Jonathan Hand Osborn: Stonecutter

This is a follow-up to my April post about gravestones that were signed by 'The Osborn Brothers.'

Jonathan Hand Osborn was born in Elizabeth, NJ, on February 22, 1760 the son of Jonathan and Abigail Osborn of Scotch Plains. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the Revolutionary War and served two years as a drummer for which he received a yearly pension of $85 beginning in 1831.

 

The signature of Jonathan Hand Osborn at age seventy-two as found in his Revolutionary War Pension Record dated August 17, 1832 on Fold3.com.

I'd like to thank Robert Lenahan for sharing the following photographs that he took at the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Westfield, NJ. Note the various ways Jonathan Hand Osborn signed his work.   

Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

The gravestone of Eliakim Smith 1785:

ES

cut by Jonathan Hand Osborn S.P.

This stone is erected

to the memory of Mr.

Eliakim Smith who

Died April 11^th 1785

in the 67^th year of

his age

 

 Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

Note the 'ES' monogram in the center of this elaborately carved signature 'cut by Jonathan Hand Osborn Scotch Plains, NJ.'  The placement of the signature (at the top rather than at the bottom of the stone) may at one time have been a way for Jonathan to advertise his work.

 Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

The gravestone of Hannah Willis 1777:

In memory

of Hannah Wife of Tho

mas Willis who died July

y^e 8^th 1777 Age 66

                        J Hand Osborn 

Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

Unlike many signatures that are in the lower right corner of the stone at ground level, this variation of Osborn's signature is in the lower third of the stone on the right.  

 

 Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

 The gravestone of Noah Miller 1802:

In memory of

Noah Miller who

died Nove^r 2d 1802

aged 37 years 2 mon^s

& 23 days

Let not so many tears fall from my friends

Live holy happy God will recompense

Into your bosoms all your love again

And your affections whilst I did remain

                                      J H O

 

 Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

Simply signed 'JHO' beneath the epitaph.

 

  Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

The gravestone of Phebe W. Crane 1820: 

Sacred

to the memory of

Phebe W. wife of

Ezra Crane Esq^r

who died Sep^r 4^th 1820

aged 45 years 6 mon^s & 11

days

She was virtuous and chaste through life

A tender mother & beloved wife

With sympathetic tear her eyes would flow

And gladly relieved all others woe.

                                                            Osborn S. Plains

  

Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

This signature 'Osborn S. Plains' is similar to the one below but note the difference in the small 's' in Osborn.

 Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

The gravestone of Cortland Radley 1821:

[Sacred to] the

memory of

Cortland

Son of [John] and

Phe[be] [Rad]ley who

died Nov^r 18, 1821

[aged] 23 years

[illegible]

                                                Osborn SPlains

 

 Photograph © 2013 Robert Lenahan

Of further interest:

The Presbyterian Church of Westfield  

The Presbyterian Church Cemetery

The Osborn Cannonball House

If you have time, you might enjoy watching this documentary about the Osborn House. 



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Copyright 2013, Barbara Schaffer