If Father Pitt reads this eroded inscription correctly, this is a tombstone for a two-year-old child named William Davis, son of James and Eliza Davis, who died in 1848. The epitaph is almost certainly a poem, but illegible in this light. The tombstone itself is a restrained example of the middle-nineteenth-century style that old Pa Pitt calls the “poster style,” because it resembles the style of printed posters of the same era.
This picture was taken in 2015.
EDWARD H. KELLEY,
DIED
May 27, 1849,
In the 41 year
of his age.
In the 1840s and 1850s the style of tombstone old Pa Pitt likes to call “poster style” became popular—a style that resembles printed posters of the time. The stone is usually limestone, which is soft and easily eroded; so that many of these stones are almost illegible now.
Bethel Cemetery has a good collection of poster-style tombstones, and this article will serve as a good introduction to the style.
ELIZABETH MISSKELLY
DIED
Aug. 7, 1847
in the 90th (?) year…
[the rest is buried]
HANNAH SAWYER
DIED
Nov. 2, 1849,
In the 19 year
of her age.
MARY ? SAWYER
DIED
March 22, 1849
In the 15 year
of her age.
ABAGAIL
Wife of
JOSEPH WOODS
died March 20, 1850,
in the 35 year of her age.
—
Also an Infant son…
MARY —?
daughter of
J. & A. WOODS
died Jan — 18—?
Aged 1 year…
Died May 23, 1848
Mrs SARAH WOODS
WIFE OF
Mr. JOHN WOODS
in the 34 Year
of her age.
SARAH HICKMAN
DIED
Jan 18, 1848…
ANN,
wife of
THOMAS MORROW,
died July 26, 1849,
in the 37 year
of her age.
ELIZABETH, PA.
MARY,
WIFE OF
THOMAS MORROW
BORN
MAY 18, 1810,
DIED
MAY 26, 1858.
JAMES KIDDOO
DIED
Sep. 20, 1823
in the 61 Year
of his age.
We can see James’ wife Mary’s stone leaning against his; she died in 1847, and James’ stone was probably ordered at the same time as hers, since it is definitely in the style of the 1840s rather than the 1820s.
MARIA
Wife
of
JOHN GARRARD
DIED
Aug 2, 1848(?)
Aged ? Yrs.
A good example of what old Pa Pitt calls the “poster style,” with each line in a different style of lettering. The limestone has softened too much for us to read the whole inscription. It looks as though there may have been a second name below the main inscription—perhaps an infant child.
Father Pitt usually makes legibility his priority in photographing old tombstones, but the situation of this one, with the fallen tree behind it, demanded a more artistic treatment.
IN
Memory of
W.H. CRAWFORD,
Who departed this life
July 29, 1846,
Aged 22 Yrs. 6 mos. 5 ds.
A tombstone in the “poster style,” as Father Pitt likes to call it; this is probably one of the ones moved here from older graveyards.
JOSEPH
McMURRAY
D i e d
Sept. 16, 1839
Aged 46 years
10 mo. & 11 day
An early example of the “poster style,” with each line in a different style of lettering.
