Analysis of Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Presbyterian Church Vaults Rebecca L

Northeast Historical Archaeology

Volume 39 Article 4

2010 Stories from the Rubble: Analysis of Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Presbyterian Church Vaults Rebecca L. White

Douglas B. Mooney

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Recommended Citation White, Rebecca L. and Mooney, Douglas B. (2010) "Stories from the Rubble: Analysis of Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Presbyterian Church Vaults," Northeast Historical Archaeology: Vol. 39 39, Article 4. https://doi.org/10.22191/neha/vol39/iss1/4 Available at: http://orb.binghamton.edu/neha/vol39/iss1/4

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Open Repository @ Binghamton (The ORB). It has been accepted for inclusion in Northeast Historical Archaeology by an authorized editor of The Open Repository @ Binghamton (The ORB). For more information, please contact [email protected]. 40 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 41

Stories from the Rubble: Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts spread by vapors or odors that permeated a 26 year period of use of the vaults spanning place and created an unhealthy environment. from 1820 to 1846. In most cases, the gaps rep- from the Spring Street Presbyterian Church Vaults The burial grounds and vaults of New York resent a single year or two with the exception City were identified as contributing to the out- of a three-year span from 1836 to 1839. Since breaks of disease. The Common Council two new vaults were built a few years earlier Rebecca L. White and Douglas B. Mooney enacted Laws of Interment to prohibit burials in 1831, it seems unlikely that there were no Archaeological investigations of the Spring Street Presbyterian Church vaults resulted in the in the southern, heavily populated portion of interments during this three year period. A recovery of coffin plates, hardware and other burial-related artifacts that convey information regarding the the city. Apart from the fear of disease, there new church was under construction on the site individuals interred within these chambers. These interments also offer a glimpse at mortuary customs and was also the less noble desire to develop these in 1835 and completed in 1836 (Meade 2008: practices in vault burials during the first half of the 19th century. parcels of land for the use of the living. In the B:II-5, see also Meade this volume). The lack of 1830s, the establishment of rural cemeteries plates dated to 1836 might reflect difficulty in Les fouilles archéologiques des caveaux de la Spring Street Presbyterian Church ont permis de récu- offered alternative burial places with a natural accessing the vaults during the construction of pérer des plaques de cercueils, des articles de quincaillerie et d’autres artéfacts associés aux inhumations, ce park setting away from the bustling city the new church. It is also possible that the qui amène de nouvelles informations sur les individus enterrés dans ces chambres funéraires. Ces inhuma- (Simon 1980: 53). From the mid-1840s through vaults constructed in 1831 were the vaults des- tions dans des caveaux offrent également un aperçu des pratiques et coutumes mortuaires de la première the 1860s, there were occasional newspaper ignated as Vaults 1 and 2 during the archaeo- moitié du XIXe siècle. descriptions of church vaults in New York City logical investigations. These two vaults were being cleared out as a condition of the sale of impacted during construction activities prior Introduction coffins. The coffin plates and other mortuary the property. The human remains removed to the discovery of the human remains and hardware from the Spring Street Church vaults During the winter of 2006/2007 construc- during such clean outs were reinterred else- only a single fragment of a coffin plate was present an opportunity to examine the transi- tion crews working on a condominium hotel where. The coffin plates from the Spring Street recovered from Vault 2. The surviving piece tion of the industry from hand-crafted to complex in New York City discovered human Presbyterian church show that those vaults was the right upper corner of a plate engraved machine-manufactured mortuary hardware. remains. Historical research determined that were still in use until 1846. with the middle and surname “Howard The first half of the 19th century represents the site was the former location of the Spring Harriott.” A brief mortuary notice for Edgar a transitional period in mortuary practices. In Street Presbyterian Church from about 1811 to Coffin Plates Howard Harriott reported his date of death as the 18th century, it was common for family 1966 (Meade 2008: I-1). Subsequent investiga- February 15, 1840. His brother Franklin died a and friends to prepare the body for burial. The most informative artifacts recovered few days later on February 19th; they were the tions conducted by archaeologists from AKRF from the Spring Street Presbyterian Church Inc. and URS Corporation recovered the skel- During that period, coffin building was a side- sons of Edgar Harriott. Although the ages of excavations were the metal coffin plates. Each etal remains of over 200 individuals and docu- line business of the cabinetmaker or other the boys were not provided in the notices, of the plates was engraved in elegant script mented the remnant foundations of four burial related occupations. At the beginning of the census records show that their father was 32 with the name of the deceased, their date of vaults (Mooney et al. 2008, see Morin, Meade, 19th century, a rise in the population coupled years of age in 1850. death, and their exact age recorded in years, Mooney, Crist, and Ellis this volume). The with the rapid development of urban centers A variety of different types of metal were months, and days. Within the burial vaults, mortuary and personal artifacts recovered to create an increased demand for a variety of used to manufacture the coffin plates. Plates these thin metal plaques functioned in a sim- from the Spring Street Church vaults provide goods and specialized services. Various occu- recovered from Spring Street Church vaults ilar role as gravestones in a cemetery; they temporal data on mortuary practices in New pations evolved or expanded their roles to were made of silver, plated copper alloy, an identified the individual within each coffin. In York City during the first half of the 19th cen- meet the necessity to bury the dead unidentified white metal, and a soft white general, coffin plates were not exclusively for tury. Despite the disturbed nature of the skel- (Habenstein and Lamers 1995: 139–156). In alloy, probably Britannia metal. The majority etal remains, the recovered artifacts provide 1826, Silas Wright was the only coffin manu- use in burial vaults; they were also placed on of the whole coffin plates and fragments were useful information on mortuary practices. facturer listed in the New York City Directory. the lids of coffins destined for in-ground inter- plated copper alloy (n=177), 14 fragments Coffin plates recovered from the site sup- By 1846, the year of the latest-dated coffin ments (Thomas et al. 2000: 5.24; Audin, Hlubik were of soft white metal, one plate was silver, plied personal information that revealed the plate from the Spring Street vaults, the direc- and Kavountzis 2005: 40–41,45). In the mid- to and one was formed from another type of identities of some of the individuals interred tory listed 21 coffin warehouses and 38 under- late 19th century, a coffin plate was sometimes white metal, possibly nickel silver. Most of the in the vaults. In addition, the dates from the takers in the city. Advertisements for the coffin displayed during a viewing or wake then copper alloy plaques appeared to be plated coffin plates extended the period of use of the warehouses show that they maintained a stock retained as a momento by the family when the with a white metal, probably tin, that gave vaults beyond the surviving documentary evi- of coffins, along with a variety of coffin hard- coffin was interred. them the appearance of silver (Hacker-Norton dence to between 1820 and 1846. The recovery ware and burial attire. The undertaker pro- In all, 29 whole or nearly-complete coffin and Trinkley 1984: 12). While the numbers of wood shavings, pieces of ribbon, and deco- vided a range of services from laying out the plates were uncovered and several additional seem to suggest a preference for the copper rative bows hints at the furnishing and embel- body to providing the transportation to the plaques were pieced together from the alloy plates, it should be noted that the soft lishment of the interior of the coffins. The pres- burial ground or vaults. remaining 164 fragments. Even the smaller white metal examples were poorly preserved, ence of ceramic vessels in association with The increase in population during this pieces provided portions of engraved names and it is possible that other plates made from some of the burials afforded the occasion to period combined with close living quarters to and dates that set the estimated minimum this material had completely deteriorated. explore various circumstances and mortuary accelerate the spread of contagious diseases. number of coffin plates recovered at 40. The A search of period newspapers confirmed customs that might result in the inclusion of Among the early medical concepts of disease dates from the coffin plates that could be the availability of coffin plates in New York vessels in burial vaults or inside of individual was the belief that they were caused and deciphered represent 17 distinct years of the City during the interval of interments in the 42 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 43

