EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: 18th Century King's Rose Creamware Recovered on the Property of the Warner House in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

18th Century King's Rose Creamware Recovered on the Property of the Warner House in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

A little more than one month ago, I discovered an eighteenth-century English creamware teapot decorated in the King's Rose pattern inside a collectible or vintage-type shop in Lawrence, Massachusetts. I assume this teapot was recently discovered at an estate sale, a flea market, a yard sale or such. Interestingly, I also learned that this same pattern was discovered at the circa 1716 Warner House in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

According to 'Walk Portsmouth,' "The Warner House, sometimes called the Macpheadris-Warner House, stands at 150 Daniel Street, on the northeast corner of Daniel and Chapel Streets in Portsmouth.

Captain Archibald Macpheadris completed this mansion, the oldest brick house in Portsmouth, around 1716-1718. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of an early eighteenth-century urban brick home in America.

A native of Scotland, Captain Macphreadis served in the King's Council and became an extremely wealthy Portsmouth merchant. His company started the first iron works in America, located in Dover, New Hampshire. He married Sarah Wentworth, one of Lieutenant Governor John Wentworth's daughters, about 1717 and died in 1729.

The house next passed to Mary Macphreadis, the daughter of Captain Macphreadis and Sarah, who married Jonathan Warner around 1760. Warner, for whom the mansion is named, inherited the house when Mary died in 1776. Jonathan was also a wealthy merchant and member of the King's Council until the Revolutionary War ended British Rule in New Hampshire.

A local legend claims that Benjamin Franklin oversaw the erection of the first lightning rod in New Hampshire on the west end of the mansion's roof in 1762.

Descendants of Captain Archibald Macphreadis and Jonathan Warner owned the home for six generations, until 1931."

Macphreadis-Warner House in Portsmouth, NH

Built Circa 1716-1718

Macphreadis-Warner House in Portsmouth, NH

Built Circa 1716-1718

A few years ago, I studied the archaeology of the Warner House; however, I do not remember seeing (or photographing) any creamware sherds decorated in the King's Rose pattern. Although, there is an unmistakable sherd documented in the book, 'The Warner House: A Rich and Colorful History.'

The sherd was recovered inside a circa 1760-1780 archaeological context, which was during Jonathan and Mary Warner's ownership of the home. I am not only fascinated by the fact that this pattern was recovered at the Warner house, but I am also interested since I assume that this is a style of ceramic that was imported directly into Portsmouth in the 1700's.

Note: I have also shown below some of the other ceramics that were recovered at the Warner House within an eighteenth-century archaeological context.

King's Rose Creamerware Sherd Recovered at the Warner House

(Front Row) 18th Century Creamware Sherd Decorated in the King's Rose Pattern

Recovered at the Warner House in Portsmouth, NH

Circa 1760-1780

See Image Below for Description of All the Objects in the Picture

Photo Courtesy: The Warner House: A Rich and Colorful History, 2015

Description of All the Objects Shown in the Picture

Photo Courtesy: The Warner House: A Rich and Colorful History, 2015

18th Century Artifacts Recovered at the Warner House