Recently, an important group of colonial era slip decorated red earthenware sherds from a dish or a pan, made around circa 1770, appeared in an archaeological context in Westbrook, Maine. The sherds are significant. They are undoubtedly from an American potter likely located in Massachusetts or New Hampshire. (Note: In 1770, Maine was still part of Massachusetts.)
When these sherds are pieced together, the date '1770' is revealed, which has been written in slip. Also in slip, there appears to be the partial remains of a person's name or some type of inscription. Unfortunately, attempts, thus far to decipher what is written have been unsuccessful.
The thought is that these sherds could be from a local potter; however, I don't think the idea of an American import from elsewhere in the colonies should be ruled out, either. It is certainly possible that these remains could also be an export from the industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts (circa 1630's-1775), the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company (circa 1766-1799) in Newburyport, Massachusetts or possibly a potter in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
In theory, these areas could have shipped their products to Portland, Maine through a merchant or another individual - and, Westbrook is a neighboring community of Portland. Although, Portland is also an early maritime city, which may have sustained some type of potter's business before the American Revolution. However, I don't believe this type of production is well-documented today.
Nonetheless, I feel these sherds are more likely from coastal Massachusetts instead of another location since red earthenware from Charlestown and Newburyport has been recovered in similar archaeological contexts elsewhere in Maine and Canada.
Portland, Maine researcher, Matthew Anson is responsible for the discovery of these artifacts. He has also reported the site to Maine State Archaeologist, Leith Smith, who is involved with Maine's Historic Preservation Commission. Matt hopes that the site will be dug by professional archaeologists in the near future.
A few days ago, Matt sent me a well-written explanation of the site - and, rather than paraphrasing his information, I thought I would share some of what Matt had to say about the sherds and the history of the location before 1775.
Note: For the protection of this site - I have excluded some information that pertains to its location.
"My interest in Portland area history comes after discovering a collection of colonial era artifacts in Westbrook, Maine. I began to inspect this area two years ago. I became interested in the area several years before when a new parking lot was constructed and I was able to collect some old bottles. The lot, at one time, had been the site of the Frost-Brewer House, a public house and inn from the 1730's to the 1880's.
When these sherds are pieced together, the date '1770' is revealed, which has been written in slip. Also in slip, there appears to be the partial remains of a person's name or some type of inscription. Unfortunately, attempts, thus far to decipher what is written have been unsuccessful.
The thought is that these sherds could be from a local potter; however, I don't think the idea of an American import from elsewhere in the colonies should be ruled out, either. It is certainly possible that these remains could also be an export from the industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts (circa 1630's-1775), the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company (circa 1766-1799) in Newburyport, Massachusetts or possibly a potter in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
In theory, these areas could have shipped their products to Portland, Maine through a merchant or another individual - and, Westbrook is a neighboring community of Portland. Although, Portland is also an early maritime city, which may have sustained some type of potter's business before the American Revolution. However, I don't believe this type of production is well-documented today.
Nonetheless, I feel these sherds are more likely from coastal Massachusetts instead of another location since red earthenware from Charlestown and Newburyport has been recovered in similar archaeological contexts elsewhere in Maine and Canada.
Portland, Maine researcher, Matthew Anson is responsible for the discovery of these artifacts. He has also reported the site to Maine State Archaeologist, Leith Smith, who is involved with Maine's Historic Preservation Commission. Matt hopes that the site will be dug by professional archaeologists in the near future.
A few days ago, Matt sent me a well-written explanation of the site - and, rather than paraphrasing his information, I thought I would share some of what Matt had to say about the sherds and the history of the location before 1775.
Note: For the protection of this site - I have excluded some information that pertains to its location.
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"My interest in Portland area history comes after discovering a collection of colonial era artifacts in Westbrook, Maine. I began to inspect this area two years ago. I became interested in the area several years before when a new parking lot was constructed and I was able to collect some old bottles. The lot, at one time, had been the site of the Frost-Brewer House, a public house and inn from the 1730's to the 1880's.
