19th Century Essex County, Massachusetts Potter's Businesses, Which Advertised Their Establishment in the 18th Century

The Moses B. Paige Pottery (circa 1876-1930's) in Peabody, Massachusetts and the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery (circa 1866-1906) in Beverly Massachusetts were both nineteenth-century potter's businesses based in Essex County, Massachusetts. The companies were located only a few miles apart; however, Paige and Lawrence likely found a friendship, which was a result of both men having been employed at the Joseph Reed Pottery (the old Osborn family pottery) in Peabody. Lawrence worked at Reed's pottery in the early-to-mid 1860's, but he likely visited when Paige began to work for Reed in 1872.

Nevertheless, Paige eventually purchased the Reed Pottery in 1876, while Lawrence already owned a company just across the Danvers River, which he had established in Beverly in 1866.

I have always found it fascinating to see when the Paige Pottery and the Lawrence Pottery (or often referred to as the "Beverly Pottery") credited their establishments.

The original Moses B. Paige Company tin sign hangs on the wall at the Peabody Historical Society; the sign advertises, "Earthenware, Stoneware, Glassware, Crockery, Flower Pots and Sewer Pipe." Although, the tin sign also indicates that the company had been established in 1736. This would have actually been when Joseph Osborn (1702-1780) originally established the Osborn Pottery, which was the first potter's business located on the property, where the Paige Pottery operated in the late-nineteenth and twentieth-century.

It appears that Paige did not view his company as a separate entity, but instead it was a continuation of the previous businesses that came before his at this location. He may have interpreted it as a simple name change or an ownership change that took place when he acquired the Reed Pottery in 1876. I also assume that he likely viewed the company as the same potter's business that employed him, circa 1872-1875.

This may have been Joseph Reed's opinion of this business, as well that he acquired from the Osborn family in 1866; he had previously leased the business from the Osborns. This was the same business, which was originally founded by Joseph Osborn in 1736.

It was a similar situation with Charles A. Lawrence's business in Beverly, where his advertising declared that his pottery was established in 1701. This is actually when the Hayward family founded the first known pottery in Beverly. The Hayward Pottery is also likely where Joseph Osborn apprenticed before he established the Osborn Pottery in Peabody. Similar to the Paige Pottery, it seems that Lawrence also viewed his company as a continuation of the potter's businesses that came before his in Beverly.

This is compelling information that really shows how these potters respected the industry, and those original potters, which came before them, who established a foundation so their businesses could succeed in the nineteenth-century.

Moses B. Paige Pottery - Peabody, Mass.

19th Century Tin Sign from the Moses B. Paige Company in Peabody, Mass.

The Company Indicates that the Business was Established in 1736

1736 is Actually when the First Potter's Business was Founded on the Property of the Paige Pottery

Photo Courtesy: Peabody, Mass. Historical Society

Charles A. Lawrence Pottery - Beverly, Mass.

The Original Charles A. Lawrence Pottery Sign in Beverly, Mass.

Photo Courtesy: 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' Watkins, 1950

19th Century Advertisement from the Charles A Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Mass.

The Company Indicates that the Business was Established in 1701

1701 is Actually when the First Potter's Business was Established in Beverly, Mass.

Photo Courtesy: The North Shore of Massachusetts Bay: An Illustrated Guide and History

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