An Eighteenth Century Jug Attributed to Newburyport, Massachusetts Recovered at a Trading Post in Maine

According to an article, written by John Kille for the 2006 edition of Ceramics in America, titled, 'Mixing Religion and Drink: Personified Expressions in Rockingham Glaze,' "(The following) communion jug is attributed to the Daniel Bayley (1729-1792) Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts. It is inscribed, 'For the use of Mr. Noble's Church July 10, 1763.' This jug is one of the earliest dated pieces of American redware (known) - it was used to store wine for communion services at the Fifth Parish Congregational Church in Newbury, Massachusetts, headed by Reverend Oliver Noble. It is the only (known) documented example of eighteenth century ecclesiastical redware produced in New England."

Daniel Bayley Communion Jug

 18th Century Black-Glazed Red Earthenware Jug

Attributed to the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company - Newburyport, Mass.

Inscribed 'For the Use of Mr. Noble's CHURCH July 10, 1763
Circa 1763

Stands 10 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Old York Historical Society - York, ME

 View of the Inscription
Photo Courtesy: Old York Historical Society - York, ME

 View of the Inscription
Photo Courtesy: Old York Historical Society - York, ME

 View of the Inscription
Photo Courtesy: Old York Historical Society - York, ME

 View of the Inscription
Photo Courtesy: Old York Historical Society - York, ME

 View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Old York Historical Society - York, ME

View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Old York Historical Society - York, ME

I was able to make-good on my promise of obtaining color images of this object that I discussed last weekend, where I wrote about an eighteenth century Newburyport red earthenware jug that was recovered within an American Revolution period archaeological context in Veazie, Maine.

This object was uncovered at the eighteenth century Penobscot Native-American Trading Post in Veazie, which is a coastal community, accessible from the Penobscot River, which is met by Penobscot Bay, and eventually the Atlantic Ocean, about thirty-miles downriver.

The jug was uncovered within a circa 1775-1779 archaeological context; whereas, it is also attributed to the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The form of the jug is very-similar to the jug, which was made for Mr. Noble's CHURCH' in 1763 (see above). It is also similar to another black-glazed jug, also attributed to the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company, which is owned by the Old Newbury Historical Society (see below) in Newburyport.

The following jug also likely represents an export business that occurred in the eighteenth century from potters in Massachusetts to places, such as New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island.

Jug Recovered at 18th Century Trading Post Site in Maine

 18th Century Brown-Glazed Red Earthenware Jug 

Attributed to the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company - Newburyport, Mass.

Recovered at the Jonathan Lowder Trading Post in Veazie, ME

Uncovered in a Circa 1775-1779 Archaeological Context

Circa 1775
Stands 9 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: University of Maine - Orono, ME

 View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: University of Maine - Orono, ME

 View of the Handle Attachment and the Rim

Photo Courtesy: University of Maine - Orono, ME

Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: University of Maine - Orono, ME

Jug Owned by Old Newbury Historical Society

18th Century Black-Glazed Red Earthenware Jug

Attributed to the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company - Newburyport, Mass.

Circa 1766-1799

Stands Approximately 9 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Old Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, Mass.

Note: For more information about the history of the jug found in Veazie, Maine, and the archaeological context, which it was discovered - I have included a portion of the introductory article that was posted on February 27, 2016.

"The trading post was established in 1775 by Jonathan Lowder (1733-1814); according to 'Volume 30 of the Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine,' "Jonathan Lowder was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1731 - and, he died in Bangor, Maine on January 28, 1814. He served at Fort Pownal or Fort Point, Maine. He was captain in Colonel Godthwait's regiment, and was also lieutenant colonel in Colonel Josiah Brewer's regiment. 

Lowder was also an agent for the Penobscot Indians and a clerk for Major Robert Treat for many years. Through his influence the Indians were prevented from enlisting in the English ranks, and were kept loyal to the American cause. 

He was also one of the original settlers of Bangor, Maine, owning a lot of one-hundred acres of land just above Mount Hope near where a substantial brick house used to stand. A headstone marks Louder's resting place in Bangor today."

The trading post was destroyed in 1779 during the Penobscot Expedition, which was an American crusade that was miscalculated, and an entire American fleet was destroyed in an attempt to regain land from under the control of British authority; this land would later become Maine in 1820.

This jug is likely further evidence that some of the coastal colonial Massachusetts red earthenware potters, who were located north of Boston were producing red earthenware for export before and during the American Revolution. The export evidence remains (so far) today with the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and a few (all?) of the businesses that were involved with the Charlestown, Massachusetts potter's industry before 1775.

Additional evidence from the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company has been recovered in Salem, Massachusetts, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a circa 1770 site located near Portland, Maine and Saint John, New Brunswick.

Evidence from Charlestown's industry has been recovered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Portland, Maine, a military fort located north of Wiscasset, Maine and a military fort located on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia."

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