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

(for Part 1 covering 1683 to 1799 click link at bottom of page)

This section provides links to gravestones dated from the late 1700's to 1860 illustrating popular 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.

Sunburst Style Gravestones - early 1800's

Sunburst gravestones became popular in the early 1800's for about 20 years. Some sunbursts have eyes peeking over the horizon. The image can be interpreted as sunset suggesting death or as sunrise suggesting the soul ascending to heaven.

Jacob Lovell (1805) - Barnstable - Osterville Hillside Cem.
Kezier Hallet (1806) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Joseph & Benjamin Hodges (1807) - Barnstable - Osterville Hillside Cem.
Azubah Mayo (1809) - Chatham Cem.
Samuel Gray (1810) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Thankfull Cook (1811) - Provincetown Cem.
Dorcas Hallet (1813) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Ruth Atkins (1814) - Truro Old North Cem.
Daniel Higgins (1814) - Orleans Cem.

Urn Image on Slate and Marble 1780's - 1860

In the 1780's urns began replacing skulls and heads on gravestones. This image remained popular through the 1800's. It represented a shift in emphasis away from concern about the fate of the soul of the deceased. It emphasized the mourning of those left behind.

Ruth Wells (1790) - Truro Old North Cem.
Sarah Thacher (1793) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Richard Newcomb (1798) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Ruthy Rider (1812) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Benjamin Bangs (1814) - Brewster Cem.
Thomas Gross (1817) - Truro Methodist Cem.
Mercy Paine Higgins (1818) - Truro Old North Cem.
Zoheth Berry Jr (1820) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Seth Sparrow (1838) - Orleans Cem.
Eliza Howard (1840) - Provincetown Cem. No. 2
Martha Paine (1840) - Truro Old North Cem.
Priscilla Snow (1842) - Harwich Cem.
Mehitable Nickerson (1844) - South Harwich Cem.
Hannah E Hammond (1859) - Chatham Seaside Cem.

Weeping Willow Tree Image on Slate and Marble 1800 - 1860

Starting in the early 1800's the weeping willow tree was displayed alone or with the urn. The tree was the most popular gravestone image in the nineteeth century up to 1860. It clearly emphasized the mourning and sadness of those left behind. The following gravestones display only the willow tree.

Mary Gage Hinckley (1834) - Barnstable - Hyannis Universalist Cem.
Hirah Kelley (1834) - North Harwich Cem.
Priscilla Small (1835) & Reubin Small (1833) - Harwich Cem.
Azubah Burgess (1837) - Harwich Cem.
William P Crowell (1838) - Brewster Red Top Cem.
James Mayo (1838) - Eastham Evergreen Cem.
Mary F Bailey (1848) - Eastham Evergreen Cem.
Martin Dill (1850) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Freeman W. Cobb (1851) - Truro Pine Grove Cem.
Rebeckah Guild (1854) - Orleans Cem.
Sarah C Barnes (1858) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.

Urn Combined with Weeping Willow on Slate and Marble 1800 - 1860

The following gravestones combine the images of the urn and the willow tree. This combined image strongly emphasized the mourning and sadness of those left behind.

Catherine Mayo (1809) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Elizabeth Knowles (1815) - Eastham Bridge Road Cem.
Betty Coan (1821) - Truro Old North Cem.
Israel Lombard (1823) - Truro Old North Cem.
Joshua S Chase (1825) - North Harwich Cem.
Jude Damon (1828) - Truro Old North Cem.
Zenas Nye (1828) - Sandwich Old Burial Gound
Sally Taylor (1830) - Orleans Cem.
Mary Cobb (1835) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Deliverance Keith (1835) - Truro Pine Grove Cem.
Tabitha Taylor (1836) - Chatham Peoples Cem.
Ruth Crowell (1838) - Brewster Red Top Cem.
Sylvia Crocker (1843) - Barnstable - Cotuit Mosswood Cem.
Mary A Rider (1846) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Rebecah Taylor (1850) - Chatham Peoples Cem.

Flowers, Ferns, Branches, Vines, Wreaths 1800 - 1880

These are the next most common carved images after the urn and willow in the time period.

Solomon Harding (1830) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Abigail N Atkins (1842) - Provincetown Hamilton Cem.
Augustus F Dalton (1846) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Emeline Baker (1847) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
John E Gould (1847) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Rebecca Snow (1848) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Susan G Bangs (1850) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Elkanah Winslow (1851) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Elisha Foster Jr (1852) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
John P Nickerson (1852) - Chatham Peoples Cem.
Amos Eldridge (1853) - South Chatham Cem.
Betsey Hall (1855) - Dennis Quivet Cem.
Nathan Winslow (1856) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Philip B Elliott (1859) - Truro Pine Grove Cem.
Frances M Irvine (1860) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Helena F Fisher (1861) - Provincetown Hamilton Cem.
Lewis R Smith (1861) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Carrie C Rich (1864) - Truro Pine Grove Cem.
Thomas Paine (1865) - South Wellfleet Cem.
Harding Newcomb (1870) - South Wellfleet Cem.
Mary B Smith (1879) - South Wellfleet Cem.

