Part 1 - Gravestone Image Styles 1683 to 1799 - A Quick Tour

(for Part 2 covering 1800 to 1900 click link at bottom of page)

This section provides links to gravestones illustrating a variety of early carved image styles. The style categories are listed in approximate chronological order. Within each style category the gravestones are listed in chronological order.

Included in the tour are some of the outstanding old gravestones on Cape Cod. Some of these are considered historical treasures based on age, condition and carved features.

This tour is an expanded version of a slide presentation which has been given many times on Cape Cod.

Fieldstone Gravestones

Most graves in the 1600's were unmarked or marked with mounds of earth, stones or wood posts all of which have long since disappeared. Some graves had permanent markers in the form of roughly inscribed fieldstones. All the following inscribed fieldstone examples are from the 1700's because I have not yet found an inscribed fieldstone from the 1600's on Cape Cod.

Benjamin Paine (1713) - Eastham Cove Cem.
Bennet Paine (1716) - Eastham Cove Cem.
Hannah Paine (1723/4) - Orleans Cem.
Josiah Paine (1728) - Orleans Cem.
Mary Atkins (1744) - Truro Old North Cem.
R H (1746) - Orleans Cem.
Unknown (1756) - Orleans Cem.
S T (1763) - Orleans Cem.

Oldest Original Slate Gravestones on Cape Cod are Dated 1683

There are three slate gravestones dated 1683 which are the oldest to be found on Cape Cod.

Hope Chipman (1683) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
Thomas Clark (1683) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Dorothy Rawson (1683) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.

Other Original Slate Gravestones from the 1600's

There are less than 20 original slate gravestones dated before 1700 ever recorded on Cape Cod. Some of these no longer exist or are unreadable. In addition to the three 1683 gravestones listed above, here in chronological order are the other gravestones from the 1600's.

Marcy Winslow (1688) - Dennis Worden Cem.
Ezra Perry (1689) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
John Prince (1689) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Thomas Winslow (1689) - Dennis Worden Cem.
Elizabeth Lathrop (1694) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
Bethiah Hall (1696) - Dennis Hall Cem.
Hannah Huckins (1696) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
Susannah Lothrop (1697) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
(gravestone no longer exists)
Elizabeth Allyn (1698) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
Batha Hall (1698) - Dennis Hall Cem.
Sarah Howes (1698) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
(no photo available)
Sarah Lewis (1697/8) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
(gravestone no longer exists)
Margaret Miller (1698) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.

Winged Heads from the early 1700's

There are a few gravestones from the early 1700's displaying winged heads but they are rare. Some may have been produced later in the 1700's and back dated.

Marcy Freeman (1711) - Eastham Cove Cem.
John Thacher (1713) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Joshua Doane (1716) - Wellfleet Chequessett Neck Cem.
Thomas Lewes (1718) - Eastham Cove Cem.

Flowers from the early 1700's

There are a few gravestones from the early 1700's displaying flowers but they are rare.

Bethsua Bourn (1714) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Bethier Lothrop (1714) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.

Grim Winged Skulls from the early 1700's

It is estimated that up to 1750 at least 90% of the gravestones displayed winged skulls. The oldest stones have grim images suggesting pessimism about the soul ascending to heaven. Note the use of symbols such as bones, hourglass or flames of hell. Also note the ornate borders on the oldest gravestones.

Joanna Cotton (1702) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Jonathan Sparrow (1706/7) - Eastham Cove Cem.
Paul Sears (1707/8) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Tamsen Sunderlin (1709) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
John Miller (1711) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Hannah Paine (1713) - Truro Old North Cem.
John Crosby (1714) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
Jonathan Freeman (1714) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
Abigall Halet (1715) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Jonathan Halet (1717) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Hezekiah Purinton (1717/8) - Truro Old North Cem.
Thomas Paine (1721) - Truro Old North Cem.
Prince Hallet (1728) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Anne Freeman (1730) - Truro Old North Cem.
Elizabeth Hallet (1735) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.

Old Gravestones with Unusual Shapes

A few tapered cradle end gravestones for children can be found. A gravestone with a double tympanum at times was used for twins.

Marcy Beery (1713) - Dennis Ancient Cem.
Josiah Miller (1717) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
infant Hallet twins (1720) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Samuel Sears (1738) - Chatham Old Cem.

Balloon Type Winged Skulls

A few gravestones displaying oversized heads relative to the wings can be found from the 1720's and 1730's.

Mary Gross (1724) - Truro Old North Cem.
Samuel Snow (1730) - Brewster Cem.

Winged Skulls from the mid and late 1700's

Starting in the mid 1700's the winged skulls became less grim and somewhat benign suggesting more optimism about the soul getting to heaven. The skulls become more round in shape. Some have crossed bones. Note the borders became less ornate. This is the most common eighteenth century gravestone image with hundreds to be found on Cape Cod.

