In 1799 the city of Richmond purchased two parcels of land on which it would establish its municipal burying grounds. A 28 1/2 acre parcel was acquired on the northern end of Shockoe Hill, and a much smaller parcel in Shockoe Valley. The Parcel on Shockoe Hill was purchased for the purpose of becoming the white burying ground (along with other purposes). The parcel in Shockoe Valley was intended for Black burials. The Burial Ground for Negroes, the name by which the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground appeared on the 1809 Plan of the City of Richmond by Richard Young,Young, Richard, 1809 Plan of the City of Richmond, Library of Virginia, Google Arts & Culture became also the site of city gallows after 1804. The 1809 Plan shows it to be the location of the powder magazine as well. In recent times, the African Burial Ground was thought to be where Gabriel, the leader of a famous slave rebellion, known as Gabriel's Rebellion, or Gabriel's Conspiracy, and 25 of his followers were executed and buried in 1800.Pourzal, Jonathan, NPR, Texas Public Radio,"The Root: The Sad History Of Cemented Cemeteries", May 23, 2011Chapman, Ellen “They Had Perfect Knowledge of…This Offensive Place”: Burial Grounds and Archaeological Human Remains in Richmond's Public Discourse Though further research suggests that the execution of Gabriel, and also the execution of his followers, may have occurred in a different location. The actual sites of burial are unknown.Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, "Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground"
