HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS

Parting Ways Tamarind Jars: These jars were found at the intial 1976 exvacation.In addition to the tamarind jars discovered other links & evidence to the settlers African Heritage clearly exists. The twelve-foot-square floor plan of the Parting Ways/New Guinea homes matched African, not Anglo-Saxon patterns.

Rather than dividing the land and scattering the homes, The Parting Ways/New Guinea houses were built at the center of acreage. Uncovering a cermonial burial site was an unusal & exciting discovery, the observance of an important African tradition. The possessions which had been placed on the burial site are helping historians understand the activities at the Parting Ways/New Guinea Community.

A PARTING OF THE WAYS

Plans for Parting Ways 1823: This is the original, you can see an updated version in the documents section.

The modern day story behind this National & Commonwealth Historical, Educational & Economic Developement treasure called Parting Ways/New Guinea, has its roots with Jack "deBebe" Andrews and Augustine Andrews, Sr. (no relation). Jack was well known by the citizens of Plymouth. He was also one of Plymouth, Massachusetts' oldest black residents at the time.

It was Jack that told a 19 year old Auggie Andrews Sr., about some land that was owned by black people that lived in Plymouth during the Revolutionary War period. Jack also told Auggie about a burial site & homestead that was on the land at Route 80, just outside the city limits of the town of Plymouth.

Auggie looked for the site a few times over the years after hearing about it from Jack; however, Auggie was unable to locate the site. Finally Auggie requested that Jack take him to the burial site and Jack agreed.

Parting Ways Map

For years after being shown the location, Auggie would take family members and friends, including Eddie L. Johnson (founder of the Afro-American Museum of Ethnohistory Inc.) to review the site & burial ground. However it would take fifteen more years before any activity would be generated from any of those visits. Parting Ways/New Guinea was still a virtual secret to the citizens & residents of the town of Plymouth, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts & the Nation.