The Opening of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1832 and Some 19th Century Stoneware Production in Ohio

Something that I have thought about for sometime now is whether the completion of the Erie Canal in New York State in 1825, with port cities located in Western New York in Buffalo and Rochester, had any impact with stoneware production in Ohio. Nearly every major city in New York can be found along the trade route established by the Erie Canal: it links Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Albany with New York City. When fully completed in 1832, the Ohio and Erie Canal traveled 308 miles through 146 lift locks on its path between Cleveland and Portsmouth, Ohio. The canal almost instantly turned Cleveland into a major commercial center.

Furthermore, the Ohio and Erie Canal, connecting Lake Erie at Cleveland with the Ohio River at Portsmouth, was constructed by the State of Ohio between 1825-1832, in order to provide cheap transportation and to promote the state's economic development.

In consideration of this, I have wondered how stoneware and red earthenware production during the post-1832 period in Cleveland and elsewhere in northern Ohio was impacted, perhaps partially by potters located in New York State, seeing that utilitarian pottery production increased dramatically in both Rochester and Buffalo, once the Erie Canal opened in those port cities in 1825.

For instance, one potter that comes to mind is Daniel Fisk (1792-1868); Fisk was a stoneware potter, owning several pottery businesses in Springfield (Akron), Ohio and Cleveland. He appears in the 1837 City Directory for Cleveland, living near Public Square and owning a pottery on Orange alley. This was only a few yeas after the canal opened in Cleveland, although Fisk was actually born in Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York.

Interestingly, I do not know when Fisk first moved to Cleveland, although Whitesboro is located less than five miles from the port city of Utica, New York, whereas some of the forms produced by Fisk in Cleveland appear similar to shapes made in Utica before 1832; there were a few different stoneware businesses operating in Utica during the 1820s and early 1830s period. Fisk also lived for a time in Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, as well as Minnesota, before dying in Wisconsin in 1868.

(Left) 19th Century Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Crock Made in Cleveland, Ohio

Stamped "D. Fisk"

Made As Early As 1837 (Possibly Earlier)

(Right) 19th Century Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Crock Made in Utica, New York

Marked "D. ROBERTS & Co / UTICA"

Circa 1827-1830

Photo Courtesy: Freeman's | Hindman and Crocker Farm

There are other instances of potters moving from New York to Ohio in the nineteenth century, such as the Mormon leader Heber C. Kimball (1801-1868), who relocated from Mendon, New York to Kirtland, Ohio about 1835, before moving to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1848. Kirtland is located around twenty miles northeast of Cleveland. Kimball will also be a subject of a chapter in my forthcoming two-volume Western New York book, titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York.

Interestingly, though, it was probably around fifteen years ago that I found a nineteenth century cobalt decorated stoneware butter churn with its original lid at a flea market in southern Maine; at the time, I thought the churn may have been made in Rochester, New York, although it was unmarked. 

However, I later learned that it was a Midwestern churn, possibly made in Ohio, and perhaps in the Akron or Cleveland area. But the manner of the cobalt decorated flower with the number "6" has always reminded me of production in Western New York. The style of the flower and the gallon capacity is similar to types produced at John Burger's (1811-1885) circa 1854-1867 pottery business in Rochester, along with Frederick Stetzenmeyer's (1815-1882) production in Rochester, and other businesses in Rochester, as well as Charles W. Braun's (1821-1899) stoneware factory in Buffalo.

19th Century Six-Gallon Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Butter Churn

Decorated with a Cobalt Flower and the Number "6"

Made in the Midwest, Possibly Made in Ohio

Possibly Made in the Cleveland or Akron, Ohio Area

The Decoration is Similar to Types Produced in Rochester and Buffalo, New York

See Article for More Information

(Right) 19th Center Cobalt Decorated Crock Made in Rochester, New York

Decorated with a Cobalt Flower and the Number "2"

Stamped "JOHN BURGER / ROCHESTER"

Circa 1854-1867

(Left) 19th Center Cobalt Decorated Crock Made in Rochester, New York

Decorated with a Cobalt Flower and the Number "2"

Stamped "F. STETZENMEYER.&.Co / ROCHESTER.N.Y."

Circa 1855

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

19th Center Cobalt Decorated Crock Made in Rochester, New York

Decorated with a Cobalt Flower

Stamped "C.W. BRAUN / BUFFALO N.Y." 