One of the first really interesting artifacts that I found was an eighteenth century silver knee buckle. The owner's monogram, 'W.S.' is found on the back. I believe this belt buckle belonged to William Slemons or his son, William Slemons, Jr. The buckle was found on the land that belonged to William Slemons during the second half of the eighteenth century - this is also the period when the buckle would have been worn and lost.
William Slemons' family made their fortune in the mast trade cutting down mast pines and transporting them to the landing at the Stroudwater River in Westbrook, which led to Portland.
By the middle of the 1700's, William Slemons was the only man living in Westbrook with the initials "W. S." who would have been wealthy enough to wear silver buckles. (Note: The idea that the buckle belonged to William Slemons or his son is not guaranteed, but I'd say more likely than not it did.)
By the middle of the 1700's, William Slemons was the only man living in Westbrook with the initials "W. S." who would have been wealthy enough to wear silver buckles. (Note: The idea that the buckle belonged to William Slemons or his son is not guaranteed, but I'd say more likely than not it did.)
This past spring, I continued to focus on this area in Westbrook, but at a different location. I found 15 English copper pennies and farthings; the latest date on the coins was 1749. The oldest coins are two William III half pennies minted between 1694 and 1701. There was a lot of eighteenth century material; an iron horse tack, a very old brass saddle pommel, 3 or 4 pewter rat-tailed spoons, pewter buttons, etc. I quickly stopped digging in fear of ruining this historic resource and that's when I contacted the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.
I emailed photos of my finds to the Maine State Archaeologist, Leith Smith. Leith is the head of historic archaeology for the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. He came out with me for a day this past summer and I showed him the site along with the artifacts that I had recovered.
According to Myrtle Lovejoy's book, 'This Was Stroudwater,' Nathaniel Knight and his brother, Westbrook Knight ran a Mill on the Stroudwater river. Nathaniel had horses, as there are records of him selling Colonel Thomas Westbrook a horse. Horse ownership was not common at the time, and an eighteenth-century horse tack was found at the site.
Nathaniel Knight's house was located at the site that I was investigating in Westbrook before it burned in 1746 or 1747 by Native Americans during King George's War; I think the violence was intensified by conflict over the disruption of spawning fisheries by the mills and their dams. Knight returned and rebuilt after the conflict.
Nathaniel Knight's original hand written ledger survives at the Maine Historic Society's Library in Portland. There are almost no entries between 1746 and 1750.
Lovejoy writes that Nathaniel Knight died on the property in the 1780's. I found evidence of a post 1740's occupancy on this property with a broken piece of slip decorated red earthenware with the date "1770" written in slip."
Nathaniel Knight's house was located at the site that I was investigating in Westbrook before it burned in 1746 or 1747 by Native Americans during King George's War; I think the violence was intensified by conflict over the disruption of spawning fisheries by the mills and their dams. Knight returned and rebuilt after the conflict.
Nathaniel Knight's original hand written ledger survives at the Maine Historic Society's Library in Portland. There are almost no entries between 1746 and 1750.
Lovejoy writes that Nathaniel Knight died on the property in the 1780's. I found evidence of a post 1740's occupancy on this property with a broken piece of slip decorated red earthenware with the date "1770" written in slip."
Sherds Found in Westbrook, ME
18th Century Slip Decorated Sherds Recovered in Westbrook, ME
The Sherds Are From the Remains of a Dish or a Pan
The Sherds are Dated in Slip '1770'
There Also Appears to be a Person's Name or an Inscription Written in Slip
Photo Courtesy: Matthew E. Anson - Portland, ME
Another View of the Sherds
Photo Courtesy: Matthew E. Anson - Portland, ME
Another View of the Sherds
Photo Courtesy: Matthew E. Anson - Portland, ME
View of the Back of One of the Sherds
Photo Courtesy: Matthew E. Anson - Portland, ME
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