46 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the Virgin Mary, over whose head is the dove, and under her feet 

 the skull and crossbones. Clark, 2:280. This is from the fort of 

 1696. 



On adjoining lands, Mr Clark said, " brass crosses have frequently 

 been plowed up, and some of the most perfect and highest finished 

 ones have over the head of the Saviour the letters 1. n. r. i. Most 

 of the crosses found in other places have the letters 1. h. S. j> Clark, 

 2:281. This was more than 50 years ago, and they are occasionally 

 found yet, as well as on earlier sites. 



A few representative early forms will be illustrated, and the reader 

 will readily see the difference between these, with their many sym- 

 bols, and the ornamental forms already described, in which these 

 are lacking. Most of these are either of brass or lead: 



Fig. 194 is the obverse of a fine brass crucifix belonging to the 

 late Hon. George S. Conover of Geneva N. Y. He had several of 

 these. This has a beaded border. Christ has his arms extended, 

 a halo and 1. N. R. 1. are above his head, and the skull and cross- 

 bones beneath his feet. The reverse has the Virgin Mary with the 

 moon beneath her feet, and the dove descending from above. On 

 the arms on this side are the words IESVS MARIA. Mr Conover had 

 this from a burial place on the Read farm, lot 32, town of Seneca. 

 Mr Conover said: "As many as 50 crosses are known to have been 

 found in this burial ground, and probably a great many more, as in 

 former times, when the field was plowed, it was not an uncommon 

 thing to find a number of crosses and other emblems with religious 

 devices." 



Fig. 217 is a fine brass crucifix from the Rose hill farm, east of 

 ( leneva X. Y., obtained by Dr W. G. Hinsdale. The obverse has 

 Christ with the usual emblems, but with the head bent down. On 

 the reverse are the Virgin and child, with emblems near the ends of 

 the arms. The pointed top of this crucifix is perforated, and forms 

 nearly a true pitch. 



Fig. 214 is a brass crucifix from Cayuga county, having a beaded 

 edge. The only emblems accompanying the figure of Christ are the 

 halo and inscription above the head. The obverse of this is not 

 recalled. 



