A Union of Two Faiths: The Goldthwait-King Family of Danvers

This post is another preview of my forthcoming two-volume, 1,800+ page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2026/01/update-on-new-book-book-sent-to.html. 

While researching the new book, I learned about the 1765 marriage and family record of William Goldthwait and Abigail King in Salem. This union highlights the growing acceptance and integration of Puritan and Quaker families living in the area leading up to the American Revolution. Here is that story.

"...William Goldthwait or Goldthwaite (c. 1743–1808) was a prominent eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware potter in South Danvers (now modern-day Peabody), Massachusetts, where he operated a successful business on the corner of Main and Holton Streets. Born around 1743, he was a direct descendant of Thomas Goldthwait (1610-1683), an early Puritan settler of Salem. He married Abigail King (1744-1820) in Salem on July 20, 1765, in a ceremony presided over by Reverend Nathan Holt (1725-1792).  

William was one of the four Goldthwaites from Danvers who served during the American Revolution, most notably participating in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775. Throughout his life, he was a central figure in the local pottery industry, which at its peak saw dozens of potteries operating in the Beverly, South Danvers and Salem areas. William passed away suddenly at the age of 71 on March 26, 1808, a death noted in the Salem Gazette. 

William and Abigail Goldthwait raised ten children, though like other families during this time, faced the frequent heartbreak of early childhood death. Their first child, Esther (1766–1810), was followed by the first Elisabeth (1768–1780) and a daughter named Abigail (1769).  

The family then suffered three consecutive losses with the first William (1771–1771), Mehittable (1772–1772), and Elijah (1774–1775). Their daughter Anna (1776–1796) lived to young adulthood, while their final three children were a second William (1778), a second Elisabeth (1781), and Polly (1783).  

Some of their children also followed in their father’s footsteps working as red earthenware potters in South Danvers, though very little is documented about this family’s production, when compared to the Osborn family pottery dynasty of Danvers.  

Interestingly, William and Abigail’s marriage further illustrates the increasing acceptance of Quakers in the Danvers and Salem areas during the eighteenth century. While William descended from one of the original Puritan settlers, Abigail was the daughter of Zachariah King (1722–1771) and Hannah Southwick (1719–1796), members of prominent Quaker families. Hannah was a direct descendant of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, who were persecuted for their Quaker faith in Salem during the 1650s and 1660s (see Chapter 6 in Volume I)."

Note: For more information about the persecution of the Southwicks - see a feature story I wrote that was published on page 10 in the December 12, 2025 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, The Southwick Family Of Potters Of Salem & South Danvers, Mass.: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/12/new-published-feature-story-in-antiques.html.

This is the 1765 Marriage and Family Record of William and Abigail Goldthwaite

William Operated a Red Earthenware Business in South Danvers, Mass.

See Article for More Information

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

From Salem to Somerset: The Evolution of Purinton Family Slip Decorated Red Earthenware

This post is another preview of my forthcoming two-volume, 1,800+ page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2026/01/update-on-new-book-book-sent-to.html. 

While researching the new book, I felt a small group of early nineteenth century slip decorated red earthenware jars from Bristol County had to be analyzed and their possible relationship to the Purinton family explored, as part of the family’s migration from Danvers and Salem to Somerset. Here is that story.

"...Aside from the documented red earthenware marriage jars in Figures 2.1a-2.1b, a unique and highly specialized group of red earthenware jars emerged from the Quaker pottery centers of Bristol County, Massachusetts, during the early nineteenth century. Unlike purely utilitarian crocks and pans, these vessels were elevated through the use of delicate slip decoration featuring hand-trailed dates, stylized floral motifs, and personal initials. This specific aesthetic suggests they were made as commemorative objects, likely intended to celebrate significant events such as weddings or other Quaker celebrations.

The production of these "celebratory jars" is closely associated with the prominent lineage of Quaker potters in Somerset and Swansea, most notably the Purinton family. The presence of dates, such as "1812," and initials provides a rare, personalized window into the domestic lives of these tight-knit communities. Because Quaker belief systems emphasized simplicity and utility, the rare decision to adorn a vessel with slip-trailed flowers suggests these items were cherished heirlooms, intended to serve both a functional and a sentimental role within the home.

In theory, these objects may all be related to the Quaker traditions of the Purinton family (sometimes spelled Purington) of Somerset and Swansea, though by this point family members had branched out to other Quaker communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This family’s roots can be traced back to Danvers and Salem, Massachusetts, before 1750, where original family members learned the potter’s trade before relocating to Somerset in the mid-eighteenth century.

