By the middle of the 1700s.depending on the religious influences, the materials available, and the gravestone carver’s own background, the once simple stoic stone inscriptions flourished into elaborate, ornately shaped and carved headstones.By the early 1700s, Newport Rhode Island had two of its own full time gravestone carvers, John Bull and John Stevens. Sandstones are formed when bodies of fresh water dry up, and the sand grains are mixed with varying minerals to become cemented together into a matrix.

Due to these factors and increasing health concerns, the rural cemetery was born. It’s Halloween – what better time to take a wander round an old graveyard! At the beginning of the 19th century, marble became a popular material because of its neoclassical associations. As a rule I often simplify that in every century of American history, memorials held a primary stone type and monumental style; 1700s= local stones, carved into gravestones, 1800s= marble, statuary, multi piece monuments, brownstone obelisks & pillars. As already mentioned, the Classical is particularly well suited to more substantial headstones, with side pillars or pilasters (flat outlines of pillars), with pediments above. Griswold’s expertise is evidenced by the fact that the more recent carving is more eroded then the original stone face on the southern side.About 15 miles to the south of Hartford lay Middletown, CT.  Today the town is known as Portland, but in Colonial times was part of Middletown, then called East Middletown, due to it location, just east of the Connecticut River where the sandstones cliffs can still be seen today, lining the eastern edge. There was almost no slate at all for gravestones in Connecticut, however a huge amount of sandstone was available for use. Gravestone Evolution in America From the First Settlers to the Early Victorian Era Taking time to appreciate the aesthetic thinking that went into the early ‘planned’ cemeteries, and recognizing the ingenuity of these early ‘landscape architects’ has provided a source of endless fascination for me.By looking at cemeteries with a mason’s eye, an artist’s heart and a historian’s curiosity, I have gained admiration for the artistry of our colonial ancestors, and an appreciation for the challenges they faced and the vision they possessed to create these living outdoor museums. It tends to weather minimally and Griswold’s concise lettering on stones dating back to as early as the middle to late 1600s can be easily read today, on nearly all his stones. Less than twenty seventeenth century gravestones, about 3,700 eighteenth century stones, about 37,000 nineteenth century stones and a few thousand twentieth century stones are included for the fifteen towns of Barnstable County. Unfortunately it has not weathered well as automobile emissions and acid rain have obliterated many of these marble carvings. Memento Mori literally means Top: this slab is in the churchyard at Cloondara Co Longford and has no inscription. The two images below it are from a grave in Castlelands, near Kinsale. Over time a headstone may settle or its fixings weaken. In 1797, the New Haven Burying Ground was incorporated, and would become known as The Grove Street Cemetery. An attribute of St. George, St. Martin, St. Maurice and St. Victor, all of whom are represented in Christian art on horseback. Local craftsmen used the symbols in vogue, interpreting them according to their own ideas and their level of skill. By the middle to the 1600s skilled stone workers began to migrate to America, bringing more artistry and craftsmanship, but using the materials at hand.During the colonial era gravestones tended to be of a smaller size, and most often created from softer types of stone such as sandstone and slate, which were easier to quarry, cut and carve.

( Sum it up –) Ironically, though very expensive and sought after by affluent families, inscriptions on marble tombstones are today often faded into obscurity.By the early 1800’s many inner city church burying places were already becoming overcrowded. Having preserved monuments for the last 15 years in the country’s oldest cemeteries, I have been intrigued by the history I uncover when taking the time to look for clues in the landscape around me, and in the stones themselves. 17-55.) Lamb - This is the most common animal symbol found on a child's grave. Wall monuments, crypts, headstones, table and slab stones and even replica Hog Backs were all common designs in Victorian Scotland. A particularly fetching angel/soul on the grave of Alice Bolster, Kilmallock St Michael, blowing his trumpet to welcome that soul to heaven, was a favourite motif. Little planning, but much care, went into these burying places, which indicates a more rustic, less moneyed population.The very earliest European settlers had no professional stone workers to hire when their loved ones died. By the 20th century, markers and headstones resembled those in cemetaries all over America. I have personally been involved with the ongoing preservation efforts at the Crypt, which has experienced many deterioration issues related to a high water table in the area.The desire to move, or remove, historic burying places was not limited to New Haven, and was in fact a very wide spread practice in American urban areas throughout the 1800s.The Granary in downtown Boston, which holds 5 signers of the declaration of independence, had even been given a street number in advance of real estate developers attempting to move the entire graveyard in the middle 1800a to the newly formed Mount Auburn Cemetery just across the Charles River in Cambridge.Luckily this reckless idea was not adopted as the American historic preservation movement had begun, fighting and battling to protect many landmarks from the wrecking ball at the eleventh hour on many future occasions.Mount Auburn is one of the earliest examples of the planned rural cemetery movement. Not everyone was happy about moving the mortal remains of many of the founding families of New Haven, and an unusual compromise was reached. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.