The Cemetery Detective explores Howard Street Cemetery, Salem Massachusetts. Slate Gravestones

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Howard Street Cemetery - Salem, Massachusetts
If I were to take a job as a gravestone engraver in Salem Massachusetts in the 1600s, I would surely be fired on my first day of employment. How, oh how, did engravers make it through an entire epitaph without a single mistake?
In writing this description, I have already made two dozen mistakes and I am simply typing them on a keyboard, not engraving them with mallet and chisel.
The Epitaph of Enoch Dow
Enoch Dow
Born in Kensington New Hampshire
August 16 1780 and died in Salem June 12 1813 AE 32 years
The Second Son of Richard and Mary Dow of Wakefield in the same state.
He was a uniform and liberal friend to the poor.
He died with a perfect resignation to the divine will
and a rational assurance of a glorious immortality.
If prosperous days or smiling friends
or vigorous health thy hope ascends
then learn of me a solemn truth
these were all mine in cheerful youth
but oh from death they would not save
and all are useless in the grave
a holy life gives bliss divine
fear God and endless joys are thine.

[@c4c4cr0773]

They were probably marking the text with a pencil or a chalk first on the stone, they would correct the mistakes and only after they would carve the letters, once the text was reviewed.

[@TheCemeteryDetective]

That is a good point. I would still make mistakes even if it was pre-marked. :-D