Janesville in Schoharie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
John Isham
1757-1834
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 19, 2024
1. John Isham Marker
Noted CT gravestone carver.
Carved nearly 500 stones 1785-1815 while living in E. Haddam. Moved to Sharon, NY circa 1816. His work found here. Lawyersville & Saugerties. Trademark was a winged face with a long nose. Moved back to CT in 1819 and continued to carve until circa 1823. Died in Farmington.
Erected 2022 by Central NYS Cemetery Network NYSAA. (Marker Number 1.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1816.
Location. 42° 42.155′ N, 74° 34.424′ W. Marker is in Janesville, New York, in Schoharie County. It is on New York State Route 10 0.2 miles south of Bush Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5968 NY-10, Cobleskill NY 12043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York and in the Mohawk Valley. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Seward Center Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Patriot Burials (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Log Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Catherine Merckley (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Lutheran Congregation (approx. 2.8 miles away); William Beekman Mansion (approx. 3.4 miles away); Cherry Valley Junction (approx. 3.8 miles away); Corporal James Tanner (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Janesville.
Also see . . .
1. NYS Archaeology Association. (Submitted on August 19, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)
2. Gravestones and Carvers of New York State, Pre-1850. This collection is from the History Center in Tompkins County, NY, and is a part of the New York Heritage Digital Collections. Searching the collection yields 11 gravestones carved
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 19, 2024
2. John Isham Marker
From the Historical Context section: "Early pioneers made gravestones from the local materials that were readily available. This was most often sandstone....The work of these early carvers was original and displayed their artistic creativity. Each carver developed his own designs, patterns and writing styles that became unique to him. Sometimes you would see a cause of death or a bible verse for an epitaph.(Submitted on October 3, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York.)
As the states wealth increased, the marble industry came to dominate the gravestone market. Marble was considered superior to sandstone and its use showed an element of sophistication on the part of the buyer....Slowly the carvers disappeared altogether as machines took over the job that once required a steady hand and the use of a mallet and chisel. Gone also were the artistic expressions and details that each carver brought to his trade as well as the cause of death and the more expressive epitaphs. By 1850 the sandstone carvers were gone from our cemeteries."
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 19, 2024
3. John Isham Trademark Stone
This section of the cemetery is more than 200 years old.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 548 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 19, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.
