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Potters On The Merrimac
Continued from page 14
Susanna’s brother, William
Pecker (1758-1820), also born
in Haverhill and an Essex
County trained potter, is found
in Merrimacport in 1784. It
seems that Pecker remained
employed with his brother-in-
law until the early 1790s, when
he established his own pot-
tery. Bodge’s role might have
also changed, and he may
have now helped Pecker with
his business.
The Pecker Pottery is
largely known today for the
lead glazed red earthenware
that was produced during
the circa 1791-1820 period.
Known forms include jugs,
pitchers, pots, bowls, flasks,
pans, chamber pots, por-
ringers and flowerpots. There
is also some speculation that
Pecker or Bodge possibly
produced some slipware, but
that has not been proven in
archaeology.
Pecker was also a country. The wide variety of Here is a Colonial 18th-century black
stoneware potter. In fact, it
was not identified in publica-
tion until the 2004 issue of
“Ceramics in America” that
there are known pieces of
marked Pecker stoneware in
existence. Archaeologist John
Kille wrote that article based
on a two-gallon handled crock
marked “Wm Pecker” found at
a Kentucky flea market. The
crock was decorated on one
side with a stamped bird
perched on a branch and the
other with a stamped flower.
Since that article was pub-
lished, somewhere around
one to two dozen pieces of
Pecker stoneware have been
identified, some of which had
been previously attributed to
other locations. It has also
been discovered that Pecker
applied a fish stamp, as well
as cobalt used for an aesthet-
ic blue decoration.
Pecker died a tragic death
in 1820, when his kiln col-
lapsed, falling on top of him.
The tradition of pottery pro-
duction in Merrimacport was
then carried on for another 60
to 70 years under the direction
of Pecker’s nephew, James
Chase (1778-1849), and fol-
lowed by his son, Phineas
Chase (1820-1911). Some of
their production looks very
much like that made at the
Pecker Pottery.
The story of the Bodge,
Pecker and Chase potteries
ended in the 1890s, when
Phineas ceased production
altogether in his 70s. His obit-
uary reading in 1911, “Mr.
Chase was a man of sterling
honesty and marked integrity
and had the respect and confi-
dence of the community.”
But with the end of pottery
production in Merrimacport
came another business in
Newburyport; Thomas
Nickerson, an English trained
potter, established the
Merrimac Ceramic Company in
Newburyport in 1897.
Nickerson’s products in the
first four years were some-
times marked with a paper
label, “Merrimac Ceramic
This Daniel Bayley Pottery attributed
pan was recovered from the bottom of
a well at 369 Court St. in Portsmouth,
N.H. Image courtesy Louise
Richardson.
Antiques & Auction News — November 22, 2019 - - 15
Company,” with a picture of a
sturgeon, a fish native to the
Merrimack River.
In 1902, Nickerson
changed the name of the busi-
ness to the Merrimac Pottery
Company. Rather than a paper
label, an impressed mark was
incorporated on the base of
many products that read, MOVIE POSTERS Highest Prices Paid SELL OUT
Lobby Cards, 1-Sheets, Window Due to age and health, long time collec-
“MERRIMAC,” with an image of tion of antiques and collectibles.
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made colorful art pottery, This is a William Pecker Pottery red 60610 773-525-9152, Fax 773-525- Call 276-694-5279.
exquisite garden pottery, and earthenware jug, ca. 1790-1820. 2969, posterboss@aol.com
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also recognized for his matte, CHURCH July 10, 1763.” Image jos, early brass & woodwinds.
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Out!!
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S948095
Sources Watkins, Lura Woodside.
Barka, Norma F. “Historic “The Bayleys: Essex County
Sites Archaeology at Portland Potters, Part I.” The Magazine
Point, New Brunswick, Canada, Antiques, November 1938.
1631 c. 1850 A.D.” Harvard • “The Bayleys: Essex County
University, 1965. Potters, Part II.” The Magazine
The Essex Journal, August Antiques, January 1939.
3, 1774. • Early New England
Lagerbom, Charles H. Potters and Their Wares.
“Jonathan Lowder’s Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
Truckhouse and Archaeology University Press, 1950
of a Colonial Trading Post on
the Maine Frontier During the
American Revolutionary War.”
University of Maine, 1991.
Moran, Geoffrey P., Anne E.
Yentsch, Edward F. Zimmer.
“Archaeological Investigations
A slip decorated pan attributed to the
at the Narbonne House Salem
Bayley Pottery was recovered within a
Maritime National Historic
ca. late 1760s and early 1770s
Site, Massachusetts.” Division
archaeological context at the site of a
of Cultural Resources, North
trading post in Saint John, New
Atlantic Regional Office,
Brunswick. Image courtesy New
National Park Service, Boston,
Brunswick Museum.