Boy Scout makes historic discovery in cemetery

A Long Island Boy Scout made a historic discovery at one of the oldest cemeteries on Long Island.

News 12 Staff

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Jul 30, 2018, 6:38 PM

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Updated 2,340 days ago

A Long Island Boy Scout made a historic discovery at one of the oldest cemeteries on Long Island.

Joe DePinto was working on his Eagle Scout project at the Old Burying Ground in Cutchogue. He was repairing stone fence posts at the cemetery, which dates back to the late 1600s.

Earlier this month he was digging in the ground when his shovel connected with something solid. It turned out to be a headstone that was buried about 3 feet underground.

EXPLORE: Long Island's Hidden Past

The headstone was for two girls who died as young children. The girls were the daughter and granddaughter of an African-American slave couple with the last name Silone.

One of the girls had died at age 8 in 1822, while the other was age 1 when she died decades later in 1854.

"This is my town, I don't think of the historical significance that this place has with children, African-American children being born into slavery," DePinto says. "You don't really think about that over here."

DePinto is still working on his Eagle Scout project.