Bettey Paine (1735) - Truro Old North Cem.
Elisha Eldredg (1739) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Edward Knowles (1740) - Eastham Cove Cem.
Jonathan Vickery (1741) - Truro Old North Cem.
Bathsheba Dennis (1745) - Dennis Village Cem.
Mary Dyer (1745) - Truro Old North Cem.
Sarah Phinney (1753) - Barnstable - Centerville Ancient Cem.
Susannah Bassett (1755) - Truro Old North Cem.
Henry Worhmsley (1759) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Ebenezer Nickerson (1768) - Provincetown Cem. No 1
Joseph Crocker (1772) - Orleans Cem.
Thankfull Hopkins (1775) - Truro Old North Cem.
Zulah Ward (1776) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Jerusha Rich (1781) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Susannah Stetson (1785) - Barnstable Cobb's Hill Cem.
Zibeah Sweat (1791) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Ebenezer Dyer (1792) - Truro Old North Cem.
Elisha & Mary Bickford (1793) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Benjamin Snow (1793) - Truro Old North Cem.
Abisha Nickerson (1794) - Chatham Old Cem.
Elisha Smith (1795) - Orleans Cem.
Elisha Bickford (1796) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Anthoney Killey (1800) - North Harwich Cem.
Elizabeth Paine (1804) - Truro Old North Cem.

Scary Skulls from the late 1700's

From the 1760's to the 1780's several carvers produced scary skulls with wicked grins, deep gouged eye and nose holes, large bones and often no wings. These are dramatic gravestones but this style did not last long. This is a period when winged heads were increasing in popularity.

Thomas Sturgis (1763) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
Elizabeth Sears (1764) - Chatham Cem.
Rebecca Howes (1765) - Chatham Cem.
Benjamin Marston (1769) - West Barnstable Cem.
Martha Sturgis (1774) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
Anne Bassett (1775) - Dennis Village Cem.
Jonathan Doane (1780) - Eastham Bridge Road Cem.
Samuel Eldredge (1781) - Dennis Village Cem.
Job Avery (1785) - Truro Old North Cem.
Joseph Hall (1787) - Dennis Village Cem.

Flying Winged Skulls from the late 1700's

These winged skulls have their wing tips raised off the tympanum base or are actually flying above the tympanum base. This image suggests increased optimism about the soul ascending to heaven. The flying skulls marked the end of the use of winged skull images on gravestones.

Abigail Freeman (1796) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
Mary Nickerson (1796) - Provincetown Cem. No 1
Elizabeth Smith (1797) - Truro Old North Cem.
Ebenezer Broadbrooks (1802) - Harwich Cem.
Lydia Broadbrooks (1802) - Harwich Cem.

Gravestones Illustrating Transition from Winged Skulls to Winged Heads

Between 1750 - 1800 winged heads steadily increased and winged skulls decreased in popularity. For that time period Cape Cod gravestones display about an equal number of winged heads and winged skulls. For our purposes a carved image is defined as a skull if teeth are showing. The following images represent a transition stage by combining some elements of a skull and a head in the same carving.

Desire Thacher (1769) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
John Pike (1802) - Truro Old North Cem.

Abstract Winged Heads from Plymouth Area Carvers in the mid - 1700's

These gravestones displayed abstract heads with unusual wing structure. Note the unusual mouth marks including heart and bird suggesting the soul leaving the body through the mouth. These gravestones generally are found in poor condition because they were caved on a poor quality Plymouth area slate which has not withstood the ravages of time.

John Bacon (1731) - Barnstable Cobb's Hill Cem.
Elizabeth Davis (1738/9) - Barnstable Cobb's Hill Cem.
Shubael Tayler (1739) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Sarah Chipman (1742/3) - West Barnstable Cem.
Ebenezer Nye (1748) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Remember Dilingham (1750) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
William Stetson (1769) - Barnstable Cobb's Hill Cem.

Medusa Style Abstract Heads in the mid - 1700's

These abstract heads by Plymouth area carvers had no wings but their long hair provided the power for the soul to ascend to heaven.

Freman Doane (1753) - Chatham Cem.
John Bourn (1754) - Falmouth Old Burial Ground
David Howes (1759) - Dennis Howes Cem.
Jonathan Bangs (1760) - Dennis Ancient Cem.
Ruth Hall (1761) - Dennis Village Cem.
John Dilingham (1763) - Brewster Dillingham Cem.
Patience Bacon (1764) - Barnstable Cobbs Hill Cem.
Sarah Bodfish (1765) - Sandwich Cem.

Connecticut Style Sandstone Gravestones

There are a few sandstone gravestones on Cape Cod made by Connecticut River Valley carvers. Most show considerable surface erosion.

Elisabeth Palmer (1768) - Falmouth Old Cem.
Temperance Fish (1802) - Barnstable Marstons Mills Cem.
Silvanus Crowell (1803) - West Yarmouth Woodside Cem.
Dorcas Crosby (1810) - Barnstable Osterville Cem.

Winged Heads after 1750 - Primitive to Realistic

Gravestones displaying winged heads became popular after 1750. There are a few hundred gravestones with winged heads on Cape Cod produced by several carvers. See the Carver section of the web site for many more examples of the work by the individual carvers.

