Vine Lake Cemetery

In our cemetery’s Old Section, the symbols carved into gravestones can reveal a lot about the deceased’s beliefs and philosophies, or at least those attributed to them by their families when they were buried. Gravestone symbolism ranges from well-known symbols of major religions to the arcane and complex, each one often containing layer after layer of hidden meaning.  These twenty-one common symbols seen in Medfield are meant to relay messages to those who are still living.  There are so many more here, which is your invitation to stop by, and wonder.

Gravestone of Barber, Anne
ACANTHUS

Anne Barber, 1746

Greek and Roman architectural decoration to symbolize enduring life, immortality

Gravestone of Daniels, Lavinia Day 1875
BUD

Lavinia Day Daniels, 1875

The hand of God plucking a flower bud which never bloomed and denotes a child’s death

Gravestone of Adams, John Robert
CATTAILS BROKEN

John Roberts Adams, 1882

A life of humble obedience cut short

Gravestone of Hoisington, Anna Day
CHILD SLEEPING

Anna Day Hoisington, 1859

Victorian motif for death

Gravestone of Fisher, Ella 1871
DOVE WITH OLIVE BRANCH

Ella Fisher, 1871

Signifies peace and security

Gravestone with hand of Charles Onion 1852
HAND

Charles Onion 1852

A hand with the index finger pointing down represents God reaching down for the soul, while one pointing upward symbolizes the hope of heaven

Gravestone detail Cushman, Jacob
HARP

Jacob Cushman, 1886

Praise to God, harmony; sometimes signifies Irish connections. Symbol of St Cecelia, patron saint of musicians

Gravestone detail from the Wight Lot
HOURGLASS/SCYTHE

Wight Lot

Symbolic of time and life running out, quickly reaching its end. Time can also be represented by a scythe, clock or sundial

Gravestone of Locke, Charlotte Tucker Guild 1872
IVY

Charlotte Tucker Guild Locke, 1872

Friendship and immortality; cross is faith and belief in God

Gravestone of Walter Janes Brown
LAMB

Walter Janes Brown, 1850

Innocence; marks the grave of a child

Gravestone of Derby, Richard Crowninshield
OBELISK

Richard Crowninshield Derby, 1862

Greek symbol of eternal life, fertility, regeneration and resurrection

Gravestone of Chenery, Taphath 1793
RISING SUN

Tapath Chenery, 1793

Resurrection

Gravestone of Guild, Mary Adaline, 1887
ROSES

Mary Adaline Guild, 1887

Love, beauty, hope, unfailing love

Gravestone of James Parkman
SHIELD

James Parkman Chenery, 1863, Franklin Artemas Chenery, 1864

Often used for soldiers who died in battle, with muskets, flowers, cannons, cannon balls, sword, flag

Gravestone of Metcalf, Samuel 1740
SKULL

Samuel Metcalf, 1740

Mortality

Derby Memorial Gravestone
TORCH INVERTED

Derby Memorial, 1861

Extinction of life

Gravestone of Harding, Oliver 1822
WHEAT

Oliver Harding, 1822

Denotes a bountiful life cut short

Gravestone of Scollay, Mercy 1826
WILLOW & URN

Mercy Scollay, 1826

The classic Greek symbol representing the tears, grief and sadness associated with the death of a loved one while the urn is the classic Roman symbol to contain ashes

Gravestone of Adams, Henry 1782
WINGED CHERUB

Henry Adams, 1782

An optimistic view of attaining salvation

Footstone of Adams, Elizabeth 1767
WINGED SKULL

Elizabeth Adams, 1767

Combination of physical death and spiritual regeneration

Gravestone of Allen, John
WOMAN & URN

John Allen, 1831

A sentimental approach to death and mourning