Final Post

In my final post I will revisit and answer my initial question, “What are the meanings behind the carvings on the New England gravestones and in what time era were they used?” 

I have covered many symbols and their meanings throughout my blog, but I will come back to a few of the main symbols that were used during the New England colonial era. First, the winged skull, also known as death's head, is found at the top of many New England gravestones. It is one of the oldest gravestone symbols found in New England since it was used mainly in the 17th century. The skull is believed to symbolize physical death, while the wings symbolize spiritual regeneration.

The next most commonly used New England gravestone symbol is the winged cherub. It is a modification of death's head and it represents the soul's flight to heaven. However, the winged cherub did not replace the death's head symbol. Both the cherub and death's head continued to be used after the Great Awakening.

Lastly, I want to talk about the Willow and Urn symbol that was used towards the end of the 1700s and into the early 1800s. The willow symbol signifies mourning and the urn became a popular symbol because of the Great Awakening. During the Great Awakening, Americans were influenced by Greek and Roman architecture. The urn was a Roman invention used to contain ashes of the deceased. The popularity of these two symbols represents higher sentimentality towards death.

The chart below gives a timeline of when these symbols were popular in New England.

The colonial New England era lasted during the 1700s and into the early 1800s. Many of the symbols found on the gravestones were actually ideas that stonecutters brought from their home countries. I love that the gravestones from this era have lasted so long and that we can learn so much from them. By studying these gravestones we can tell that many people back then were illiterate, so they used symbols to communicate. Using symbols on gravestones told the story of that person's life or death and sometimes the personality of that person. I hope that someday I have the opportunity to visit some of the cemeteries in New England and see the beauty and rich history these gravestones have to offer.

Other Gravestone Symbols and Meanings

For my second to last blog post I would like to cover some more gravestone symbols that didn't fit in any other categories.

The first of these symbols is the freemason symbol (seen below).

The Freemasonry was and is a fraternity that dates back before the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in Europe and transferred to the early American colonies. By using this symbol on a gravestone it signifies that that man was involved in this fraternity and dedicated his life to it.

The symbol consists of three elements to symbolize the ethics of their group: the letter "G" for "God" or "geometry" (the natural order of things); a carpenter's t-square (for measuring right angles and, via a metaphor, behaving justly); and the compass (used by architects to draw circles and create boundaries, leaving everything in its rightful place).

The anchor, an uncommon symbol during the colonial American era, was a symbol of hope or eternal life. The anchor is also a Masonic symbol for well-grounded hope.

The picture above contains many symbols that I've already covered: the hand (symbolizing life after death or the hand of God) and the Great Chain of Being (symbolizing life on Earth). The arrow in the background symbolizes mortality and martyrdom. The hand holding a heart is a symbol used by the I.O.O.F (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) and Masons, both fraternal organizations. It symbolizes charity.

This gravestone features the willow tree (symbol of mourning) and a lamb, which signifies innocence and is usually found on the gravestone of a child.

The picture on the left is a snake encircling a butterfly. The picture on the right is a snake encircling an hourglass. The snake symbolizes an eternal life without beginning or end. The butterfly symbolizes the soul leaving the body. The hourglass symbolizes the passing of time. 

Drapery symbolizes mourning or an entrance into a new life.

http://www.graveaddiction.com/symbol.html  ---This link will take you to a very informative site on this  subject, which covers many more symbols (it is difficult to determine which ones were used during the colonial time period). 

Next week I will be wrapping up this blog and revisiting my original question: “What are the meanings behind the carvings on the New England gravestones and in what time era were they used?” 

If you have any questions about my blog or want me to research any additional symbols please let me know in the comment box! I will do my best to answer all the questions.

Sources:

N.A. "Gravestone Symbolism". N.D. Web. Retrieved Dec 1 2013. <http://www.graveaddiction.com/symbol.html>.

Rainville, Prof. Lynn. "Gravestones of the Week". LoCoHistory. 2008. Web. Retrieved Nov 20 2013. <http://www.locohistory.org/Albemarle/gravematters.shtml>.