The lone red earthenware potter that I have been able to identify in Cattaraugus County, New York is William Hurd, who worked in the town of Leon, New York. This research will be included in my forthcoming two-volume Western New York book.
To my knowledge, nothing is known about Hurd's production, although he was born in Vermont and arrived in Leon sometime before 1840. He is first listed in the town in the 1840 Federal Census, whereas he is listed as a potter in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.
However, by the 1865 Census, he is listed as a farmer, although that does not mean that he stopped producing red earthenware; it just means that his primary occupation is now listed as a farmer.
Nevertheless, is there any information out there about Hurd's production? Previous publications have briefly stated that none of his work has been identified and no archaeology or surface artifacts have been recovered from the site of Hurd's house. That does not mean nothing exists; it just means that nothing has been identified. Does anyone reading this happen to have more information?
The William Hurd Pottery in Leon, Cattaraugus County, N.Y.
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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