 250th Anniversary!

As the colonies grew, different religious groups influenced burial customs throughout Delaware. Anglicans, Quakers, Presbyterians, and other Christian denominations each brought their own traditions. For example, the Quakers often preferred very simple burial practices that reflected humility before God.

Today, colonial-era cemeteries can be found throughout Delaware. Those historic burial grounds provide a unique connection to the ancestors who built the state's earliest communities. As we celebrate America 250 together, local landmarks like cemeteries and graveyards remind us how faith shaped daily life and helped the colonists find comfort and hope during difficult times. Their burial practices remain an important part of Delaware's colonial heritage.