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3 Seth Luther. Stonecarver of the Narragansett Basin by Vincent F. Luri" In the quiet comers of cemeteries in Providence and in a few surrounding towns are some gravestones that have completely escaped the attention of historians and cultural antiquarians. Although these stones are clearly the work of one man, a talented and even inspired artist, they have gone unheralded. Despite this lack of recognition. the carved stones are singular and intense examples of the work of an early New England stonecarver. The carved stones are noteworthy - striking. in (act - because they differ from other stones located in the Narragansett Basin. Anistically, the carving style is unlike other styles that were popular in the area and that have since become better known. The style of these stones is reminiscent of the massive. bold renderings of Connecticut carvers. but the geographical distribution of the stones (with a strong concentration in Providence) and the unique idiom of style point to a native carver. a <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> craftsman of talent and ability. Fortunately, the identity of this carver has been recently revealed. His name was Seth Luther. Following a lead first uncovered by Harriette Forbes in her pioneering work on New England stonecarvers, I discovered Luther's name hidden in the probate records of Providence.' In 1756, John Anthony Angel. a Providence stonecutter, "being sick and weak of body," bequeathed his real estate and working tools to his brother-in-law, Seth Luther.' The tools were an important an d valuable heirloom. In fact, when Luther wrote his own will, dated July 11, 1783, he described himself as a "housewright alias stone cutter" and left his tools to one of his sons. Brightman, of Scituate, <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong>.' Seth Luther was born in Swansea. Massachusetts. on November 23. 1709. the son of Joshua and Experience (Braman) Luther. In 1733, while living in Rehoboth. he married Mary Vorce (Vase). Apparently, he later married a <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> woman. although records of this second marriage have not been found . Records do reveal, however, that he married Mrs. Esther Brightman in Portsmouth on September 25. 1740. Although he and Abiah Luther bought forty acres of land in Rehoboth in 1738, by 1742 Seth Luther had become a freeman of <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> residing at Newport.' Sometime during the next fourteen years. he moved to Portsmouth and probably lived there until he inherited John Anthony Angel's land in Providence.' In 1757 he became a freeman of Providence and in 1764, when the boundaries of the North Burial Ground were revised. he received a grant of fifty square feet of land.' During the early 1760s. his name also appeared in some Nova Scotia records as a subscriber for shares in a settlement on the Tantramar River. He may have moved to Nova Scotia. perhaps in 1763, but most likely he remained in Providence along with other subscribers who never made the journey north.' He died in Providence on September 26. 178.5. Luther probably learned the art of sronecarving from John Anthony An gel, his relative and benefactor. It appears. in fact. that Angel and Luther worked together as stonecarvers, sometimes on the same stones, On certain stones dating from the "Mr. Luu .. pml_ 01 m" .1 South_em Ma..;h.-n:o Univftwny,
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