Interestingly, the jar shown in Figure 2.7a is adorned with the initials “LP,” which may represent either Lydia Purinton (1780–1861) or Levi Purinton (1784–1850). These individuals were the great-grandchildren of Daniel, a potter in Salem, and the grand-niece and grand-nephew of Clark, who established the family’s first pottery business in Somerset."

Various Early 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Jars

All Made by the Quaker Potters in Bristol County, Mass.

Possibly All Made by the Purinton Family

See Article for More Information

Photos Courtesy: Crocker Farm and Private Collections

Pleas Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

Surface Finds and Salvage Archaeology at the Site of the Osborn, Reed and Paige Pottery

This post is another preview of my forthcoming two-volume, 1,800+ page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2026/01/update-on-new-book-book-sent-to.html. 

While researching the new book, my niece Alexis and I stumbled upon an unexpected archaeological opportunity back in January 2017, which allowed us to rescue hundreds of artifacts that add to the narrative of the Osborn pottery dynasty in South Danvers (Peabody). Here is that story.

"...It was a total coincidence, but my niece Alexis and I ended up going on the same kind of salvage adventures that Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) once wrote about in Early New England Potters and Their Wares. While driving through the old Osborn neighborhood on Central Street in Peabody, Massachusetts in January 2017—the heart of the massive Quaker pottery dynasty—we noticed construction crews excavating a small, previously undeveloped patch of land for a senior center parking lot. Realizing we were standing on the site of a business that once trained dozens of potters and influenced the industry across New England, we sought and received permission from a local police officer to rescue any artifacts visible on the surface. 

What we uncovered was a staggering collection of hundreds of items, including kiln furniture, bricks, and sherds dating from the Osborn, Reed and Paige potteries. Some of these artifacts likely offer a rare, tangible link to the original Osborn Pottery (circa 1736–1860). The sheer volume of material was breathtaking, especially considering that most of the surrounding property had been heavily developed and paved over decades ago, likely burying or destroying similar artifacts. 

Some of these surface finds are already challenging established beliefs about Essex County pottery. We discovered concrete evidence of slip decoration and mottled green glazes—some techniques previously thought to be rare or non-existent in this region in the eighteenth or nineteenth century. We also found unusual black-glazed wares so thick they almost mimic eighteenth century imports from Buckley, England, suggesting the Osborns may have been imitating international styles to compete in the local market. 

We also found a distinctive pot base with a large, rounded foot. This particular style is representative of early South Danvers pottery, though the influence of this type of base also reached into Bristol County, as well as the work of Peter Clark (1743–1826) in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Perhaps most surprising was the discovery of a black-glazed jug with a fully glazed base, a feature rarely attributed to New England utilitarian red earthenware. However, since the site’s layers were disturbed, it is likely these artifacts may represent eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth century production. The entirety of these sherds is published in my second book, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-moses-b-paige-company-the-last-of-the-peabody-potteries/."

Note: For more information - see a four-page feature story I wrote for the November 2017 issue of the New England Antiques Journal, titled, Digging into the Peabody Potteries: Archaeology and red earthenware: https://www.scribd.com/document/363670648/Peabody-Potter-s-Industry-NEAJ-November-2017.

My Niece Alexis at the Site of the Osborn, Reed and Paige Pottery in 2017

See Article for More Information

Mottled Green Glazed Red Earthenware Sherds

Recovered at the Site of the Osborn, Reed and Paige Pottery in 2017

See Article for More Information

Large Rounded Foot or Base on a Red Earthenware Pot

Recovered at the Site of the Osborn, Reed and Paige Pottery in 2017

There are also a Number of Finger Prints on this Artifact

See Article for More Information

Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Sherds

These Might Be 18th Century in Origin and From the Osborn Family

Recovered at the Site of the Osborn, Reed and Paige Pottery in 2017

See Article for More Information

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

Benjamin Osborne Pierce: A Signed Legacy in Red Earthenware

This post is another preview of my forthcoming two-volume, 1,800+ page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2026/01/update-on-new-book-book-sent-to.html. 

While researching the new book, I learned of a signed nineteenth century red earthenware pot owned by the Peabody Essex Museum that appears to have been made by a later generation Osborne potter who was also the son of a New Hampshire Governor. Here is that story. 

"...Benjamin Osborne Pierce (1812–1883) was the grandson of Joseph Osborne Junior and Mary Proctor. His mother was Mary Osborne (1770-1852), one of the eight children born to Joseph Junior and Mary after their marriage in 1756. His father was Benjamin Pierce (1757–1839), who served two terms as the Governor of New Hampshire in the late 1820s

This direct Osborne family link meant that Benjamin was the great-grandson of Joseph Osborne Senior, the patriarch who founded the original Osborne pottery business in Danvers around 1736. 

Through this lineage, Benjamin Osborne Pierce became a third-generation potter to his family’s prestigious potting tradition, carrying the red earthenware craft that had been established by his great-grandfather and expanded by his grandfather.

