17th, 18th & 19th Century
Gravestone Carvers
Represented in Barnstable County, MA

Many stone carvers supplied gravestones to Barnstable County. The gravestones generally were not signed making it difficult to assign specific gravestones to individual carvers. Experts can identify gravestone carvers by examination of carving styles and by research of sources such as probate records.

Literature indicates the carvers on the list below were gravestone suppliers to Cape Cod. Often several generations of the same family were carvers. An apprentice carver would start by copying the style of the master carver who was his teacher. Less talented carvers copied the styles and designs of more creative carvers.

The listing below is divided into three sections

17th and 18th century gravestone carvers represented on Cape Cod
19th century local Cape Cod gravestone carvers
Gravestones grouped by style where carvers mostly have not been identified.

The gravestone carver names in each section are listed in alphabetical order. Each carver name is linked to a carver page with a description of the carver. The carver pages have links to gravestones most likely produced by or in the style of the carver.

Note the links at the bottom of this page to a discussion of the meaning of the gravestone carved images and to literature references about the gravestone carvers.