This is another preview of some of the research that New York author and historian Warren Broderick is contributing to my forthcoming 650-750 page, eleventh book, titled, A Monumental History: Stories of Red Earthenware Production in Western Massachusetts, the Berkshires and Vermont.
"...Archival Grand Lists indicate an Irish man named James Mitchell (1826-1859) acquired the Caleb Farrar (1780-1859) Pottery in Middlebury, Vermont, around 1854, revising earlier 1850 accounts. Although listed as a potter in the 1850 Census, Mitchell likely worked as a tenant before purchasing the business, which he owned from roughly 1854 until his death in 1859. Probate records show that at the time of his death, he maintained an active inventory of "Brown ware" (red earthenware) valued at $15.00, held $30 in personal property, and paid $3.80 in taxes. Following his passing, the business was purchased by Nahum Parker (1811-1880), and the original buildings were later converted into a private residence.
In the 1850s, Middlebury was a busy and successful town. When the railroad arrived in 1849, it became much easier for locals to sell goods to big cities like Boston. The town was full of energy, with factories and marble quarries, as well as James Mitchell’s pottery shop. At the same time, many farmers switched from raising sheep to dairy cows so they could ship butter and cheese by train. With its great schools, new homes, and growing population, Middlebury was quickly changing from a small village into a modern industrial town.
Interestingly, Mitchells’ probate record from 1859 provides evidence that he was likely still actively maintaining a stock of his own products at the time of his death. For instance, there is an entry for "Brown ware" valued at $15.00.
In the mid-nineteenth century, $15.00 was equivalent to roughly $600 today. When compared to other items in the inventory, such as a cow valued at $17.00 or a pig at $8.00, it becomes clear that this was not a small collection of household dishes, but rather it was probably inventory.
Given that a standard one-gallon jug or crock typically sold for between 10 and 20 cents at the time, a $15.00 valuation suggests a stock of roughly 75 to 100 individual pieces. The presence of this pottery alongside specialized equipment like the "Lead mill" (used for grinding glazes) suggests that the pottery remained a central part of his estate until his death.
The final dissolution of the pottery homestead occurred on February 3, 1860, when Mitchell's widow, Betsy (or Elizabeth) Mitchell, sold an undivided one-fifth interest in her late husband's estate to the family's long-time financial anchor, Nahum Parker, for $60 (Deed Book 19, Page 311)..."
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