Table of Contents

1. Getting Started
2. Parts of the Gravestone
3. Questions to Ask
4. Resources

CARVERS ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD

This is a partial list of some of the carvers whose work can be found on Martha's Vineyard with links to examples of gravestones they created. Information is listed as Carver (Home): stylistic features.

• William Mumford (Braintree): borders with fruits and gourds, death's heads
  • Gravestone of Thomas Ward (Newport, 1625)
• Foster Family (Dorchester): Simple Death's Heads
  • Gravestone of Benjamin Sumner (Edgartown, 1739)
  • Gravestone of Susanna Sumner (Edgartown, 1740)
• Lamson Family (Charleston, near Boston): ornate death's head with eyebrows. Often vines, flowers, berries, and gourds on borders.
  • Gravestone of Benjamin Smith Esq. (Edgartown, 1737)
  • Gravestone of Mrs. Hephzibah Eddy (West Tisbury, 1726)
• John Homer (Boston)
• George Allen I, II (Rehoboth): wigged cherubs, influenced by Stevens shop.
• John Just Geyer (Boston): skulls with teeth ("smiling") and skull with crossbones
• Ebenezer Soule Jr. (Plymouth and Worcester): medusa and wigged cherubs
• John Stevens Shop & Stevens Family (Newport): the best summary of the distinctions between the Stevens carvers is in Luti's Mallet & Chisel.
  • John Stevens II
    • Gravestone of Nathaniel Waldron (Newport, 1769)
  • John Stevens III
    • Gravestone of Susana Swase (Edgartown, 1773) in Farber Collection
    • Gravestone of Martha Moravia (Newport, 1787)
    • Gravestone of Neptune Sisson (Newport, 1794)
  • William Stevens
    • Gravestone of Peter Cranston (Newport, 1771)
    • ? Gravestone of Jeremiah Pease (Edgartown, 1749)
    • ? Gravestone of William Allen (Abel's Hill, 1746)

More Carvers Who Worked in Southeastern New England in the Colonial Era:

• John Bull (Newport): his stones are found in Newport. I do not know of any on Martha's Vineyard.
  • Mary Martin (Newport, 1776)
    
• Rhode Island Carvers
• Gravestone Carvers Represented in Barnstable County, MA

Above is a chart created by Joseph Iarocci of when the various carvers were active on the Martha's Vineyard (Iarocci 156).

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