As previously mentioned on this website, my forthcoming 500-600 page, eleventh book, titled, A Monumental History: Stories of Red Earthenware Production in Western Massachusetts, the Berkshires and Vermont, will include research from other contributors, such as New York historian and author Warren Broderick. This book will in some ways be a continuation of some of my past and future publications, including my 709-page, eighth book, titled, An Influential Family of Early Potters: The Clarks of New Hampshire and Related Businesses: https://historicbeverly.net/product/an-influential-family-of-early-potters-the-clarks-of-new-hampshire-and-related-businesses/.
The subject of red earthenware production in Vermont in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century has lacked detail in scholarship in past publications; for instance this new book will present information that shows when red earthenware production actually began in Vermont in the 1780s, predating the previous published documented information by about a decade. It was thought that Captain John Norton (1758-1828) was the first in Bennington, Vermont, but current research by Warren Broderick has proven otherwise, where the history of another potter will be presented.
Posted here is a newspaper advertisement from what is perhaps a completely forgotten short-lived enterprise by the Clark family. According to Warren Broderick’s research, “...Published in the June 6, 1826 issue of the Vermont Patriot in Montpelier, Vermont, this ad may represent Francis Clark (1771-1831), who came to Barre from Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, circa 1800. Even if he was not an active potter, he certainly would have learned a lot given the household where he grew up. He may have possessed serious knowledge in pottery management and marketing. His son, Francis Clark Junior (1805-1876) had a farm in Barre, but not the City of Barre we are familiar with, rather the large rural Town of Barre. His farm was located very close to the Plainfield town line. This may represent the “F” Clark in the partnership, where the “D” Clark might be Daniel Clark Junior (1793-1862), the potter from Concord, New Hampshire, who spent a few years in Barre/Montpelier helping his cousin and uncle. Note that in the partnership “F” comes before “D.”.
Also according to Broderick, “...We don’t know who actually operated the pottery in Plainfield, Vermont owned by Ira Day (1777-1853) between circa 1808 and the mid-1820s. I wonder if the Clarks had a hand in this business. The northeast part of Montpelier and the north part of Barre Town are not far from the Plainfield pottery site. I doubt this could be proven but it is interesting speculation, nonetheless!”Note: My goal is to have the Western Massachusetts & Vermont book published in 2026…so stay tuned for more details! The Clark family will also be included in my forthcoming two-volume, 1,422-page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts. This book is due out in the winter of 2026: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/12/coming-in-winter-of-2026-early-industry.html.
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
No comments:
Post a Comment