Boston region tombstones and their role in Colonial Eastern Connecticut Part One.

Stone carved by the "Old Master" dated 1680, Kings Chapel
Burying Ground Boston Mass.

Oftentimes the pinnacle of the Colonial American Tombstone stems from the slate markers produced in Boston during the 17th and 18th centuries.  Most anyone who has studied American history from this period especially the Revolutionary War is familiar with the looming Winged Skulls and Winged Cherubim designs present in the major Boston Cemeteries (Kings Chapel Burying Ground, Granary, Cobbs Hill etc), even if one has never divulged into cemetery or grave-making studies as whole.  Indeed long before I became interested in carvers, materials and the influences of different symbols I was enamored by the cemeteries I visited on a school trip to Boston in 5th grade and the often grim but elaborate symbolism.  I quickly learned a few basic design principles such as the shift to neoclassical urn and willow designs from the Skull and soul effigies during the early 1800's and learned of brownstone once I had returned home.  My learning never stemmed beyond basic design tropes though I would often go out of my way to visit the burying grounds in my area.  As I returned to my interest in Cemeteries and tombstones, I remember visiting a cemetery in Woodstock when I was much younger and remember being confused as to seeing skull slates, which were rare in most yards in the region.  After revisiting last year I saw over 30 skull slates and numerous other Boston region stones.

Stone dated 1704 carved by William Mumford.  Note the
 family Coat of Arms, sometimes present on tombstones
especially for first generation English immigrants during this
period.

During the colonial period, Boston was a mecca for grave-carving.  As Boston's population grew rapidly during the mid 1600s, a full time grave carver was needed for the rapidly expanding (and dying) populous.  The first full time carver in the region is unknown and is often referred to as the "Old Master" "The Charlestown Stonecutter" and "The Old Stone Carver" among other names.  Though his identity is unknown, he was confirmed to have carved from the mid 1650s until the turn of the century and taught then apprentice Joseph Lamson who would also become a prominent carver, and start a family carving business that would last 5 generations.  

Very ornate gravestone carved by the "Old Master" dated 1678, note the imagery of death attempting to snuff out the candle of life as father time attempts to stop him.  The Latin phrase by the hourglass translates to "remember that you will die".  Kings Chapel Burying Ground, Boston Mass.

By the turn of the century, carvers like Joseph Lamson, William Mumford, James Foster Sr. and of course the "Old Master" were established in not only the entire Middlesex county region, but were exporting stones all over the state and to many cemeteries in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, and other north Atlantic states.  As more and more demand increased, more Bostonians entered the grave carving business, apprenticing with experienced carvers, and opening new shops.  By the 1720's stones from Boston were being exported in large numbers as far south as Charleston South Carolina and as far north as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  Boston slate was prized for its durability and beauty, so sometimes carvers in other regions would purchase raw material for their own stonecutting.  Boston carved tombstones were usually very elaborate and featured ornate designs and borders, as well as different shades of slate for all tastes.  

Boston Skull slate dated 1751 in the Woodstock
Hill Burying ground.

As is expected, the majority of Boston slates in Connecticut are found in coastal regions, reasoning being these stones would be imported by ship and the cost would increase sufficiently considering a 30 mile trip from the New London port to Windham on a horse drawn wagon would take around 9 hours in those days. However a large concentration of Boston carved stones were placed in Woodstock and Pomfret. A small number of Boston slates are scattered around some other burying grounds in eastern CT, but the vast majority are either in coastal towns or the extreme northeastern region.  

Both Woodstock and Pomfret Connecticut had a large number of founders from eastern Mass, particularly the Roxbury region and due to this cultural background, many stones from the Boston were imported here.  During the colonial period Pomfret was considered a high class town by many and often the Wealthy and Famous of Boston and elsewhere would attend balls and other social events held in the area.  

The Sabin Burying ground (also known as South Cemetery or Old Pomfret Burying Ground) has a large number of Boston slates.  Though regional carvers including the Kimballs, Elijah Sikes, and David Lamb are still well represented here, over 80 imported Boston slates (not including urn and willow style) can be seen here, most being skull designs. The imported slates range in dates from the 1730s until the 1840s, well after the soul/skull effigy's were replaced by urn designs.   

Stone carved by James II Foster of Dorchester Mass, dated 1744.  Foster II often used borders that resembled unfurled scrolls, and the wings had a slight curve underneath with a sharpe downward overall curve.

Stone carved by either James Foster II or his son James Foster III 

of Dorchester Mass dated 1778.  Foster III only carved Soul Effigies while 

his father carved both designs.

Stone dated 1767, Likely carved by John Dwight of Boston.

Very elaborate winged cherub slate dated 1773. By the mid 1700's so many grave carvers had emerged in Boston, and with many designs being swapped around it is often near impossible to identify many carvers.

Boston Skull slate dated 1757. 


 

Double Cherub stone, dated 1771.  Double headed soul effigies were usually reserved for

two deceased usually siblings or a married couple in cases where the two died at a close date to each other perhaps due to sickness or an accident.  This stone is an uncommon example of this phenomenon on a stone for a single person.  

Another fine Boston skull slate dated 1770.

Interestingly enough, in the nearby Old Abington Burying Ground (est. 1752) there are very few Boston slates, the few present are of the more modern Urn and Willow design with the exception of the skull slate of Lois Paine.  A few other colonial period slates from Rhode Island are also in the yard.  It seems this yard was more commonly used by the less wealthy agricultural workers of the region.

The Stone of Mrs. Lois Paine dated 1767.

Woodstock also had a deep connection to Eastern Massachusetts, as it was founded by 13 people from Roxbury mass in 1682.  The settlement was originally named "New Roxbury" and was actually a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony until borders changed in 1749, where it became part of the Connecticut River Colony.  Though all the Colonial Cemeteries in Woodstock have a significant number of Boston tombstones, I have only visited the Woodstock Hill Burying Ground and can only show those photos.

Two examples of stones carved by Daniel Hastings of Newton Mass, left to right, dated 1797 and 1792.

A skull slate dated 1745 carved by James Foster II.

Elaborate slate carved by either James Foster II or III, dated 1752.  The clock was a very uncommon symbol on tombstones and represented the "time running out" of the deceased, more commonly represented by an hourglass.  On the sides of the clock are a pair of digging tools, and crossed bones, also symbols of mortality.

Sunken Skull slate dated 1744

Another stone carved by Daniel Hastings dated 1787.

Winged Soul Stone dated 1743, carved by James Foster II.

Skull slate carved by James Foster II dated 1753.

Another dark slate by Daniel Hastings, dated 1779.

Skull slate carved by James Foster II dated 1747.

There were plenty of fine Urn & Willow slates from the Boston region in the yard with examples as recent as the 1840s, as well as a fair amount of Rhode Island slates including some from the John Stevens Shop of Newport and George Allen. 

Hope you all enjoyed!