Elisha Bourn (1745) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Rebecca Crowell (1748) - Chatham Cem.
John Avery (1754) - Truro Old North Cem.
Hannah Sweft (1764) - Falmouth Old Cem.
Nathanell Hopkins (1766) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
Joseph Bourne (1767) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
George Brown (1767) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Benjamin Bangs (1769) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
Prince Howes (1771) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Elesebath Sears (1772) - Brewster Sears Cem.
Hemand Crocker (1773) - Barnstable Marstons Mills Cem.
Martha Holbrook (1775) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Thankful Robinson (1775) - Falmouth Old Cem.
Jacob Taylor (1777) - Barnstable - Hyannis South Street Cem.
Joshua & Isaac Bangs (1778) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
James Otis (1778) - West Barnstable Cem.
Mary Gorham (1782) - West Yarmouth Woodside Cem.
Joseph Crowell (1783) - West Yarmouth Woodside Cem.
Thomas Sturgis (1785) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
Temperance Fish (1787) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Joshua Gray (1791) - Yarmouth Cem.
Eleazer Nickerson (1796) - South Dennis Congregational Cem.
Dorcas Shaw (1797) - Eastham Bridge Road Cem.
Lydia Butler (1798) - Harwich Congregational Church Cem.
Sally Doane (1798) - Harwich Congregational Church Cem.
John Simpkins (1799) - Brewster Cem.
Timothy Crocker (1800) - Falmouth Old Cem.
William Tobey (1802) - Orleans Cem.
Thankful Crowell (1803) - West Yarmouth Woodside Cem.
James Hall (1803) - Yarmouth Cem.
Samuel Hinckley (1804) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
Abigail Howes (1804) - Provincetown Cem.
Nancy Crosby (1810) - Barnstable Osterville Cem.
Patience Eldridge (1832) - Yarmouth Cem.

Flying Winged Heads - late 1700's

Gravestones displaying winged heads with wing tips raised off the tympanum base or actually flying were popular in the late 1700's and early 1800's. There are a few hundred gravestones with flying winged heads on Cape Cod produced by several carvers. These flying heads marked the close of the use of winged head images on gravestones.

Judah Paddock (1770) - Chatham Cem.
Marcy Dyer (1786) - Truro Old North Cem.
Samuel Gorham (1789) - Yarmouth Cem.
Rebecca Bacon (1791) - Barnstable Cobb's Hill Cem.
Elisha Dyer (1791) - Truro Old North Cem.
Isaac Weeks (1792) - Harwich Cem.
William Gage (1795) - North Harwich Cem.
Abigail Bears (1796) - Chatham Cem.
Hannah King (1796) - Chatham Cem.
Phylander Bangs (1797) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
Mary Paine (1797) - Provincetown Cem. No 1
Hannah Scudder (1797) - Barnstable Centerville Ancient Cem.
James Davis (1798) - Barnstable Cobb's Hill Cem.
Lemuel Bearse (1799) - Barnstable Centerville Ancient Cem.
Gamaliel Smith (1799) - Truro Old North Cem.
Hannah Parker (1800) - West Barnstable Cem.
Seth Nickerson (1801) - Provincetown Cem.
Jonathan Snow (1801) - Truro Old North Cem.
Huldah Cook (1802) - Provincetown Cem. No 1
John Harding (1802) - Chatham Cem.
Barnabas Young (1802) - Wellfleet Cem.

Portrait Style Gravestones - late 1700's

There are a few gravestones from the late 1700's which display realistic figures from the waist up. There are no wings involved. These are confident, worldly appearing figures.

Micah Chapman (1792) - Dennis Village Cem.
Sarah Fessenden (1794) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground

Table Stones

These are large horizontal gravestones supported above ground which provide space for long inscriptions. They generally were used for prominent citizens. Some were installed as memorials many years after the death. These memorials sometimes cover the original gravestone. The horizontal position results in surface erosion making the stones difficult to read.

Thomas Hinckley (1706) - Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cem.
John Gorham (1715) - Barnstable Cobb's Hill Cem.
John Mayo (1725) - Brewster Old Burial Ground
Benjamin Fessenden (1746) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
John Parker (1774) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Phebe Paine (1779) - Orleans Cem.
Edward Bacon (1783) - Barnstable Cobb's Hill Cem.
Isaiah Lewis (1786) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
David Thacher (1801) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
John Bascom (1807) - Orleans Cem.
Oakes Shaw (1807) - West Barnstable Cem.
Titus Winchester (1808) - Sandwich Old Burial Ground
Joseph Otis (1810) - West Barnstable Cem.

Feedback

Please advise whether you like this new Quick Tour of gravestone styles. It is patterned after a slide presentation based on the web site. Should this feature be expanded? Please e-mail

rpcarlson@comcast.net


Part 2 - Gravestone Image styles 1800 to 1900 - A Quick Tour
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