This is some more information that will be included in my forthcoming 700-page New Hampshire book, titled, An Influential Family of Early Potters: The Clarks of New Hampshire and Related Businessss, whereas the foundation of the book is Captain Peter Clark (1743-1826), who was a South Danvers (Peabody), Massachusetts trained potter, who owned and operated a red earthenware business in Braintree, Massachusetts in the 1760s and 1770s. For reference, Braintree is located a short distance to the south of Boston.
Clark moved his family to Lyndeborough, New Hampshire in early 1775, although he fought in the American Revolution, eventually establishing his first pottery in Lyndeborough, sometime after he arrived in New Hampshire. Clark also served a number of roles while living in Lyndebrough outside of being just a potter, however he later established a second business in nearby Francestown, New Hampshire.
Furthermore, Clark had at least four sons who entered the potters trade, Peter II (1764-1851), Daniel (1768-1828), William (1768-1855) and Benjamin (1770-1844), some of whom also established their own companies in Lyndeborough, Concord and Orford, New Hampshire, as well as Brownington, Vermont. Benjamin was also back living in Braintree around 1800, seeing this is where his son, Jonathan Clark (1800-1879) was born, who would also become a potter in Orford. However, it is unclear why Benjamin was in Braintree, but he may have been there in an attempt to revive his father's old business.
Nonetheless, the family was influential with red earthenware production in Hartford, Connecticut, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Essex County, southern New Hampshire, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Grafton County, New Hampshire, the Concord area, the Lake Winnipesaukee area, North Conway, New Hampshire and in parts of Vermont.
Additionally, both Peter Clark and his son Daniel Clark kept diaries; posted below is some of the information that Peter Clark wrote during the 1775-1801 period.
A Diary Kept by Captain Peter Clark in New Hampshire
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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