Joseph Hazeltine: A 19th Century Red Earthenware Potter in Concord, New Hampshire

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares), "The Hazeltines ran a redware shop of some importance about a half mile west of the Clark (family) Pottery in Concord, New Hampshire. Joseph Hazelintine (1799-1880), its founder, was a native of Concord. He worked for the Clarks (Peter Clark, Jr., 1794-1855 and John Farmer Clark, 1832-1885) at times, but Hazeltine also carried on an independent business that he established around 1842, and operated until about his death in 1880. (Note: Joseph Hazeltine likely trained at the Clark Pottery in Concord, as well.).

Joseph Hazeltine's shop stood on the north side of Hopkinton Road, east of Miss Alice Moulton's land, and near the line where an iron fence now stands close to a barn on the next estate. The kiln was located behind the shop.

Hazeltine reportedly operated four potter's wheels and must have employed a number of men. Several pieces of his red earthenware have survived (prior to 1950). His grandson, (also) Joseph Hazeltine, postmaster at Contoocook, New Hampshire, cherishes a shaving mug, and the museum of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society at Hopkinton has preserved a stew pot with a handle made by Hazeltine in 1845."

I recently contacted the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society in Hopkinton, New Hampshire in order to view the objects that they own, which are attributed to the Hazeltine Pottery in Concord, New Hampshire. I truly believe that the Concord potter's industry is an area that is not completely understood as a whole today; although, this was also a city that produced red earthenware at multiple businesses well into the late-nineteenth-century. I could also see some of these objects mistaken for products that were made in Maine today.

Nevertheless, these are the objects that the museum currently owns, which include a stew pot or a pitcher that is likely similar to the stew pot or pitcher that Lura Woodside Watkins references in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.'

I have also posted a short report that was written by archaeologist, Dr. David R. Starbuck for 'The Archaeology of New Hampshire: Exploring 10,000 Years in the Granite State,' where the archaeology of the Joseph Hazeltine Pottery is discussed. This article mentions the location of the kiln, the type of kiln, as-well-as the types of artifacts that were recovered.

Archaeology of the Joseph Hazeltine Pottery - Concord, NH

Joseph Hazeltine Pottery Archaeology - Concord, NH

Photo Courtesy: Page 129, 'The Archaeology of New Hampshire'

 

 Joseph Hazeltine Pottery Archaeology - Concord, NH

Photo Courtesy: Page 130-131, 'The Archaeology of New Hampshire'

 Joseph Hazeltine Pottery Archaeology - Concord, NH

Photo Courtesy: Page 132-133, 'The Archaeology of New Hampshire'

Joseph Hazeline Pottery - Concord, NH

Lidded Jar
1983.0007

Glazed redware bean pot with lid and handle. Paper Label "This jug was made by Mr. Hazelton in his shop at Millville, in Concord, NH in 1845". This is where St. Paul's School is today.

According to Mary B. Dupre's article in ”Historical New Hampshire, Searching for New Hampshire Redware Potters,” this piece is the only known surviving piece from the Joseph C. Hazeltine pottery and was donated to the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society by a family member. Dupre references Early New England Potters and Their Wares by Lura Woodside Watkins for this information.

Watkins (1950) p. 127 states that at the time "Several pieces of his earthenware have survived. His grandson, Joseph Hazeltine, postmaster at Contoocook, cherishes a shaving mug, and the museum of the New Hamphsire Antiquarian Society has preserved a stew pot with handle made by Hazeltine in 1845."

19th Century Red Earthenware Lidded Jar Attributed to Joseph Hazeltine - Concord, NH

Circa 1842-1880

Stands Approximately 7" to 8" Tall

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Antiquarian Society - Hopkinton, NH

Rundlet
1983.0002

Dark brown glazed ceramic bottle. Plug hole on side with cork plug in hole.   Paper label on side of rundlet above bung hole " A. N. 28 Ancient Earthen Bottle".

Card enclosed in folder. "Rundlet Small redware barrel-shaped vessel with bung hole at waist. Rundlets held alcoholic beverages, primarily rum, and were taken to the field or workshop."

 19th Century Red Earthenware Rundlet Attributed to Joseph Hazeltine - Concord, NH

Circa 1842-1880

Stands Approximately 5" Tall

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Antiquarian Society - Hopkinton, NH

Pitcher or Stew Pot
1988.0013

Glazed redware pottery pitcher with handle. Made by Hazelton Potters.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher or Stew Pot Attributed to Joseph Hazeltine - Concord, NH

Circa 1842-1880

Stands Approximately 5" Tall

A Similar Object is Mentioned in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Antiquarian Society - Hopkinton, NH

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