Assunpink Pottery
In operation 1860-1872
Wares
Yellowware and Rockingham ware (Trenton State Gazette, Monday, August 27, 1866)
Yellowware (Harney 1929; Raum 1871)
Porcelain, Queensware, Rockingham and cane colored fireproof ware, druggist ware made to order (Goldberg 1998)
Notes
In 1860 “He [Henry Speeler] purchased the foundry and machine shop established by Bottom and Tiffany along the west bank of the Delaware and Raritan Canal to the north of the Assunpink Creek and converted the plant to a pottery.” In 1868 Speeler was joined by his two sons and the pottery was renamed Henry Speeler and Sons. Henry Speeler passed away in 1871. In 1872 the pottery was sold to the Speeler Pottery Company.”
— Goldberg, David J. 1998. Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years – 1852 – 1882 (And Beyond). Privately published, Trenton, New Jersey.
Selected References
“The Manufactories of Trenton. Article II. The Pottery Trade.” Trenton State Gazette, Monday, August 27, 1866.
“Assanpink Pottery Work — Henry Speeler & Sons.” Trenton State Gazette, Saturday, August 28, 1869.
Harney, W.J. 1929 “Trenton’s First Potteries.” Sunday Times Advertiser, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1929.
Leibowitz, Joan. 1985. Yellow Ware: The Transitional Ceramic. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Goldberg, David J. 1998. Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years – 1852 – 1882 (And Beyond). Privately published, Trenton, New Jersey.
Liebeknecht, William B. 2003. “Makers Marks from the Assunpink Pottery Works.” Trenton Potteries, 4(3):6-7.
Liebeknecht, William B. 2005. “Rockingham Wares from Trenton, New Jersey.” In Fancy Rockingham Pottery, by Diana Stradling, pp. 81-86. University of Richmond Museums, Richmond, Virginia.
Other firms at this site:
Other Names
Henry Speeler; Henry Speeler & Sons; Assunpink Pottery Works Henry Speeler & Sons
Block and Lot:
3F
Historic Street Address:
Canal Street near Front Street; West Canal and Assunpink; West Canal corner of Plymouth; East Front Street Basin; Stockton and Front Street Basin
Municipality:
City of Trenton
Map Gallery
Map References
Beers, F. W. 1870 Map of the City of Trenton, New Jersey. F.W. Beers & Company, New York, New York. (Sown as “Assunpink Pottery Works H. Speeler & Sons”)
1870 Census
| Name in census | Assunpink Pottery Works Henry Speeler & Sons |
|---|---|
| Capital Invested | 85000 |
| Type of power 1 | 1 Steam |
| Horsepower 1 | 35 |
| Machine name 1 | Whilers, jiggers, presses, etc. |
| Machine quantity 1 | 25 |
| Raw material type 1 | Coal |
| Raw material quantity 1 | 1385 tons |
| Raw material value 1 | 8350 |
| Raw material type 2 | Clay |
| Raw material type 3 | Chemicals |
| Raw material type 4 | Flint |
| Raw material type 5 | Spar |
| Raw material type 6 | Total |
| Raw material quantity 2 | 1500 tons |
| Raw material quantity 3 | 50 tons |
| Raw material quantity 4 | 125 tons |
| Raw material quantity 5 | 100 tons |
| Raw material value 2 | 7500 |
| Raw material value 3 | 5500 |
| Raw material value 4 | 2450 |
| Raw material value 5 | 2200 |
| Raw material value 6 | 2600 |
| Product type 1 | White Granite CC Rock & Yellow Ware |
| Product value 1 | 68560 |
| Male hands above 16 | 55 |
| Female hands above 16 | 8 |
| Children | 22 |
| Yearly wages | 35660 |
| Months operating | 12 |