10 - - Antiques & Auction News — June 7, 2019
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The Parkers’ Colonial Stoneware Production In Charlestown, Massachusetts
By Justin W. Thomas
It can be argued that Isaac
(1692-1742) and Grace Parker’s
(1697-1754) red earthenware
business in Charlestown,
Mass., was the most success-
ful pottery of this type in
Colonial New England. The
company was established
around 1714, just after the
couple married, and was in
operation until the 1750s.
Archaeological evidence
has shown the family’s red
earthenware was exported all
over coastal New England,
with artifacts recovered as far
north as Cape Breton Island in
Nova Scotia, as far south as
North Brantford, Conn., and
possibly even North Carolina,
and places in between such as
Yarmouth, Maine, Berwick,
Maine, Portsmouth, N.H., and
all over the Boston area, Cape
Cod and Martha’s Vineyard.
The Parkers and their 11
children were prominent in the
Boston and Charlestown area.
The family was well-to-do, liv-
ing on Charlestown’s water-
front with servants, seasonal
gardens, a dock and all the lat-
est fashions. For example, Mrs.
Parker’s inventory in the
Massachusetts State Archives
indicates the family owned
popular imported ceramics for
the period, such as Delft and
fine China. The Parkers also
owned a general store in the
City Square neighborhood in
Charlestown, where they sold
their pottery and other goods.
However, being the busi-
nessman that he was, Isaac
appears to have been driven
by opportunity and desired
more success for his pottery
company. He had apparently
noticed the domestic
stoneware that was imported
by the shipload from European
manufacturers (found
throughout Colonial archaeo-
logical contexts in Boston and
Charlestown) as well as wares
possibly from some domestic
stoneware potters, such as
those employed in New York
City, Philadelphia and perhaps
even Virginia.
Stoneware was manufac-
tured at three primary loca-
tions on the East Coast during
this period, but Boston was
not among them. The Crolius
and Remmey families had
arrived from Germany and
began to manufacture their
ware in New York City as early
as the 1720s. There was also a
stoneware business operated
by an Englishman of French
Huguenot descent, Anthony
Duche (d. 1762), who began to
produce English and German-
style stoneware along with his
three sons in Philadelphia
around 1724. Another
Englishman, John Rogers,
owned a pottery in Yorktown,
Va., around 1720, where he
must have employed at least
one English trained potter.
An 18th-century stoneware chamber
pot handle was recovered by archeol-
ogists within a mid-18th century con-
text on Wapping Street in Charlestown,
Mass. The shape of the handle and the
finger impression on the handle termi-
nal is similar to the handles found on
the pot that Watkins discovered. Image
courtesy Boston Archaeology
Department.
Nevertheless, Isaac Parker
must have noticed the
stoneware trade between
merchants and consumers in
the Boston area. He must have
envisioned an opportunity to
capitalize with his own brand.
Massachusetts author Lura
Woodside Watkins (1897-1982)
researched the history of
Parker’s business venture,
which is largely documented
in the Massachusetts State
Archives. She later presented
this story when “Early New
England Potters and Their
Wares” was published in 1950,
and her analysis has been
cited in other publications,
thereafter. “In Isaac Parker’s
day no stoneware had been
manufactured in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Parker’s greatest difficulty was
to learn the mystery of making
the ware. For this purpose he
took a trip to New York to
investigate the potteries
there, but the tradespeople
were so wary he was unable to
obtain the slightest informa-
tion. As a last resort, he sent to
Philadelphia for a man who
had been trained there in the
stoneware potter’s art. James
Duche (1715-49), son of
Anthony Duche, arrived with
his family on the brigantine
Mary in Boston on July 14, 1742.
James Duche was perhaps
skilled enough as a potter but
was lacking in knowledge of
the properties of New England
clay. The stoneware makers of
New York and Philadelphia
never had any trouble
because they had suitable clay
nearby. Although Isaac Parker
had heard of Martha’s
Vineyard clay being used for
this purpose, and fearing that
the cost of transporting clay
from New York or Philadelphia
would eat up the greater part
of any profit he might make,
he decided to make a trial of
the nearby material.
In September 1742, Parker
presented a petition to the
General Court stating that he
was endeavoring at great
expense to find out the art of
making stoneware and had
employed a man to assist him.