Table 1. Coffin plate measurements for Spring Street Church burial vaults. series of round perforations positioned at the dented and deformed along the outer margins. outer edge of the plate. The method of attach- The damage exhibited on many of the plaques Year Age Sex Length (in.) Width (in.) ment for the only silver coffin plate varied seemed consistent with a force applied against 1820 1 Y M 2.0 2.9 slightly, featuring four small eyes or loops that the corners or the outer edge of the plate 1822 34 Y M 3.6 5.2 projected out from the edge of the plate. possibly resulting from attempts to slide Although none of the Spring Street coffin another coffin into position on top of the lid. 1822 46 Y M 3.5 5.3 plates were found attached to coffin boards, a The four small tacks were insufficient to hold 1822 5 Y F 3.0 4.5 fragment of one coffin lid exhibited a rectan- the plate in place, and the thin coffin plates 1823 19 Y M 3.4 5.3 gular shadow surrounded by four small holes, appear to have been pushed up and torn away marking the former position of a plate at the from the lid as the next coffin was added to the 1823 47 Y M 4.0 5.7 head end of the coffin. stack. A few of the coffin plates, such as that of 1823 60 Y F 3.5 5.4 In most cases, the dimensions of the coffin Rudolphus Bogert, appear to have broken in plate varied in proportion to the age of the place, probably from the weight of another 1823 48 Y F 3.5 5.4 deceased. Table 1 provides the length and coffin being lowered on top of the lid. 1824 48 Y M 3.8 5.3 width measurements for the most complete Despite the small number of surviving 1824 76 Y F 3.6 5.4 coffin plates with reference to the age, year of coffin plates from the Spring Street burial death, and sex of the deceased. (tab. 1). There vaults, some temporal changes in the form of 1824 12 Y M 3.0 4.7 was no discernible change in dimensions over these artifacts were observed over the 26 year 1825 16 Y F 3.9 5.7 the time period represented by the Spring period of interments. Table 2 details the Street coffin plates. Exact measurements were changes in shape and the metal used to form 1825 14 Y F 3.8 5.1 difficult to obtain since most of the plates were the plates, organized by date (tab. 2). The 1825 20 Y M 4.0 5.7 Table 2. Characteristics of dated coffin plates. 1826 70 Y F 3.5 4.8 Rectangular, 1827 18 Y F 3.8 4.7 Rectangular, Oval, slightly rounded corners, Date Oval, flat rounded corners, Totals by year domed domed with 1829 40 Y M 3.9 4.9 domed, no flange flanged edge 1829 11 M M 3.0 3.8 1820 1 white metal 1 1830 4 M M 3.0 4.0 1822 1* 2* 4 1830 2 Y F 3.0 4.2 1 silver 1832 3 Y and 6 Y M 3.6 4.9 1823 3* 1* 4 1832 37 Y F 4.4 5.4 1824 1* 2* 3 1832 45 Y M 4.5 5.8 1825 2* 1* 3 1835 1 Y M 3.4 4.2 1826 1* 1 1840 28 Y F 3.8 5.5 1827 1* 1 1841 74 Y M 3.8 5.3 1829 2* 2 1830 2* 2 vaults. In 1830, Stout and Company advertised sets, shaving boxes, and medicine spoons “silver and plated coffin plates (at two hours available at 263 and 265 Pearl Street (The New 1832 3* 3 notice)” along with a variety of wares and York Commercial Advertiser November 8, 1831). 1835 1* 1 engraving services (New York Herald, February The small sample of Britannia metal coffin 1840 2* 2 4, 1830). The parenthetical mention of two plates from the vaults was fragmented and hours notice refers to the time required to some had powdery, peeling surfaces making it 1841 2* 2 complete the personalized engraving on a difficult to establish dates. Only two of these 1842 2* 2 coffin plate. This may have been a selling plates were complete enough to supply any 1843 1* 1 point in instances where the deceased person date information; one provided a partial date was to be buried the next day. of 184_ (the plate was torn at the last digit); the 1845 1* 1 The firm of Masters and Markoe other example was dated 1846. 1846 1 soft white metal 1 announced in 1831 that they were the sole Coffin plates from the vaults were origi- Total 8 2 2 22 34 agents for the American Britannia ware manu- nally attached to the exterior lid of the coffin at factory and listed coffin plates among the tea the head end with four small tacks through a * = copper alloy 44 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 45

Table 3. Spring Street coffin plate inscriptions. (Chronologically by vault.)

Machine-disturbed contexts Elizabeth Bush James McGregor Sarah Ogden Hubbard Died 27th March 1832 Died 5th April 1832 Died 29 Dec 1840 Aged 37 Yrs Aged 45 Yrs Aged 28 Yrs Vault 2 ( Edgar) Howard Harriott (Died 15th Feb 1840)

Vault 3 James Rea Junr Julia Radcliff Joseph C Smith died 28th April 1823 died 25th June 1823 Died 18th April 1825 Aged 19 Yrs 8 Mos 12 Da Aged 60 Yrs 4 Mons 13 Dys Aged 20 Yrs 4 Mos 3 Days

Joseph R Murden ( Thomas) Crawford Benjamin N. (Abel) Died April 20 1841 Nov 7 1841 (Died) 3rd Oc(t) (1842) Aged 74 Yrs 7 M 12 D (Aged 87 ) Y (Aged 21 years)

Rudolphus Bogert (Jessee) W. Wadleigh ( Sarah) Conger Died 15th Nov 1842 Died ( ) 1845 Died (27 ) May 1846 Aged 76 Yrs (Aged 76 years)

( ) Coo... ( ) Hollenb(ack) ( )Abel Died ( Mar)ch 184( ) Aged 54 Years

Vault 4 Figure 1. Coffin plate engraved: Samuel Curtis, Died 22nd Jany 1822, Aged 34 Years. Charles Morgan Samuel Curtis Lewis Evens (Photograph courtesy of URS Corporation.) Died 1(6)th Jany 1820 Died 22nd Jany 1822 died 24th July 1822 1 Yr 1 Month 12 Days Aged 34 Years Aged 46 Years & 5 Months distribution shows a shift, over a relatively rectangular shape; while two plates dated 1825 short period of time, in the aesthetic character- appear to mark the end of the handmade oval Emma Fitz Randolph Oswald Williams Roe Jas Wadsworth istics and style of these plates, with most of plates in these vaults. died 16th Aug 1822 Died 27th Nov 1822 Died 23rd May 1823 s s s those manufactured prior to 1826 exhibiting an A similar change can be observed in Aged 5 Yrs 8 Mo 12 Da Aged 10 Mon 5 Days Aged 47 Y 4 M 12 D oval shape, and all of those made after that images of contemporaneous coffin plates dis- Ellinor Moore Nicholas Ware Mary Sturges date having a more rectangular outline. While played on the Ancestors at Rest web site. Two died 4th November 1823 Died 7th Sept 1824 Died 15th Sept 1824 this shift may simply be evidence of changing examples from Connecticut dated to the late Aged 48 Years Aged 48 Years & 7 Mos Aged 76 Years personal tastes, other aspects of these artifacts 18th century feature a similar flat, oval hand- John R Clark Louisa Hunter Ann Semantha Whelpley suggest that changes in the broader funerary crafted appearance. These plates identified the died 21st Septr 1824 died 1st Febry 1825 Died Febr 19th A 1825 industry also may have played a role. coffins of Governor Samuel Huntington, who Aged 12 Yr & 10 days Aged 16 Yrs 7 Months Aged 14 Yrs & 2 Dys Inspection of the earlier oval coffin plates died in 1796, and his wife Martha (died 1774). revealed that most exhibited an irregular Three coffin plates at Ancestors at Rest with Elizabeth Cleveland Sarah Sherwood G(errit). Morgan Died 23 Nov 1826 Died 31 Dec 1827 Died June 24 1829 overall appearance, suggestive of having been dates of 1844, 1848 and 1855 have a similar Aged 70 yrs 5 Mos 13 D Aged 18 Yrs 1 M 23 D Aged 40 Yrs cut out by hand (fig. 1). The rounded rectan- rounded-rectangular shape with a small gular plates with dates ranging from 1824 to flange around the outer edge—characteristics James Kauck J W Root Josephine Dunham 1846 displayed a more regular form, and most shared by the Spring Street coffin plates Died 24th Sepr 1829 Died Nov 26th 1830 Died 23 Dec 1830 appeared to have been mass-produced dated 1824–1846. None of the coffin plates Aged 11 Months & 13 Das Aged 4 Mos 5 D Aged 2 Yrs 10 Mos 22 D through machine stamping. It is interesting to recovered from Spring Street exhibited the Alfred Roe Cox Miles Ray David (Sherwood) note that the change in shape and manufac- flat, rectangular features that appear to be Born Feby 7, 1825. Died 19th April 1835 Died 2nd March 1843 turing technique appears to have been intro- characteristic of the next temporal period of E d w a r d D o r r G r i f fi n C o x Aged 1 Yr 8 Mos 17 D Aged 71 Years... r duced into the Spring Street Presbyterian coffin plate design. Ancestors at Rest present Born Sept 18, 1828. Died Jan 1, 2 1832. vaults in September of 1824 with the interment images of ten coffin plates with a similar flat, of Nicholas Ware. Elizabeth Cleveland’s coffin rectangular form dating between 1844 and *Note: information in ( ) was not available on the coffin plate fragments. It was derived from newspapers, plate from November of 1826 is also a domed 1857 (Ancestors at Rest 2012). city directories, and genealogical information. 46 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 47

