However, there is not much evidence known today that can identify the type of work that the Uptons may have been involved with in Berkely; although, I assume they may have been employed at a local pottery. This is also likely where they learned the potter's craft prior to establishing their own business in East Greenwich about 1771.
Yesterday, I was surprised to hear "Isaac Upton's" name from "Berkely" referenced in a merchant's account book, which I learned about earlier this year from Falmouth, Massachusetts antiques dealer, Hilary Nolan. This colonial account book chronicles the trade of a merchant from southeastern Massachusetts, circa 1757-1766; whereas, the book was originally discovered in Pennsylvania by Sagamore, Massachusetts antiques dealer, Brian Cullity and sold to Winterthur in Delaware. It is now kept in the museum's library.
According to Winterthur, "Preserved Pierce (1736-1798) was a merchant in Swansea, Massachusetts, who traded along the coast in Rhode Island and Connecticut with wooden and pewter goods, pottery, and tools for craftsmen. He carried small quantities of imported tea and dry goods, and numerous different agricultural goods from the Swansea area. The records that Pierce kept are excellent of purchases he made with farmers and craftsmen to fill his vessels for the outbound voyages."
Nevertheless, Pierce's account book also reveals that he was purchasing red earthenware directly from potters in southeastern Massachusetts in the late-1750s and 1760s. Those potters include Isaac Upton, Caleb Purinton and John Law. In some instances, Pierce only documented that he had purchased an order of "Earthen Ware," but there are other records that are a lot more specific with forms, such as chamber pots, etc.
I feel it is well-documented today that red earthenware, made in places, such as the industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts was shipped throughout coastal New England before 1775. There are even some instances, where potters like Samuel Marshall was purchasing wholesale orders of pottery from Charlestown to sell in Portsmouth, New Hampshire before 1750.
But Pierce's account book is proof that merchant's were also exporting pottery used in trade from one location to the next. This may also explain how a wonderful slip-decorated pan that appears like it was made in Massachusetts before the American Revolution was recently discovered by archaeologists at the site of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson in North Carolina.
Note: Preserved Pierce's account book from Swansea, Massachusetts was also just referenced in 'Art and Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture, 1650-1830,' which was just published by Yale University in 2016.
Preserved Pierce's Account Book, Circa 1757-1766
The Cover of Preserved Pierce's Account Book, Circa 1757-1766
Pierce was a Merchant from Swansea, Mass.
Among the Goods he Purchased was Red Earthenware from SE Mass. that he Used in Trade
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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