Life stresses of the free black community as represented by the First African Baptist Church, Philadelphia, 1823-1841.

The congregation of the Reverend Henry Simmons (First African Baptist Church at 8th & Vine, Philadelphia) from 1823 to 1841 used a cemetery rediscovered through subway expansion which was carefully excavated by M. Parrington and S. Pinter in 1983-1984; currently 75 adults were available for study. As an overall health indicator, longevity at 38.9 years (N = 39) female and 44.8 (N = 36) male indicates more stress on females. Probable causes of stress are inadequate nutrition for the performance of arduous labor, pregnancy, and childrearing, unsanitary living conditions, limited exposure to sun, and extensive exposure to infectious diseases. Nutritional indicators of stature, dental lesions, skull base height, and pelvic brim index scarcely advance over 1790-1820 Catoctin Furnace, Maryland, slaves' indicators. Disease evidence includes limb-distorting rickets in one child who died at age 8, anemia, and arthritis; but the incidence of arthritis was less than at Catoctin. Genetic traits are chiefly African. Family links show in details: os acromiale in about 30%. This plus less violence (fewer fractures) suggests community strength developing.