An Interesting Comparison with 18th Century Red Earthenware Objects from Massachusetts

It has been about five-years since I visited the Dyer Memorial Library in Abington, Massachusetts to view a small collection of red earthenware, kiln furniture, sherds and a couple of kiln bricks related to the potter, John Henry Benner (1726-1795) in Abington, Massachusetts. Benner was reportedly active circa 1765-1795 producing red earthenware for local needs south of Boston, and likely Boston's south shore, as well.

My latest article in the New England Antiques Journal discusses Peter Clark, who was active in Braintree, Massachusetts, circa 1764-1775. The distance between Abington and Braintree is roughy nine-miles. Presumably, Benner and Clark knew each other before 1775; however, I have also suggested in the past that colonial Massachusetts potters, such as Benner and Clark were also well-aware of the potter's industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts before 1775.

The following red earthenware jug is attributed to John Henry Benner by the Dyer Memorial Library; although, the glaze does not appear familiar for eighteenth-century potters in Massachusetts. Common knowledge today suggests that this type of glaze would more-likely be attributed to northern New England or western New York after 1820.

However, a matching glazed crock was recovered from an eighteenth-century privy in Charlestown, circa 1770. Interestingly, this type of glaze does not appear anywhere else in the Charlestown Archaeology Collection, which includes dozens of boxes of ceramics recovered from various potter's businesses in Charlestown.

In theory, I have wondered if Benner could have exported red earthenware into Charlestown (or Boston) when the turmoil began between English soldiers and American patriots culminating in the American Revolution (1775-1783). Events, such as the Intolerable Acts likely hampered the production of red earthenware in Charlestown, and I have always speculated if some potters outside of Boston may have exported their products into the Boston-area during the circa 1770-1783 period.

This jug and crock may be proof that a domestic export/import business did happen around the American Revolution with certain potters located just outside of Boston. They may have helped fill the demand for utilitarian red earthenware, which had been filled by the Charlestown potter's industry. However, that industry was largely affected by the turmoil that led up to the American Revolution - and, even more-so, when Charlestown was entirely burned by British soldiers at the Battle of Bunker Hill of June 17, 1775.

Note: The name, John Henry Benner is not widely known today, but I assume his business was similar to Daniel Bayley's company in Newburyport, Massachusetts, which operated circa 1766-1799. Archaeological evidence has proven that Daniel Bayley's company was exporting red earthenware to Salem, Massachusetts, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Portland, Maine, and even colonial military forts in Maine and Canada.

Jug from Abington, Mass.

Reportedly 18th Century Jug Attributed to John Henry Benner - Abington, MA

Circa 1765-1795

Stands Roughly 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Dyer Memorial Library - Abington, MA

View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Dyer Memorial Library - Abington, MA

View of the Handle and the Rim

Photo Courtesy: Dyer Memorial Library - Abington, MA

Crock from Charlestown, Mass.

18th Century Red Earthenware Crock Recovered in Charlestown, Mass. 

Glaze Matches the Glaze on the Jug Shown Above, Which is Attributed to John Henry Benner

Circa 1770

Stands Approximately 10" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department - West Roxbury, Mass.

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