I am excited to announce that the more than 3,000-word feature story will be available in just a few days in the November 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest. The North Yarmouth industry is somewhat of a forgotten production center today, which was established by a potter named John Thomas (1754-1843) who migrated north in 1791 from the circa 1763-1799 Daniel Bayley Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Thomas (no relation to me) was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and was previously an employee of the Bayleys in the 1770s and 1780s. This industry eventually transformed into the location of many multi-generational businesses, where Thomas played a major role until the late-1830s. I also believe this industry produced more pottery in the nineteenth century than anywhere else in Maine.
A major aspect of the article is archaeology, all of which was saved from construction by Chris Havey in the 1990s. The majority of this archaeology is owned by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission in Augusta, Maine today. This is a story that I am really excited to see in print seeing that so much about this industry has been forgotten, such as the use of slip-decoration in the 1800s.
Here are some photos of locally made North Yarmouth red earthenware that are not included in the published feature story. These objects were all recovered by Havey from various pottery sites dating from the late-eighteenth and nineteenth century.
Red Earthenware Artifacts Made in North Yarmouth, Maine
19th Century North Yarmouth, Maine Red Earthenware Chamber Pot
Recovered by Chris Havey in the 1990s
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maine Historic Preservation Commission
19th Century North Yarmouth, Maine Red Earthenware Chamber Pot
Recovered by Chris Havey in the 1990s
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maine Historic Preservation Commission
19th Century North Yarmouth, Maine Red Earthenware Mug
Recovered by Chris Havey in the 1990s
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maine Historic Preservation Commission
19th Century North Yarmouth, Maine Red Earthenware Pot
Recovered by Chris Havey in the 1990s
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maine Historic Preservation Commission
19th Century North Yarmouth, Maine Red Earthenware Pot
Recovered by Chris Havey in the 1990s
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maine Historic Preservation Commission
19th Century North Yarmouth, Maine Red Earthenware Jug
Recovered by Chris Havey in the 1990s
The Jug Retains the Remains of some Slip-Decoration
The Jug Retains the Remains of some Slip-Decoration
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maine Historic Preservation Commission
19th Century North Yarmouth, Maine Red Earthenware Sherds
Recovered by Chris Havey in the 1990s
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maine Historic Preservation Commission
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come
