The Osborn Family of South Danvers and Their Role Within New Hampshire's Early Redware Industry - South Danvers, Ma Potters Report 5

Osborn Family of South Danvers, Ma Report1

The Goldthwaites Family of South Danvers, Ma Report2 

The Southwick Family of South Danvers, Ma Report3 

Possibly Kiln Remains of Salem Village, Danvers or South Danvers Potter Report4 

 Early 19th Century New England Redware Jugs

Each Sees a Similar Form, Incised Line Decoration, Handle and Size
They Are NOT All From the Same Maker

Can you tell the difference between these three jugs? Yes - the glazes are the obvious, but potters used a variety of glaze colors to appeal to a broader marketplace. You can usually never go by glaze color alone to properly attribute an example of redware. However, don't the forms all seems similar with a few slight variations? Think about it for a minute, please read today's report and I'll tell you more about these jugs at the end of the report.

Jacob Osborn began his work in Essex County Massachusetts before the American Revolution began. He was born, trained and briefly employed under the successful Osborn family operation.

Jacob Osborn left South Danvers, Massachusetts sometime before 1775 when he reportedly finished building a home in Loudon, New Hampshire. The Osborn tradition lasted for more than a hundred years in Loudon - eventually ending in 1885. The family's operation in town is known today as Osborn Hill. 

It is thought that Jacob left Essex County to work in a less competitive environment. Danvers saw dozens of potters around the time of the American Revolution and Jacob likely wanted to get away from this work in an area that his work would be near exclusive in. He may have wanted to expand the Osborn family operation through a possible idea to monopolize much of the region and in-truth, that is what the Osborn family did in much of New Hampshire and on Massachusetts' North Shore of the early nineteenth century.

The Osborns were a family of Quakers. Quakers only married among the sect and most of the Osborn family were trained potters and with marriage - the family's tradition within New England's potter's industry only grew and continued to expand. It makes complete sense that parts of the family would eventually leave South Danvers in search of more profitable locations.

Many of the New Hampshire potters trained in the South Danvers neighborhood or were influenced by potters who did. The Osborn family is credited with working in South Danvers, Charlestown and Berkely, Massachusetts - and Exeter, Loudon, Gonic, Boscowan and Dover, New Hampshire.

No stoneware production or experimentation is known by the Osborn family. All knowledge today leads to only redware manufactories.

I recently discovered this end of the day piece in New Hampshire. I have no idea what the form's intentions or purpose were, but the shape and study opportunity intrigued me. Pieces were typically made at the end of a work day with leftover clay that were not part of the normal production. Many examples were a result of potters having fun and showing a unique vision in what they made after work. This piece may represent a small amount of clay that was not initially used - only to eventually be made into what you see. Any thoughts on what its purpose was? A child's toy? A paper weight? Merely decorative?

Mid 19th Century Redware Found in New Hampshire

Very Unusual Form

3.5 Inches Tall
Possibly An End of the Day Piece Made from Leftover Clay
Possibly a Unique Form and Size

I knew of a similar formed jug in the New Hampshire Historical Society's collection that demonstrates a likewise form. It is attributed to Elijah Lowell of Orange New Hampshire. I attribute the form I found to Elijah Lowell as well. The characteristics and makers styles are nearly unique and each shares exact features. I have no doubt each was made by the same maker. The New Hampshire Historical Society's jug descended through the Lowell family of Orange until it was donated. The donors were Elijah Lowell's son and grandson. These forms may have been intended for special occasions and only produced for such an event. I have never seen such a form outside of these two examples.

Elijah O. Lowell Redware Jug - Orange, NH

Dated 1869

5.5 Inches Tall

Descended in the Lowell Family

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Historical Society - Concord, NH

The Lowell Pottery operated in Orange from roughly 1818 to 1872. Isaac Lowell moved from Loudon in 1818 to establish a pottery that was nearly sixty miles to the northwest in Orange. He likely apprenticed at the Osborn pottery in Loudon.The Orange pottery business was later managed by his son Elijiah Lowell and his son, Allen Lowell.

Likely Isaac Lowell Redware Jug - Orange, NH

Circa 1820-1840

Do you have any idea where the jugs in the first photo at the top of today's report were made? I'll give you a hint - two were made in South Danvers and one in Loudon - all of which are the product of the Osborn family. 

All Three Jugs Made Circa 1780-1840.

Two Were Made in South Danvers, Ma and One in Loudon, NH

The jugs to the right and left were made in South Danvers, Massachusetts and the middle in Loudon, New Hampshire. Each was made by a member of the Osborn family. The area of South Danvers saw very little green glaze used. It was much more commonly seen in New Hampshire - especially the darker greens. Green glazes were used in Exeter, Gonic, Chesham, Plymouth, Loudon and likely a few additional smaller areas in New Hampshire. The greens used in Massachusetts were much more striking and bright - while the greens of New Hampshire were often darker.

Likely Osborn Pottery Redware Herb Pot - Loudon, NH

Circa 1780-1820

Probably West Plymouth, NH Redware Salt

Circa 1820-1860

I always tend to believe that the industries of Massachusetts and mostly those seen before the American Revolution in Charlestown and later in Essex County were the centers of the potters industries in New England of each period. Each industry hugely influenced and trained many of the smaller potters working in New Hampshire and Maine. It was through both direct and indirect connections.

The industries south of Boston and in Rhode Island saw an Essex County influence, too.

I think today's report gives a good idea as to how the potters industry of New England was intertwined, related, influenced and really supportive of each other.

Connecticut was a state that really kept to itself and saw very little influence. The same stands true in Vermont. However, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island often saw similarities among their earthenware products and it was usually not a coincidence.

Potters of this region influenced each other and possibly borrowed techniques for almost as long as an industry has existed in New England.

Much more to come...