The Remains of a Late-18th or 19th Century Red Earthenware Potter's Business Possibly Identified in Limington Village, Maine

According to a book written by Paul E. Rivard, 'Made in Maine', "Redware potteries existed in Maine as early as the 1730s and were sometimes produced as a joint effort with bricks and lime. These first redware makers produced a fairly large range of domestic containers including pots for cream, brown bread and beans; jars for molasses; jugs for cider and vinegar; and milk pans."

I recently visited Limington, Maine antiques dealer, Bill Kelly's eighteenth century house in Limington, Maine to review a large collection of sherds, wasters and kiln furniture that have been recovered on his property while gardening and during the process of replacing the home's sills.

The ownership of the property is somewhat questionable; although, it is believed that the first minister of Limington may have been the first owner. The home is currently under a restoration project. Unfortunately, the potter responsible for the artifacts is currently unknown, but the evidence certainly suggests that a potter was employed at this location or nearby.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares), "Miss (Margaret) Jewell, in her article on Maine potteries, has noted the presence of a shop in Limington. She has since learned that this works was actually in the town of Standish, at the end of the bridge over the Saco." 

Neverthelesss, M. Lelyn Branin wrote in 'The Early Potters and Potteries of Maine,' "John Bickford, the oldest son of James Brickford (Buxton, Maine) apparently setup a pottery on his nineteen acres of land in Limington in the early years of the nineteenth-century. The land was purchased in 1819. John purchased another thirty acres in 1829 that bordered the Saco River. In 1839, he purchased another four acres, also along the Saco River. Purportedly, much of the land was purchased for its wood and use in Bickford's kiln."

Robert Davis was also listed as a working potter in Limington in Branin's book, but he worked in the latter years of the nineteenth-century. The evidence discovered on Bill Kelly's property appears to be production from the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth-centuries, but before 1830.

The recovered forms include bowls, unglazed crocks and pots, interior glazed crocks and pots, possibly porringers or cups, plates, jugs, mugs, milk pans and flower pots.

Neighboring houses include a home built around 1792 and the McArthur House, which was built in the 1770s and purchased in the 1790s by an eighteenth and nineteenth-century lawyer  named McArthur. The McArthur children's portraits were painted by Maine artist, Royal Brewster Smith and owned today by Historic New England as part of the Nina Fletcher Little acquisition at Cogswell's Grant in Essex, Massachusetts.  The village church is also only a few hundred yards away; whereas, it was built in 1792.

Note: Here is a link to an article that I wrote about an important pitcher recovered next door to Bill Kelly's property that may be related to what is discussed in this article.

Limington Village, Maine

Limington Village, Maine

Bill Kelly's House in Limington, Maine

Early-20th Century Photograph of Bill Kelly's House

The House was Built in the 1790s

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Bill Kelly - Limington, ME

The Front of the House is Where a Number of Artifacts Have Been Recovered

Photo Courtesy: Bill Kelly - Limington, ME

Sign Attached to Maine Antique Dealer, Bill Kelly's Home in Limington Village, ME

Front of House

Many Sherds Discovered Around the Edge of House

Side of the House

Back of the House

Driveway and Gardens Next to the Driveway

Many Sherds Discovered in These Two Locations

McArthur House in Limington, Maine

 McArthur House Built in the 1770s in Limington, Village, ME

Built in the 1770s

Barn on the McArthur Property in Limington Village, ME

But Original to Bill Kelly's Property

Sherds, Wasters and Kiln Furniture Recovered in Limington, Maine

Kiln Furniture Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Wasters Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Green Glazed Sherds Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Additional Glazes Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Handle and Appears to Be a Cup or Porringer with Handle Attachment

 Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

More Glaze Colors Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Sherds from Utilitarian Pots and Crocks
Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Possibly Unglazed Flower Pots Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Possibly a Mug Sherd Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

 Exterior Base of Mug

Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Possibly Mug Bases Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Interior of Plate or Pan Sherd Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Exterior of Plate or Pan Sherd Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Very Delicate Reconstructed Bowl

Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Another View of the Bowl

Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Bowl Sheds Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Refined Sherds Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Another View of the Refined Sherds Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

 More Glazes Recovered on Bill Kelly's Property in Limington Village, ME

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...