The “Imps of Death” were part of Puritan New England tombstone imagery from about 1680-1712. They were frequently accompanied with an hourglass, coffins, crossbones, darts of death and death’s head. The Old Burying Ground, established in 1635 near Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, features imp stones believed to be the work of Joseph Lamson and sons, as does Phipps burial ground in Boston and a handful of other “Old Burying Grounds” in Massachusetts.
The winged imps are busily lowering the coffin into the ground on the top of the stone of William Dickson (1692). The larger imps on the side panels are holding an hourglass and a dart of death.
The Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Joseph Lamson, Carver
The imps on John Stone’s (1683) tombstone are holding drapery or “palls” while their wings flow into the decorative acanthus leaves on the side panels.
The Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Joseph Lamson, Carver
Jane Dickson’s (1689) imps are carrying a coffin amidst a floral motif.
The Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Joseph Lamson, Carver
The Elizabeth Hasting (1702) stone features winged imps flanked with cross bones and a coffin while minding the hourglass.
The Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Joseph Lamson, Carver
Two imps of Cap. Pyam and Elizabeth Blower (1709) mind the hourglass while two others hold up drapery, symbolizing the parting of the veil between this world and the next.
The Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Joseph Lamson, Carver
Dorothy Burre’s (1702) winged imps hold an hourglass.
The Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Joseph Lamson, Carver
Ensign Timothy Cutler’s (1694) winged Imps of Death are carrying a coffin and are flanked by an hourglass and crossbones.
Phipps Street Burial Ground, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Joseph Lamson, Carver
The Imps on the tombstone of Elias Row (1686) have a peculiar gleam to their eyes as they stab their darts into the death’s head. Be sure to zoom in on this stone as it is quite detailed.
Phipps Street Burial Ground, Charleston, Massachusetts
Joseph Lamson, Carver
Hannah Hayman’s (1684) imps are holding drapery/pall, with wings that drift off into the floral pattern in the side panels.
Phipps Street Burial Ground, Charleston (Boston), Massachusetts
Joseph Lamson, Carver
Additional Imps, also known as Cherubs, on FindAGrave and in the Farber Gravestone Collection as Lamson stones:
Captain John Carter, 1692, First Burial Ground, Woburn, Massachusetts, coffins, hourglass
Rev. Thomas Clark, 1704, Forefathers Burial Ground, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Palls and Hourglass
Martha Dadey, 1708/9, Phipps Street Burial Ground, Boston, Palls and Hourglass
Katharine Greenleafe, 1712, Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Zechariah Long, 1688, Phipps Street Burial Ground, Boston, Massachusetts
Captain Richard Martin, 1694, Phipps Street Burial Ground, Boston, Massachusetts
Rev. Jonathan Pierpont, 1709, Old Burying Ground, Wakefield, Massachusetts, Palls and Hourglass
Deacon John Stone, 1691, Old Burying Place, Watertown, Massachusetts, Bow and Arrow, hourglass, dart
Peter Tufts, 1700, Bell Rock Cemetery, Malden, Massachusetts, Coffins, Hourglass and Crossbones
Sibyll Wigglesworth, 1708, Old Burying Ground, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hourglass and Pall