Halifax in Halifax Region, Nova Scotia — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)
Carved in Stone
Pierres gravées
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 14, 2014
1. Carved in Stone Marker
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Captions (clockwise from the top, left. English / French): A typical Massachusetts Bay slate with “deathhead” or stylized skull image marks the grave of a young woman who died in childbirth. Martha Binney, slate 1757 (SD) / Voici un pierre tombale un ardoise typique de la baie de Massachusetts. Une version stylisée d’une tête de mort décore la tombe d’une jeune femme morte en couches. Martha Binney, ardoise 1757 (SD); The stone for the “Master Carpenter in His Majesty’s Service”, carved in sandstone by the Halifax carver James Hay, shows crossed bones (death), a crowned skull (resurrection), an hourglass (time), all under the winged angle head. John Crowley, sandstone, 1783 (4D) / Cette pierre en grès montre la tête ailée d’un ange qui domine deux on croises (la mort), un crâne couronne (la résurrection) et un sablier (le tempe). James Hay, originaire d’Halifax, a taillé cette cette pier tombale du “maitre charpentier au service du sa Majesté le roi”. John Crowley, grès, 1783 (4D); An urn, which may also be a lamp, stands under this weeping willow. Capt. James Fullerton, sandstone, 1838 (3A) / Une urne ou peut-être une lampe est placée sous un saule pleureur. Capitaine James Fullerton, grès, 1838 (3A); A bird, symbolizing the soul, perches atop a relief-carved urn, representing the earthly body. John and Margaret Taylor, sandstone, 1799/8 (5C) / Un oiseau, symbole de l’âme, se perche sur une urne de relief qui incarne le corps. John and Margaret Taylor, grès, 1799/8 (5C); A Halifax ironstone or local slate decorated with a winged cherub guards this grave. Mary Campbell, slate, 1774 (4D) / Cette tombe en ardoise locale est ornée d’un chérubia ailé. Mary Campbell, ardoise, 1774 (4D).
Captions (clockwise from the top, left. English / French): A typical Massachusetts Bay slate with “deathhead” or stylized skull image marks the grave of a young woman who died in childbirth. Martha Binney, slate 1757 (SD) / Voici un pierre tombale un ardoise typique de la baie de Massachusetts. Une version stylisée d’une tête de mort décore la tombe d’une jeune femme morte en couches. Martha Binney, ardoise 1757 (SD); The stone for the “Master Carpenter in His Majesty’s Service”, carved in sandstone by the Halifax carver James Hay, shows crossed bones (death), a crowned skull (resurrection), an hourglass (time), all under the winged angle head. John Crowley, sandstone, 1783 (4D) / Cette pierre en grès montre la tête ailée d’un ange qui domine deux on croises (la mort), un crâne couronne (la résurrection) et un sablier (le tempe). James Hay, originaire d’Halifax, a taillé cette cette pier tombale du “maitre charpentier au service du sa Majesté le roi”. John Crowley, grès, 1783 (4D); An urn, which may also be a lamp, stands under this weeping willow. Capt. James Fullerton, sandstone, 1838 (3A) / Une urne ou peut-être une lampe est placée sous un saule pleureur. Capitaine James Fullerton, grès, 1838 (3A); A bird, symbolizing the soul, perches atop a relief-carved urn, representing the earthly body. John and Margaret Taylor, sandstone, 1799/8 (5C) / Un oiseau, symbole de l’âme, se perche sur une urne de relief qui incarne le corps. John and Margaret Taylor, grès, 1799/8 (5C); A Halifax ironstone or local slate decorated with a winged cherub guards this grave. Mary Campbell, slate, 1774 (4D) / Cette tombe en ardoise locale est ornée d’un chérubia ailé. Mary Campbell, ardoise, 1774 (4D).
These gravestones were all carved by hand, using chisels and wooden mallets. Many of the old slate stones were quarried and carved around Massachusetts Bay, and shipped to Halifax before the American Revolution. By the 1770s local stone carvers were making gravestones from a poorer quality local slate (or “ironstone”). Most gravestones carved after 1820 are plain, massive sandstone.
The images or symbols can be a clue to age. Older stones show symbols of death-stylized winged skulls (“death-heads”) or winged angels (soul effigies). In the early 1800s the images gradually changed from representations of death to those of bereavement-funerary urns, lamps (of life, extinguished), and sometimes sprigs of willow (weeping).
French
Toutes les pierres tombales ont été taillées avec le ciseau et le maillet de bois. La plupart des vieilles tombes en ardoise faites avant la Révolution américaine proviennent des carrières près de la baie de Massachusetts. L’ardoise était taillée et gravée avant l’être envoyée à Halifax. Dès les années 1770, les tailleurs de pierre d’Halifax avaient commencé à faire des tombes a partir d’une ardoise locale de qualité inférieure. La plupart des pierres tombales faites après 1820 sont en grès de style massif et simple.
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this page online
Erected by Old Burying Ground Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.
Location. 44° 38.604′ N, 63° 34.36′ W. Marker is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Halifax Region. Marker is on Barrington Street close to Spring Garden Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1480 Barrington Street, Halifax NS B3J, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mr. John Samwell (a few steps from this marker); The Welsford Parker Monument (a few steps from this marker); Major General / Major-Général Robert Ross 1766-1814 (a few steps from this marker); The Old Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old Burying Ground
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 14, 2014
2. Carved in Stone Marker
More about this marker. This marker is located in the Old Burying Ground.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 14, 2014
3. The Old Burying Ground
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 443 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 8, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