Circa 1870

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

19th Center Cobalt Decorated Crock Made in Rochester, New York

Decorated with a Cobalt Flower

Stamped "Harrington & Burger / Rochester"

Circa 1852-1854

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

Nonetheless, these are two very good examples of nineteenth century stoneware from Ohio that are part of the good stoneware collection that I have been writing about, which is currently available at Antiques Associates At West Townsend in Massachusetts.

The first crock was made about thirty-five miles to the south of Cleveland in Akron; there are aspects about this object that remind me of production in Western New York. The crock was made at a business owned by Phillip H. Smith (1812-1897), who was actually born in New York. The fish decoration applied on this crock is probably one of the more iconic designs produced at this company, whereas the most recent example sold at Freeman's | Hindman in Philadelphia last fall, as part of the Dr. Richard J. Wattenmaker Collection; that crock sold for $4,763, including the buyer's premium, although the cobalt decoration was not as good as this example: https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions/2083-For-the-Love-of-Barnes-The-Collection-of-Dr-Richard-J-Wattenmaker/lot/82.

Additionally, among the most important examples of this type of fish design from Akron is one that sold at Christie's in Manhattan in 2012, which was previously owned by Vicki and Bruce Waasdorp in Clarence, New York and Leigh Keno in New York City; that crock was decorated in cobalt with a fish, the number "6" and the inscription, "P.H. Smith & Sons" - https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5526974.

Another notable object from this family's production is a nineteenth century six-gallon stoneware crock, decorated in cobalt with a mermaid, and inscribed "P.H. Smith" and "Lewis Smith," which sold at Crocker Farm in Maryland in 2020: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2020-08-21/lot-80/Exceptional-P-H-Smith-Akron-Ohio-Stoneware-Jar-w-Mermaid-Decoration/.

Link to the crock on A.A.A.W.T.'s website: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/19th-century-three-gallon-stoneware-crock-with-cobalt-fish-decoration/

(Right) 19th Century Three-Gallon Stoneware Crock from Akron, Ohio

Decorated with a Cobalt Fish and the Number "3"

Attributed to Phillip Smith and His Family's Stoneware Company

Circa Second-Half of the 19th Century

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.

19th Century Six-Gallon Stoneware Crock from Akron, Ohio

Decorated with a Cobalt Fish and the Number "6"

Inscribed in Cobalt "P.H. Smith & Sons"

Circa Second-Half of the 19th Century

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Christies

The maker of the second object is unknown to me outside of an Ohio origin, although it may have been made by a potter who worked somewhere around the Ohio River. This is really an impressive object to see in-person because of its size and the cobalt design; the style of the tulip applied on this object is certainly reminiscent to decorative types used by German immigrants and potters throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The crock is also decorated with a Roman numeral “X” in cobalt, which likely represents the ten gallon capacity. But I also want to mention that there was a heavy influx of German potters who migrated to Erie County, New York in the nineteenth century, and especially in the Buffalo area, where those potters worked with both red earthenware and stoneware.

Link to the crock on A.A.A.W.T.'s website: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/ten-gallon-stoneware-crock-with-floral-decoration/

Nevertheless, for more information about either of these objects - contact A.A.A.W.T.: https://www.aaawt.com/about/

19th Century Ten-Gallon Stoneware Crock from Ohio

Decorated in Cobalt with a Tulip and the Roman Numeral "X"

Stands 16 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.

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

Two Good Early 19th Century Stoneware Jars from the Albany and Troy, New York Area

These are two early nineteenth century stoneware jars that are also a part of the good stoneware collection that I have been writing about, which is currently available at Antiques Associates At West Townsend in Massachusetts. These jars were likely manufactured in the Albany and Troy, New York area before 1820, perhaps as early as 1800-1805; Albany and Troy are located about seven miles apart on the opposite banks of the Hudson River. 

Each jar is decorated with an inscribed bird on one side, while the reverse side is decorated with an inscribed flower, whereas the decorations have been highlighted with cobalt. The interior of each pot is also decorated with some type of slip, possibly an Albany slip. 

