Marker, Grave

Description

Rectangular granite slab. Top third of front engraved "HEZEKIAH OSBORN / H.O. / Aet. 45 / 1813".

Notes

Throughout the 19th century there was much discussion among the Shakers over the question of burial, graveyards, and tombstones. Many Shakers objected to tombstones on the grounds that any monument to a corpse could be seen as idolatry, that monuments implied a false idea of physical resurrection, that tombstones of different sizes and value created a hierarchy among the dead, and that any resources spent on the dead would be better directed to the living in need. At the other extreme, to simply bury the dead without any marker would be to place them on the same level as beasts, a solution equally offensive to many Shakers. Some Shaker families solved this dilemma by erecting one monument to commemorate all deceased Brethren and Sisters. This tombstone marked the grave of Hezekiah Osborn of Hancock, who died in 1813 at the age of forty-five. The inscription reads: "HEZEKIAH OSBORN/ H.O./ Aet. 45/ 1813." The Central Ministry at Mount Lebanon deliberated on the issue of graveyards and tombstones in 1872, and it issued a circular outlining its position on the matter. They struck a compromise between the two extremes by allowing individual tombstones but only if they were in proscribed guidelines of modesty. The circular on graveyards read: "It is most in accordance with a Christian propriety, and the wisdom of godlings... to erect one small modest, plain stone monument, which may be sawn or hewn, but not polished, not exceeding 18 inches above ground, and 14 in. in width, at the head of each grave, having all the graves in the yards now occupied, uniformly thus furnished; upon this may be plainly lettered the name and age of the deceased, together with the date of the demise- Thus- Samuel Johnson deceased (or died) Aug 14 1820, aged 94 years.-nothing more.- This monument may be made of marble, freestone, slate, or such other stone as can be finished most constantly by the society in the locality.[1] Although this tombstone was made many years before the issuance of the circular regarding graveyards, it already reflects the conflicting impulses of commemoration and modesty. [1] Circular concerning Graves, grave yards, and monuments, by order of the ministry at New Lebanon in Nov. 1872. Emma B. King Library, Shaker Museum and Library, Old Chatham, NY.