,~~~Identification of Carvers

There are over 20 different carvers represented in theAncient Burying Ground. Carvers are identified in two ways:searching for original documentation such as probate andestate records, newspaper advertisements, and by establishingcarving trademarks such as the shape of the stone, lettering,footstones, designs, or quality of work. Despite the efforts ofresearchers and "experts", it is not always an easy task to accu-rately identify the colonial carvers. Even though carvers haddistinctive styles, many had variations on their own style, ortheir style evolved over time. Another difficulty is that therewere many carvers that imitated the work of other moreprominent carvers. To make it even more challenging, somecarvers worked together on stones; one doing the letteringand another carving the designs.

1. Susanna EddyCarved by James Stanclift II

6. Azubah WarnerCarved by Ebenezer Drake

I This is an example of how a carv-er could have more than one dis-tinct style. Notice the differencebetween this stone and the other

, Drake stone earlier in the tour.

7. Mary HookerCarved by Thomas Johnson III

8. Hannah CoulesCarved by George Griswold (1633-1704)George Griswold was one of the earliest carvers inConnecticut. His stones have a raised border that outlines torectangular-shaped shoulders and rounded tympanum. Thereare about 30 Griswold stones in the Ancient BuryingGround. His stones have a smooth texture showing that theywere probably quarried in Windsor. His lettering was deepand very legible. His capital Y's resembled lowercase y's. Healso misspelled words like "neer" for "near" and "yeres" for"years". (see picture for plain sryle.)

9. Abigail GoodwineCarved by Zerubbabel Collins?This stone was like-ly carved byZerubbabel Collins.However, it is possi-ble that it wascarved by the greatimitator AaronHaskins (1752-1795). AaronHaskins' work was very common in the western part ofConnecticut but rare in the eastern half of the state. Haskinsmostly used granite when he carved. He imitated theManning Family, Ebenezer Williams and Zerubbabel Collins.

I 15. Mary & Richard Edwards, Carved by Thomas Johnson I

, 16. Deacon IS;l:lC SheldonI Carved byThomas Johnson II

17. Hezekiah & Grove CollierCarved by Gershom Bartlett 0723-1798)Gershorn Bartlett was a ~_-r.~native of Bolton, CT. Itis believed that Bartlettwas the first owner of theBolton Notch Quarry.Here he sold much of hiswork and worked withother carvers such as the

, Bucklands and Loomis'.Bartlett worked mainly

Iwith schist stone.

Bartlett's trademarks include a hook-and-eye, bulbous noses,J turned down mouths, a row of vestigial teeth, a four-lobedi crown and three curved wings. He put pin-wheels or fourI leafed clovers in the corners of his stones and a small heart atthe bottom center. Lastly, Bartlett's footstones had a pattern ofdiamonds or squares on them.

18. Capt. Hezekiah CollyerCarved by Gershom BartlettIThis is an example of a slightly different style, often referredto as "mushroom ears", used by Bartlett.