~ Three Most Common Graveyard Motifs and their Meanings ~

~ Three Most Common Graveyard Motifs and their Meanings ~

The three most popular of all the gravestone motifs were the Death's-Head, the Soul Effigy or the Winged Cherub and the Urn and willow though countless other exist. The following is an alphabetical list:

The Death's-Head

The Elizabethan winged death's-head with its blank eyes and toothfilled grin was used from 1620 until around 1700, as in the Captain Edward Russel stone (figure 26) found in Salem, Massachusetts, either by itself or with secondary symbols like the hourglass, pick, scythe or crossbones as in the Sarah Christophers stone (Figure 27) found in New London, Connecticut. These symbols of mortality emphasizing the brevity of life and the awesome power of death symbolically depict the soul's voyage through death. When used with a vine piercing the skull it's representative of life in heaven.

The Soul Effigy

Around 1700 the grim death's-head began to soften and be transformed. By the 1750's the death's-head was replaced by the winged cherub or soul effigy. The John Crowninshield stone (figure 28) found in Salem, Massachusetts and the Elizabeth Bartlett stone (figure 29) found in Plymouth, Massachusetts, both show this softening transition. This symbolizes Man's immortal side, and is suggesting themes of a heavenly reward after death rather than the fearsome grimness of death. Along with the change from the grim death's-head to the soul effigy the epitaphs also changed from "Here lies the body of..." to things stressing the joy of resurrection.

The Urn and the Willow

By the beginning of the nineteenth century more questioning intellectual sects such as Unitarianism accompanied by a neoclassical revival in the arts yielded to a new gravestone motif - the urn and the willow such as the Oliver Barber stone (figure 30) found in South Canterbury, Connecticut and the Reverend Luther Clark (figure 31) also found in South Canterbury, Connecticut. The urn contained the remains of the deceased from which the soul arises to heaven and the willow symbolizes the mourning for the earthly life and joy of the new celestial life. Epitaphs again changed to read " In memory of..." or "Sacred to the memory of..." avoiding any reference to death or eternity. Unfortunately by he mid 1800's we find little else but this design until the art of pictorial stone carving seemed to vanish altogether.

~ Alphabetical List of Graveyard Symbols and their Meanings ~

Angels - Sometimes confused with soul effigies, they represent the heavenly host and are often seen leading the soul towards heaven as seen in the Abigail Watson stone (figure 32) from Plymouth, Massachusetts and the Seth Paine stone (figure 33) from Barnstable, Massachusetts.

Architectural Symbols - Because death is thought of as the gateway to heaven the use of an archway symbolizes the passage through which the soul will travel. The Captain Charles Billings stone (figure 34) from Norwich, Connecticut, shows an archway within an archway of stone pillars. Sometime it is simply the stone itself that is carved like an arch or it may be carved into the stone itself. Sometimes the stone may be adorned with pillars, draperies or other such devices used to indicate an archway as in the Tanney Crombie stone (figure 35) found in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Arrows or Darts - Arrows or darts were often used in gravestone carvings and it has been suggested that these represented the "dart of death" referring to the threat of attack by Indians.

Bible or Opened Book - A bible opened to a page of scripture or an opened book was used to represent the word through which one gains revelation.

Cocks and Peacocks - Because Saint Peter was awakened from his fall from grace by the crowing of the cock (Bible Luke 22:34) the cock or peacock was used to symbolize both the fall from grace and repentance. The cock is shown on the Jabez & Jedidah Dean stone (figure 36) found in Windham, Connecticut.

Coffins and Urns - Coffins and urns are used to symbolize the death of the flesh as in the Nancy Mudge stone (figure 37) found in Salem, Massachusetts, and are usually used in conjunction with a body or soul effigy.

Crowns - These seem to be especially popular along the Connecticut River Valley and they represent the crown of righteousness used to proclaim the victorious soul arisen to heaven through Christ. The two stones side by side of Captain Jabez and Anna Perkins (figure 38) found in Norwich, Connecticut, are both adorned with crowns above the heads of the soul effigies.

Death and Father Time - These two figures are often found supporting each other on the same stone as in the Timothy Lindall stone (figure 39) from Salem, Massachusetts and have a long standing tradition. On occasion they are even found struggling over the lighted candle of life.

The Dove or the Bird - The dove or the bird is used as the symbol of Christian constancy or devotion. The stone of Abigail Reynold (figure 40) found in Norwichtown, Connecticut shows a dove as the only figure indicating a deeply devoted Christian.

Flames Arising from the Top of an Urn - The flame represents the soul arising out of the ashes of death.

Flowers - Since the time of Christ, flowers have represented the life of Man, symbolizing the brevity and the beauty of his life. The Mary Francis Caesar stone (figure 41) of Brooklyn, Connecticut depicts a cut flower hanging upside-down, symbolizing her life being cut down in death. Sometime it is seen with a scythe cutting down the flower but it is usually seen broken in half.

