19th Century Ship Logs Found Containing the Names of Western New York Potters Carl Mehwaldt and Heber Kimball

A few interesting facts that I recently discovered while working on my forthcoming two-volume 900 plus page New York book is that first I found Carl Mehlwaldt (1808-1887) listed as a passenger aboard the Hamburg that departed Germany on March 16, 1852 and arrived in New York City on July 1, 1852. This is how Mehwaldt migrated to America, eventually settling in Bergholz, Niagara County, New York, where he established a red earthenware pottery, which he operated until the 1880s. Previously, there were some accounts that suggested he arrived in America in 1851, although it was actually the following year.

For more information about Mehwaldt, see a feature story I wrote for the October 15, 2021 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Carl Mehwaldt: A Pioneer German-American Potter And 19th-Century Immigrant - Redware From Western New York State: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2021/10/print-version-of-new-published-research.html.

Also, see another feature story I wrote for the December 16, 2022 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Unique Red Earthenware Rediscovered In Western New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/12/new-published-story-unique-red.html.

Carl Mehlwaldt Listed as a Passenger Aboard the Hamburg

The Ship Departed Germany on March 16, 1852

It Arrived in New York City on July 1, 1852

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19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Attributed to the Mehwald Pottery in Bergholz, N.Y.

Circa 1850s-1880s

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Photo Courtesy: Das Haus Museum

Interestingly, I also learned that Brigham Young (1801-1877) and Heber Kimball (1801-1869) were among the passengers and crew listed as leaving Liverpool, England on April 20, 1841, en route for New York City. Furthermore, the Mormons arrived in Britain at the very end of the reign of Queen Victoria. The first Mormon missionaries were sent to England in 1837, led by Kimball. They preached in Preston, England in July, and baptized their first nine converts the same month in the river Ribble.

For more information about Kimball's career as a potter in Mendon, New York, see a feature story I wrote for the April 2022 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, Heber C. Kimball: A Mormon Potter from Western New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/03/latest-published-research-story-heber-c.html.

Brigham Young and Heber Kimball Among the Passengers and Crew

The Ship Left Liverpool, England on April 20, 1841, En Route for NYC

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19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Jar or Bottle

Attributed to Heber Kimball in Mendon, New York

Circa 1820s

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Photo Courtesy: Pook & Pook

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