Gravestones & Puritanism
Art & History
The history of civilization can be traced through the evolution of its art. The use of symbols by past generations can help us understand the way people lived, worked, prayed and played. Whether these symbols are found in the pyramids of Egypt or on the gravestones of Windsor's cemeteries, they are of extreme interest to both historians and artists.
Puritanism
In the 16th century, the more extreme Protestants within the Church of England were labeled Puritans. These Puritans wished to purify their national church by eliminating all traces of Catholic influence. During the 17th century the English government and church became increasingly repressive, which caused many Puritans to emigrate to the New World, or New England as we now know it. In 1620 a group of Puritans known as the Pilgrims separated from the Church of England and sailed to New England to found the Plymouth Colony. Ten years later, the first major Puritan migration to New England took place, under the name of the Massachusetts Bay Company.The Puritans brought strong religious beliefs with them, beliefs which strongly influenced colonial life in New England. Traditional or orthodox Puritans believed that God held absolute power over man, and that man was essentially a worthless creature. Because of this, human beings were totally dependent on God's grace for their salvation. This meant that much of a Puritan's life was spent concentrating on strict religious thought and actions, in the hopes that they might become one of the ones who were worthy enough to enter Heaven.
Death's Head, or Winged Skull
One of the earliest gravestone symbols is the death's head, or winged skull. These symbols reflect the strict orthodox Puritan values which were in practice from the 1620's to the early 1700's. The winged skull symbol pertains to life and death, and suggests the briefness of life and the power of death. The death's head depicts the soul's voyage through death.
Winged Cherub
The 1700's brought a decline of orthodox Puritanism. Like the winged skull, the winged cherub symbolizes man's immortal side, but it suggests life rather than death, and the joy of resurrection.
Urn and Willow
This symbol signals the beginning of a broad movement away from orthodox Puritanism. The urn represents the remains of human life. The willow symbolizes the mourning of the loss of earthly life and the joy of celestial life. Both symbols are borrowed from the ancient Greeks.
After 1790
In Windsor, urn and willow symbols are found on stones dating from after 1790. The urn and willow symbolize commemoration, and were not an expression of hope for redemption. The Puritans were sure of their salvation at this point. The use of urn and willow symbolism could be called "neoclassic" style. This often means taking images from the past (like ancient Grecian urns and willows) and using them again in a new context.
1700 - 1745
Gravestones in Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, CT contain death's head carvings from 1700 to 1745. This would be considered late in the time of orthodox Puritanism, and may indicate a desire of Windsor townfolk to hang on to traditional values. The symbols used are a winged skull or death's head image with hollow eyes and grinning mouth. These symbols are an abstract form of death, and represent either Puritan angels and resurrection, or the ultimate triumph of death. Inscriptions were brief and informative, without mention of one's character or position in life. Interestingly, flowers were sometimes carved on the edges of stones. This may have been a way for the Puritans to represent life, even if it was surrounded by images of death.
1745 - 1790
The winged cherub signals the de-skeletonization of the symbols of Puritanism. Eyes replace sockets, the mouth is happier, and the wings are more angelic. A Crown of Righteousness is sometimes added. The cherub's face is moon-like. Early faces of this period were flat-faced, but later faces were more rounded. Wings resemble dog's ears, and eyes are highly animated. "In Memory Of..." stones were carved as individual memorials and less of a statement of community beliefs. There was a move towards abstraction - the face is enveloped by wings and hair, and flowers are more abstract.
