Some 19th Century Census Records from the Clark Family of Potters in Concord, New Hampshire

The focal point of my forthcoming New Hampshire book is the Clark family in Braintree, Massachusetts and throughout southcentral and Concord, Hampshire, as well as how they directly and indirectly influenced red earthenware production elsewhere in New Hampshire and in parts of Vermont. It is debatable where the family was most prominent in New Hampshire, whether it be the Lyndeborough and Francistown area in the eighteenth and nineteenth century or in Concord in the 1790s through the 1880s. 

Nevertheless, Daniel Clark (1768-1828) established the Concord business in the 1790s; the company was then taken over Daniel's sons Daniel Clark II (ca. 1792-1863) and Peter Clark (1794-1855) upon his death in 1828. The company was then passed to Daniel II's son John Farmer Clark (1832-1885) about 1863, where the business continued to operate until around the time of his death in 1885.

Interestingly, while going through census records a few months back, I was surprised to find Daniel Clark II listed with an occupation of a farmer in the 1850 and 1860 Federal Censuses, whereas pottery production must have helped supplement his yearly income. This was a surprise, seeing that the family was such a prominent name in New Hampshire's red earthenware production after 1775; perhaps the Concord business was not as successful around the mid-1800s. But it was a very different story with John Farmer Clark, who is cited as an "Earthenware Manufacturer" in the 1870 Federal Census.

Note: For more information - see a five-page feature story that I wrote for the June 2021 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, The Red Earthenware Industry in Concord, New Hampshire: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2021/05/new-published-feature-story-concord-nh.html.

Some Census Records from the Clark Family of Potters in Concord, N.H.

Daniel Clark is still listed with an occupation of farmer in the 1850 Federal Census in Concord, New Hampshire, although he was also likely still working as a potter

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Daniel Clark is still listed with an occupation of farmer in the 1860 Federal Census in Concord, New Hampshire, although he was also likely still working as a potter

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John F. Clark listed as an Earthenware Manufacturer in the 1870 Federal Census in Concord, New Hampshire

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On a side note - I also wanted to show the incised decoration on this nineteenth century green glazed red earthenware mug that was reportedly made at the Osborn Pottery in Gonic, New Hampshire. This mug is owned today as part of the Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) Collection at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. I doubt there is any connection, but the exact style of the incised lines on this mug is also a type that was applied by Ben Owen Sr. (1904-1983), among other potters in North Carolina in the 1900s. There are also other examples of red earthenware thought to have been made in Gonic with this same incised decoration.

19th Century Red Earthenware Mug with Incised Lines

Reportedly Made at the Osborn Pottery in Gonic, New Hampshire

 This Exact Decoration is also Found on Some Pottery Made in N.C. in the 1900s

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History

Another View of the Mug

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History

Unmarked 20th Century Earthenware Vase

Attributed to J.H. Owen in Seagrove, North Carolina

Decorated with a Similar Style of Incised Lines as the Mug Shown Above

Circa 1920s or So

Stands 4 7/8" Tall

Measures 6 1/2" Across

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