Unearthing the Past: A 1789 Barn Find in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey

This nineteenth century red earthenware plate was found in a barn in 1955 that was included as part of a 1789 farmhouse (added onto in 1834) in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey.  Finding this plate likely connects it to one of the early families who lived in the house and the history of nineteenth century Ocean County, New Jersey. 

At the time of the farmhouse's construction and addition, this unincorporated coastal community—nestled along the Jersey Shore roughly eighty miles south of New York City and sixty miles east of Philadelphia—was a quiet rural settlement sustained by timber, vineyards, and cranberry bogs.

In the 1800s, families living in what is now Lanoka Harbor (originally called Williamsburg or Aumacktown) were largely a mix of English and Dutch descendants. These early European settlers originally migrated from New England or direct from the U.K. and the Netherlands. A significant number were mariners from the Cape Ann of Massachusetts. 

While Lanoka Harbor lacked its own clay resources, several major nineteenth century pottery production centers operated within a short shipping distance of this barn. The closest ceramics hub was the southern Raritan Bay area, located roughly forty to fifty miles north in towns like South Amboy, Perth Amboy, and Cheesequake. Roughly fifty miles northwest sat Trenton, a major manufacturing hub that produced vast quantities of traditional red earthenware and industrial ceramics during this era. Additionally, prominent regional kilns operated just fifty miles southwest in Haddonfield and sixty-five miles northwest in Flemington. Because Lanoka Harbor was a busy maritime shipping corridor, everyday household goods from all of these nearby regional centers may have been trafficked to the area's stores. 

Interestingly, the back of the plate is marked with an inscription. While it is unclear exactly what the mark means, they could be the initials of an early owner. They may even belong to a member of the original family who built the farmhouse and barn back in 1789 or 1834.

Nevertheless, I am working with the family who discovered this plate in 1955 to uncover its history. If you recognize these markings or have any information about its origin, please feel free to reach out!

19th Century Red Earthenware Plate Found in a Barn in New Jersey in 1955

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Photo Courtesy: Private Owner

A View of the Back of the Plate

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Photo Courtesy: Private Owner

The Back of the Plate is Inscribed with a Mark

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Photo Courtesy: Private Owner

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