Cleveland gravestone
| Cleveland Tombstone | |||
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National Monument in Sierra Leone 
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| Monument type | Tombstone | ||
| location | at Shenge | ||
| Geographic coordinates : | 7 ° 53 '59.8 " N , 12 ° 55' 59.8" W | ||
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| Emergence | 1791 | ||
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Recognized by the Monuments and Relics Commission |
1950 | ||
| Sponsorship | |||
| Website | Website | ||
The Cleveland Tombstone ( English Cleveland Tombstone ) is a national monument of the West African state of Sierra Leone . It is located near Shenge Town .
The Cleveland tombstone was erected on the grave of James Cleveland († 1791), who came to Sierra Leone as a slave trader in the mid-18th century . He settled in the Banana Islands at the same time as Skinner Caulker settled there. Both founded chiefdoms there and after the death of the two founders their sons began to fight each other. Thomas Stephen Caulker († 1832) took over the islands of the Cleveland and took the tombstone of James Cleveland with him as booty to Tassoh , where he put it to the grave of his own father. The tombstone was later moved to Shenge, but shortly thereafter returned to the Paramount Chiefs burial ground .
The tombstone is carved from the same stone as the tombstones found on Bunce Island , but is in a better state of preservation by comparison. Only a smooth break in the upper third runs through it, which stems from a tree that fell on it. The inscription on the tombstone reads:
- Sacred to the memory of Mr. James Cleveland and
- Late proprietor of this island who departed this life
- March 24th 1791 in his 37th year of his age. His
- Surviving relative William Cleveland has caused
- This stone to be placed over his grave as a tribute to the
- Memory of a worthy man.
Free German translation:
- In sacred memory of Mr. James Cleveland and
- The late owner of this island, his life
- On March 24, 1791 at the age of 37 it was terminated and for what
- His surviving relative William Cleveland is responsible
- Was this stone placed on the grave, im
- Memory of an honorable man.