These types of jars were previously cited in an article written by Warren Hartmann for the 2012 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, The Stoneware of Early Albany: A Mystery Solved, where Hartmann wrote, "More than twenty years of study and analysis have led me to believe that a particular group of unmarked stoneware can be attributed to the pottery of William Capron (1763–1823) of Albany, New York...The decorations on these pieces vary. Many are incised birds, among them a likeness of the Hudson Valley dove, and other unusual bird motifs; others show flowers with large petals or other abstract florals, all filled with cobalt...Based on this analysis and the comparison of form, potting techniques, decorations, and color of clay used in the production of the unknown group of stoneware and the group of marked “ALBANY / WARE,” along with the information available on the mark and dates of the William Capron pottery, I have concluded that this large group of early, unmarked stoneware can be attributed to Capron’s pottery. Further, given the large number of marked Cushman pieces that resemble these early unmarked pieces in overall form, it is my opinion that William Capron or one of his potters worked at the Cushman factory."

However, recent research has strongly challenged this information with evidence identifying this as a type of production manufactured in the Albany and Troy area possibly by George Lent (1774-1850) sometime before he went to work on this own in Lansingburgh, New York during the circa 1825-1843 period. Lansingburgh is a section of Troy today, but from 1791 until 1901, it was a separate community. Additionally, Lent was an early and influential stoneware potter in New York, spending time working in Cornwall, Albany, Troy, Poughkeepsie and Lansingburgh, among other locations.

Interestingly, perhaps Lent's most important example of work from the Lansingburg period was also included in this stoneware collection, which sold last fall to Rob Hunter of Virginia, now owned as part of the William and Susan Mariner Collection: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/10/an-important-example-of-19th-century.html.

Nonetheless, prior to Lent's business ownership in Lansingburg/Troy, he is regarded as a potter who was involved with a number of the early stoneware businesses in the Albany and Troy area; these jars are believed to be related to one of those businesses today, which included Paul Cushman's (1767-1833) Stoneware Factory in Albany, circa 1809-1833, among other companies.

Nonetheless, I have posted below the earliest records that I could find of some of best known stoneware potters who worked in the Albany and Troy area in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Furthermore, for more information about these jars - contact A.A.A.W.T.: https://www.aaawt.com/about/. Red earthenware production from this area will also be included in my forthcoming two-volume Western New York book, titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York.

Link to Jar No. 1: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-crock-incised-bird-and-flower-made-in-the-albany-new-york-area/

Link to Jar No. 2: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-crock-with-incised-bird-flower-made-in-the-albany-new-york-area/

Note: For another type of stoneware production from the Albany and Hudson River Region area - see a story I recently posted to this website, titled, Three Related Stoneware Jars Probably Made Near or Along the Hudson River in New York State in the 1700s (or Early 1800s): http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/01/three-related-stoneware-jars-probably.html.

Stoneware Jars from the Albany and Troy, New York Area

Early 19th Century Stoneware Jars from the Albany and Troy, New York Area

The Jars are Decorated with Incised Birds and Flowers Highlighted with Cobalt

Left Stands 12 1/2" Tall

Right Stands 12" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.

Another View of the Jars

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.

William Capron's (1762-1823) Tax Assessment Roles and Real Estate in Albany in 1799

He Established His Pottery About 1800

The Company Used the Mark "Albany Ware"

See Article for More Information

Branch Green's (1773-1847) Tax Assessment Roles and Real Estate in Troy in 1799

Green was a Potter in Troy, Circa 1799-1805

See Article for More Information

Josiah Chapman's (1781-1827) Tax Assessment Roles and Real Estate in Troy in 1799

Chapman Came from Philadelphia to Troy in 1795

See Article for More Information

Josiah Chapman's (1781-1827) Tax Assessment Roles and Real Estate in Troy in 1803

Chapman was a Potter in Troy, Circa 1803-1815

See Article for More Information

Jonah Boynton (b. Cavendish, Vermont, 1783) Listed in Albany, New York

This is from the 1820 United States Federal Census

He Married Phebe Russell (b. 1783) in Albany in 1808

He Operated a Pottery in Albany, Circa 1816-1826

See Article for More Information

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

Stoneware Production from the Heiser Family, Phillip Mugler, Charles Braun, Among Other Potters in Buffalo, New York

German stoneware production in Erie County, New York is not a subject that I have looked into at any great length, although the influence of migrant German potters in Erie County in the nineteenth century seems to have been prevalent throughout the area, as much as anywhere else in the United States during this period. The location that this may have been the most apparent was with stoneware production in Buffalo, where the Heiser family produced a variety of stoneware during the 1830s to the 1850s; this is a family that originally migrated from Germany to Philadelphia in 1819, and then relocated to Buffalo in 1828, which was a few years after the Erie Canal opened. Production continued with this family and other German stoneware potters in Buffalo through the 1890s.

