EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: Examples of Red Earthenware from the Jethro Furber Pottery Owned by the Conway, New Hampshire Historical Society

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Examples of Red Earthenware from the Jethro Furber Pottery Owned by the Conway, New Hampshire Historical Society

Earlier this year, I posted a story about Jethro Furber (1800-1876), a Concord, New Hampshire trained potter who eventually migrated north to produce lead glazed red earthenware in the White Mountains Region in the late-1830s.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "Farthest north of New Hampshire potteries was an earthenware shop in North Conway started by Jethro Furber before 1839. Jethro was probably one of Concord Furbers and connected with the Millville group in that city, for he was in that section in 1827, when he bought 15 acres from Peter Whittemore. Six acres of this land, which was all on the north side of the Hopkinton Road, was the south end of a lot formerly owned by Joseph F. Stickney and adjoined on the east land of Samuel Fletcher. The other nine acres had been part of the dower of Mary Whittemore. Furber and his wife Eliza Eastman Furber (1802-1884) conveyed the two pieces to Hiram Dow and Samuel L. Baker, both of Concord, July 6, 1839. His pottery in the mountains was still running in 1856, when he advertised in the New England Business Directory."

However, it seems that Jethro Furber's career spanned even longer, seeing that he was still listed as a potter in the The New Hampshire Register and Farmer's Almanac for 1873.

Upon Jethro's death in 1876, it appears that his pottery business ceased production. He and his wife had two children, John Furber (1833-1899) and Alpheus Furber (1835-1913), but neither appear to have followed in their father's footsteps. In fact, they are both listed in the The New Hampshire Register and Farmer's Almanac for 1873, which I previously cited; John is listed as being employed in the lumber industry in North Conway, and Alpheus is listed as a carpenter, also in North Conway.

Last month, I contacted the Conway, New Hampshire Historical Society in order to see if they owned any examples of pottery from Furbur - they told me they did, but they were utilitarian pots glazed only on the interior. Either way, I was pleased to hear that they did, seeing that not a lot is known about Furber's production today, even though I suspect that there must be pieces in existence that are lacking identification. In fact, I would not be surprised to learn that Furber's production resembles the better-known wares made in Concord in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth century. Both of the following objects also retain local histories of ownership, having been acquired many years ago by the historical society from homeowners in the Conway area.

Interestingly enough, the information on file with one of the pots at the historical society identifies it as having been made by Alpheus Furber, but I can not find any information to support the claim that Alpheus was also a potter. It's quite interesting, nonetheless, and I don't think it's a far fetched claim. Alpheus could have easily taught his boys the potter's craft to go along with the professions that they are documented in today.

Note: Last month I also posted a great nineteenth century painting showing a nineteenth century brick-making business located in the White Mountains.

Jethro Furber's Pottery in North Conway, NH