The stamp on this pot, "B.O. PIERCE," likely serves as a physical testament to a long lineage of Osborne master potters. While most utilitarian red earthenware from this era in South Danvers remains unmarked, this object is a rare signed example. Although this specific form was also common among other regional red earthenware workshops—including those in Beverly and Salem—the maker’s mark transforms it from a simple utilitarian form to a piece of pottery that can be linked to a specific name, place and time.

This shape of red earthenware pot was also common with potters throughout New England during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Because these types of pots were somewhat mass-produced for everyday use, potters across the region produced similar forms and designs. Since the vast majority were never signed, identifying a maker by shape alone is nearly impossible. Without a stamp like this one, most red earthenware of this utilitarian type with a glazed interior and unglazed exterior can not be linked to a specific potter..."

19th Century Red Earthenware Pot Stamped "B.O PIERCE"

Likely Made by Benjamin Osborne Pierce (1812-1883) in South Danvers, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum

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

The Philadelphia Standard: Joseph Wilson and the Market for Colonial Red Earthenware

Another subject that will be included in my forthcoming two-volume, tenth book is when, in 1767, the Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island potter Joseph Wilson published an advertisement that has become a key piece of evidence for historians tracking the prestige of Philadelphia red earthenware in the American colonial market. In his notice, Wilson claimed he produced "Earthen Ware at a cheap Rate, made in the best Manner and glazed in the Same Way as Practiced in Philadelphia." 

This direct reference highlights Philadelphia as the gold standard for high-quality, vibrant lead-glazed pottery during the eighteenth century, a status that forced regional potters from New York to Virginia to market their wares as "Philadelphia-style" to attract customers.

The book will show some types of red earthenware manufactured in Philadelphia from a similar context as Wilson's 1767 advertisement. Philadelphia’s red earthenware was distinguished by its sophisticated craftsmanship and decorative flair, often featuring slip-decoration or sgraffito. These techniques involved using a contrasting liquid clay (slip) to paint designs or scratching through a layer of slip to reveal the reddish body beneath. Wilson likely aimed to replicate some of these vibrant aesthetics and glazes, which were often influenced by a mix of English and Germanic traditions. 

Colonial 18th Century Sgraffito Decorated Red Earthenware Plate

Recovered from a Privy in Old Town Philadelphia

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

A View of the Back of the Plate

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

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

The Union That Built an Industry: Joseph Osborne Junior and Mary Proctor's Wedding in 1756

This post is another preview of my forthcoming two-volume, 1,800+ page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2026/01/update-on-new-book-book-sent-to.html. 

While researching the new book, I learned of the 1756 marriage record of Joseph Osborne Junior and Mary Proctor, a union that proved essential to the long-term success of the Osborne pottery dynasty in Danvers/Peabody. Here is that story.

"...This page from the Danvers Town Records captures marriages from the 1750s, documenting the families who lived and worked in Danvers and Salem Village. The ledger includes the surnames: Andrew, Bancroft, Burton, Butler, Chapman, Collins, Cook, Dunil, Felton, Foster, Gardner, Giles, Herrick, Jefrey, Kemp, Knight, Leach, Lowell, Mack, Mansfield, Marsh, Oakes, Osborne, Prince, Proctor, Putnam, Read, Session, Shaw, Shilaber, Smith, Tarrington, Twist, Twiss, Upton, Waters, and Whitridge.

Among the names is the January 6, 1756, marriage between Joseph Osborne Junior (1726–1791) and Mary Proctor (1733–1791), perhaps the most significant union in the history of the Osborne pottery dynasty. This alliance provided the social and financial stability that allowed the family's red earthenware business to thrive for generations. Though the Osbornes were a prominent Quaker family, the ceremony was recorded in Salem Village by Reverend Peter Clark (1693–1768). Notably, Clark was the grandfather of Captain Peter Clark (1743-1826), the celebrated red earthenware potter who worked throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire: https://historicbeverly.net/product/an-influential-family-of-early-potters-the-clarks-of-new-hampshire-and-related-businesses/.

Joseph Junior was the eldest son of Joseph Osborne Senior (1702-1780), who established the family’s first pottery shop in South Danvers in 1736. By marrying into the Proctor family, Joseph Junior was now related to one of the most prominent land-owning families in Salem Village, and one of the richest families in the area.

The Proctors were a wealthy farming family who became famous for standing up against the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. The family patriarch, John Proctor (1631-1692), was a successful tavern owner who was executed after he openly called the accusers frauds. His wife and children were also arrested, but they survived and eventually cleared the family name once the hysteria ended. Over the next few decades, the Proctors moved past this tragedy and became leaders in the local community.

