The Portsmouth Pipeline: Moving Pottery from Charlestown and Staffordshire to Berwick, Maine

The discovery of these eighteenth century sherds in Berwick, Maine, provides significant archaeological evidence of the trade networks of colonial New England. The black glazed and yellow slip decorated red earthenware sherds suggest a pre-1775 Charlestown, Massachusetts origin, which was a prominent center for red earthenware production, circa 1630s-1775.

Historical documentation confirms that Charlestown red earthenware was imported into Portsmouth, New Hampshire before 1755, where it then may have been distributed to inland settlements like Berwick. Some of this production was also imitating British slip techniques.

Furthermore, the presence of Staffordshire, England slip decorated earthenware sherds suggests they were also imported into Portsmouth, before migrating upriver to Berwick. Prior to the American Revolution, Staffordshire was the global leader in slip-decorated earthenware, which inspired some potters in the Charlestown and Danvers/Salem, Massachusetts area to imitate some of the English slip techniques. 

Note: For more information - see my third published book, titled, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-dawn-of-independence-the-death-of-an-industry/.

18th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Sherds Recovered in Berwick, Maine

Possibly Made in Charlestown, Mass. Before 1775

Some of the Production in Charlestown was Inspired by British Slip Decoration

Some of the Production in the Danvers/Salem Area was Inspired by British Slip Decoration

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Matt Anson

18th Century Slip Decorated Earthenware Sherds Recovered in Berwick, Maine

Made in Staffordshire, England Before 1775

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Matt Anson

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