He explained why it would be
an advantage for
Massachusetts but said he was
unable to provide the funds to
do so. Therefore, he asked for
a loan and the sole privilege of
manufacturing the ware for
whatever time the court
should see fit. The petition
was granted on Parker’s terms,
and the loan was payable
without interest on or before
the last day of December 1746.
Unfortunately, Isaac Parker
unexpectedly died three weeks
later. Now left with the burden
of how to operate the family’s
red earthenware business, but
also support her family, Grace
Parker decided to continue
with the stoneware invest-
ment. Her brother-in-law,
Thomas Symmes (1702-54),
was a red earthenware potter
and merchant in Charlestown
and capable of operating a
potter’s business. He was
An 18th-century stoneware saggar
fragment recovered by archaeologists
in Charlestown likely related to Grace
Parker’s stoneware production, circa
1742-46. Image courtesy Boston
Archeology Department.
antiquesandauctionnews.
This is a Colonial slip-decorated red earthenware porringer and chamber pot
This is the 18th-century salt-glazed attributed to the Parker Pottery in Charlestown, Mass. Image courtesy Boston
stoneware pot discovered by Lura One of the cobalt surrounded handles Archaeology Department.
Woodside Watkins that she attributed possess a deep finger impression at
to Grace Parker’s stoneware business, the handle terminal. Archaeologists in 1754. This was a landmark used to protect pottery in the
circa 1742-46. Image courtesy Historic Charlestown, Mass., recovered a company that paved the way kiln was illustrated in the
New England. similar handle in the 1980s. Image for other red earthenware chapter titled, “The Potters of
courtesy Historic New England. potters businesses in Charlestown, Massachusetts,”
appointed to oversee the Charlestown (and likely and had been recovered by
financial affairs of the compa- earthenware, some of which coastal Massachusetts), some archaeologists in Charlestown
ny, whereas the partnership was slip-decorated. This of whom likely imitated the in the 1980s. Pendery
was named “Thomas Symmes advertisement proves that red Parker’s business model. described the artifact as “like-
& Company.” earthenware was still pro- Collectively, the industry ly a saggar that was manufac-
“On Dec. 1, 1742, the new duced as it always had been flourished during the 1740-75, tured at the Parker stoneware
firm, including James Duche as since the business was estab- period with production even- pottery in the 18th century.
a co-partner, petitioned the lished in 1714, but they were tually ending due to the con- The glazed round edge indi-
General Court for the monop- also apparently successfully flicts that led up to the cates a vent hole at the top of
oly previously granted to Isaac producing stoneware. It may American Revolution, and the saggar.”
Parker. They received a favor- not have been realized by especially the Battle of Further research that I
able response and were everyone involved, but this Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. conducted with current
allowed the sole privilege of was a major accomplishment For all that was ruined at Boston City archaeologist Joe
making stoneware for a period for potters in New England the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Bagley revealed that this sag-
of 15 years. Severe penalties seeing that no other company fact that Isaac and Grace gar was recovered from land-
were imposed upon any per- is known to have produced Parker developed the idea for fill used at Charlestown’s 18th
son who should build a both types of pottery in the a business to produce both century docks, which was
stoneware kiln or use a kiln region during this period. stoneware and red earthen- located near the Parker prop-
already built for that purpose.” It was also only a short ware was unusual for the erty. The archaeological con-
period, serving as an accom- text saw a mean date of 1738,
plishment achieved at few likely suggesting that the
American potteries in the 18th object is evidence of
and also early 19th century. stoneware production from
Symmes & Company Symmes & Company.
