The Dodge Pottery of Charlestown

I have an exciting discovery to tell about. The William Pecker and Charlestown tie up until yesterday was only theory and speculation between a relative of Benjamin Dodge that Lura Woodside Watkins briefly mentions in her book. She says that Dodge's uncle was a Charlestown potter. She also mentions that his uncle may have raised him. That's about as specific as it got. There now may actually be some truth to my idea. 

I have learned of a fourth Charlestown potter's name - Dodge Pottery. The shards appear to be redware - so I am going to go out on the limb and say that Dodge was a redware potter(y), but it has not yet been completely researched or proven. Careful analysis of the archaeological context will allow for conclusive association of the redware with the Dodge pottery, and this analysis is ongoing. I also don't know if Dodge was only one potter or if it was a group or even a company - I'm hoping to determine this in time.

It will be an interesting study to see if I can determine if this pottery has any ties to Benjamin Dodge of Merrimacport, Massachusetts and the Dodge Family of Portland, Maine & Exeter, New Hampshire.

Dodge Pottery Works redware spice jar (far left)

Photo Courtesey: Skinner, Inc - Boston

The Dodge Family Pottery of Exeter was a relatively large sized family of potters - four in total.  Unfortunately not much is known of the pottery the family produced other than Benjamin Dodge's work in Portland. In one of my previous blog postings I showed three pieces of Exeter made pottery. The orange jug is an early Frank H. Lamson jug, while the two yellow pieces could very-well be Dodge Family made, but there is no proof of that other than they being Exeter made. Like I said, not much is known about the Dodge's of Exeter.

Benjamin Dodge (c.1790-1875) began in Exeter before moving to Portland to start the Dodge Pottery Works. He was a rather eccentric individual - by today's standards you may say he had mental issues. It's an interesting story of his struggles with mental health and his pottery. He eventually killed himself. Despite all of his struggles he was a talented potter and he is remembered today because of that.

I am assuming that the Benjamin Dodge of Merrimacport was related in someway to the Dodge's of Exeter - after all, the two areas are separated by only a matter of miles. Watkins book does not tie the two together, but I find it hard to believe that there is not a family tie.

If the Dodge Pottery did have ties and dates properly to Merrimacport's Benjamin Dodge (both being 18th century potters/potteries) - then this could also be another theory as to how William Pecker learned his stoneware skill. This could possibly be where Dodge trained and occasionally visited with Pecker. Aside from all this, Dodge did have an uncle who was a documented known potter in Charlestown - and maybe this ties it all together.

 

Pictured above is the William Pecker stoneware jar that was found at a southern flea market. Ceramics in America discussed it in the 2004 edition. Photos are all courtesy of Rob Hunter, Ceramics in America and Chipstone Foundation. 

Here is the link to the original stoneware article written by Ceramics in America contributor, John Kille.

All of this research picks up where they left off.

Who knows how the jug traveled down to the southern states? Maybe the seller came from the Northeast to sell at the flea market or it could have even traveled down over the years. I'm sure the buyer or owner of this jar could help determine it's origin of how it came to the flea market. It's quite interesting.

And pardon me once again if I borrow the saying, but imagine if this pot or rather, any of these pots could talk!? The stories they would tell!

This is a two gallon marked stoneware jug that surfaced from a Wenham, Massachusetts home last winter (2012). It was left behind and someone who cleans out homes found it.

 

This stoneware jug was found last summer (2012) in a home in Newburyport, Massachusetts. There is a provenance on it that dates back to the 1950s with ownership in Newburyport. Despite it not being marked, it does show similar characteristics with the Pecker stoneware jug above - especially with the form, clay imperfections, glaze imperfections and decoration. This jug in particular feels like redware. It has a really odd texture to it. The glaze on it feels like some of Pecker's experimental glazed jugs. 

I'm trying to make the argument that this is an unsigned jug made by Pecker. It does have the lengthy local provenance going for it within the same area that Pecker worked.

Aside from these two jugs and jar - I know of two other pieces of Pecker signed stoneware. Five pieces! That sounds like experimentation to me.

Some stoneware potters did not sign their one gallon jugs, but 2 gallon and larger ones they did. This cold possibly be the case with this jug. Frederick Carpenter and Jonathan Fenton did not sign or stamp some of their one gallon jugs - both of which are Charelestown stonware potters during the same period as Pecker. The signed Pecker jug above is two gallons and the unsigned one below it is one gallon. The jar that Ceramics in America discusses is two gallons.

If you notice, the three stoneware pieces above all have some type of issue or flaw whether it being in the glaze, clay or form. There is a defect in each piece - and much like Pecker's experimental glazes, it appears to me that he was experimenting with stoneware as well.

Pecker could possibly have ties to Charlestown's stoneware and redware industries. He may even have ties to Exeter, New Hampshire - as well as Portland, Maine. This is exciting!

Traditional Pecker Glaze

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Ma

If all of this proves true - then Pecker, I feel is a very important potter in the history of American ceramics. He is already important, but I feel this makes him that much more important. 

If everything tests out - we may be able to call Pecker not only a potter of Merrimacport, Massachusetts, but Charlestown as well.

The Dodge family of potters would begin in Charlestown and extend to Merrimacport, Massachusetts, Exeter, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine. All of which are important pottery communities that are known for a culture of ceramics. Pecker through marriage would be part of the Dodge family pottery.

Regardless of all of this - it will be interesting to see when the Dodge Pottery of Charlestown dates and if I can then link that pottery to Benjamin Dodge in Merrimacport and the Dodge's of Portland and Exeter. I'm hoping it will all be proven.

I think this is all really exciting and I am very encouraged by it. My studies are not only to learn of the industry in Charlestown, but to also see its impact on the areas outside of it. We may have a link to a well-known 18th and early 19th century potter being influenced by Charlestown - that by the name of William Pecker. I hope this is true and I hope more of Charlestown's influence on New England potters and areas will follow in my research.

Please stay tuned....