Godfrey Heiser (1799-1885) was the first known stoneware manufacturer in Buffalo and the first member of the family to come to America. He was born in Schwalbach, Germany, in 1799, a short distance from the famed stoneware production center in Westerwald, Germany. The best known example of Heiser's surviving production is likely a jug owned by the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, inscribed with a fish and arrow, stamped "G. Heiser Co Buffalo." Godfrey operated this business during the circa 1835-1848 period.

19th Century Stoneware Jug Made by Godfrey Heiser in Buffalo, New York

Stamped "G. Heiser Co Buffalo"

Decorated with an Inscribed Fish and Arrow

Circa 1835-1848

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Henry Ford Museum

Godfrey Heiser's Obituary

Published in the Buffalo Commercial on January 20, 1885

It was published in 1884, in a book, titled, The History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County, “Godfrey Heiser, who now lives at 209 Seneca St., came to Philadelphia from Germany in 1819 and to Buffalo in 1828. He first engaged in the lime business on Exchange Street, when it was ‘woods nearly all around him.’ He afterwards began the first pottery business in Buffalo, on the site of his present residence, where his son also conducts a grocery business. At a still later date Mr. Heiser was engaged in brewing at the same location, in connection with his brother. He retired from active business seventeen years ago [in 1867].”

In 1848 Godfrey transferred the pottery ownership to Phillip Mugler (1813-1862) and started a brewery with John Holzer on the same site that the pottery business was located between Seneca and Carroll Streets. This business became known as "P. Mugler & Co." Mugler was born in France, although he was of German descent.

According to part of Mugler's obituary, published in the May 12, 1863 issue of the Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express: "DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT - We are pained to learn of the death of Phillip Mugler, one of the oldest German residents of the city. Mr. Mugler came to this city from the department of Strasburg, France, of which he was a native. Although born in France, his ancestors, associations and social tastes were entirely German. As such he was widely known and highly respected by our citizens, both native and adopted."

However, it seems that Mugler may have been more of a businessman than anything else, seeing that he became a grocer in 1852. Interestingly, though, Mugler married Elizabeth (some census records called her "Margaret") Heiser (1828-1896), who was Godfrey's niece; her brother, John Heiser Jr. (1825-1856) also became involved with Mugler and stoneware production. Elizabeth, along with her father, John Heiser Sr. (b. 1795), and brother, John Jr., applied for emigration to America on April 29, 1834, arriving in Buffalo later that year.

Even so, it was the year 1835 that was certainly a monumental time for the Heisers when they established Buffalo's first stoneware business; John Jr. likely trained under his uncle before he operated the company under his name during the 1852-1856 period.

Furthermore, the 1850 United States Federal Census lists John Jr. as living in the household of Phillip and Elizabeth Mugler, where both Phillip and John Jr. are listed with an occupation of "potter." John Jr. was working for Phillip during the 1848-1852 period, seeing that some objects produced under Mugler's company, and then later with John Jr.'s ownership appear very similar in form, cobalt decoration and the way the company stamps were applied (see below).

Some Info About Phillip Mugler and John Heiser Jr.

(Left) This is Phillip Mugler (1813-1862)

(Right) This is Elizabeth Heiser Mugler (1828-1896)

Some Census Records Called Her "Margaret"

Godfrey Heiser (1799-1885) was Her Uncle

John Heiser Jr. (1825-1856) was Her Brother

Phillip Mugler Listed as a "Potter" in Buffalo, New York

John Heiser Jr. Listed as a "Potter" in Buffalo, New York

This is from the 1860 United States Federal Census

See Article for More Information

19th Century Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Crocks Made in Buffalo, New York

(Left) Marked "P. MUGLER & CO. / BUFFALO. NY"

Circa 1848-1852

(Right) Marked "J. HEISER / BUFFALO NY"

Circa 1852-1856

Both Possibly Decorated by John Heiser Jr.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

Phillip Mugler Listed as a "Grocer" in Buffalo, New York

This is from the 1860 United States Federal Census

See Article for More Information

Interestingly, the New England stoneware potter Daniel Goodale Jr. (1793-1858), who worked in Hartford, Connecticut, circa 1818-1830, also shows up in Buffalo in the 1850 United States Federal Census, although I have not found any documentation that can connect him to the Heisers, Mugler or any other Erie County potter. But there were also other migrant German potters working in Buffalo, such as Christian G. Bruehl (1828-1912), who was working for John Heiser Jr. in 1855, and later for Charles W. Braun (1821-1899) in 1860; Braun had also migrated from Germany.

