The Remains of Likely a Southeastern Massachusetts Red Earthenware Jar Found at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

According to the Museum of African-American History, "The African-American Meeting House on Beacon Hill in Boston was built in 1806 in what once was the heart of Boston's nineteenth century free black community. The Meeting House was host to giants in the Abolitionist Movement who were responsible for monumental historical events that changed this nation."

In 2006, a team of archaeologists from the University of Massachusetts at Boston conducted an archaeological dig at the original site of the African-American Meeting House, where they uncovered privies and a large collection of artifacts related to this nineteenth century site.

Earlier today, I began to study this collection for domestic red earthenware, and what I found was exciting; the artifacts included objects that had been imported from elsewhere in America, as well as local potters from coastal Massachusetts. I plan to show some of these artifacts and demonstrate their origin in the coming days and weeks.

My exact reaction when I saw this sherd was "Holy Cow!" 

This small green glazed sherd was uncovered within an early-nineteenth century context, which is also when the meeting house was used to "found the New England Anti-Slavery Society with William Lloyd Garrison in 1832, and the 1833 farewell address of Maria Stewart, a black woman and the first American born woman to speak publicly before a gender mixed audience."

This finial certainly appears like it is the remains of a red earthenware lid, which had once adorned a green glazed red earthenware jar made in southeastern Massachusetts in the early-1800s.

To demonstrate this comparison: I have shown a nearly exact shaped and glazed finial (and notice the clay color) below from a jar that is owned today by Winterthur in Delaware.

Note: Here is a link to an online document that further analyzes the archaeology from the nineteenth century African-American Meeting House in Boston.

Red Earthenware Sherds Recovered at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

 19th Century Sherds Recovered at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

Likely the Remains of a Lid for a Jar Made in Southeastern Mass.

See Article for More Information
See Jar Below from Winterthur for a Comparison

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Another View of the Sherds

 Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Another View of the Sherds

 Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Southeastern Mass. Red Earthenware Jar

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Southeastern Mass.

The Finial is Likely Related to the Sherds Shown Above

Circa 1790-1820

Stands 11 3/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Link to Object on Winterthur's Website

 Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

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