John Stevens
John Stevens founded his stone carving business on Thames Street in Newport, Rhode Island in 1705 having previously operated in the Boston area. His family ran the business for six generations before selling it to the Benson family in 1927. Their shop is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the United States.
Many of the Steven’s stones featured sweeping wings surrounding a friendly face with varied hair that may have been similar to the interred’s hairdo. The side panels became more elaborate over time, with flowers, fruits and even faces.
Elizabeth Channing, 1724,
Common Burying Ground
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
Hannah Bradley, 1723,
Common Burying Ground
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
Joseph Church, 1715,
Old Commons Burial Ground
Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
Robert Drake, 1717,
Common Burying Ground
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
Elizabeth and Abigail Lyon, 1719, Newman Cemetery
East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
James Nickols, 1710,
Common Burying Ground
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
John Odlin, 1719,
Common Burying Ground
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
Edward Rossam, 1724,
Common Burying Ground
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
Anne Whipple, 1720,
Common Burying Ground
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
Sources
The Story of the John Stevens Shop by Esther Fisher Benson (Published by Newport Historical Society, 1963)
The John Stevens Shop https://www.johnstevensshop.com/