Samuel Fisher, Colonial Gravestone Carver

Samuel Fisher, stone carver

Samuel Fisher (1732-1816) lived in Wrentham, Massachusetts. According to several sources, his stones were in great demand and can be found in communities far from Wrentham, including the Old Granary burial ground in Boston. He completed both winged skulls and winged generic portraits on the tympanum of his stones. And, he remained consistent once he settled on the kind of skull, face, hair, and border he carved.

The two gravestones carved by Fisher which stand in Old Parish – those belonging to Benjamin Fairbanks and Judith Everett – both depict winged skulls. The shape of the skull, eyes, teeth, and borders are clearly by the same hand. The lettering on the Benjamin Fairbanks stone, however, differs from that on Judith Everett’s. Gravestone scholar Vincent Luti has identified the lettering on the Fairbanks stone as that of Daniel Farrington. This is not surprising since several stones memorializing members of the Fairbanks family were carved by Farrington. In addition, Fisher and Farrington were brothers-in-law and associated with one another in their shop.

Judith Dean Everett (1716-1758)                                         lot 159

Judith Dean was born on June 6, 1716. She was the daughter of Ebenezer and Judith Dean. On August 12, 1735, she married Eleazer Everett, the son of John and Mercy Everett. The couple had eight children: Mehitable, Judith, Eleazer, Lois, Nathaniel, Melitiah, Sarah, and Abel.

Judith Dean Everett died on September 16, 1758. Her husband remarried after her death.

Gravestone of Judith Everett

Benjamin Fairbanks Jr. (1695-1757)                                    lot 208

Benjamin Fairbanks was born on July 6, 1695. He was the son of Benjamin Fairbanks and Mary Richards Fairbanks. On February 8, 1721 he married Abigail Ellis. Abigail was born on March 11, 1701 and was the daughter of Joseph Ellis and Mary Graves Ellis.

Benjamin and Abigail had a family of ten children: Benjamin (who died in infancy), Mary, Abigail, Rebecca, Hannah, David, Samuel, Hannah, Olive, and a second Benjamin.

Benjamin Fairbanks, Jr. died on December 18, 1757. At the time of his death, it was noted that he was living in the “Clapboardtrees,” the area that later became Westwood and that he was “a constant hearer in this parish,” meaning he was a dedicated churchgoer.