Books, Bibles, Hands, Shells 1800 - 1880

Seth Burgess (1831) - Harwich Cem.
Sally Kendrick Holbrook (1844) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Mary A Coan (1853) - Truro Old North Cem.
George Newcomb (1853) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Betsey B Rogers (1854) - South Wellfleet Cem.
Joanna Hopkins (1857) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Solomon Newcomb (1858) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
John Atkins (1860) - Provincetown Cem. No. 2
Rachel Defoe (1864) - Eastham Congregational & Soldiers Cem.
Wilbur F Higgins (1865) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Joshua Cook 2nd (1867) - Provincetown Cem. No. 2
Bethiah Pierce (1869) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Rubie S Rich (1865) - Truro Pine Grove Cem.
James S Dyer (1877) - Provincetown Gifford Cem.

Ships, Anchors, Chains, Flags 1800 - 1890

Charles Lewis Hallett (1845) - Yarmouth Port Woodside Cem.
Samuel D Eldridge (1850) - South Harwich Cem.
John C Harding (1853) - Truro Snow Cem.
Julia T Taylor (1856) - Yarmouth Ancient Cem.
Experience E Atkins (1858) - Provincetown Cem. No. 2
Isaac L Hammond (1859) - Chatham Seaside Cem.
Abby Small (1859) - Provincetown Hamilton Cem.
Joseph F Nickerson (1863) - Eastham Evergreen Cem.
George W Nickerson (1864) - Chatham Peoples Cem.
James E Studley (1864) - Orleans Cem.
George A Pierce (1866) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
David Eldridge (1888) - South Chatham Cem.

Human & Animal Forms 1800 - 1890

These carved images are rare in the time period.

Mary Barton (1838) - South Wellfleet Cem.
Henry K Cobb Jr (1850) - Orleans Cem.
Lewis H Shedd (1852) - Truro Pine Grove Cem.
Benjamin A Paine (1853) - Truro Methodist Cem.
George H Cooper (1854) - Truro Congregational Cem.
Ida M Rich (1865) - Truro Pine Grove Cem.
Eva M Smith (1881) - Provincetown Gifford Cem.
Gamaliel B Smith (1888) - Provincetown Gifford Cem.

Obelisks - starting mid 1800's

Tall obelisk shaped monuments began to appear in the mid 1800's. They often display several names including earlier deaths.

Truro Victims of October 3 Gale (1841) - Truro Congregational Church Cem.
Benjamin H Swett (1844) - Wellfleet Oak Dale Cem.
Joseph Holbrook (1853) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Benjamin Smith (1856) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Isaac Baker (1857) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Frederick Freeman (1858) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Isaac S Doane (1860) - Orleans Cem.
Alonzo Coy (1862) - Orleans Cem.
Nathan Foster (1862) - Brewster Lower Road Cem.
Eastham Soldiers Monument (1865) - Eastham Congregational & Soldiers Cem.
Wellfleet Soldiers Monument (1866) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Knowles Dyer (1867) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Daniel P Newcomb (1875) - Wellfleet Pleasant Hill Cem.
Ensign B Rogers (1882) - Orleans Cem.
Henry Doane (1883) - Eastham Evergreen Cem.
Azariah S Newcomb (1898) - South Wellfleet Cem.

Zinc (White Bronze) Metal Grave Markers - starting 1870's

These grave markers were produced from about 1875 to 1910. They have an attractive blue gray color. They withstand weathering very well and absolutely no lichen grows on them due to a chemical reaction with the metal. At most only a few will be found in any one cemetery. While somewhat outside the time frame of the web site, a few are included here because of their unusual character.

Beneiah G Higgins (1876) - Eastham Evergreen Cem.
Isaac B Alexander (1890) - Provincetown Cemetery No 2
Theo K Dill (1890) - Eastham Evergreen Cem.
Noah S Higgins (1894) - Wellfleet Oak Dale Cem.
Hanson Thygeson (1896) - Orleans Cem.
James V Bowley (1909) - Provincetown Cemetery No 2
Thomas Lewis (1909) - Provincetown Cemetery No 2
Isaac B Lewis (1912) - Provincetown Gifford Cemetery
George W Readey (1920) - Provincetown Cem. No. 2

Other Gravestone Styles 1800 - 1880

There are a variety of other interesting gravestones dated 1800 to 1860 but no one style is found in large numbers. A sampling is shown below. The majority of nineteenth century gravestones up to 1860 are plain displaying only the inscription often on a rectangular stone.

Richard Sparrow (1811) - Orleans Cem.
Azubah Handy (1819) - Barnstable - Cotuit Mosswood Cem.
Patty Small (1822) - Truro Old North Cem.
John Cook (1824) - Barnstable - Centerville Beechwood Cem.
Benjamin Doane Jr (1826) - Harwich Cem.
Polly Jenkins Holbrook (1827) - Wellfleet Duck Creek Cem.
Clarissa S Storms (1828) - Bourne Monument Neck Cem.
Smyra Eldridge (1841) - South Harwich Cem.
Joseph R Jones (1844) - South Harwich Cem.
James Higgins (1858) - East Harwich Evergreen 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 1 - Gravestone Image styles 1683 to 1799 - A Quick Tour
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