Archive 2022 · Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
p.1 #1Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
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I spent about 6 months roaming unique and extremely olde cemeteries in my 2 counties to find all his stones. Some hidden in the woods bordering the church cemeteries that are now destroyed except for the headstones.
Please read this first.
I left the stone's patina as is because it never changed over the hundreds of years.
https://mdhistoricaltrust.wordpress.com/2015/02/12/african-american-gravestone-carver-sebastian-boss-hammond/
Sep 28, 2022 at 11:46 AM
p.1 #2Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Fantastic "back drop" story Danny!
Just wonderful images!
Very well done! Yes it belongs in the "People" category despite no person image.
Garryowen brother!
Dom
Just wonderful images!
Very well done! Yes it belongs in the "People" category despite no person image.
Garryowen brother!
Dom
Sep 28, 2022 at 12:00 PM
p.1 #3Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
What a great story about this gentleman Dan. The workings of his carvings are a true memorial to his unique craft. It was nice to hear that he and his family got their freedom from slavery and owned a piece of America thereafter 
Thanks for sharing, just incredible.
Karl
Thanks for sharing, just incredible.
Karl
Sep 28, 2022 at 01:24 PM
p.1 #4Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Cool set Dan. Reminds us that, in days of yore, only the wealthy got their portraits documented.
Sep 28, 2022 at 01:52 PM
p.1 #5Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Hi Dan...
What a wonderful set of photographs and a big hat tip to you for taking the time to document all of this gentleman's headstones. The linked article about his life and work is fascinating, and one can only imagine the life he led as a slave and eventually as a free man.
Great work.
Tom
What a wonderful set of photographs and a big hat tip to you for taking the time to document all of this gentleman's headstones. The linked article about his life and work is fascinating, and one can only imagine the life he led as a slave and eventually as a free man.
Great work.
Tom
Sep 28, 2022 at 02:00 PM
p.1 #6Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Thank You everyone!
It was an adventure to say the least!
I tried to find the quarry he cut his stones from, Sams Creek, but was unable to find the exact location.
America has been built on the backs of many peoples! This slave/freedman was fortunate to have an avenue to freedom and he took it. He was lucky! And I don't mean that, he was lucky, in a disrespectful way.
It was an adventure to say the least!
I tried to find the quarry he cut his stones from, Sams Creek, but was unable to find the exact location.
America has been built on the backs of many peoples! This slave/freedman was fortunate to have an avenue to freedom and he took it. He was lucky! And I don't mean that, he was lucky, in a disrespectful way.
Sep 28, 2022 at 02:22 PM
p.1 #7Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Nice work Dan,
Love old cemeteries and head stones, especially the really old ones.
Quite a craft there and I'm sure pride in the carver/engravers work.
Hard to find now a days.
Love old cemeteries and head stones, especially the really old ones.
Quite a craft there and I'm sure pride in the carver/engravers work.
Hard to find now a days.
Sep 28, 2022 at 07:07 PM
p.1 #8Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Excellent photos. His work is beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to post this.
Sep 28, 2022 at 10:50 PM
p.1 #9Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Perspective
This backstory, will carry forward.
This backstory, will carry forward.
Sep 29, 2022 at 05:23 AM
p.1 #10Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Excellent images and a great story. It sounds like he was a respected man with an exceptional talent.
Sep 29, 2022 at 05:32 AM
p.1 #11Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Wonderful series and story Dan....
Sep 29, 2022 at 06:15 AM
p.1 #12Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Bill Gass wrote:
Nice work Dan,
Love old cemeteries and head stones, especially the really old ones.
Quite a craft there and I'm sure pride in the carver/engravers work.
Hard to find now a days.
Thanks Bill!
I read about this man in a local news article years ago.
When I retired, I decided to explore those cemeteries because they are near me. Most very hard to find because the churches that were there were wood and now gone.
It was a sight to behold. His headstones were some of the last remaining headstones "in place" after hundreds of years. The patina still looked "fresh" and the carved lettering was just super!!! Superior craftsmanship!
Thanks!
Dan
Nice work Dan,
Love old cemeteries and head stones, especially the really old ones.
Quite a craft there and I'm sure pride in the carver/engravers work.
Hard to find now a days.
Thanks Bill!
I read about this man in a local news article years ago.
When I retired, I decided to explore those cemeteries because they are near me. Most very hard to find because the churches that were there were wood and now gone.
It was a sight to behold. His headstones were some of the last remaining headstones "in place" after hundreds of years. The patina still looked "fresh" and the carved lettering was just super!!! Superior craftsmanship!
Thanks!
Dan
Sep 29, 2022 at 08:18 AM
p.1 #13Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Doc25 wrote:
Excellent photos. His work is beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to post this.
Thanks "Doc"!
It was a satisfying project!
His story even more satisfying!
Dan
Excellent photos. His work is beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to post this.
Thanks "Doc"!
It was a satisfying project!
His story even more satisfying!
Dan
Sep 29, 2022 at 08:19 AM
p.1 #14Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
RustyBug wrote:
Perspective
This backstory, will carry forward.
Thanks Kent!!
Dan
Perspective
This backstory, will carry forward.
Thanks Kent!!
Dan
Sep 29, 2022 at 08:20 AM
p.1 #15Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
spoupard wrote:
Excellent images and a great story. It sounds like he was a respected man with an exceptional talent.
I totally agree and in a period of our history where the division among people was huge!
Thanks!
Dan
Excellent images and a great story. It sounds like he was a respected man with an exceptional talent.
I totally agree and in a period of our history where the division among people was huge!
Thanks!
Dan
Sep 29, 2022 at 08:21 AM
p.1 #16Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
airfrogusmc wrote:
Wonderful series and story Dan....
Thanks Allen!
S/F!
RD
Wonderful series and story Dan....
Thanks Allen!
S/F!
RD
Sep 29, 2022 at 08:22 AM
p.1 #17Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Superb series. The first image is my pick.
Sep 29, 2022 at 12:49 PM
p.1 #18Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Rajan Parrikar wrote:
Superb series. The first image is my pick.
My very 1st headstone I found my friend!!!
Agree!
Thanks!
Dan
Superb series. The first image is my pick.
My very 1st headstone I found my friend!!!
Agree!
Thanks!
Dan
Sep 29, 2022 at 02:12 PM
p.1 #19Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
Dan, what a cool back story! Great set of images and craftsmanship is just incredible👍🏻 Thanks for sharing.
Sep 29, 2022 at 10:36 PM
p.1 #20Boss Hammond - Headstone Carver-Slave
keepclicking wrote:
Dan, what a cool back story! Great set of images and craftsmanship is just incredible👍🏻 Thanks for sharing.
Thank you my friend Parul!
The carving is just spectacular! Headstones set 50-60 years later, the lettering has almost been "smoothed" over from weather. The letter edges are still "sharp and well defined". The color has only gotten better over the 100+ years.
Thanks for comments!
Dan
Dan, what a cool back story! Great set of images and craftsmanship is just incredible👍🏻 Thanks for sharing.
Thank you my friend Parul!
The carving is just spectacular! Headstones set 50-60 years later, the lettering has almost been "smoothed" over from weather. The letter edges are still "sharp and well defined". The color has only gotten better over the 100+ years.
Thanks for comments!
Dan
Sep 30, 2022 at 08:52 AM