Examination of the Spring Street coffin with additional engraved decoration. Three At the time of excavation, many of the plates during cleaning revealed stylistic paral- copper alloy and a soft white metal plate each coffin plates were encrusted with debris and lels in the lettering on at least seven of the contained the same stylized design engraved insect larva (maggot) casings, rendering them coffin plates. These plates date from 1822 to across the top of the plate above the name. The illegible. Mechanical cleaning performed at the 1825 and feature distinct similarities in the for- decoration featured a long, slightly arched line URS laboratory in Burlington, New Jersey mation of certain letters that suggest the same with a series of short lines emanating at an uncovered the finely engraved script that hand lettered all of them. Specific examples angle from each side possibly representing a revealed the identities of some of the individ- are the use of a lower case “d” with an unusu- laurel branch. Of the four plates with this dec- uals interred in the Spring Street Church ally tall curved section and short vertical line oration, two were complete enough to provide vaults. Table 3 provides the personal informa- that is particularly noticeable in the formation dates of 1842 and 1846. The other two frag- tion recovered from the complete plates along of the word “died.” The capital letter “A” in mentary plates retained enough information with partial inscriptions from several fragmen- the word “Aged” consists of a large curved to be matched to mortuary notices in the tary plates. (tab. 3) The dates of death of the section with a long, vertical line at the right newspaper that date them to 1840 and 1842 individuals recorded on the surviving coffin side, in the style of a cursive A. In contrast to respectively. Fragments of one of the plates serve to extend the date range for active these simply formed letters is the lower case Britannia metal plates appeared to have a interment in the vaults from January 1820 “g” with a distinctive small hook projecting pressed or stamped decorative element con- through May 1846. Efforts to research the from the upper right side and an elaborately sisting of short raised ribs along the flange names engraved on the coffin plates spiraled tail that winds broadly beneath the around the outer edge of the plate. Although yielded mixed results. While additional letters “ed” in the word “Aged.” the ribs might have functioned to reinforce information was not available in all cases, On most of the plates, the elegantly the edge of the plate, the repeating pattern some unexpected stories were recovered. engraved lettering was the only ornamentation; gave the plate the appearance of being however, there were four fragmented plates trimmed with a cord. Oswald Williams Roe Oswald Williams Roe was just 10 months Figure 3. Portrait of Georgia Senator Nicholas Ware (1776- and five days old (died November 27, 1822) 1824). (Image courtesy of U.S. Senate Historical Office.) when his small silver coffin plate was engraved over faintly etched guidelines. He vacancy. He continued to represent Georgia in was the son of Peter Eltinge Roe and Susan the Senate until his untimely death in New York Elizabeth Williams (Beam 2008). Roe’s coffin City in 1824 (DeGidio 2003: 89–90, Biographical plate was found in the fill of Vault 4. His Directory of the United States Congress 2008). small, oval coffin plate showed no signs of Senator Ware was in New York City in 1824, the silversmith’s hallmarks. Additional at the time of Lafayette’s visit to the United research indicates that Roe’s uncles, James and States, when he succumbed to an unidentified William Roe, were silversmiths in Kingston, ailment and died on September 7 (Walker 1934: New York (Ensko 1983: 114) and may have 22). On September 22, 1824, a Connecticut provided the silver coffin plate. newspaper, The American Sentinel, reported: “Died. At New York, on the 7th inst. after a pro- tracted illness for relief from which he had Nicholas Ware recently visited the springs, the Hon. Nicholas The coffin plate of Nicholas Ware was one Ware, a Senator in Congress from Georgia.” of the few legible examples at the time of its The recovery of Ware’s coffin plate from discovery (figs. 2 & 3). Ware was born on the Spring Street Church’s vaults clarifies a February 16, 1776 in Caroline County, Virginia. contradiction about his birth while presenting His family lived for a time in Edgefield, South a mystery concerning his burial. Accounts of Carolina before moving to Augusta, Georgia. Ware’s life differ regarding the year of his He received a degree in law and was admitted birth; some state 1769 and others 1776 (Walker to the bar in Augusta. He went on to serve two 1934: 22). On his coffin plate, his age was terms in the Georgia House of Representatives engraved as 48 years and 7 months, verifying (1808–1811, 1814–1815). In 1819, Ware was February 1776 as the date of his birth. The appointed mayor of Augusta to serve out the mystery which remains unsolved is how remainder of Freeman Walker’s term when Ware came to be buried in the vaults of the Walker was elected to the United States Spring Street Presbyterian Church. Several Figure 2. Coffin plate engraved: Nicholas Ware, Died 7th Sept 1824, Aged 48 Years & 7 Mos. Senate. When Walker resigned from the Senate sources on Senator Ware’s life, including (Photograph courtesy of URS Corporation.) in 1821, Nicholas Ware was elected to fill the those maintained by the United States 48 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 49

Congress and those presented on the Ware County acquaintances to her funeral departing “from Rudolphus Bogert (watercolor website, state that he was buried under the annex the east end of the New York Institution in on ivory) was painted in 1806 by of Grace Episcopal Church in the Jamaica, Queens Chamber Street. Also the male members of the New York artist Parmenas County section of New York City (US Congress; Spring Street Church” (New York Daily Howell (1784–1808) and is cur- Ware County Board of Commissioners). Advertiser Feb. 2, 1825). This was the only mor- rently in the collections of the It is not clear how or under what circum- tuary notice to specifically reference members New York Metropolitan Museum stances this account of his burial originated, or of the Spring Street Church. While the notices of Art (fig. 5). why a discrepancy exists at all. There is no for several individuals from the Spring Street vaults invited friends of the closest adult male indication that Ware ever visited the Spring Julia Radcliff Street Presbyterian Church during his time in relative to attend the funeral, this was the only New York; however, the Treasurer’s Minutes announcement to limit attendance along The faintly engraved gender lines. City directories show that John dated September 24, 1824 seem to indicate inscription on this plate was mis- Hunter held the position of Assistant that a man named D.H. Wickham paid the read and transcribed as “John” Superintendent for the Almshouse, or New $10.00 fee to have the Senator interred in one Radcliff aged “50” years. When York Institution, from 1820 until 1831. A news- no records for John were found, of the Spring Street Church vaults (Meade paper article in the Spectator March 18, 1831 an additional search of all the 2008: B.II-5, see also Meade, this volume). announced: “Reform. We learn that the new Although the discovery of Nicholas Ware’s commissioners of the almshouse commenced death notices in New York City coffin plate in these vaults confirms that he the work of reform on Saturday by removing for June 25, 1823 uncovered an was interred at Spring Street, to date his John Hunter from the office of agent. Josiah announcement for Julia Radcliff remains have not been specifically identified. Mann, Esq. was appointed in his place.” who died at age 60. Her husband was Jacob Radcliff who was Louisa Hunter appointed justice of the Supreme Court for the state of New York The plate from the from 1798 until he resigned in coffin of Louisa Hunter 1804. He was twice appointed was recovered in the mayor of New York City to vicinity of Burial 13 in replace Dewitt Clinton in 1810 Vault 4. Concurrent and again in 1815 (Street 1859: forensic examination 190,191). Even more surprising, conducted by Dr. Julia was born Juliana Mather Shannon Novak and Smith, she was the daughter of students from Syracuse the Reverend Cotton Mather University (Werner and Figure 5. Rudolphus Bogert, ca. 1806. Artist: Parmenas Howell (1784- Novak, this volume) 1808) Watercolor on ivory 2 ½ x 2 in. (6.4 x 5.1 cm). Gift of Robert Smith and granddaughter of revealed that Burial 13 Stanley Vail, 1969 (69.187). Published with permission The Reverend Cotton Mather of is an adult, while Burial Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, U.S.A. Image copyright Boston, Massachusetts The Metropolitan Museum of Art/ Art Resource, NY. 16 was identified as an (Worthington 1894: 53). adolescent approxi- Rudolphus Bogert mately 15.5 years of age. Relationships A mortuary notice The broken coffin plate of Rudolphus Information from the coffin plates in com- appeared in the New Bogert, the only plate recovered in direct asso- bination with mortuary notices shows that York Weekly Commercial ciation with intact, articulated skeletal some of those interred in the Spring Street Advertiser, February 1, remains, can be seen in a photograph taken Church vaults were related to each other. 1825: “Died. This during the investigation of the stacked burials While two plates were engraved with the sur- morning, about 3 in Vault 3. (fig. 4) Dr. Thomas Crist’s forensic name Morgan and two others with Sherwood o’clock Louisa Hunter, analysis positively identified Bogert’s remains the exact family connection between these in the 17th year of her as Burial 12 in Vault 3 (Crist, this volume). In people could not be determined at this age, after a long and painful illness, the 1790s, Bogert was a captain in the New time. Research into some of the other names daughter of John York State Militia (Hastings 1901: 367). During provided a variety of relationships and Hunter.” the 19th century, he worked as a merchant in family connections. Table 4 provides infor- The following day a Figure 4. In situ skeletal remains of Rudolphus Bogert showing his New York City (New York Common Council mation on the occupation of the deceased or newspaper notice invited coffin plate positioned on chest beneath his head. (Photograph courtesy 1917: 299). Bogert died on November 15, 1842, their surviving male relative and defines her father’s friends and of URS Corporation.) at the age of 76. A miniature portrait of the relationship if known. (tab. 4) 50 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 51