Charles Braun took over the Heiser pottery, when John Jr. died in 1856; he operated the company from 1857-1896, producing some of the most dramatic cobalt decorated stoneware made in New York. Braun was born in Prussia, migrating to Buffalo, where he was listed with an occupation of "Master Potter" in the 1860 United States Federal Census, whereas the 1870 Census lists him as a "Stone Ware Manufacturer." He is also cited as a "potter" in his Civil War Registration Record from 1863.

The skill and quality of the production at Braun's business certainly rivaled the stoneware made in Rochester, New York during the same period, among other businesses in the Western New York region. Although, one of Braun's most important existing pieces of work may be a cobalt script decorated six-gallon crock that sold at Sotheby's in New York City in 2015, inscribed, "C.W. BRAUN.6. / Buffalo." The crock was also decorated with a pheasant: https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/americana-n09300/lot.837.html.

19th Century Six-Gallon Stoneware Crock Made in Buffalo, New York

Inscribed "C.W. BRAUN.6. / Buffalo."

Also Decorated with a Pheasant

Circa 1857-1896

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's

19th Century Six-Gallon Stoneware Butter Churn Made in Buffalo, New York

Stamped "C.W. BRAUN / Buffalo"

Decoration Previoulsly Called a Lion

But also has a Dog Appearance to it

Circa 1857-1896

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's

This is Charles W. Braun (1821-1899)

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Buffalo History Museum

Charles W. Braun Listed with an Occupation of "Master Potter" in Buffalo, New York

This is from the 1860 United States Federal Census

The Census also Notes that he was Born in Prussia

See Article for More Information

Charles W. Braun Listed with an Occupation of "Stone Ware Manufacturer" in Buffalo

This is from the 1870 United States Federal Census

The Census also Notes that he was Born in Prussia

See Article for More Information

Charles W. Braun Listed with an Occupation of "Potter" in 1863

This is from His Civil War Registration Record

See Article for More Information

Nonetheless, Charles Braun's business was known for a wide variety of folky cobalt decorations, including flowers, horses, lions, deer, roosters, pheasants, and other birds, among other subjects. Much of the production was comparable to some of the best cobalt decorated stoneware produced elsewhere in New York State and in Vermont in the 1800s. Braun's decorations also had a personality, which is found with some of the best cobalt decorated stoneware made in the American Northeast.

For example, this four-gallon stoneware crock certainly speaks to that personality, which is adorned with a cobalt decorated bird that is stamped "C.W. BRAUN / BUFFALO.N.Y." This crock is currently for sale as part of a very good stoneware collection at Antiques Associates At West Townsend in Massachusetts. Here is a link to that object: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-crock-cobalt-decoration-stamped-c-w-braun-buffalo-n-y/.

Note: For more information about stoneware production in Buffalo - see a feature story written by Peter Jablonski for Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, titled, The Early Potteries of the Queen City 1834-1896: https://issuu.com/fohbc/docs/ab_gc_julyaug22_finalx/s/16100617.

(Left) 19th Century Four-Gallon Stoneware Crock Decorated with a Bird in Cobalt

Made at Charles W. Braun's Business in Buffalo, New York

Stamped "C.W. BRAUN / BUFFALO.N.Y."

Circa Late 1850s-1870s

Stands 11 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.

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

A Very Good Circa 1825-1830 Stoneware Jug Made in Hartford, Connecticut Decorated with an American Eagle

This is another very good object that has been consigned as part of an excellent stoneware collection to Antiques Associates At West Townsend in Massachusetts; this nineteenth century stoneware jug is adorned with a hand-inscribed spread-winged American eagle with a shield across its chest, clutching an olive branch and an American flag, all of which is highlighted with cobalt. It is attributed to Daniel Goodale Jr.'s (1793-1858) business at 90 Front Street in Hartford, Connecticut, circa 1825-1830. This attribution is partially supported by a heavily cracked marked stoneware jar likely inscribed by the same decorator's hand with an American eagle, impressed "D. GOODALE / HARTFORD," which sold at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland in 2013 (previously at Skinner in Boston in 2012). 

