gravestones of old new england 1653 - 1800. gravestones of old new england almost all were for or by...

Gravestones Gravestones of of

Old New EnglandOld New England1653 - 18001653 - 1800

Gravestones of Old New EnglandGravestones of Old New England

Almost all were for or by PuritansAlmost all were for or by Puritans There were numerous carversThere were numerous carvers

Some Well Documented Some Well Documented Others UnknownOthers Unknown

Various Styles and Symbolism Various Styles and Symbolism


Materials used :Materials used : Slate (Some over 300 years old)Slate (Some over 300 years old) Schist (Rough-textured and vein-Schist (Rough-textured and vein-

laden stone)laden stone) Sandstone (Often Flakes and Sandstone (Often Flakes and

Delaminates)Delaminates) Marble (Not Yet, Predominantly Marble (Not Yet, Predominantly

1919thth Century) Century)

SlateSlate

•• Metamorphosed shale, hard and brittle Metamorphosed shale, hard and brittle •• Usually black, gray or blue Usually black, gray or blue •• Sometimes fades with time Sometimes fades with time •• Extremely smooth, fine-grained stone with even Extremely smooth, fine-grained stone with even

bedding planes usually running parallel with the bedding planes usually running parallel with the stone’s stone’s face face

•• Holds carving very well, inscriptions usually very Holds carving very well, inscriptions usually very clear clear

•• Uniform surface appearance Uniform surface appearance •• Gravestones tend to be thin and simple in shape, Gravestones tend to be thin and simple in shape,

generally not more than six inches generally not more than six inches


Some Symbols Used:Some Symbols Used: CoffinsCoffins UrnsUrns Imps of DeathImps of Death Tree of lifeTree of life Geometric RosettesGeometric Rosettes Skulls and Crossed BonesSkulls and Crossed Bones AngelsAngels Winged Effigies (Skulls and Faces)Winged Effigies (Skulls and Faces)

Early StonesEarly Stones

Phipps St. Burial Ground Charlestown, Mass.

Old Burying Ground Cambridge, Mass.

1672

25 July 1671

1673

Typical ShapeTypical Shape

Letters UsedLetters Used

The letters I-J and The letters I-J and U-VU-V..

Translated Translated

(Sarah Prescott(Sarah Prescott

Her blessed soulHer blessed soul

ascended up to heaven,ascended up to heaven,

July 17 day, 1709.)July 17 day, 1709.)Lancaster, MassachusettsLancaster, Massachusetts

SARAH SARAH

PRESCOTTPRESCOTT

HVR BLAS HVR BLAS

ED SOVL ED SOVL ASSANDEDASSANDED

UP TO HEAUP TO HEA

VEN IULYVEN IULY

17 DAY17 DAY

17091709

““Thistle Carver”Thistle Carver”William Young of Tatnuck, Mass.William Young of Tatnuck, Mass.

Old Center St. Burial Ground Auburn, Mass

““Thistle Carver”Thistle Carver”William Young of Tatnuck, Mass.William Young of Tatnuck, Mass.

South Burying Ground, Oxford, Mass

Old Center St. Burial Ground,Auburn, Mass

Damaged Marker Showing Colored Damaged Marker Showing Colored Layers in the SlateLayers in the Slate

South Burying Ground, Billerica, Mass.

Various Skull and Winged EffigiesVarious Skull and Winged Effigies

Granary Burial GroundBoston, Mass.

SkullSkull andand BonesBones

Granary Burial Ground, Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Salley May d: 1787

Benjamin Parker d:1769

Skull and Winged EffigiesSkull and Winged Effigies


16901713


Granary Burial Ground, Boston, Mass.

Imps of DeathImps of Death

Old Burying Ground Cambridge, Mass.

Carved by Joseph Lamson of Charlestown, Mass.

Imps of DeathImps of Death

Old Burying Ground, Watertown, Mass. Carved by Joseph Lamson of Charlestown, Mass.

Three Children – One FamilyThree Children – One Family

“Here lies the children of Martha and John Cutler” Phipps Street Burial Ground, Charlestown, Mass.

Marker Carved by “The Stone Cutter of Boston”

Schist/Sandstone ExamplesSchist/Sandstone Examples

Old Burying Ground, Ipswich, Mass.

Carved by “Ipswich Carver”

Geometric DesignsGeometric Designs

Old Common Burial Ground, Marlboro, Mass.

Carved by Jonathan Worcester of Harvard, Mass.

Trumpeting AngelTrumpeting Angel

South Burying Ground, Billerica, Mass.

Arise Ye Dead (Backwards)

Portrait – Head Replaces SkullPortrait – Head Replaces Skull

Old Burial Ground, Northboro, Mass. Carved by James Wilder of Lancaster, Mass.

Portrait: Head Replaces Skull EffigyPortrait: Head Replaces Skull Effigy

Old Burying Ground, Watertown, Mass. Carved by Ebenezer Howard of Newton/Marlboro, Mass.


Old Burying Ground Ipswich, Mass.


Old Burying Ground Northboro, Mass.

Tree of Life & UrnTree of Life & Urn

LichensLichens

Georgetown, Mass

Searching for GravesitesSearching for Gravesites

www.Interment.netwww.Interment.net www.findagrave.com/ US GenWeb Tombstone ProjectUS GenWeb Tombstone Project http://africanamericancemeteries.com/

Search for specific cemeteries, people, projectsSearch for specific cemeteries, people, projects

National Cemetery National Cemetery AdministrationAdministration

US Veterans Gravesite LocatorUS Veterans Gravesite Locator

http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/

Search for burial locations of veterans and Search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National their family members in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker.government grave marker.

Last WordsLast Words

Hollis, New Hampshire:Hollis, New Hampshire:

Cynthia StevensCynthia Stevens

1742 – 17761742 – 1776

Here lies Cynthia, Stevens’ wife,Here lies Cynthia, Stevens’ wife,

She lived six years in calm and strife.She lived six years in calm and strife.

Death came at last and set her free,Death came at last and set her free,

I was glad and so was she.I was glad and so was she.

gravestones of old new england 1653 - 1800. gravestones of old new england almost all were for or by...

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