Table 4. Spring Street coffin plate relationships and occupations. Sarah Ogden Hubbard Alfred Roe Cox / Edward Dorr Griffin Cox

Occupation or Name of Occupation of The coffin plate for Sarah Ogden Hubbard After cleaning a dozen coffin plates, each Name of deceased Address relationship husband/father husband/father was found within the fill disturbed by con- with three lines of text laid out in the same struction machinery at the start of the project; fashion, it was unexpected to see a plate that Charles Morgan as a result, her plate could not be linked to a contained two additional lines. Cleaning the Samuel Curtis accountant 154 Spring St. specific vault. Her mortuary notice mentions coffin plate revealed five lines and two names: Lewis Evans lime cartman 5 Dominick her two young sons, who died around the Alfred Roe Cox and Edward Dorr Griffin Cox. The two boys were the sons of Reverend Emma Fitz Randolph daughter of Stuart Fitz Randolph not listed 502 Greenwich same time. As reported in New Hampshire Patriot and Gazette, February 12, 1841: “Died, In Samuel Hanson Cox and his wife Abiah (née Oswald Williams Roe son of Peter Roe merchant Dey c. Washington New York City, Dec. 27, 1840, Theodore Cleveland). A mortuary notice for the boys’ James Rea, Jun. son of Robert Rea teacher 31 Vandam St. Frelinghuysen Hubbard, about 7, also suddenly, younger sister Abiah provided an account of Jas Wadsworth Dec 29 Sarah Ogden Hubbard, 28, And Jan 22, the deaths and burial of the three children: counselor, former 1841 John Cleaveland Hubbard, about 5,—wife Insatiate Archer, would not one suffice? – Julia Radcliff wife of Jacob (Esq.) 13 Howard NYC Mayor and children of Luther Prescott Hubbard, for- Abiah Caroline Cox, youngest daughter of the Rev. Dr. Cox, departed this life last evening, Eleanor Moore wife of Henry cartman 83 Laurens n. Prince St. merly of Hollis, N.H.” Although coffin plates were not recovered, the boys were probably aged 20 months. Thus, in the course of four senator from funeral from days and a half, three members of this afflicted Nicholas Ware interred in the same vault with their mother. Georgia 36 Broadway family have been removed by death,—all by Mary Sturges mother-in-law Capt. Nathaniel Jarvis shipmaster 284 Spring St. scarlet fever. Alfred Roe Cox, aged 6 years, died Elizabeth Cleveland on Sabbath morning; Edward Dorr Griffin Cox, John R. Clark Moving and stacking of coffins within aged 3 years and 3 months, on Monday morning; and both were buried on Tuesday Assistant Super- East End of the New Vault 4 may have caused Elizabeth Louisa Hunter daughter of John Hunter intendent, NY York Institution in afternoon, in the same grave and the same Institution Chamber St. Cleveland’s plate to be torn from her coffin lid. coffin (Rhode Island American and Gazette, Enough information survived to allow the Ann Semantha Whelpley January 10, 1832). identification of her name, and, consequently, Reverend Cox was the pastor of the Spring Joseph C. Smith son of Ebenezer Smith carpenter 127 Chapel St. of her very detailed mortuary notice. The New Street Presbyterian Church from 1820 until Charlton n. York Weekly Commercial Advertiser reported on Elizabeth Cleveland mother-in-law Dr. Samuel Hanson Cox minister 1825. Reverend and Mrs. Cox were married for McDougal November 28, 1826 that: 48 years and, over that period, produced a Sarah Sherwood At 10 o’ clock A.M. on Thursday, the 23rd inst. total of 15 children. As was common for the Garrett Morgan jeweler 38 N. Moore St. At the house of her son-in-law, Rev. Samuel H. times, many of these children died before Cox, of this city, Elizabeth Cleveland, relict of James Kauck the late Rev. Aaron Cleveland, of Connecticut… reaching adulthood. A daughter, Elizabeth J. W. Root son of James Root fur merchant 20 Bedford Having survived two husbands, three (of eight) Rowe Cox (born November 14, 1822), was the first child to pass away, on July 29, 1823, and Josephine Dunham children, and seen many vicissitudes, her extraordinary bodily vigour first yielded to a was likely one of the early interments in the Alfred Roe Cox son of Dr. Samuel Hanson Cox minister 3 Charlton paralytick [sic] shock, which brought her to a Spring Street burial vaults. In late 1831 and Edward Dorr Griffin Cox son of Dr. Samuel Hanson Cox minister 3 Charlton bed of debility, suffering and death. She was early 1832, tragedy struck the family when thus exercised exactly eight weeks and one four of the children died within a three month Elizabeth Bush wife of Thomas Bush not listed 20 Jay hour… span of time: daughter Mary Liddon Cox James McGregor painter rear 645 Greenwich Elizabeth Clement Breed was the second (born November 23, 1831) passed away on Miles Ray son of Dr. John E. Ray medical doctor 1026 Franklin wife of Reverend Aaron Cleveland. They November 25, 1831 and was followed in early Edgar Howard Harriot son of Edgar Harriot tailor 21 Vandam St. were married shortly after the death of his January by Alfred (born February 7, 1827; died Sarah Ogden Hubbard wife of Luther P. Agent, NY Marine 65 Thompson first wife, Abiah Hyde, in 1788. Aaron and January 1, 1832) and Edward (born September Bible Society Elizabeth named one of their daughters 8, 1828; died January 2, 1832), and daughter Joseph R. Murden teacher 176 Hudson Abiah Hyde (born 1796), after Aaron’s first Abiah Caroline Cox (born March 30, 1830) wife. Abiah Hyde Cleveland married died on January 4, 1832 (Cox 1912: 93). Thomas Crawford father-in-law Dr. James Hart medical doctor 95 Hudson Reverend Samuel Hanson Cox, the second It is probable that all five of the Cox chil- Benjamin N. Abel probably son of George Cook Abel clerk pastor (1820–1825) of the Spring Street dren along with their grandmother—Elizabeth Rudolphus Bogert merchant 20 Charlton Presbyterian Church (Moment 1877: 12). As Cleveland (discussed previously)—were David Sherwood rope maker 72 Crosby an interesting side note, Reverend Aaron interred in the Spring Street vaults, even Cleveland and his first wife, Abiah, were the Jessee W. Wadleigh bookseller boards 222 Sullivan though corresponding coffin plates were not great-grandparents of U.S. President Grover recovered for three of the children. Although Sarah Conger Cleveland (New York Times July 20, 1884). Reverend Cox was no longer the pastor of the 52 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 53

