Program

NYS Historic

Subject

People

Location

Route 41, Afton, NY

Lat/Long

42.31278, -75.59833

Grant Recipient

Town of Coventry

Jonas W. Stewart was born in 1778 into a generational carver family. He and his brother learned the trade from their father, Jonas W. Stewart, Sr. Jonas Jr. carved many stones in eastern Vermont. Around 1810 he traveled westward and spent much of his time in the Town of Coventry due to the nearby quarry which had fine quality stone. He resided in a local hotel on a busy turnpike road and carved stones across south central New York State. In order to make his work known, he would often carve a simple coffin with an overarching willow on the stone’s face. He was also known to utilize a more creative approach with “fanciful folk images” related to the deceased. He occasionally carved winged faces mimicking his father’s New England archaic Puritan design. On July 31, 1822, J. W. Stewart was arrested for an unknown reason by a constable in Coventry. At that time, his work ceased.