Furthermore, the marked example is also illustrated on page 66 in my sixth book, titled, A City on the River; The Early Red Earthenware of the Hartford, Connecticut Area: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-city-on-the-river-the-early-red-earthenware-of-the-hartford-connecticut-area/. 

There are also other examples of stoneware made by Goodale Jr. inscribed with an American eagle, such as a privately owned six-gallon double-handled stoneware jug, as well as a jug owned by the Brooklyn Museum in New York City: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/716. The Brooklyn Museum also owns a very good jug inscribed with flowers and leaves that is impressed with Goodale Jr.'s mark: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/1596.

Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) referred to Goodale Jr. in Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "as somewhat of an artist with his inscribed decorations." Goodale Jr. was active in Hartford during the circa 1818-1830 period, belonging to group of stoneware businesses that operated in the city. But the "D. GOODALE / HARTFORD" mark was used during the 1825-1830 period.

According to information gathered by Albert Hastings Pitkin (1852-1917) in the 1800s, "From what I have heard in years gone by some time previous to 1800, about 1790, John Souter, an Englishman came to Hartford, and built a pottery on the north-east corner of Potter and Front Streets. He continued in the earthen-ware manufacturing, until 1805, when he sold out, to Peter Cross. Cross a few years later, removed to 38 Front Street, having sold out the old place to Horace Goodwin and McCloud Webster. Cross met with little success and sold out to Captain George Benton and Captain Levi Stuart, two returned sea captains. Daniel Goodale, Jr., came from Whately, Mass. to manage the business, and in 1818, purchased the pottery. He continued in possession until 1830, when he sold out to Goodwin & Webster."

Goodale Jr. certainly traveled in his lifetime, seeing that he was born in Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts, although he died in Buffalo, New York in 1858. However, I cannot find any documentation that proves he had any involvement with pottery production in Buffalo. But this was the period that the population was increasing dramatically in Buffalo, and the Heiser family and Charles W. Braun (1821-1899) were producing stoneware in the city.

Additionally, this jug survives in basically as-made condition, whereas there are examples of inscribed stoneware from Hartford owned by Historic Deerfield, Colonial Williamsburg, the Connecticut Historical Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute, among other museums. The stoneware industry in Hartford also had ties to North Carolina; stoneware made in Hartford has also been recovered from nineteenth century contexts in North Carolina, such as a crock marked "Goodwin & Webster."

Interestingly, the time frame this jug was produced is also the same time period that some other New England stoneware potters were decorating objects with inscribed American eagles, such as two jugs that were made by Barnabus Edmands (1778-1872) in Charlestown, Massachusetts about 1830, and another made by Absalom Stedman in New Haven, Connecticut. The Art Institute of Chicago also owns a stoneware water cooler adorned with an American eagle that was made by Martin Crafts (1807-1880) in Nashua, New Hampshire, probably about 1840. There are earlier New England examples, as well, including a late eighteenth century stoneware water cooler that is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was made by Jonathan Fenton (1766-1835) in Boston, circa 1793-1796: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2019/10/three-great-objects-from-robert-ellison.html. This type of patriotic decoration on stoneware also extended with potters located all over America in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century.

Barnabus Edmands Jug No. 1: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/04/an-important-19th-century-stoneware-jug.html

Barnabus Edmands Jug No. 2: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/04/a-second-19th-century-stoneware-jug.html

Martin Crafts Cooler: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/04/a-19th-century-stoneware-water-cooler.html

According to the Library of Congress, "The bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782, a symbol of pride and strength that earned it a place on the seal of the United States. William Barton (1754-1817), one of the designers of the Great Seal, who believed that the bald eagle should be an integral part of the seal, stated that: “The eagle displayed is the symbol of supreme power and authority, and signifies congress, and that the olive branch and arrows that it holds in its talons are the powers of peace and war."

The earliest known painting of the Great Seal may be one that was commissioned by the Trinity Church vestry at St. Paul's in Lower Manhattan in New York City in 1785. But the original Great Seal die from 1782 is owned by the National Archives in Washington, D.C., as well as Charles Thomson's (1729-1824) original drawing for the design.

Nevertheless, here is a link to the eagle decorated jug made by Goodale Jr.: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-jug-by-daniel-goodale-hartford-connecticut-incised-eagle-with-flag/.