Spring Street Church, Mary, Alfred, Edward, Benjamin was George’s son from a previous and Abiah were most likely placed in the marriage. Spring Street vaults after their deaths in order Some of those interred within the Spring to be close to the remains of their younger sib- Street Church vaults were probably members ling, Elizabeth (Mooney et al. 2008; Meade and of the congregation. Others may have White 2013). belonged to one of the other Presbyterian churches in the city, such as Laight Street, that Lewis Evens and Emma Fitz Randolph did not have burial vaults. A few of the individuals like Georgia Senator Nicholas Ware Lewis Evans surname was misspelled may have been interred there out of necessity. “Evens” on his coffin plate. No mortuary Prior to the widespread use of embalming, the notice was located for 46 year old Lewis Evans dead were often buried where they died; it or Emma Fitz Randolph who died shortly was not common practice to transport them. before her sixth birthday. A published genealogy for the Fitz Randolph family records the marriage of Lewis Evans to Esther Fitz Coffin Letters and Figures Randolph in 1801. Esther was the elder sister Three letters and a single figure cut from of Stewart Fitz Randolph who was Emma’s copper alloy sheet metal were recovered father (Christian and Fitz Randolph 1950: 52). during the investigation of a soil and debris layer immediately above the burials in Vault 4. Joseph R. Murden Two of the letters and the symbol were found The New York City Directories recorded with other coffin hardware and three coffin Figure 6. Letters and symbol trimmed from a sheet of copper alloy, excavated from Vault 4. Joseph R. Murden’s occupation as teacher plates mixed with later 19th century artifacts. (Photography courtesy of URS Corporation.) Although not found attached to a coffin, these until his death at age 74 in 1841. After his metal letters appear to represent coffin letters (New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury October wood exhibited a layer of clear varnish partic- death, Murden’s wife Keziah was listed as that would have been fastened to the lid of the 31, 1768). During the first half of the 19th cen- ularly evident around intact copper alloy both his widow and a teacher. Some of Joseph coffin to spell the individual’s initials, age, and tury, coffin figures were available from hard- screws. An advertisement for Thomas R. Murden’s lectures have been preserved in a year of death. The recovered letters consisted ware merchants in Connecticut and New Buchannan’s Coffin and Furniture Warehouse volume published in 1818 by his son, Joseph of a single F, two Bs, and an ampersand (&) Hampshire. At their new store in Hartford, from the New York Morning Herald, dated July T., who was a printer at 110 Pearl Street. The symbol; each measured two inches in height Wheeler, Bradleys and Company detailed their 22, 1830, offers “coffins of superior workman- book was entitled The Art of Memory, Reduced fig extensive inventory and mentioned “Large ship, various kinds and qualities of wood, to a Systematic Arrangement: Exemplified Under and 1.5 to 1.8 in. wide ( . 6). These pre-cut and small coffin letters, figures, nails and ready made at reduced prices.” the Two Leading Principles, Locality and letters would have required less time and skill hinges” for sale in 1817 (American Mercury One of the fragments of a varnished coffin Association: With a Specimen of a Mnemonic to apply to the coffin than the process of engraving a coffin plate. Similar brass letters December 30 1817). It was not possible to match lid recovered from Vault 3 exhibits a portion of Dictionary. and numbers were documented on the rem- the surviving letters to a specific person or a beveled oval cut-out near the head end of the nants of a coffin from an early 18th-century family. The ampersand symbol may have been coffin, below a shadow where a coffin plate Benjamin N. Abel burial during excavations at St. Martin’s used to record the exact age in years, months, was once attached. This is the only evidence of Only a fragment of the coffin plate for churchyard in Birmingham, England (Brickley and days, or it might suggest the interment of a coffin with a viewing window recovered Benjamin N. Abel was recovered; however, and Buteux 2006: 26). An image of the burial more than one individual in a coffin. from the Spring Street vaults. Although more enough information survived to locate the shows the letters and numbers arranged in commonly associated with later-19th-century brief notice of his death at age 21. His name four rows beginning at the level of the skull Coffins coffins, there are other early examples of cof- did not appear in the city directories in the with the last row arranged over the pelvic Although the overall preservation of the fins with viewing glass. In 1993 the remains of years leading up to his death. Research into region. In the St. Martin’s burial, the coffin fig- coffin wood was poor, in the instances where Henry Opukaha’ia, who died at age 24 of the Abel surname uncovered a tentative con- ures appear to form the initials of the name, coffin shapes could be discerned, they were typhus, were exhumed from the Cornwall nection between Murden and Abel. In 1833, the year of death “172( ),” followed by the hexagonal. Most of coffins would have had flat cemetery in Connecticut for return to his the mortuary notice for George Cook Abel word “(A)GE” and the number “85” indicating lids to facilitate stacking, although one frag- native Hawaii. The excavations conducted by mentioned the place of departure for the the age in years. A search of historical newspa- ment of a gabled coffin lid was noted in the the State Archaeologist uncovered remnants of funeral as 27 Renwick Street, the house of his pers confirms that coffin letters and numbers field. Several fragments of coffin wood and a the original coffin from 1818 with a glass face father-in-law, Joseph R. Murden. When were available for sale in America. In 1768, nearly complete hexagonal coffin lid were plate (Renner 1993, Cornwall Historical Murden’s daughter Ellen S. married George C. Abeel and Byvanck, near Coentries Market in recovered from Vault 3. The coffin wood con- Society 2011). Another later example was doc- Abel in 1826, Benjamin would have been about New York, offered “coffin letters and figures” sisted of light brown, red-painted over light umented in the Jamestown Journal on April 21, five years old. Although no direct connection for sale in an extensive list of metal goods brown, medium reddish brown, and dark 1841 in a published description of President could be established, it seems probable that recently imported from London and Bristol brown woods. Several of the fragments of dark William Harrison’s mahogany coffin: “At the 54 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 55

