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

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, The Granary Burial Ground,  1697, Carver JN

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

Click on the image to view the detailed skeletons.

Sarah Dolbeare, Carver J.N.

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

Peacocks, John Cleverly, Carver JN

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

Peacocks

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, 1711

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.

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.