When I visited Charlie - I was introduced to a damaged (missing handle) black-glazed late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth-century red earthenware pitcher that had sentimental value, but it also appeared like it may have held some significant historical value, too. As a result, I learned about a fascinating story that accompanied the pitcher that was found in Charlie's home, which I would like to share tonight - by describing how this pitcher was found - and, what it all may mean today.
The home of discussion is the Jonathan Atkinson house, which was built for Mr. Atkinson when he moved to Limington for employment as the local minister of the Congregational Church in 1794. The church was reportedly constructed in 1793 - and, the year prior (1792), Limington, Maine was founded from the Little Ossippee Plantation. Nearby (to the church), Jonathan Atkinson had a house built in the late-eighteenth-century. From what I can see, there is no indication today that any potter worked directly in Limington in 1794 - or, in the few years that followed.
Prior to traveling to Limington, Mr. Atkinson was originally from the Newbury, Massachusetts-area - and, he was also a graduate of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
The following pitcher was discovered below floorboards in the northeast parlor, which is original to the house. There is a nineteenth-century addition; however, that's another area of the home. The area of discussion (where this pitcher was found) is essentially a crawl space.
This pitcher was discovered when the restoration of the home was undertaken in 1975. The belief is that it could date from the 1802-1803 period because of a fire that happened in the area of the house (where the pitcher was found) during this time. Charlie told me that when he was crawling over the carrying beams to retrieve the pitcher that he could see some partially charred timbers still under the floor.
What makes this pitcher so fascinating is that it is not just another broken pitcher - this pitcher, has been impressed with what compares to impressions seen on eighteenth-century American and European glass seal bottles. Prominently, marked are the letters, 'JB,' which I believe are a person's initials. Personally, I believe there are a few possibilities for who these letters may stand for, which include a potter, a merchant or an owner. I'm hopeful that the mark stands for a potter, but I don't have any archaeological evidence or other substantial proof to definitively say that. I'd also like to tie this object directly to Mr. Atkinson, but that is also still under research.
The pitcher really remains a mystery to this day; although, it is significant to note that a large concentration of sherds have been found on neighboring, Bill Kelly's property that are believed to be related to the potter, John Bickford's output in Limington in the nineteenth-century. However, Bickford doesn't appear in Limington until 1819, which is later than the period that the pitcher and the fire that it is associated with happened at the Atkinson house.
The belief is that this pitcher was placed under the floorboards when the home was under repair from the fire in the 1802-1803 period. Nevertheless, this pitcher is still fascinating, but also an equally important piece of Limington, Maine history today.
In due time, I'm truly hopeful that more information will be revealed about this piece; however, for now I would suggest admiring the pitcher as merely an important early piece of Maine's potter's industry that dates before Maine becomes its own state when it broke away from Massachusetts in 1820. It's rare to find red earthenware (or, stoneware) objects that are tied to Maine today that date before Maine became an official state.
Note: I suspect that this pitcher may somehow be related to the artifacts that I just described, which have been recovered on Maine antiques dealer, Bill Kelly's property, but that, too is also still under investigation. Here is a link to an article that further discusses those objects.
Pitcher Found in Limington, ME
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Recovered in Limington, ME
Found Under Floorboards at the Jonathan Atkinson House in Limington, ME
Stands Roughly 7" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Charlie Huntress - Limington, ME
Another View of the Pitcher
Photo Courtesy: Charlie Huntress - Limington, ME
View of the Impressed 'JB' Mark
Photo Courtesy: Charlie Huntress - Limington, ME
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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