head is a plate of glass, so to show the face Erwin 1865: 332). Two coffin tacks, each with a Among the various samples collected difficult to assign the fabric to any specific distinctly, without exposing it to the air, or the solid domed white metal head and short iron from the Spring Street vaults was a small function such as clothing, shroud, or coffin touch of visitors.” shanks, were recovered from Vault 3. Coffin clump of unidentified fibrous-looking mate- lining. Specialized ready-made mortuary attire screws and tacks with white metal heads were rial. Closer inspection (using a digital LCD was available at this time, as evidenced by Coffin Hardware in use from about 1840 through 1900 microscope) subsequently revealed this advertisements in the New York City Directories (Davidson 2004: 420). sample to consist of the remnants of small and newspapers. In 1830, Edward Coates, The majority of the mortuary artifacts A total of 21 copper alloy coffin hinges quills, shafts, and plumulaceous and penna- sexton of Trinity Church and undertaker, pub- recovered from the vaults consisted of hard- were recovered, some with fragments of small ceous barbs from feathers. The matted clump lished a half-page notice in the New York City ware, such as nails, screws, and hinges related iron fasteners still attached. The majority of is thought to represent down stuffing from a Directory informing the public that he had to coffin construction. Among the recovered the hinges (n=17) were small, plain, rectan- fabric-covered coffin pillow or mattress pad, opened a warehouse and offered “Shrouds, screws and hinges, most were common hard- gular “butt type” examples; however, the similar to those documented in the Spitalfield Caps, Scarfs, Gloves &c.” along with coffins, ware not specially manufactured for the con- remaining four were probably specifically coffins (Reeve and Adams 1993: 103). hearses and carriages for funerals struction and ornamentation of coffins. “In made as coffin hinges and exhibited a more (Longworth 1830: 3). There was no evidence contrast to the 18th century use of generalized decorative U-, or butterfly, shape (fig. 7). The Fabric of fabric covering on the fragments of coffin hardware forms on coffins (i.e., tacks or hinges size of the decorative hinges and the pattern of wood examined. Likewise the screws and that would not be out of place on household corrosion evident on their surfaces suggest A variety of fabric fragments were recov- other hardware did not reveal the impres- furniture), 19th-century coffin builders used that these hinges were probably used on a ered from Vaults 2, 3, and 4. Most of the sam- sions of fabric sometimes evident on under hinges, tacks, and other fittings that were spe- divided lid coffin. ples were small (only 1–2 in. in diameter). All surfaces in the pattern of corrosion. cifically designed to be used in a mortuary Although coffin handles were available were heavily stained, causing most to appear context” (Bell 1990: 57). The Spring Street during the period of use of the vaults, no han- brown in color. Each piece of fabric was closely coffin hardware suggests that a transitional Ribbons dles or other more elaborate forms of hard- inspected; however, there were no examples of period continued through the first half of the Pieces of finely woven ribbon, possibly silk, ware were recovered from the Spring Street stitched seams, buttonholes, printed patterns, 19th century. The recovered coffin hardware were among the fragments of fabric recovered vaults. The absence of coffin handles seems to embroidery, or punched embellishments. The reflects this shift toward mass-produced, from the Spring Street vault excavations. A few support the coffin plate data as handles were fragmentary nature of the sample made it mortuary-specific hardware. not in common use prior to 1850 (Davidson Although iron coffin nails made up the 2004: 111). The addition of coffin handles majority of the coffin hardware (n=1413), the would have added to the cost of the coffin. It is method of manufacture could not be estab- unclear whether the absence of coffin handles lished in most cases due to poor preservation. at Spring Street relates to economic concerns, Of the nails that could be identified, 181 were cut and 11 appeared to be hand wrought. religious sentiments, aesthetic considerations, Three types of metal screws were observed or some combination of factors. in this sample: iron, copper alloy, and screws with a solid white metal head attached to an Coffin Interior iron shank (fig. 7). Screws were used to secure A few samples of wood shavings and saw- the lid onto the coffin. “When mounted upon a dust were found attached to the interior sur- coffin lid, coffin screws are usually found in faces of some of the coffin wood from Vaults 2 either sets of four (or six), symmetrically and 4. The excavations of 18th- and 19th-cen- arranged with one screw near each corner of tury burial vaults at Christ’s Church the box” (Davidson 2004: 400). The majority of Spitalfields in England uncovered over 200 screws from Spring Street (n=244) were iron coffins with varying amounts of sawdust, and some of the less corroded examples ranging from a thin layer to examples where it appeared to have domed heads. The brass screws (n= 35) appeared to be hand manufac- completely filled the interior spaces of the con- tured as evidenced by a narrow, slightly off- tainer. Descriptions from the Spitalfields vaults center slot in the head, irregularly spaced further note that: threads, and the absence of a gimlet point. Coffin bases were filled with sawdust, wood Between 1834 and 1849, several patents were shaving, etc, which are found on top of the issued that relate to the development of the mattresses, and were probably added after the tapered end or gimlet point (White 2005: 4). body had been viewed, immediately prior to the coffin being sealed. Their purpose was two- The third type of screw (n=16) with an iron fold: firstly to absorb liquid from the body’s shank and solid white metal head was a type decomposition, and secondly to stop the body Figure 7. Sampling of mortuary artifacts: (upper left) ribbon with picot trim; (lower left to right) copper alloy specifically advertised as a “coffin screw” in rolling and bumping while the coffin was being screw, coffin screw, plain rectangular butt-type hinge, decorative coffin hinge. mid-19th-century trade catalogs (Russell and moved (Reeve and Adams 1993: 102). (Photograph courtesy of URS Corporation.) 56 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 57 of the ribbons were trimmed along the outer bone and featured recessed centers and either Miscellaneous Personal Items When the technical report for these investi- edge by a series of small loops–a decorative four or five holes for attachment. Of the gations was prepared, one other gold artifact Some of the miscellaneous small finds feature known as a picot finish (fig. 7). While remaining buttons, four were made of shell was tentatively identified as a piece of jewelry, from Spring Street were directly associated some of the ribbons were thought to be associ- and three were Prosser-type pressed porcelain. possibly part of a brooch. This thin strip of with human remains while other objects were ated with clothing and bonnet or cap ties, the A few (n=4) of the bone buttons and all of the gold terminated on both ends with irregularly recovered from collections of commingled skel- Spitalfields Project report (1993) suggests shell buttons were found associated with spe- formed, asymmetrical curves somewhat hook- etal remains and, therefore, are of uncertain another explanation: cific burials from Vaults 3 and 4. Two of the shaped in appearance, and exhibited a heavy intentional placement with funerary remains. shell buttons were recovered from Vault 3, pattern of wear represented by fine scratches A number of ties were used to stop the body The following is a description of personal Burial 18, with one recovered from the neck on some surfaces. The artifact was recently re- from moving out of position in the coffin. In par- items recovered from the Spring Street site. ticular the legs were tied together, either at the area and the other from the pelvis. The pres- examined and identified as a dental device ankles or by the big toes, and the arms were ence of buttons in these bodily associations (Crist, this volume). sometimes tied to the sides of the body. In suggests that this individual was wearing Coins modern practice medical bandages are used, but some sort of clothing when buried, rather than A total of four United States copper large Hair Combs at Christ Church, the ties were sometimes torn- having been simply wrapped in a shroud. The cents were excavated from the site, all of up strips of other materials or more commonly Large pieces of three tortoise-shell combs report of findings from New York’s African which derived from Vault 4. All of the coins they were plain commercially produced silk rib- were recovered from the western half of Vault Burial Ground archaeological site (Perry et al. were minted in Philadelphia but were in such bons…The function of trussing a body in this 4. Two of these combs had wide back/handle 2006) discusses several burials in which indi- a poor overall state of preservation that their manner is to keep it in a neat, seemly position sections with widely spaced long teeth, sug- while being viewed, and to prevent the limbs viduals were determined to have been interred dates of manufacture were extremely difficult gesting that they were decorative combs used banging against the coffin sides while the coffin is wearing street clothing or clothing beneath a to identify, even after cleaning. The earliest to hold hair in place. The third has a narrow being moved (Reeve and Adams 1993: 104–105). shroud. Several copper alloy wire hooks (n=3) recovered large cent (Draped Bust type) is back with closely spaced, short teeth more dated 1806; the remaining three coins are Re-examination of the ribbon fragments and eyes (n=5) were also recovered among the consistent with the type of comb used for Coronet type (Matron Head: 1816–1839) and revealed that a few pieces had two ends tied remains in Vault 4, supporting the general grooming. Two fragments of a decorative, together, forming a small knot. Inspection interpretation that some of the deceased dated 1819, 181_ (last digit unreadable), and copper-alloy hair comb from the eastern half along the length of these examples showed interred in the vaults were attired in clothing 182_ (last digit unreadable), respectively. Coins of Vault 4 mend to form an incomplete length heavy soiling, folds, and creases that appeared of one form or another. were sometimes placed on the eyelids of the of four inches. While one of the pieces of this consistent with use in binding the extremities deceased to keep the eye closed. All of these comb was recovered with some dark hair still of the deceased, rather than with fastening Shoes coins were in circulation during the period of attached, DNA or other more intensive studies articles of clothing. Several other ribbon sam- active use of the Spring Street vaults (1820– Leather shoe fragments from Vault 4 of this hair sample were beyond the scope of ples were tied in such a way as to form large 1846) and, therefore, could represent objects included three heels from at least two different this investigation. decorative bows. One of these bows had a that were unintentionally left in clothing or pairs of shoes. Two of the heels had small iron copper alloy straight pin still attached near the deliberately placed with the deceased. nails arranged in a U-shaped pattern around Ceramic Saucers center knotted portion. This bow may have the outer edge. The other heel had copper- been attached to the burial shroud or used to Jewelry Three blue decorated saucers were recov- alloy nails that appeared to be wire with a decorate the interior of the coffin. Two iden- ered from Vaults 2, 3, and 4 where they were slightly thickened end forming a head. These The only piece of jewelry excavated from tical black bows, made of a slightly coarser found in association with burial remains. Due copper alloy pegs or nails were arranged in a the burial vaults was a gold wedding band woven thread, were also recovered; their orig- to the disturbed nature of many of the vault U-shaped pattern, and they were shadowed by with an interior diameter of 0.73 in. There inal placement remains unknown. remains and the poor preservation of coffin a series of small, square iron nails. The iron were no hallmarks or engravings visible on the wood, however, it was impossible to establish nails were heavily corroded, and the leather interior or exterior surfaces. The wedding the positioning of these artifacts or their exact Fasteners was cracked and split in the areas with iron band was found in Vault 3, along the left-hand relationship to historic burials at the time they Copper alloy straight pins were among the nails. The double nails may represent some (ring) side of Burials 5 and 7. These sets of were first introduced into the vaults. Because fasteners excavated from the Vaults 2, 3, and 4. type of repair to the heel. The interior sole of remains were badly crushed, one directly atop many of the remains were moved around Although many of the pins were corroded and this latter heel and the exterior surface of sev- the other, and very poorly preserved. Forensic within the vaults, it cannot be confirmed that fragile, some examples retained portions of eral other recovered pieces of shoe leather analysis of Burial 5’s remains identified this the saucers were found in their original loca- their white metal plating. Pins were commonly exhibited traces of an unidentified red sub- person as a young man less than 35 years of tions. The saucer in Vault 2 was found resting used to fasten garments as well as to fix the stance, possibly from a paint or dye. A few age at the time of death. Burial 7 was on badly decomposed wood above Burial 7 burial shroud around the deceased. The pieces of fabric with a coarse twisted thread, identified as a young woman somewhere that could have been the lid of that individu- Spring Street sample included pins with both possibly remnants of knitted stocking, were between 20 and 24 years of age. Based on al’s coffin. The Vault 3 saucer was identified handmade, wire-wound, spherical heads and recovered with the shoe leather. In some of the the diminutive size and appearance of beneath a deposit of crushed and comingled machine-made flat heads. burials excavated at Christ’s Church this ring, it is believed to be a woman’s remains and found sitting on decomposed A total of 31 buttons were recovered Spitalfields, individuals were found to be wedding band and was most likely origi- coffin wood within the fragmentary remains of from the excavation of the vaults. Most of wearing knitted stockings made from wool, nally associated with the unknown Burial 7. Lastly, the Vault 4 saucer was found the buttons (n=24) were manufactured from silk, and cotton (Reeve and Adams 1993: 108). woman represented by Vault 3, Burial 7. in the middle of a deposit of largely comingled 58 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 59

