A Haskell matrix solution to the equation of stress equilibrium is used to describe the crustal response to a screw dislocation source lying beneath a uniform elastic crust capped by a regon of layered rigidity. The solution is used to illustrate the effect a stratified crustal rigidity has on the near surface in situ stress field. Without accounting for this effect, it is possible to overestimate the deep tectonic stress levels inferred from in situ vertical gradients measured in the uppermost crust.