The Stonecutter

THE STONECUTTER

(google images: www.hypnotica.org)

This week I would like to take a break from decoding gravestone symbols and focus more on the carvers, or stonecutters, who created the gravestones. Stonecutters in the New England region usually had a full time job in addition to stone carving, because stone cutting alone wouldn’t provide enough income in the late 16^th century. This makes it difficult to identify who the stonecutters were because they were not employed to just one title. Many stonecutters doubled as masons, bricklayers, cordwainers (making leather goods), tuckers, and braziers (Forbes, 17).

Puritan stonecutters were very detail-oriented, artistic, and compassionate towards the families who lost their loved ones. New England gravestones represent some of the best artwork to come out of early colonial America. Gravestones were so important to the New England Puritans because their lives revolved around God and the afterlife.

Many colonists could not speak English, but they could interpret symbols. That is where the idea for the gravestone carvings came in. However, some gravestones did have poems and phrases written in English or Latin that had to do with the deceased and afterlife. One of the most interesting poems I’ve found so far is this:

 AS YOU ARE NOW,

SO ONCE WAS I;

AS I AM NOW,

SO YOU MUST BE.

SO PREPARE FOR DEATH

AND FOLLOW ME.

(Gillon, ix)

How were gravestones purchased:

The gravestone and the cost of carving the gravestone were separate. The stone cutter would usually purchase the gravestone from a merchant or have it imported from England (although importing gravestone was quite rare). Then he would charge for his labor and the cost of the stone. In some other cases, the family would purchase the stone and then pay the stone cutter to carve it. There aren't many records showing how much the gravestones cost or when they were purchased because they did not make itemized receipts back then. Everything was filed under "Debts due to/from the estate" (Forbes, 12). 

Sources:

Forbes, Harriette Merrifield. Gravestones of Early New England and the Men Who Made Them. Da Capo Press. New York 1967. Received Oct 5 2013. 

Gillon, Edmund Vincent Jr. Early New England Gravestone Rubbings. Dover Publications, Inc. New York 1966. Received Oct 2 2013.