The New York Commercial Advertiser pub- stomachs of each individual. Interments at the lished a story in 1819 on the “Superstitions of Eighth Street burial ground were established Scottish Peasantry” and included the fol- between 1823 and the 1840s (McCarthy 1998), a lowing burial custom: “When the body is date range that corresponds closely with that dressed and laid out, a Bible is often put for Spring Street vaults. beneath its head, while a plate with salt and The Spring Street Presbyterian Church did another with a piece of green turf is placed on apparently possess a mixed-race congregation the breast” (The New York Commercial by the 1820s, and while it is tempting to Advertiser, June 16, 1819). Similar burial tradi- hypothesize that the inclusion of plates in these tions involving saucers or plates were also burial vaults might indicate that African observed in Wales and Ireland later in the 19th American church members were entombed century, as detailed in a book on Welsh folklore: there, analysis of the skeletal remains recov- Of superstitions regarding salt, there are many ered during this investigation found no con- in Wales. I have even encountered the special clusive evidence that any person placed in custom of placing a plate of salt on the breast of these vaults was of African descent. Although the corpse. In the case of an old woman from ten burials did exhibit some skeletal features Cardiganshire, who was buried at Cardiff, and more commonly observed among people of who was thus decked by her relatives, I was African ancestry, there is no way to know told the purpose of the plate of salt was to ‘pre- whether or not they would have been socially vent swelling.’ There is an Irish custom of placing a plate of snuff on the body of a corpse; recognized or self-identified as African hence the saying, addressed to an enemy, ‘I’ll Americans during their lifetimes. In any case, Figure 8. Blue printed saucers recovered from Vault 2, Burial 7 and Vault 3, Burial 7. get a pinch off your belly yet.’ The Irish also none of the plates were found in association (Photograph courtesy of URS Corporation.) employ the plate of salt in the same manner with these specific individuals. burial remains and decayed coffin wood above Vault 2. Analysis of the poorly preserved (Sikes 1880: 328). Burials 14-16. remains from this burial (the same one identi- McCarthy (1998) Although all three were found in frag- fied with the gold wedding ring discussed pre- and other researchers mented states, one saucer mended completely; viously) suggests that they belong to a woman have also raised the pos- the remaining two saucers appear to have 20 to 24 years of age at death. During the exca- sibility that the place- been whole when they were originally intro- vation, her intact left thumb metacarpal was ment of plates in graves duced into the vaults (fig. 8). Each of the sau- recovered from inside one of the largest frag- might represent an cers was decorated with a blue printed scene ments of this saucer. aspect of traditional of a romantic or idealized landscape. The dec- The third piece, a “cup plate” measuring West African cultural orations on two of the saucers may suggest a 5.5 in. in diameter and recovered within a practices retained by possible connection between the individual deposit of non-articulated remains in Vault 4, black populations trans- they were associated with and the theme was decorated with a central scene of ported to the New expressed on the ceramic vessel. The saucer Armitage Park, Staffordshire, England with a World. While this asso- excavated in association with Vault 2, Burial 7 grapevine border (fig. 9). The back was ciation remains a dis- features a young woman in a hat wearing a marked with an impressed maker’s mark for tinct possibility, few traditional costume in a flower garden with Enoch Wood and Sons, an English pottery that examples of this custom exotic buildings in the background. Although produced this scene as part of a series from 1818 have been identified in there is no maker’s mark, this type of African American ceme- through 1846 (Coysh and Henrywood 1982: 27). “European scene” was a popular theme prob- teries subjected to thor- Research indicates that saucers similar to ably manufactured between 1830 and 1850. ough archaeological those found in the Spring Street vaults have Preliminary forensic analysis identified the study and documenta- remains from this burial as a child 4.5 to 5.5 been found in burials from various archaeo- tion. In Philadelphia, years of age. logical sites in England, the United States, and two plates were exca- A scalloped rim saucer associated with Jamaica. Evidence suggests that the tradition vated in 1984–1985 from Vault 3, Burial 7 was decorated in light blue of placing saucers/plates with the deceased burials at the First and featured a central scene with a costumed can be associated with a variety of cultures African Baptist Church man and woman seated in a formal garden and with several related functions. Cemetery on Eighth and a small child leaning on the woman’s Examples have been found in both Street. The plates were knee. This unmarked piece dates to the same European and African American cemeteries placed inside the coffins Figure 9. Dark blue printed cup plate in situ, recovered from Vault 4. time period (1830–1850) as the saucer from (Fremmer 1973: 58; McCarthy 1998). of the deceased, on the (Photograph courtesy of URS Corporation.) 60 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 61

