Pottery production began in Merrimacport before Pecker established his business about 1790; although, his business is considered the most prominent of those that operated at this location today.
Pecker died in 1820 when he was crushed by his kiln, but the business continued under his nephew, James Chase (1779-1849) and later other Chase family members until at least 1880.
Both the Pecker Pottery and the Chase Pottery were subjects discussed by Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.' However, Watkins took a special interest with Pecker's production. Many of the objects she published from Merrimacport are now owned by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and the remainder are owned by Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
Nevertheless, we found clear evidence of Pecker's stoneware production in Merrimacport based on a variety of pieces of kiln furniture and two different rim styles, both of which I believe were made at the Pecker Pottery. I also believe every single stoneware artifact that we find is significant since so little is known about this production today, and Pecker was clearly one of the few potters in New England to successfully accomplish both red earthenware and stoneware production during the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century period.
Note: Here are links to three articles that I have written about pottery production in Merrimacport, Massachusetts, which were published in recent years in the New England Antiques Journal.
1) October 2013 New England Antiques Journal - Buried in Merrimacport? William Pecker, His Pots and His Kiln
2) August 2015 New England Antiques Journal - William Pecker: A Forgotten Stoneware Potter from Merrimacport, Mass.
3) October 2014 New England Antiques Journal - Utilitarian Redware in Massachusetts: The Chase Family Pottery
Merrimack River, Merrimacport, Mass.
Merrimack River in Merrimacport, Mass.
William Pecker Operated His Pottery Along this River Circa 1790-1820
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Merrimack River in Merrimacport, Mass.
William Pecker Operated His Pottery Along this River Circa 1790-1820
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Merrimack River in Merrimacport, Mass.
William Pecker Operated His Pottery Along this River Circa 1790-1820
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Our Finds
My Niece with Some of the Stoneware Sherds that we Discovered
Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery in Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
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My Niece with the Stoneware Kiln Furniture that we Discovered
Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery in Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
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Another View of the Kiln Furniture
Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery in Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
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Red Earthenware and Stoneware Artifacts
Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery in Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
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Stoneware Sherd with Cobalt
Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery in Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
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Stoneware Rim Sherd
Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery in Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
See Article for More Information
Stoneware Sherd
Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery in Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
See Article for More Information
Stoneware Rim Sherd
Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery in Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
See Article for More Information
Another View of the Rim Sherd
See Article for More Information
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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