19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Owned by the Woodman Museum in Dover, New Hampshire

Yesterday, I posted an article about the red earthenware collection owned by the Woodman Museum in Dover, New Hampshire. It is an interesting collection since all of the red earthenware retains some type of history of local ownership, some of which even dates back to the early-twentieth century.

In particular, there was a red earthenware jar that piqued my curiosity - the form is known to have been manufactured within the circa 1790-1890 red earthenware industry in North Yarmouth, Maine. However, the museum attributes their jar to Salem, Massachusetts.

I'm not sure how the Salem attribution was developed, but a similar form of jar was published in 1974 in 'Regional Aspects of American Folk Pottery.' The book was printed to coincide with a collection of red earthenware that was displayed at the York County Historical Society in Pennsylvania from May 12th through October 12th in 1974. The jar is marked "Jackson" and attributed to William Jackson's pottery in Saugus, Massachusetts, circa 1811/12-1816. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the whereabouts of this jar's existence today.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares), "Potteries may have been in existence in Lynn (Massachusetts) at an early period, but the only one of which I have a record was in a section of the present town of Saugus (Massachusetts) known as Cliftondale. It was started by William Jackson, from Manchester, England.

He had bought a farm in Cliftondale (then part of Lynn) in 1808, and, finding a deposit of clay on his land, he came to the conclusion that it would be possible to make from it a fine kind of earthenware, similar to what was imported from England.

In this hope, he put up a suitable plant, consisting of a large building and two smaller ones, and procured the best equipment and workmen he could find. Production began in 1811 and kept up for four years, but Jackson was doomed to disappointment, financial and otherwise, for the clay proved to be the usual variety from which only common red earthenware was made.

Jackson advertised his wares in glowing terms in the 'Boston Gazette' on December 16, 1811. It is evident from the list of forms that they did not greatly differ from those turned out by New England potters, although there was perhaps a greater variety.

Jackson's pottery was also sold by 'Wainwright and Jackson' in their store on Exchange Street in Cliftondale. Thomas Jackson of this firm was connected with the Boston Porcelain and Glass Company. The two may have been related."

Red Earthenware Jar Owned by the Woodman Museum in Dover, NH

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Purportedly from the Salem, Mass. Area

Similar Forms were Also Manufactured in North Yarmouth, ME
Similar Form was also Reportedly Made in Saugus, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Woodman Museum - Dover, NH

Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Saugus, Mass.

Early 19th Century Lidded Red Earthenware Jar

Marked 'Jackson'

Reportedly Made by William Jackson in Saugus, Mass.

Circa 1811/12-1816

Stands 9 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Regional Aspects of American Folk Pottery, York, PA HSO, 1974

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