The Osborn Brothers - Stonecutters

As a follow-up to my 'Signed by Carvers' post in February, I wanted to share some photographs that were sent to me by Robert Lenahan, a gravestone enthusiast, like me. In fact, this may turn into a series of posts over the next few months. The following pictures show the work of two brothers, Henry and Jonathan Hand Osborn, who were stonecutters in Woodbridge and Scotch Plains, NJ. Their carvings include monograms, floral motifs, winged cherubs, and often signatures.   

 

Gravestone of Phebe Fleming, Rahway Cemetery, Rahway, NJ, cut by Henry Osborn (1770-1839). Note the signature at the bottom in between two flowers. 

PF

In Memory of Phebe

Daugh’r of Daniel ~

Moore & wife of John

Fleming who deceas’d

March 10 1790 Aged

20 Years & 9 Mon’s.

                                                            Cut by Henry Osborn Woodbridge

 

 

Gravestone of Naomi Carll, Rahway Cemetery, Rahway, NJ, cut by Henry Osborn:

Sacred to the memory of

Mrs. Naomi Carll

wife of the Rev’d Buckley

Carll who deceas’d Aug’t

28^th 1804 in the 35^th year

Of her age ~

Her heaven born examples, as a loving wife, a

faithful and endearing friend, and an eminent

christian, all combined to render her an honour to

her sex, a blessing to her partner, and in

her death much lamented by him and the

people in his charge.

                                               

                                                Cut by Henry Osborn 

 

Gravestone of David Stewart Elmer, Presbyterian Church, Westfield, NJ, cut by Jonathan Hand Osborn (1760-1846) of Scotch Plains:

[David Stewart]

Son of Doct’r

Philemon & Catherine

Elmer

Was born May 27th

1804

Died

Sept 28^th

1826

AEtatis 22

                                                         Osborn S. Plains 

I found this article in the New Jersey Journal, Elizabethtown, NJ, Oct  16, 1793:

Five D ~~~~~~

Stolen on M~~~~~~~~Sep-

tember, a dark brown HORSE, four years old

last grals [?], 14 1/2 hands high, trots and canters well,

has neither brand nor mark, only a thin small tail.

Whoever will secure the thief in any jail so that 

he may be brought to justice, shall receive the above

reward; and if the horse is recovered, and notice

thereof given to the owner, so that he may be had 

again, shall be paid a generous reward, exclusive of 

all reasonable expences.

JONATHAN HAND OSBORN,

N.B.  It is supposed there was taken with the

above described horse, a saddle part worn, without

a cropper, and a bridle with plated buckles.

Scotch Plains, October 8, 1793. 

 And this notice of his death from the Centinel of Freedom, Newark, NJ, March 24, 1846:

 Another Revolutionary Soldier Gone--At Scotch Plains,

on the 12th instant, JONATHAN HAND OSBORN, in the

87th year of his age.

Here is the link to a photo of his gravestone.

This last gravestone is that of Mary Hetfield, also at the Presbyterian Church, Westfield, NJ, cut by H O. It is unclear whether the initials H O refer to Henry Osborn or his brother, Jonathan Hand Osborn, who also signed his work Hand Osborn or even H. Osborn.

 In Memory of

Mary Wife of

Matthias Hetfield

She died May the

12^th 1791 In the

59^th Year of her

Age

Spectators here you see

My body wrapt in clods [?]

Soon we shall equal bee

Entomb’d beneath this sod

                                                                        

                                                    cut by H O

Note the gravestone of Sarah Dixon with these initials on my February post. This signature H + O is similar yet different than the one above it. Could it be one of the Osborn brothers?

More to come . . .

__________
Copyright 2013, Barbara Schaffer
Photographs by Robert Lenahan