Thomas Symmes & Company’s advertisement from the Boston Gazette on Stoneware Archaeologists also recov-
April 6, 1745, notifying subscribers that over 40 different sorts of stoneware are When Lura Woodside ered the remains of an over-
now available. Image courtesy Boston Public Library. Watkins published the fired salt-glazed cup slightly
reasearch on Symmes & decorated in cobalt in
However, stoneware pro- time later that the financial Company in 1950, there was no Charlestown, which was dis-
duction did not go as planned cost of this company became archaeological evidence from covered inside the landfill used
for James Duche, as he spent a apparent when Grace Parker Grace Parker’s circa 1742-46 for a 19th century utility trench
lot of time and energy was unable to repay the loan company. Although it should dug around Charlestown’s
attempting to build a kiln and on time in 1746. She had suf- be noted that it is question- docks, and near the Parker
manufacture stoneware using fered so much financial liabil- able whether Grace was actu- property. Despite the inconclu-
Martha’s Vineyard clay. It was ity that she was forced to sell ally a potter or rather a propri- sive context, the remains of
reported there were at least some of the property she etor. There isn’t evidence to this object certainly date from
three failed kiln firings, which owned. She pleaded with the suggest she was involved with the Colonial period and may
were undoubtedly the result of General Court to extend the the labor of production. represent more evidence from
the high temperature needed loan under new financial con- Watkins published a Symmes & Company. But the
to fire stoneware. On the con- ditions, and the court obliged, stoneware jar as figure 86 in stamped decoration on this
trary, red earthenware is fired allowing her to extend the “Early New England Potters cup is also representative of
at a lower temperature, which loan agreement until 1751. and Their Wares” that she felt production in Philadelphia and
was suitable for the type of At this point, James Duche was made by Symmes & New York City, and this may
clay found in New England. returned to Philadelphia to Company. The jar was discov- speak for the domestic imports
As a result, Grace Parker work with his father, and for ered in the basement of an that Isaac Parker cited in the
eventually ordered a load of the most part, the stoneware 18th-century house in Chelsea, Boston and Charlestown-area,
clay from New York, which business is thought to have Mass. The jar descended from while he pursued permission
proved successful, and there ceased production. Although the estate of Watkins’ son, to own and operate his own
are reports that clay may have Grace Parker’s son, John Malcolm Watkins (1912-2001), stoneware business around
been ordered from Parker (1725-65), is believed to until Historic New England 1742.
Philadelphia, as well. The cost have continued the red earth- acquired it. Watkins described The Parker Stoneware Legacy
of this stoneware venture was enware business based on it as “a pot with an exterior The amount of stoneware
also beginning to take its toll entries in his circa 1747-61 salt-glaze, but no glaze on the manufactured under the
on the Parker family. potter’s daybook, today interior, cobalt-blue swashes Parker Pottery branch of
It is unknown how much owned by the Baker Library at around the handles, and Symmes & Company is largely
clay was shipped to Harvard University, and while warped in burning.” unknown today as wells as
Charlestown from New York he documents many red Interestingly, the form of how it was distributed. In
and Philadelphia, although earthenware transactions, the handles and the bold fin- some ways, this is also
stoneware was apparently Parker never cited the ger impressions found on the insignificant; Grace Parker’s
successfully produced in 1743 stoneware business. jar’s two handle terminals company was the first known
and 1744. But whether the With that said, English closely resemble a stoneware enterprise to manufacture
stoneware kiln was regularly poet Geoffrey Chaucer once chamber pot handle recov- stoneware in Colonial New
fired in those years or inter- wrote, “All good things must ered by archaeologists in England. This was quite an
mittingly used is unexplained. come to an end.” That is Charlestown in the 1980s dur- accomplishment for all the
On April 16, 1745, Symmes exactly what happened to the ing the archaeology of hardships this business dealt
& Company advertised in the Parkers’ legendary New Boston’s infamous Big Dig with in order to achieve Isaac
Boston Gazette that 40 differ- England business, which Project. This handle was Parker’s ultimate goal of man-
ent sorts of stoneware were ceased production by the recovered from a mid-18th ufacturing stoneware.
available, to go along with red time Grace Parker died in century archaeological con- It may have been consid-
text on Wapping Street, sug- ered minimal at the time, but
gesting the deposit is from the this was also an important
same period as when Grace effort in a historical context
Parker’s company was manu- seeing that the Parkers,
facturing stoneware. The Thomas Symmes, James Duche
greenish ash glaze found on and likely others involved were
the handle is also similar to able to prove that stoneware
some of the stoneware pro- production could be accom-
duction from Anthony Duche plished in New England. This
in Philadelphia. groundwork eventually led to
Former Boston City stoneware industries and busi-
archaeologist Steven Pendery nesses materializing through-
also published an important out New England.
artifact in 1984 when the It should not be over-
Library of Congress published looked either that Grace
the book, “Unearthing New Parker owned a Colonial pot-
This is imported German stoneware recovered by archaeologists within a England’s Past: The Ceramic tery in America in the 1740s.
pre-1742 context at Faneuil Hall in Boston. Image courtesy Boston Archaeology Evidence.” A salt-glazed Traditionally, the utilitarian
Department. stoneware saggar fragment Continued on page 11