Thomas Vickers (1757-1829) and his son, John (1780-1860) were Quaker potters, farmers, abolitionists and agents on the Underground Railroad, both known for their anti-slavery activism, helping rescue many people from slavery during their lifetime. Slaves were often concealed in the hay among the pottery in the Vickers’ wagons, as well as other places on their property in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Thomas Vickers established a pottery near Downington, Pennsylvania in the 1790s - in 1796, the tax lists for East Caln Township mentions 1 frame pot house for Thomas Vickers’ farm. There were several deposits of clay near the pottery. He also purchased clay from neighbors for $0.50 - $1.00/load. In fact, in Crocker Farm's most recent Spring 2022 sale in Maryland was a green glazed red earthenware vase that may be the earliest datable object known from Vickers today, inscribed, "Ann Miller / Born A.D. 1796."
According to the book, Marks of American Potters which was published in 1904 by Edwin Atlee Barber (1851-1916), "One of Thomas Vickers day books, extending over a period from this date until 1813, has been preserved, and from the entries we learn that he produced at various times red earthenware, sgraffito ware, black glazed pottery, domestic queensware and green enameled ware. Among the articles enumerated are pie plates, milk pots, basons, jugs, pitchers, bowls, mugs, cups, coffee and tea pots, sugar bowls, cream cups, salt cups, bouquetts, cake molds, candle sticks, salt sellers, mantel and toy figures, chimney ornaments, bread baskets, chimney stands, inkstands, dishes, plates and tobacco pipes, both glazed and unglazed. There are numerous entries of green enameled ware, such as pint, quart and three-pint pitchers, sugar bowls, etc.
In the Philadelphia Museum of Art collection is a large jar attributed to Thomas Vickers with incised decorations - a wreath on one side enclosing the words "Apple Butter," and on the other the name of the recipient and the date 1807. The entire surface is covered with a beautiful, mottled, apple green enamel.
Other examples in the museum's collection from this pottery, are a sgraffito decorated flower pot, bearing the date 1826, and a spherical jar with variegated glaze and the date 1822." The Philadelphia museum also owns a plate mold, various storage jars, a pitcher and some slipware plates. Vickers' production can also be found in the New York Historical Society in Manhattan, Winterthur in Delaware, along with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
Although, when Thomas Vickers’ son joined the pottery it became known as Thomas Vickers and Son Pottery. John was in partnership with his father until he started a new pottery, John Vickers and Son Pottery, in Lionville, Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania. Thomas left his pottery in 1823 and assisted his son in Lionville until his death. It was also in 1823, that John Vickers bought "5 acres and 66 perches" for $800. His homestead, which is now Vickers Tavern on Gordon Drive, off Route 100 in Lionville, near Exton, Pennsylvania, was a heavily used Underground Railroad station. Vickers hid slaves in the kiln and in piles of fresh-cut cordwood. After the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law made Underground Railroad work more dangerous, Vickers sent runaways to a black couple who rented a house in the woods from him.
The John Vickers and Son Pottery continued operating under the Vickers name until the second half of the nineteenth century. It then remained open in other hands until closing. Pieces of pottery have been found bearing the incised initials "T.V." also "J.V." The latter on some pottery pie-plate molds in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, accompany by dates ranging from 1806-1831.
Interestingly, there is some red earthenware that survives from the Vickers Family Pottery today, which is inscribed on the base with a number that makes it appear like it was made in the 1700s. Personally, I don't think this number has nothing to do with a date, and instead perhaps relates to pottery production (because some of the numbers are earlier than the Vickers Pottery is thought to have been established). But if it is a date then it is possible that some of these pieces may need to be looked at again, seeing that the number or date appears to contradict when the Vickers family began producing red earthenware.
However, in the collection of West Chester University in Chester County, Pennsylvania are three very interesting objects attributed to John Vickers: a large double handled bowl and two dishes or saucers.
Objects Attributed to John Vickers Owned by West Chester University
Measures 6" in Diameter
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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