It's not everyday that I learn about something that I consider to be an important piece of nineteenth century stoneware from Portsmouth, New Hampshire - in fact, very little marked stoneware can be associated with Portsmouth today. And until recently, all of the stoneware pieces that I have handled that are marked "Portsmouth" are typically associated with a merchant or unrelated company of some sorts (instead of a stoneware manufacturer), and they are often plain or simple in decoration, usually dating from the mid-to-late 1800s.
In terms of a historical context, there was no stoneware production in the Portsmouth area, and the majority of domestic pottery that was found in the city in the 1700s and 1800s came from local red earthenware potters, as well as wares imported from elsewhere in New Hampshire, Maine and Essex County, Massachusetts. Although, before the American Revolution, archaeological evidence has proven that red earthenware produced at the industry near Boston in Charlestown, Massachusetts was imported into Portsmouth in the 1740s and 1750s. Portsmouth was also a major port by way of the Piscataqua River and the Atlantic Ocean, and a wide selection of foreign pottery has been recovered by archaeologists in contexts from the eighteenth and nineteenth century.
The only domestic stoneware that I have seen recovered in the Portsmouth area dates from the 1800s, and those artifacts are almost always objects that were produced at the stoneware potteries in Charlestown.
However, this jug is certainly the most exciting domestic stoneware piece that I have seen associated with Portsmouth, seeing that it bears a merchant mark of William Simes (1806-1880), who was an important figure in nineteenth century Portsmouth. Simes was born on April 9, 1806, son of George (1772-1842) and Nancy Simes of Portsmouth. Records at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord and the Portsmouth Athenaeum indicate that he operated as a dry goods merchant in Portsmouth from 1837-1851.
Interestingly, the history of the Simes family was cited in 1869 by newspaper editor Charles Brewster (1802-1869), when his two-volume book was published Rambles About Portsmouth, which is considered a time capsule today to life in early Portsmouth. "On the lot of land on Market Street now occupied by the stores of C.H. Mendum & Co. and Hill & Carr, the last century stood an old fashioned gambrel-roofed house, with a shop on the street, and in which was done as much of the dry goods trade as any other store around it. The house was built by Mr. John Simes, the first of the name among us, who came from England about 1736, and located on this spot. His land extended west to High Street...He held other real estate at the time of his death, which took place before the Revolution. He left but one son, Joseph Simes - and five daughters.
Joseph Simes was Chairman of the Selectman of Portsmouth in 1776, and a highly esteemed citizen. He occupied the homestead on Market Street until his death, near the close of the last century, and after his death the widow continued the dry goods business at the same store in the house. They had ten children - six sons and four daughters. The eldest son John was a painter. His shop was in the rear of the house, approached by an avenue, probably the same that is now on the north side of Lafayette Laighton's store. The other sons were Thomas, landholder and livery stable proprietor, the father of Stephen H. Simes; William, goldsmith, the father of Bray U. Simes; George, landholder and livery stable proprietor, the father of John P. and William Simes. Mark, William and George owned handsome mansions in the same neighborhood on Court and State Streets...Of their descendants many are now located among us, and are making their mark in the world."
William Simes apparently continued in the family business as a goods merchant in Portsmouth, a trade that had descended in his family all the way back to when John Simes originally migrated from England to New Hampshire around 1736. An artifact owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society may reveal some hardships that William experienced when he first began operating as a dry goods merchant in 1837. "Hard-times tokens are large cent-sized tokens, struck in copper from about from about 1833 through 1843, serving as unofficial currency in the United States. These privately made pieces, comprising merchant, political and satirical pieces, were used during a time of political and financial crisis in the United States. They were produced in an effort to fight inflation and speculation in public lands." The token owned by the historical society is marked on one side "William Simes & Co. Dealers in Teas, Wines & Groceries No. 1 Pierce's Buildings Portsmouth N H." The other side is dated "1837."
Nevertheless though, this rare circa 1837-1851 two-gallon cobalt decorated stoneware jug bears William's merchant mark, "W. SIMES & CO. / PORTSMOUTH N H." I have not previously seen this mark, although, the cobalt decorated bird can also be associated with production in Charlestown. This same type of bird is found on some stoneware that is associated with the Edmands Pottery, and considering the context that Simes is listed as a merchant in Portsmouth, then this jug was probably produced at Barnabas Edmands' (1778-1872) shop, a potworks that was established at 55 Austin Street (corner of Richmond Street) by Edmands and his brother-in-law William Boroughs in 1812.
After William Simes' career as a merchant came to an end, and Portsmouth was incorporated as a city in 1849, Simes was elected mayor in 1861. He died on May 15, 1880.
Note: For those interested: this jug is currently for sale through Dave Hillier and Antiques Associates at West Townsend in Massachusetts, although I feel the history of this jug and its decoration is just outstanding.
An Outstanding 19th Century Stoneware Merchant Jug from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Circa 1878 Portrait of William Simes (1806-1880)
Simes Operated a Grocery Store on Market Street in Portsmouth, N.H., Circa 1837-1851
He was also Elected Portsmouth's Mayor in 1861
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Photo Courtesy: Portsmouth Athenaeum
"Hard-Times" Token Marked "William Simes & Co."
"Dealers in Teas, Wines & Groceries No. 1 Pierce's Buildings Portsmouth NH"
This Particular Token is Dated "1837"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Historical Society
Circa 1837-1851 Two-Gallon Stoneware Jug Decorated with a Perched Bird
Attributed to the Edmands Pottery in Charlestown, Mass.
Marked "W. SIMES & CO. / PORTSMOUTH N H"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Antiques Associates at West Townsend
Additional Views of the Jug
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Photo Courtesy: Antiques Associates at West Townsend
View of the Cobalt Decorated Bird
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Photo Courtesy: Antiques Associates at West Townsend
View of the Gallon Capacity and Merchant Marks
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Photo Courtesy: Antiques Associates at West Townsend
Barnabas Edmands (1778-1872)
He Established His Potworks in Charlestown, Mass. in 1812
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Charlestown Historical Society
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
