I recently visited the burial ground adjacent the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Perhaps most notable (if you study colonial headstones), is the burial of Ebenezer Price in this churchyard.
Price maintained his shop in Elizabeth, and his stones can be found throughout New Jersey's colonial graveyards today. The First Presbyterian Churchyard has the largest number of remaining stones carved by Price. His work can also be found in colonial cemeteries across Long Island. There are many stones in this graveyard that are similarly carved, but cut by other stone carvers who were apprentices in Price's shop, or learned the trade from him originally. Ebenezer's stone is not overly ornate like some of his work found at this graveyard, and his burial is in the far corner of the churchyard, near the parking lot. Despite being plainer, his headstone does display the distinctive soul effigy that makes his work so recognizable, as pictured above.
Aside from the majority of stones in the Price style, there are many other examples of diagnostic stones present in the graveyard at First Presbyterian, including a decent amount of headstones carved by Uzal Ward, the Common Jersey Carver, and both Old Elizabeth Carvers. The graveyard represents a wealth of historical data, and many well preserved and maintained headstones.
If you're anywhere in the area, this cemetery is open during the daytime and fairly easy to access. I would definitely recommend a visit. This cemetery represents an impressive catalog that showcases colonial New Jersey's unique take on funerary art.
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