The concentration of kilns in South Danvers during the late 1700s and early 1800s was partly a result of the Osborne-Proctor marriage, which merged technical trade skills with significant land wealth. Access to the Proctors' extensive landholdings allowed Osborne descendants to build numerous kilns and buildings related to pottery production, creating a dedicated "pottery neighborhood" on Central Street.

This marriage effectively transitioned the pottery trade from a first-generation startup under Joseph Senior into a multi-generational business. Under Joseph Junior’s leadership, and supported by the Proctor family, the Osborne’s red earthenware production became a major part of the Danvers and Salem area economy. This specific record marks the moment the trade was secured for the next generation, as Joseph and Mary’s children would go on to operate multiple kilns throughout Danvers and Peabody. Ultimately, this document captures the exact point where the Osborne family turned into leaders as part of the New England red earthenware industry, where some of their production would eventually be called “Danvers China.”

Note: For information about some of the later production on Central Street in Peabody - see my second published book, titled, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-moses-b-paige-company-the-last-of-the-peabody-potteries/.

1750s Marriages Found in the Danvers, Mass. Town Records

Puritan and Quaker Families Are Represented

See Article for More Information

January 6, 1756: The Marriage of Joseph Osborne Jr. and Mary Proctor

See Article for More Information

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

The 1726 Union: Joseph Osborne, Rachel Foster, and the Roots of a Danvers Red Earthenware Dynasty

This post is another preview of my forthcoming two-volume, 1,800+ page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2026/01/update-on-new-book-book-sent-to.html. 

While researching the new book, I learned of this specific 1726 marriage entry for Joseph Osborne, whose establishment of a pottery in 1736 marked the official beginning of a century-long manufacturing dynasty in Danvers. Here is that story.

"...This document from the Salem Town Records formalizes marriages from 1725–1726 and contains a census of prominent local surnames, including: Bickford, Blash, Bloden, Bound, Brown, Browne, Butler, Carrel, Cheever, Coffeen, Cole, Cook, Curtis, Daniel, Day, Dodge, Dowing, Felch, Felton, Flint, Foster, Francis, Frost, Fuller, Ganson, Giles, Glover, Goldthwaite, Goodale, Gould, Griffin, Groce, Hagerman, Heal, Henfield, Henley, Herrick, Hickey, Hutchinson, Kellum, Kennel, Kenney, Knight, Lake, Lakey, Lambert, Leach, Lee, Lindall, Marsh, Marston, Moore, Moulton, Osborne, Phippen, Pickering, Pinion, Porter, Preston, Proctor, Putnam, Reed, Robbins, Rogers, Sawier, Searle, Shakerly, Skipper, Smethurst, Smith, Stiles, Tapley, Tarbox, Towles, Upton, Weaver, Whipple, White, and Williams.

These names not only represent many prominent families associated with the established Puritan church, such as the Putnams and Proctors, they also highlight the growing presence of the Quaker faith in Salem. 

Among these entries is the July 12, 1726, marriage of Joseph Osborne (1702–1780) and Rachel Foster (1703–1733). Rachel was the daughter of David Foster (1665-1748) and Hannah Buxton (1665-1732), while Joseph was the grandson of John Southwick (1625-1772), a member of the persecuted Quaker family in Salem (detailed in Volume I, Chapter 6).

The union of the Buxton and Foster families documents a significant religious shift in Salem’s history. During the 1600s, these families were often torn between the ruling Puritans and the persecuted Quakers. Although early family members frequently adhered to Puritan laws to avoid legal trouble, descendants of the Buxton and Fosters families typically embraced the Quaker faith. By the time of this 1726 record, both families were officially identified as Quakers.

Interestingly, the Osborne-Foster marriage was performed in Salem Village by Reverend Peter Clark (1693–1768). Clark was the grandfather of Captain Peter Clark (1743-1826), the noted red earthenware potter who worked throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Following Rachel’s death, Joseph married Sarah Gardner (b. 1710) in 1734—a ceremony also performed by Reverend Clark. Joseph’s children from both marriages eventually established the Osborne pottery dynasty, a lineage rooted in the first business Joseph founded in Danvers in 1736."

Note: For more information about the persecution of Quakers in the 1600s - see a feature story I wrote that was published on page 10 in the December 12, 2025 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, The Southwick Family Of Potters Of Salem & South Danvers, Mass.: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/12/new-published-feature-story-in-antiques.html.

1725-1726 Marriages Found in the Salem, Mass. Town Records

Puritan and Quaker Families Are Represented

See Article for More Information

July 12, 1726: The Marriage of Joseph Osborne and Rachel Foster

Joseph Established the First Osborne Pottery in Danvers in 1736

See Article for More Information

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