Lot #59: Two Gravestone Rubbings

These vintage rubbings showcase the folk art of early period headstones. Samuel Reed is buried in Marblehead, and owned a tavern there. His stone shows a winged head, representing the flight of the soul. Joseph Brown, aka "Black Joe," was the son of Wampanoag and Black parents, and was born enslaved. In exchange for liberty, he signed up to serve in the Revolutionary War in place of his "owner's" son, thus the eagle over his name. He later married, and went on to become a property owner in Marblehead's Gingerbread Hill, opening a tavern there in the late 1700s. His original stone disappeared, as did a replacement. This one is likely the third replacement from 1976. For a detailed and fascinating look at his life, and his wife Lucretia's, see:
Condition: very good
Measurements: 24"W X 28"H
Pickup category timeslot {A}