Gravestones of New England
@gravestones-ne.bsky.social
Examining the artistry of 17th, 18th, and early century gravestones in New England
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Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s the appropriately-named Thankfull Day (d.1768) at the Old Meadow Cemetery in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Her gravestone was carved by Aaron Bliss, and it features the epitaph “While Youth do chear, Death may be near.”
November 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s the appropriately-named Thankfull Day (d.1768) at the Old Meadow Cemetery in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Her gravestone was carved by Aaron Bliss, and it features the epitaph “While Youth do chear, Death may be near.”
It’s supposed to be a winged face, but it kind of looks like the turkey craft project that my first grader brought home from school yesterday. It marks the grave of Hannah Kingsbury (d.1769) at North Cemetery in Hampton, Connecticut, and it was made by Joseph Marsh.
November 26, 2025 at 10:56 PM
It’s supposed to be a winged face, but it kind of looks like the turkey craft project that my first grader brought home from school yesterday. It marks the grave of Hannah Kingsbury (d.1769) at North Cemetery in Hampton, Connecticut, and it was made by Joseph Marsh.
Gravestone of James Cary, 1681, at Phipps Street Burying Ground in the Charlestown neighborhood in Boston. Carved by the so-called Old Stonecutter, who may have been Elias Grice.
November 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Gravestone of James Cary, 1681, at Phipps Street Burying Ground in the Charlestown neighborhood in Boston. Carved by the so-called Old Stonecutter, who may have been Elias Grice.
Gravestone of Martin Ely Jr., “who was kil’d by the fall of clock weights at Northampton Meetinghouse” in 1807 at the age of 16. His gravestone was carved by John Ely, and he is buried at Park Street Cemetery in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
November 24, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Gravestone of Martin Ely Jr., “who was kil’d by the fall of clock weights at Northampton Meetinghouse” in 1807 at the age of 16. His gravestone was carved by John Ely, and he is buried at Park Street Cemetery in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
A portrait on the gravestone of Ebenezer Fisk, 1775, in Lexington, Massachusetts. Carved by the Park family.
November 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
A portrait on the gravestone of Ebenezer Fisk, 1775, in Lexington, Massachusetts. Carved by the Park family.
A spectacular marble gravestone for Major General Noah Phelps, 1809, at Simsbury Cemetery in Simsbury, Connecticut. The epitaph describes him as “A patriot of 76 to such we are indebted for our national independance.”
Not sure who the carver was.
Not sure who the carver was.
November 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
A spectacular marble gravestone for Major General Noah Phelps, 1809, at Simsbury Cemetery in Simsbury, Connecticut. The epitaph describes him as “A patriot of 76 to such we are indebted for our national independance.”
Not sure who the carver was.
Not sure who the carver was.
A simple gravestone for Sally Harrit Smith, 1796, in Washington, Massachusetts. I believe this was made by Lemuel Johnson.
November 21, 2025 at 11:25 PM
A simple gravestone for Sally Harrit Smith, 1796, in Washington, Massachusetts. I believe this was made by Lemuel Johnson.
Gravestone of Edward Griswold, 1688, at the Mechanic Street Burying Ground in Westfield, Massachusetts. Carved by his father, George Griswold.
November 20, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Gravestone of Edward Griswold, 1688, at the Mechanic Street Burying Ground in Westfield, Massachusetts. Carved by his father, George Griswold.
Gravestone of Ruth Sage, “whose Life was suddenly terminated by a fall from a Carriage” in 1793 at the age of 28. Not sure who the carver was. Maybe William Crosby? Located at Bartlett Street Cemetery in Portland, Connecticut.
November 19, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Gravestone of Ruth Sage, “whose Life was suddenly terminated by a fall from a Carriage” in 1793 at the age of 28. Not sure who the carver was. Maybe William Crosby? Located at Bartlett Street Cemetery in Portland, Connecticut.
Gravestone of Esther Corwin and her infant child, who both died in 1797, probably in childbirth. Located at Plains Cemetery in Franklin, Connecticut, and carved by the Manning family.
November 9, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Gravestone of Esther Corwin and her infant child, who both died in 1797, probably in childbirth. Located at Plains Cemetery in Franklin, Connecticut, and carved by the Manning family.
Gravestone of Earl Cooley, who died “by a casual Blow in a well” in 1809. Carved by John Ely, and located in Springfield Cemetery in Springfield, Mass.
And to clarify, “casual” in this context means “accidental,” and the “blow” was from a mallet that fell on his head while he was digging a well.
And to clarify, “casual” in this context means “accidental,” and the “blow” was from a mallet that fell on his head while he was digging a well.
November 8, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Gravestone of Earl Cooley, who died “by a casual Blow in a well” in 1809. Carved by John Ely, and located in Springfield Cemetery in Springfield, Mass.
And to clarify, “casual” in this context means “accidental,” and the “blow” was from a mallet that fell on his head while he was digging a well.
And to clarify, “casual” in this context means “accidental,” and the “blow” was from a mallet that fell on his head while he was digging a well.
Gravestone of John Crafts, 1730, at Hill Cemetery in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Carved by Joseph Nash.
November 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Gravestone of John Crafts, 1730, at Hill Cemetery in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Carved by Joseph Nash.
Gravestone of Solomon Mears, 1759, at Edwards Cemetery in South Windsor, Connecticut. Carved by Ebenezer Drake.
November 7, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Gravestone of Solomon Mears, 1759, at Edwards Cemetery in South Windsor, Connecticut. Carved by Ebenezer Drake.
