The Uptons and Their 18th Century Pottery in East Greenwich, Rhode Island

Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins wrote in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' "A pottery in East Greenwich, Rhode Island was brought to public attention by Charles D. Cook in an article in the 'The Magazine Antiques' (January 1931). He discovered that Isaac and Samuel Upton were the founders and owners of a pottery in East Greenwich, circa 1771-1783. Although he noted the Danvers, Massachusetts connection of the brothers, Mr. Cook did not know that they were the nephews of Joseph and Paul Osborn (who were both important eighteenth-century Essex County, Massachusetts potters).

There are some errors in Mr. Cook's published account. Isaac, the eldest son of Isaac and Eleanor (Osborn) Upton, was born October 6, 1736, while his parents were living in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. From about 1745 to 1768 they were in Berkley, Massachusetts, and Samuel, their seventh child, arrived April 3, 1748, during their residence there.

Dr. D.H. Greene, in his History of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, says the Uptons came to East Greenwich from Nantucket just before the American Revolution and that they built their workshop and kiln on a lot at the corner of King and Marlborough Streets. Dr. Greene says they obtained their clay from Gould's Mount at Quidnessett. 

Shortly after the war, Greene goes on, 'Mr Upton returned to Nantucket, and no earthen ware has been made here since.'

Mr. Cook failed to find any reference to the Uptons' residence in Nantucket. If they actually lived there at any time, their stay must have been temporary. 

Deeds prove that they bought the land on King Street December 9, 1771, and that they owned it jointly. In 1783, Isaac, who was living in Berkley, sold his share in the house and pottery to Samuel, who, however, soon afterwards moved to Stanford, Dutchess County, New York. 

The pieces of pottery shown in photographs to illustrate Mr. Cook's article are typical Massachusetts forms. Those found in the vicinity of East Greenwich without a definite Upton history may, however, as well have been made by any of the Uptons' many cousins in southeastern Massachusetts, such as businesses in Berkley and Somerset, Massachusetts. Red earthenware from these areas is known to have been sold along the Rhode Island coast. 

Dr. Greene described the course red earthenware from East Greenwich as if it were a substitute for fine China made during the American Revolution. However, it is documented with earlier colonial Massachusetts potters that the very same articles were produced by coastal Massachusetts potters long before hostilities began."

From my studies, I have found that this form is the style that is most commonly mistaken for the Upton Pottery today. I feel it was most likely made in southeastern Massachusetts. I did discuss this object earlier this week, but I wanted to show it, again, since I was able to obtain its original acquisition records from Old Sturbridge, Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

New Hampshire antiques dealer, Roger Bacon sold this object to the museum in 1957 for $22. Bacon reportedly found the pitcher within an early context of ownership in New Hampshire.

The museum also purchased a few other pieces of red earthenware from Mr. Bacon along with this pitcher, which included an important red earthenware churn, which was also found in New Hampshire. According to Old Sturbridge Village, "This churn has been marked with the name of the recipient, 'Lucinda Osborn,' and the date '1822' in trailed white slip.

Note: New Hampshire antiques dealer, Roger Bacon sold and donated a lot of pottery to Old Sturbridge Village and Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. I never realized that he was so involved with New England pottery until I began to study these collections. He really made a number of incredible contributions to both of these museum's collections.

Here is also a link to an article that discusses a collection of pottery made in southeastern Massachusetts that is owned by the Little Compton, Rhode Island Historical Society, which retains an early history of ownership in Rhode Island. The article also shows a group of sherds from southeastern Massachusetts that were recovered in a late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth-century archaeological context in Rhode Island.

Pitcher from Roger Bacon at Old Stubridge Village

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Green-Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

This Form was Attributed to the Upton Pottery in East Greenwich, RI in 1931

However, it was Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts

Circa 1780-1830

Stands 10 1/2" Tall

See Article For More Information

Donated to Old Sturbridge Village in Mass. by NH Antiques Dealer, Roger Bacon in 1957

Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Mass.

Pitcher's Original Acquisition Records

Page 1

Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Mass.

Pitcher's Original Acquisition Records

Page 2

Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Mass.

Churn from Roger Bacon at Old Stubridge Village

19th Century Red Earthenware Churn Likely Made by the Osborn Family in Either MA or NH

Marked in Slip with the Name of the Recipient, 'Lucinda Osborn'

Also Dated in Slip '1822'

Stands Approximately 15" Tall

Published by Old Sturbridge Village in a Museum Booklet in 1959

Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, MA

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