Early New England Stonecutters–J.N.

Benjamin Hills, Carver JN

J.N. Possibly John Noyes, Silversmith

“J.N.” was the first New England carver to use peacocks. His work utilized highly sophisticated engravings which also included Dagons and Tritons or Merfolk. He signed some of his work simply with the initials J.N. which may be a Boston silversmith named John Noyes. Photos below are listed in death date order.

Michael Martyn, Carver JN

Michael Martyn, 1622-1682, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.

Merfolk

Michael Martyn, Carver JN

Michael Martyn, 1622-1682, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.

Benjamin Hills, Carver JN

Benjamin Hills, 1660-1683, The Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.

Merfolk

Jacob Eliot, Carver JN

Jacob Eliot, 1632-1693, The Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.

Merfolk

William Button, Portsmouth, NH, Carver JN

William Button, 1656-1693, Point of Graves, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Merfolk

Capt William Greenough, Carver JN

Capt. William Greenough, 1641-1693, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts

Deborah Thomas, Carver JN

Deborah Thomas, 1643-1696, Old Winslow Burying Ground, Marshfield, Massachusetts

Ruth Carter, Carver JN

Ruth Carter, 1697, The Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.

Click on the image to view the detailed skeletons.

Ichabod Wiswall, Carver JN

Ichabod Wiswall, 1637-1700, Standish Burying Ground, Duxbury, Massachusetts.

Sarah Dolbeare, Carver J.N.

Sarah Dolbeare, 1700-1701, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.

Martha Hall, Carver JN

Martha Hall, 1680-1701, Eliot Burying Ground, Roxbury, Massachusetts.

John Cleverly, Signed JN

John Cleverly, 1635-1703, Hancock Cemetery, Quincy, Massachusetts

Peacocks

Mehitabel Hammond, Carver JN

Mehitable Hammond, 1665-1704, East Parish Burying Ground, Newton, Massachusetts.

Thaddeus McCarty, Carver JN

Thaddeous MacCarty, 1639-1705, The Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.

John Coffin, Carver JN

John Coffin, 1647-1711, Tower Hill Cemetery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Elizur Holyoke, Carver JN

Elizur Holyoke, 1651-1711, The Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts.

James Allen, Carver JN

James Allen, 1636-1714, West Tisbury Village Cemetery, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

John Trapp, Carver JN

John Trapp, 1675-1718, Tower Hill Cemetery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

1688, Asaph Eliot

1693, Matthew Pittom

1695, Timothy Dwight

1705, Rev Edward Thompson, Marshfield, Massachusetts

Sources

(1) Watters, David, Markers Annual Journal of the Association of Gravestone Studies, Vol. 2, 115-131.

(2) Ludwig, Allan, Graven Images, 296-300

(3) Forbes, Harriet, Gravestones of Early New England, 34-39

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