An Eighteenth Century Teapot Owned by the Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society and an Upcoming Published Feature Story in Maine Antique Digest

Last month, I posted a picture of the Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society on Facebook, writing that I had just visited the museum in order to see a collection of locally made red earthenware, which had been brought to my attention by Portsmouth, New Hampshire antiques dealer, Hollis Brodrick. Hopkinton is located just a few miles west of Concord, New Hampshire.

While I was at the museum, I handled and learned the history about a largely unknown and important piece of locally made red earthenware, dated "1765," and inscribed all over with various names and initials. Interestingly, 1765 was the year Concord was adopted as the city's name, later becoming the state capital in the early-nineteenth century. The museum also owns other pieces of  locally made pottery from the Concord area, all retaining histories of ownership in Hopkinton, some dating to the 1790s.

After visiting the historical society, I realized this material completed a lengthy research story that I have been working on for the last three or four years about the eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware industry in Concord. And I am excited to announce today that this story will be published sometime next year in an upcoming issue of Maine Antique Digest, most likely in one of the winter 2020 issues. The story will include well over 20 pictures.

The only object that I did not use from the historical society's collection of red earthenware is this black glazed eighteenth century teapot, probably manufactured in England. According to the information it retains, "Brown-earthenware tea-pot: Belonged to Justus Ketchum, 1st, and Susanna West, at the Time of their Marriage, 1789. Presented Silas Ketchum, 2d, and deposited in the museum's collection."

Justus and Susanna Ketchum were living in Athol, Massachusetts about the time they were married in 1789. They also lived in Barre, Vermont. However, Silas Ketchum was their son, born in Athol on November 29, 1800, eventually moving to Hopkinton, which is where he died on April 18, 1855. The teapot was acquired from Silas' estate by the historical society sometime after it was established in 1859.

Teapot Owned by the Hopkinton, NH Historical Society

 Hopkinton, N.H. Historical Society

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 18th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Teapot

Likely Made in England

Retains Wonderful History of Family Ownership in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

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Photo Courtesy: Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society

 Another View of the Teapot and the Lid

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Photo Courtesy: Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society

  Another View of the Teapot and the Lid

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Photo Courtesy: Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society

 Another View of the Teapot and the Lid

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Photo Courtesy: Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society

 Seven Holes Punched Where the Spout is Attached to the Teapot's Body
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Photo Courtesy: Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society

View of the Base
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Photo Courtesy: Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society

Silas Ketchum's (1800-55) Gravestone in Old Hopkinton Cemetery in Hopkinton, N.H.

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Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...