Mid-17th Century Red Earthenware Pipes Recovered in Charlestown and Saugus, Massachusetts

According to National Park Service, "The Saugus Iron Works is a National Historic Site about 10 miles northeast of Boston in Saugus, Massachusetts. It is the site of the first integrated iron works in North America, founded by John Winthrop the Younger (1606-1676) and in operation between 1646 and approximately 1670. The iron was used to manufacture a number of indispensable goods, such as nails, horseshoes, cookware, tools and weapons. The iron works produced over one ton of iron per day, but was not financially successful and closed in 1670. The nine-acre National Park includes working waterwheels, forges, mills, an historic seventeenth-century home, and a lush river basin."

Saugus Iron Works, Saugus, Mass.

 17th Century Home on the Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 The Iron Works Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  River Basin Terminus at the Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 The Iron Works Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  Lush River Basin at the Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

The Iron Works Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 Operated Circa 1646-1670

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  Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 Operated Circa 1646-1670

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 Site of the Saugus Iron Works - Saugus, Mass.

 Operated Circa 1646-1670

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Yesterday, I toured the site of the Saugus Iron Works - I was surprised to see a small collection of seventeenth century red earthenware pipe stems on display in the museum building. The pipe fragments were recovered within a mid-seventeenth-century archaeological context.

According to the museum, "The 1948-53 archaeological excavations of the iron works site uncovered many fragments of white clay tobacco pipes made in England, and red clay tobacco pipes made in English Colonial America.

New England Puritans condemned pipe smoking as "time wasting," but historic accounts from 1651-1653 show that the iron works managers issued rations of tobacco to their non-Puritan workers. Iron works managers also issued their workers brandy and rum, a practice also frowned upon by the Puritans."

Interestingly, almost five years ago, I posted an article on this website about a large collection of red earthenware pipes, recovered by archaeologists in the 1980s, less than 10 miles south of Saugus in Charlestown, Massachusetts. These artifacts were excavated from a very-similar mid-seventeenth century context, at the site of a merchant's home on Maudlin Street, who is known to have traveled throughout the American Colonies and the Caribbean. The exact origin of these pipes has not been identified, but I would not be surprised to learn that they are related to the objects recovered in Saugus, based on the appearance of the pipes and the context that they were recovered.

17th Century Pipes Recovered in Saugus, Mass.

 17th Century Pipes Recovered at the Site of the Saugus Iron Works in Saugus, Mass.

Reportedly Circa 1651-1653

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Photo Courtesy: National Park Service, Saugus Iron Works

 (Bottom Right) Red Earthenware Pipes Recovered at the Site of the Saugus Iron Works
Reportedly Circa 1651-1653

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Photo Courtesy: National Park Service, Saugus Iron Works

Information on Display with the Pipes

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Photo Courtesy: National Park Service, Saugus Iron Works

17th Century Pipes Recovered in Charlestown, Mass.

17th Century Red Earthenware Pipes Recovered in Charlestown, Mass.

Excavated from the Site of a Merchant's Home Within a Mid-17th Century Context

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Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department 

 17th Century Red Earthenware Pipes Recovered in Charlestown, Mass.

Excavated from the Site of a Merchant's Home Within a Mid-17th Century Context

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department 

 17th Century Red Earthenware Pipes Recovered in Charlestown, Mass.

Excavated from the Site of a Merchant's Home Within a Mid-17th Century Context

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department 

17th Century Red Earthenware Pipes Recovered in Charlestown, Mass.

Excavated from the Site of a Merchant's Home Within a Mid-17th Century Context

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department 

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