Geometric Rosettes - The rosette is almost always used in conjunction with soul effigies. The most popular is the six sided rosette which seems to have replaced the soul effigy altogether. The Lydia Huntington stone (figure 42) found in Norwichtown, Connecticut, is a fine example of the six sided rosette pattern.

Gourds - The gourd was poplar in the seventeenth and eighteenth century and was used to symbolize the coming to be and the passing away of earthly life. The Mary Crowe stone (figure 43) found in Salem, Massachusetts illustrates the use of gourds. Sometimes gourds were used under soul effigies in fruit columns and are nearly indistinguishable from women's breasts.

Grapevines or Vines - Churches are said to be the vineyards and the congregations are said to be the vines. The grapevine is the emblem of Christ as seen in the Experiance Wheeler stone (figure 44) of Plainfield, Connecticut. Sometime we see soul effigies sucking the ends of grapevines, partaking of wine was a major Puritan symbol representing the covenant between God and man through the death of Christ. A bird sitting on a vine eating grapes may mean the soul is partaking celestial food.

The Heart - The heart is the symbol of the soul in heavenly bliss, the heart is always used in opposition to some symbol of death such as the urn as seen in the Mary Adams stone (figure 45) from South Canterbury, Connecticut.

The Heart in the Mouth of a Death's-Head - This symbolizes the triumphant soul emerging from death.

Heavenly Bodies - the Sun, the Moon, Stars and Sun - They may simply represent heavenly bodies or be used to symbolize the rising of the soul to heaven. The half sun as seen in the Sarah Tyler stone (figure 46) found in Brooklyn, Connecticut, symbolizes the setting or end of earthly life and the rising or beginning of heavenly life.

Hourglass - Sometimes the hourglass is seen with wings and represents the swift passage of time. The Hannah Bartlett stone (figure 47) of Plymouth, Massachusetts combines the winged death's-head and the hourglass.

The Imps of Death - The imps are said to have been used mainly by the Lamsom family of stone carvers and were used to represent the triumph of death. They are sometimes armed with arrows of death or are lowering the coffin into the grave.

Portraits - Sometimes it's a facial portrait as in the Patience Watson stone (figure 48) found in Plymouth, Massachusetts and sometimes its a portrait borne upward with wings. These may be considered a form of the soul effigy in some cases or the deceased persons station in life.

Profile Soul Effigy in the Mouth of the Death's-Head - Another symbol of the soul rising triumphantly out of death.

Scallop Shell - This is considered the traditional symbol of the pilgrim's crusade and of mans earthly pilgrimage. The Thomas Faunce stone (figure 49) from Plymouth, Massachusetts, depicts the shell above the skeleton with a scythe.

Scythe - This symbol is usually seen in the hands of father time and is used to represent the cutting short of a mans life. See figure 49.

Station-in Life Symbol - These symbols would be used to represent the rank or occupation of the deceased. They could be either coats of arms, military insignia, ships, tools or musical instruments. See figure 11.

Symbols of the Cause of Death - These stone have carvings actually showing how the person died. In Groton, Massachusetts there is a stone with a picture of a man under a tree with the inscription "died by a falling tree."

Tree of Life - The tree of life was popular during the 1700's and was used in poetic imagery or as in the Betsy Shaw stone (figure 50) of Plymouth, Massachusetts in gravestones and it symbolizes earthly or heavenly spiritual life.

Trumpeting Figures - These figures are often found carrying a banner with the words "arise ye dead", as in the Susanna Hinkley stone (Figure 52) from Barnstable, Massachusetts, "For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (Bible 1 Cor 15:52)

Urns and Mermaids - Mermaids were thought of as symbolizing a dual nature. This may possibly be used to symbolize the duality of Christ as Man and the son of God. They are sometimes seen carrying urns of the deceased's remains which symbolizes the last step of our earthly journey.

Wine, the Divine Fluid - Sacramental tankards and chalices were used to represent the souls partaking of heavenly bliss and are usually only found on stones of deacons of the church.

Credits

Dedication

This page is dedicated to Dr. Margaret Vose from ECSU, who through the assigment of this project in class, instilled in me, a love of gravestone carving. Through her obvious love of life, her kindness, and her generosity, she encouraged me to share this love with others.

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Bibliography of Authors

Ludwig, Allen (1966). Graven Images - New England Stonecarving and its Symbols, 1960 - 1815 . Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, Ct.

Forbes, Harriette Merrifield (1967). Gravestones of Early New England - And the Men Who Made Them - 1653 - 1800 . Da Capo Press, New York

The Divine Inspiration of the Almighty God (1984). The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society - New York

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