McWorter, Free Frank, Grave Site
Also known as: Free Frank Grave
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Free Frank McWorter's grave lies in a small cemetery on a hill surrounded by prairie east of Barry, Illinois, with cedar trees overhead and a wire fence around the grounds. The cemetery holds thirteen gravestones, including those of his wife Lucy and several children and grandchildren. His own stone has fallen over and needs cleaning. McWorter was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1777. While enslaved in Kentucky, he hired out his own time and ran a saltpeter works during the War of 1812. With the profits he bought his wife's freedom in 1817 and his own in 1819. Over his lifetime he purchased sixteen family members, including himself, for $15,000. He later moved to Pike County, Illinois, farmed, speculated in land, raised stock and platted the town of New Philadelphia in 1836. He died in 1854. The grave site was listed for his achievements in commerce, town planning, settlement and humanitarian work.
Significance in brief: The site marks the burial place of Free Frank McWorter, a Black pioneer and entrepreneur born into slavery in 1777. Through a saltpeter business, land speculation, farming, stock raising and founding the town of New Philadelphia, he bought his own freedom and that of other family members. The nomination cites commerce, community planning, settlement and social/humanitarian significance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87002533, listed April 19, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off US 36, 4 mi. E of Barry, Barry |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | April 19, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87002533 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1812-1854 |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Exploration/Settlement, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as deteriorated but unaltered and on its original site. The gravestone has fallen over and needs cleaning, and the cemetery fence leans in places. Restoration is planned by a preservation committee. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.69366, -90.95070 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87002533.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5499851
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.