Another potential explanation for the pres- sulphuric acid” (Webster 1845: 138). This from the skeletal remains, the coffin plate infor- Audin, Michael, Sarah Hlubik, and Erol Kavountzis ence of these ceramic vessels that deserves fur- procedure, in turn, produced a chemical reac- mation, when cross referenced with genealogical 2005 Phase III Cemetery Excavation of the Old ther scrutiny is their possible use in sanitizing tion that releases chlorine gas into the air of the records, showed some effort to inter family First Presbyterian Church, Newark or disinfecting the burial chambers. During the room or building being disinfected. Accounts members and relatives within the same vault. Downtown Core Redevelopment Project, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. Report 19th-century, a considerable amount of time indicate that this specific process of fumigation While it may not be possible to match the names prepared by Langan Engineering and and effort was expended to study the effects on was utilized widely throughout Europe during on the coffin plates to the skeletal remains we Environmental Services, New Jersey for the public health that resulted from the decompo- the 19th century. In the 1860s, Dr. Henry know more for having met the Spring Street City of Newark, Newark, NJ. Report on file at sition of human remains in both cemeteries Letheby, Health Officer of London, reported Presbyterians of the early 19th century. the Historic Preservation Office, Trenton, NJ. and vaults. These studies were carried out that “in this manner all of the [burial] vaults of Beam, Carl H. within the context of a broader health, hygiene, the city churches have been disinfected” Acknowledgements and sanitation movement in the United States (Letheby 1866: 276–268); the container Letheby 2008 Roe Family of New York. Electronic and abroad and involved not only the docu- preferred to use in mixing his fumigation The authors would like to thank Edward document, Accessed October 2008. http:// www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycortla/ mentation of the various liquid and gaseous ingredients was a teacup. M. Morin, Stephen W. Tull, and the staff of roeallg.htm. effluvia produced by the body as it decom- Whether or not the ceramic vessels found URS Corporation, Burlington office for assis- tance and support on this project. We appre- posed, but also the study of how these various in the Spring Street vaults were used in con- Belinaye, Henry noxious substances contributed to the (real or junction with similar fumigation efforts is not ciate the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. 1833 The Sources of Health and Disease in perceived) spread of disease and deleterious known; however, this remains an intriguing Thomas Crist and Molly Crist of Utica College. Communities; or, Elementary Views of health effects among populations living in interpretation that has not been discussed in Thanks to Dr. Shannon Novak and students Hygiene. Allen and Ticknor, Boston. close proximity to burial grounds and vaults. prior archaeological investigations. From sur- from Syracuse University for their work with In conjunction with these investigations, efforts viving historical accounts, it is known that the the remains from Vaults 2 and 4. We acknowl- Bell, Edward L. 1990 The Historical Archaeology of Mortuary also were made to identify procedures and Spring Street Church vaults were entered peri- edge Robert Wiencek for conservation of the coffin plates and contributions to the technical Behavior: Coffin Hardware from substances that could effectively neutralize or odically—to deposit deceased members of the Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Historical report. We would also like to thank Diane destroy the byproducts of decomposition. congregation, for the purposes of “regulation” Archaeology 24(3): 54–78. Based on a review of available published litera- by members of the congregation or persons Dallal, Claudia Cooney, and Elizabeth Meade ture, it appears that the preferred method for contracted by the church, and to make repairs at AKRF, Inc. for their collaboration. We are Brickley, Megan, and Simon Buteux accomplishing this task involved the use of rel- to the ceiling—and therefore occasional also grateful to Dr. Susan Maguire for editorial 2006 St. Martin’s Uncovered: Investigations in the expertise and the anonymous reviewers for Churchyard of St. Martin’s-in-the-Bull Ring, atively uncomplicated kitchen chemistry to fumigation may have been desired or produce chlorine-based or other acidic vapors their comments. Birmingham, 2001. Arrowsmith, Bristol, required to prevent injury to those carrying Great Britain. for fumigating toxic enclosed spaces, such as out these actions. sewers, privy pits, and burial vaults. Christian, Louise A, and Howard Stelle Fitz One of the earliest known applications of Conclusions Randolph fumigation to destroy the unhealthy emissions References 1950 The Descendants of Edward Fitz At the time the technical report for this from bodily decay occurred in 1773 when Aiken, Arthur Randolph and Elizabeth Blossom 1630– 1950. Electronic document. Accessed Louis Bernard Guyton de Morveau success- project was prepared, there were few pub- 1803 The Annual Review and History of Literature August 2012. http://www.randolphar- fully employed chlorine gas (then called muri- lished documents on excavations of vault for 1802. T.N. Longman & O. Rees, chives.org/books/Desc%20of%20 atic acid gas) to neutralize the putrid effluvia burials in New York City or elsewhere in this London. Edward%20FitzRandolph%20and%20 country. The mortuary artifacts recovered emanating from burial vaults beneath the floor Elizabeth%20Blossom.pdf. of the Cathedral of Dijon in France (Aiken during the investigation of the Spring Street American Mercury 1817 “New Store of Cheap Hardware 1803: 813–816). In the early 19th century, the Presbyterian Church site communicate details Cornwall Historical Society Goods.” American Mercury [Hartford, results of Morveau’s experiment were of the practices and customs associated with 2011 Foreign Mission School, Electronic docu- CT]. December 30, 1817: 4. Original doc- interments in church vaults and provide some ment. Accessed October 2011. http:// recounted in numerous scientific journals on uments accessed through Genealogy Bank, both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. By the 1830s baseline data for further research. The analysis www.cornwallhistoricalsociety.org/for- Accessed October 2011. http://www.gene- eign_mission_school.htm. and 1840s, his method of disinfecting confined of these artifacts provides information on the alogybank.com. coffin hardware in use during the first half of spaces had become common subject matter in Coysh, Arthur W., and R. K. Henrywood various domestic “encyclopaedias” and other the 19th century as the mortuary industry was American Sentinel 1982 The Dictionary of Blue and White Printed widely circulated popular publications (e.g., developing and funerary hardware was 1824 “Died.” American Sentinel [Middletown, Pottery 1780–1880, Volume 1. Antique Belinaye 1833: 126–127; Webster 1845: 138–140). becoming more specialized. The names and CT]. September 22, 1824: 3. Original docu- Collector’s Club. Woodbridge, Suffolk. ments accessed through Genealogy Bank, As related to the ceramic plates recovered from dates of death revealed through cleaning and Accessed October 2008. http://www.gene- the Spring Street vaults, these early accounts of examination of the coffin plates enabled fur- Cox, Henry M., George W. Cocks, and John Cox alogybank.com. 1915 The Cox Family in America. Accessed October “do-it-yourself” fumigation describe that the ther research that uncovered the identities, 2008. http://books.google.com/books?id=PT simplest way to produce chlorine vapor was to occupations, and familial relationships of some Ancestors At Rest NGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA30&source=gbs_ “put some common salt into an earthenware of the individuals interred in the vaults. 2012 Coffin Plates. Accessed October 19, 2011. toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q=Samuel%20 dish [emphasis added], and pour upon it some Although no patterning could be established http://ancestorsatrest.com/coffin_plates/. Hanson&f=false. 62 White and Mooney/Analysis of the Mortuary Artifacts from the Spring Street Vaults Northeast Historical Archaeology/Vol. 39, 2010 63

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Simon, Donald E. 1980 The Worldly Side of Paradise Green-Wood Cemetery. In A Time to Mourn: Expressions of Grief in Nineteenth Century America, ed. by Martha V. Pike and Janice Gray Armstrong. The Museums at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY. Rebecca L. White is the Laboratory Manager for URS Corporation in Burlington New Jersey. She Spring Street Presbyterian Church researched and analyzed the mortuary artifacts 1811–1828 Treasurer’s Minutes. from the Spring Street vault excavations. Ms. Unpublished. In the collection of the White’s research interests include historical, Presbyterian Historical Society, mortuary, and industrial archaeology with an Philadelphia, PA. emphasis on early American stoneware, red- ware, and glass manufacture. Thomas, Ronald A., Betty C. Zebooker, Christopher M. Hazel, David L. Weinberg, Arthur Washburn, Thomas A. J. Crist, and Megan Springate Rebecca L. White 2000 Archaeological Investigations at the Laboratory Manager Mother UAME Church Cemetery (7NC-E- URS Corporation 132) Wilmington,Delaware. Report pre- 437 High Street pared by MAAR Associates, Inc. for Burlington, NJ 08016 Mother UAME Church and MBNA [email protected] America Bank, N.A. Report on file at the Historic Preservation Office, Newark DE.

United States Congress Douglas Mooney is a Senior Archaeologist 2008 Nicholas Ware. Biographical Directory of the with the URS Corporation in Burlington, New United States Congress. Electronic document, Jersey. He served as the Principal Investigator Accessed October 2008. http://bioguide.con- for the Spring Street vault excavations. gress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000148. His research interests include prehistoric, historical, urban, and mortuary archaeology. Walker, Laura Singleton 1934 History of Ware County, Georgia. J.W. Burke Douglas B. Mooney Co., Macon. Senior Archaeologist Ware County Board of Commissioners URS Corporation 2008 Ware County Georgia. Electronic docu- 437 High Street ment. Accessed October 2008 http:// Burlington, NJ 08016 www.warecounty.com. [email protected]