The gravestone (or more likely the cenotaph) of James Lyman, “who died on the banks of the Mississippi” in 1774 at the age of 21, near modern-day Natchez, Mississippi. The stone is located in his hometown of Durham, Connecticut, and it was carved by John Johnson.
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The gravestone (or more likely the cenotaph) of James Lyman, “who died on the banks of the Mississippi” in 1774 at the age of 21, near modern-day Natchez, Mississippi. The stone is located in his hometown of Durham, Connecticut, and it was carved by John Johnson.
Gravestone of Charles Haskell, “man of colour. A soldier of the Revolution.” He died in 1833, and he was buried in the predominantly black 18th/early 19th century section of the cemetery at North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. His gravestone was carved and signed by Samuel Tingley Jr.
November 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Gravestone of Charles Haskell, “man of colour. A soldier of the Revolution.” He died in 1833, and he was buried in the predominantly black 18th/early 19th century section of the cemetery at North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. His gravestone was carved and signed by Samuel Tingley Jr.
Gravestone of Elizabeth Work, 1743, in Eastford, Connecticut. Carved by an unidentified local carver who is known as the “Eastford Dot Carver.”
November 3, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Gravestone of Elizabeth Work, 1743, in Eastford, Connecticut. Carved by an unidentified local carver who is known as the “Eastford Dot Carver.”
#31daysofgraves Day 31: Memento Mori. Gravestone of Johana Turell, 1680, at Granary Burying Ground in Boston. Carved by the “Old Stonecutter,” who may have been Elias Grice.
October 31, 2025 at 1:50 PM
#31daysofgraves Day 31: Memento Mori. Gravestone of Johana Turell, 1680, at Granary Burying Ground in Boston. Carved by the “Old Stonecutter,” who may have been Elias Grice.
#31daysofgraves Day 31: Memento Mori. Henry Robe, 1807, at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground in Boston. Carved by William Bartlett. I know it’s supposed to be an hourglass that he is holding, but I prefer to think of it as the reaper unwinding and enjoying a cold beer after a long day of harvesting souls.
October 31, 2025 at 12:12 PM
#31daysofgraves Day 31: Memento Mori. Henry Robe, 1807, at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground in Boston. Carved by William Bartlett. I know it’s supposed to be an hourglass that he is holding, but I prefer to think of it as the reaper unwinding and enjoying a cold beer after a long day of harvesting souls.
#31daysofgraves Day 28: Column. An architecturally-inspired gravestone for Samuel Dwight, 1763, in Enfield, Connecticut. Carved by Ezra Stebbins.
October 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
#31daysofgraves Day 28: Column. An architecturally-inspired gravestone for Samuel Dwight, 1763, in Enfield, Connecticut. Carved by Ezra Stebbins.
#31daysofgraves Day 28: Column. Gravestone of Benjamin Clough (1744) at King’s Chapel Burying Ground in Boston. Its design includes a column, an anchor, a winged angelic figure, and a seated woman, who possibly represents his grieving widow. At. Carved by Henry Emmes and/or William Codner.
October 28, 2025 at 11:35 AM
#31daysofgraves Day 28: Column. Gravestone of Benjamin Clough (1744) at King’s Chapel Burying Ground in Boston. Its design includes a column, an anchor, a winged angelic figure, and a seated woman, who possibly represents his grieving widow. At. Carved by Henry Emmes and/or William Codner.
#31daysofgraves Day 27: Tree. This gravestone for Jonathan Chaffe, 1818, shows a tree that has been cut down, representing the end of life. It is located in Hampden, Massachusetts. Carved by an unidentified carver, possibly from Longmeadow.
October 27, 2025 at 1:14 PM
#31daysofgraves Day 27: Tree. This gravestone for Jonathan Chaffe, 1818, shows a tree that has been cut down, representing the end of life. It is located in Hampden, Massachusetts. Carved by an unidentified carver, possibly from Longmeadow.
#31daysofgraves Day 26: Figure. The gravestone of 23-year-old Julia Ann Burley, 1838, at Adams Cemetery in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. It features a striking angelic figure at the top of the stone, which is carved in deep relief. The stone is signed at the base by Frederick Bradley of Springfield MA.
October 26, 2025 at 10:50 PM
#31daysofgraves Day 26: Figure. The gravestone of 23-year-old Julia Ann Burley, 1838, at Adams Cemetery in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. It features a striking angelic figure at the top of the stone, which is carved in deep relief. The stone is signed at the base by Frederick Bradley of Springfield MA.
#31daysofgraves Day 24: Unique Animal. A pair of griffins (I think?) on the tablestone for Leonard Chester, 1648, in Wethersfield, Connecticut. It is one of the oldest dated gravestones in New England, and it was carved by my distant grandfather(s), Matthew and/or George Griswold.
October 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
#31daysofgraves Day 24: Unique Animal. A pair of griffins (I think?) on the tablestone for Leonard Chester, 1648, in Wethersfield, Connecticut. It is one of the oldest dated gravestones in New England, and it was carved by my distant grandfather(s), Matthew and/or George Griswold.
#31daysofgraves Day 23: Cross. Crosses were almost unheard of on colonial New England gravestones, but carver William Holland would occasionally include a small cross pattée atop the crowns on his gravestones. Carved for Thomas Hale, 1750, at Longmeadow Cemetery in Longmeadow Mass.
October 23, 2025 at 11:41 AM
#31daysofgraves Day 23: Cross. Crosses were almost unheard of on colonial New England gravestones, but carver William Holland would occasionally include a small cross pattée atop the crowns on his gravestones. Carved for Thomas Hale, 1750, at Longmeadow Cemetery in Longmeadow Mass.