Signed by Carvers

I'm always on the lookout for gravestones that have the signatures of the carvers. So far, in all the 7,500 plus photographs that I've taken, I've only found three--two signed by Ebenezer Price of Elizabethtown, NJ, and one by H + O.

March 22, 1786, Political Intelligence, Elizabeth, NJ

This is to give notice,

That Ebenezer Price, Stone Cutter, has remo-

ved to the White House, in this town, and

continues to carry on that branch of business in all its

parts—where the public may depend upon being sup-

plied with any kind of STONE CUTTING and EN-

GRAVERY WORK, done with the utmost care, dis-

patch and as reasonable as possible—And wanting to

build immediately, will BARTER for timber, stone,

brick, boards, window-frames, doors, sashes, shut-

ters, hinges, carting, labor, &c. &c. as may best

suit those respectively who incline to undertake to

get any part of the said wanted articles, provided they

apply and agree very soon, who may depend upon

ample justice and all accompts evened with cash,

by                                            EBENEZER PRICE

A L S O,

He has a five acre lot of SALT MEADOW to sell,

and a HOUSE and GARDEN in town to rent this

spring, to the first that applies and agrees, and all in

the way of barter for the building articles above men-

tioned, if convenient. –Enquire of said Price or

the Printer thereof.

 HERE LYETH

the Body of Mrs. Mary Read

Consort of the Rev’d Israel Read,

who departed this Life Janua’y

the 13^th A.D. 1770. In the 38^th

Year of her Age ~~~~~~~

Love my Memory. Cherish my Friends.

and in me behold the End of this World

with all it’s vanities.

Thus must thy flesh to silent Dust descend,

Thy Mirth & worldly Pleasures thus will end,

Then happy holy Souls: but wo to those

Who Heaven forgot & earthly Pleasures chose.

Hear now this preaching Grave without delay

Believe, Repent & Work While it is Day. 

Life how short

Eternity how long

Memento Mori

                       

                                       Cut by E. Price at Eliz:Town

 

The gravestone of Mary Read (above) can be found at the Old Presbyterian Graveyard in Bound Brook, NJ. Ebenezer Price's signature is in the lower right corner of the stone. 

 

There are also two crudely cut initials in the upper left section near the heart-shaped soul effigy--at first glance they appear to be an E. and possibly a P., but one is actually an F., the other an O. or a D., most likely those of an apprentice. 

 June 18, 1788, New-Jersey Journal, Elizabethtown, NJ

THREE POUNDS REWARD.

RUN away from the subscriber about three

weeks ago, an apprentice boy, named Abner

Stewart, strong and able, near twenty years old, five

feet eight inches high, brown hair, bluish eyes,

cloathed in a half worn suit of blue coating, plated

buttons, and good wool hat; went away on account

of a riot, &c. committed in this town, in which he

was supposed to have been an aggressor; it all be-
ing settled by his father, who is desirous that he

should return to his master and serve out his time,

being his duty and interest so to do. –All persons

are hereby forewarned entertaining, employing or

carrying him off, but should he return immediately,

all shall be well, if not, whoever will take up said

apprentice and bring him home, or secure him in

any goal, so that his said master may have him a-

gain shall have the above reward, and all reasonable

charges paid by

                                    EBENEZER PRICE, Stone Cutter

Elizabeth-Town, June 3, 1788

  

 

 Eben Price Sculp

Another gravestone with his signature is that of Katherine Eckley (above) which is located in the cemetery next to the First Presbyterian Church of Hanover in East Hanover, NJ. See my blog about this ledger-style marker.  

Ebenezer Price died on March 23, 1788. He is buried in the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Elizabeth, NJ. 

  

Here lies ye Body of Sa-

rah Wife of William Dixon

Who died Febru’y 17^th 1778

Ag’d 70 Year 11 Mos & 17 Days

How lov’d how Valu’d once avails ye not

To whom Related or by whom begot,

A heap of Dust alone Remains of the

Tis all thou art & all ye Proud shall be.

                                                H + O

Sarah Dixon's gravestone is also in the cemetery at the First Presbyterian Church of Hanover. The initials H + O could be those of Henry Osborn, a stone cutter from the Westfield Ward of Elizabeth Township, not far from where Ebenezer Price conducted his business, but this is only a guess.

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Copyright 2013, Barbara Schaffer