Abner S. Wight's 'Wachusett Pottery' - An Important Potter's Business that is Not Widely Known Today

A prominent Maine collector, recently said to me, that it is not unusual today to find late-eighteenth or nineteenth-century surviving red earthenware from an unknown potter - and, there are often then attempts to try to attribute that object to one of the area's better known potter's businesses. Instead, he said that object should sometimes be viewed as a product from a lesser known potter's business that is not entirely understood today.

I feel the name Abner S. Wight (1822-1890) is among that group of New England red earthenware potters, who are relatively unknown today.  Wight began his career as a New Hampshire potter before 1849 in Marlboro producing traditional utilitarian red earthenware. However, he eventually relocated around the mid-nineteenth-century to West Sterling, Massachusetts, which is a small town in Worcester County, where he eventually purchased the Wachusett Pottery (established circa 1820) just before the start of the American Civil War. Wight owned the Wachusett Pottery during the circa 1860-1865/66 period.

The name 'Wachusett Pottery' was adopted from Mount Wachusett, which overlooks the town that the pottery was located.

For many reasons, I find this potter's business fascinating today; although, a notable influence with my interest is the fact that Wight's ownership basically only happened during the years that overlapped the American Civil War. I suppose it may be only a coincidence; however, I do wonder if there is more to this story that has not, yet been interpreted today.

The wares made by Wight in Massachusetts can probably be mistaken for products made in Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania today - included in his output were miniature objects, which is a style uncharacteristic for most New England-based red earthenware potter's businesses during the period. Miniatures were much more popular with Pennsylvania potters. Wight also occasionally decorated his products in colorful-glazes that I feel could be mistaken for northern New England products today. Most importantly, Wight also occasionally stamped his red earthenware, 'A.S. WIGHT,' which is quite rare for any utilitarian red earthenware potter's business located in New England before 1890.

In a twentieth-century article, 'The Pottery Business in Sterling' written by Edwin H. Coolidge for 'Old Time New England' in July 1932 - it is said that the Wachusett Pottery was established in 1820 based on surviving letterheads from the company. However, the earliest evidence that Coolidge discovered was in 1837, when the Troy, New Hampshire potter, Henry Tolman (1783-1851) purchased land for a red earthenware business in West Sterling.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' "Henry Tolman was assisted as-early-as 1837, and then succeeded by his son Henry Tolman, Jr. (1810-1892), who in 1849 was running the works under the name, 'H. Tolman, Jr. & Co.' The father had evidently retired and died two years later.

The firm is also listed in the New England Directory of 1849 as ' Tolman & Wight.' 

It is possible that Abner S. Wight, son of John Wight of Dublin, New Hampshire already had an interest in the West Sterling pottery, although, by all accounts, he did not purchase it until about 1860.

In 1856, the firm's name was 'Wight & Willard' (later A.S. Wight & Co., circa 1860-1865/66), Tolman had withdrawn from the partnership. Abner S. Wight and his associate carried on a thriving business until after the close of the American Civil War.

The pottery's affairs were then taken over by Marcus L. Snow, James Smith, and Marcellus Wight, Abner's son, as 'Snow, Smith & Company.' 

In 1869, it was in the hands of Snow and a new partner, Henry Coolidge. who ran the works successfully as 'Snow and Coolidge' until the death of the latter in 1881."

Note: A prominent example of Wight's New Hampshire red earthenware production was found more than a decade ago by Falmouth, Massachusetts antiques dealers, Hilary and Paulette Nolan on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. This butter churn was likely an object made by Wight as a display for his storefront in Marlboro, New Hampshire. The inscription ('Give Us A Try') appears to have enticed prospective clients to buy products from Wight - the butter churn is also inscribed 'June 23, 1847, Abner S. Wight, Manufacturer of Earthenware, Marlboro, New Hampshire.'

I also want to note that some of the following objects were stamped by Abner S. Wight, while he operated the Wachusett Pottery - and, therefore I suggest a circa 1860-1865/66 production date.

There are also examples shown below that are not stamped, but an accurate attribution is possible based on the form, and where the object was discovered - and, for those objects, I suggest a circa 1849-1868 production period. I suggest the broader production date to include the entire period of when Abner S. Wight and his son, Marcellus Wight were involved with the Wachusett Pottery in West Sterling.

---- EXAMPLE OF ABNER S. WIGHT'S MARLBORO, NH PRODUCTION ----

MARLBORO, NH
Important Butter Churn

19th Century Red Earthenware Butter Churn

Made by Abner S. Wight - Marlboro, NH

Likely an Advertising Object that was Placed in a Storefront Window

Dated June 23, 1847

Found on Cape in Massachusetts by Antiques Dealers, Hilary and Paulette Nolan

 Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

Another View of the Churn

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

---- EXAMPLES OF ABNER S. WIGHT'S 'WACHUSETT POTTERY' PRODUCTION ----

WEST STERLING, MASS.
Matching Pair of Jars

(Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar 

Made at the Abner S. Wight Pottery - West Sterling, Mass. 

Otherwise Known as the Wachusett Pottery

Marked 'A.S. WIGHT'

Stands 9 1/4" Tall

Circa 1860-1865/66

Reportedly Found in Central Massachusetts

(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Attributed to the Abner S. Wight Pottery - West Sterling, Mass. 

Otherwise Known as the Wachusett Pottery

Circa 1849-1868

Stands 8 1/2" Tall

Purchased in Brimfield, Mass. in 2015, But Reportedly Previously Found in New Hampshire

View of the 'A.S. WIGHT' Mark

Colorfully-Glazed Jar

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Attributed to the Abner S. Wight Pottery - West Sterling, Mass. 

Otherwise Known as the Wachusett Pottery

I Could See this Object Mistaken for a Product Made in Maine

Circa 1849-1868

Stands 8 3/8" Tall

Reportedly Found in Central Massachusetts

View of the Handle

Another Jar Form

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar 

Made at the Abner S. Wight Pottery - West Sterling, Mass.

Otherwise Known as the Wachusett Pottery

Marked 'A.S. WIGHT'

I Could See this Object Mistaken for a Product Made in Maine or New Hampshire

Stands 7 7/8" Tall

Circa 1860-1865/66

Reportedly Found in Central Massachusetts

View of the 'A.S. WIGHT' Mark

Miniature Objects

(Left) Miniature 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

Attributed to the Abner S. Wight Pottery - West Sterling, Mass.

Otherwise Known as the Wachusett Pottery

Circa 1849-1868

Stands 2 1/2" Tall

Found in Wiscasset, ME

(Middle) Miniature 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

Attributed to the Abner S. Wight Pottery - West Sterling, Mass.

Otherwise Known as the Wachusett Pottery

Circa 1849-1868

Stands 2 1/4" Tall

Reportedly Dug at the Site of the Abner S. Wight Pottery in West Sterling, Mass.

(Right) Miniature 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Made at the Abner S. Wight Pottery - West Sterling, Mass.
Otherwise Known as the Wachusett Pottery

Base is Inscribed 'A.S. Wight / Wachusett / Pottery'

Circa 1860-1865/66

Stands 2 5/8" Tall

Purchased in Worcester County, Mass.

Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Collection

(Middle) View of the Inscribed Base 'A.S. Wight / Wachusett / Pottery'

Photo Courtesy: Private Massacusetts Collection

(Left & Right) A Close Comparison of the Jugs Shows They Are Undoubtedly Related

View of the Inscribed Base 'A.S. Wight / Wachusett / Pottery'

Photo Courtesy: Private Massacusetts Collection

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