For more information - contact A.A.A.W.T. -- https://www.aaawt.com/about/.

Note: For some more reading - see a feature story I wrote for the December 16, 2022 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Unique Red Earthenware Rediscovered In Western New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/12/new-published-story-unique-red.html.

Circa 1825-1830 Stoneware Jug Made in Hartford, Connecticut

(Left) 19th Century Stoneware Jug Made in Hartford, Connecticut

Attributed Daniel Goodale Jr. (1793-1858)

Decorated with an Inscribed American Eagle, with a Shield, an Olive Branch and an American Flag

The Incised Decoration is Highlighted with Cobalt

Circa 1825-1830

Stands 17 3/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.

Another View of the Inscribed Decoration

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Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.

19th Century Stoneware Crock Made in Hartford, Connecticut

Impressed "D. GOODALE / HARTFORD"

Decorated with a American Eagle, a Shield, a Banner, an Olive Branch and an American Flag

Circa 1825-1830

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

Daniel Goodale Jr.'s Stoneware Business

This is from the 1828 City Directory in Hartford

This was also the First City Directory in Hartford

The Business is Listed at 90 Front Street

This is Where the Jug with the Eagle was Made

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Daniel Goodale Jr. Married Lucretia Porter (1799-1858) in Hartford on January 29, 1822

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Daniel Goodale Jr. Listed in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census in Buffalo, New York

His Wife Lucretia is also Listed

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Daniel Goodale Jr. Died in Buffalo, New York in 1858

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The Great Seal Painting

Circa 1785

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Photo Courtesy: St. Paul's Chapel, Trinity Church, New York City

The Original Great Seal Die from 1782

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Photo Courtesy: National Archives

Charles Thomson's (1729-1824) Original Drawing for the Great Seal Design

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Photo Courtesy: National Archives

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

A 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher Made at Nathaniel Rochester's Circa 1818-1831 Business in West Bloomfield, New York that Sold Last Night as Part of the Carole Wahler Collection

Prices for slip decorated red earthenware made at Nathaniel Rochester's (1752-1831) circa 1818-1831 pottery business in West Bloomfield, New York continue to be strong, whereas a jar sold in a group lot at Sotheby's in New York City last week for $22,800 including the buyer's premium, and a pitcher sold last night at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland, as part of the Carole Wahler Collection for $9,600 including the buyer's premium. 

Furthermore, this type of pitcher is included in my forthcoming two-volume Western New York book, tiled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York; interestingly, I have only been able to document six slip decorated pitchers in this exact shape, which includes one that sold a few years ago as part of Ohio antiques dealer, David Good's Collection at New England Auctions in Branford, Connecticut for $6,500 plus the buyer's premium: https://auctions.neauction.com/online-auctions/new-haven-auctions/large-redware-pitcher-with-slip-decoration-2574476. These types of pitchers also vary in size with the largest examples being a few inches taller than the smaller ones.

For more information about Nathaniel Rochester - see a feature story I wrote for the June 7, 2024 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Nathaniel Rochester's Red Earthenware Pottery: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/05/new-published-feature-story-in-antiques.html.

19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher

Made at the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York

Circa 1818-1831

Stands 10" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

A few other notes from the Wahler Collection, outside of the southern pottery, which made up the majority of the collection; a small early twentieth century blue glazed red earthenware pitcher stamped "FREY" sold for $600 plus the buyer's premium. This may be an auction record for this potter's production; for more information - see a feature story I wrote for the October 21, 2022 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Frey Pottery: The Forgotten History Of An American Red Earthenware Manufacturer: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/10/new-published-story-frey-pottery_17.html.

Early 20th Century Blue Glazed Pitcher

The Base is Marked "FREY"

Stands 4 3/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker. Farm

I also found lot number 253 of interest, seeing that there were some aspects about the red earthenware jar that reminded me of production in Erie County in Western New York, although there is not a particular business that comes to mind outside of perhaps the Aurora, New York area. The base was inscribed in crayon, "Bought in / Mapletown / Likely / Early / Greensboro," indicating it was found in the southern part of Western Pennsylvania. The jar could have certainly been made elsewhere too, but I just wanted to mention this information: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2025-01-31/lot-253/Unusual-Manganese-Decorated-Redware-Jar-American-possibly-Western-PA-or-NC-origin/.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Made in the United States

Reportedly Found in Western Pennsylvania

Stands 9 3/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

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