City Pottery

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HOW TO USE THE DATABASE

The Database is organized by location, but you can find a pottery initially by searching for its name, which is at the top of the of the page with dates of operation below. Alternate names and the names of other potteries on the same site are noted at the top of the right-hand column, just above the pottery’s location.

The types of wares made appear below the pottery name in the left-hand column, followed by the references that informed these classifications.

Sample images of maker’s marks may be enlarged by clicking on the image.

Notes include a variety of information compiled from many standard sources and are presented as miscellaneous tidbits.

In the Gallery and Map Gallery in the right-hand column you will see historic images and insurance maps of the pottery’s facilities if available as well as historic advertisements and images of the wares made.

You can download more detailed information in all of these categories by choosing a PDF of the pottery’s full listing, which also includes the documentary sources. The PDF is text only and does not contain any images.  Data from the 1860, 1870 and 1880 industrial censuses area also included in the PDF if they exist for a given pottery. This data gives you a picture of the size of the pottery operation and the age and gender makeup of its work force.

You can help expand the database by contributing pictures and information. Contact POTS by the email address at the bottom of the page.

In operation    1859-1875

Wares

EarthenwareTablewareWhite granite

The first white earthenware (Rhodes & Yates) (Boyd 1877)

Cane-colored and white granite wares (Trenton State Gazette, Monday, August 27, 1866)

Notes

“The second pottery was built by Mr. Attersley [sic], on the property where the establishment of Messrs. Yates & Titus now stands. This he worked in connection with Mr. William Young, and commenced the manufacture of porcelain door knobs and trimmings. These potteries were subsequently purchased by Messrs. Yates & Rhodes, who in 1857 introduced the manufacture of white crockery, known to the trade as C.C. (cane color), and W.G. (white granite) wares.”

— “The Manufactories of Trenton. Article II. The Pottery Trade.” Trenton State Gazette, Monday, August 27, 1866.

 

Selected References

“The Manufactories of Trenton. Article II. The Pottery Trade.” Trenton State Gazette, Monday, August 27, 1866.

“The Manufactories of Trenton. Article III. The Pottery Trade – Continued.” Trenton State Gazette, Wednesday, August 29, 1866.

Raum, J.O. 1871.  History of the City of Trenton.  W.T. Nicholson & Co., Trenton, New Jersey.

“The Trenton Potteries 20 years Ago and To-Day.” Trenton State Gazette, Monday, October 6, 1879.

Woodward, E.M. and J.F. Hageman. 1883.  History of Burlington and Mercer Counties.  Everts and Peck, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Harney, W.J. 1929. “Trenton’s First Potteries.” Sunday Times Advertiser, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1929.

Podmore, Harry J. 1951. “City Pottery.” Sunday Times Advertiser, August 5, 1951.

Frelinghuysen, Alice Cooney. 1989.  American Porcelain, 1770-1920. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York.

Other firms at this site:

Other Names

Rhodes & Yates; Rhodes Yates & Co.; Higginson, Rhodes & Titus; Higginson, Rhodes & Yates; Yates & Titus; Yates & Titus City Pottery; Yates, Bennett & Allen; City Pottery Company

Block and Lot:
36B/26-30, 33

Historic Street Address:
Perry St. between East Canal St. and Carroll St.; Canal St. corner of Perry St.; Delaware and Raritan Canal above Rose; Perry near Carroll; Carroll near Perry; Ewing corner of Ogden; Carroll and Ewing; Perry, Carroll and Ewing; Perry corner of Canal

Municipality:
City of Trenton

Image Gallery

Commemorative Pitcher, press-molded ironstone in the “sweetheart” shape, made by City Pottery Company with gilded decoration by Theophile Frey, 1863, 9.75 in H. Inscribed for William and Mary Imlay on the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary. Frey is thought to be Trenton's first ceramic decorator. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1981.77
Book Flask, yellowware with green and brown spotted lead glaze, made by William H. Young Pottery, 1852-1859, 4.75 in H. This rare flask in the shape of a book retains the collection label of George McKearin, an early American antiquarian and ceramics collector. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH355.8
Book Flask, yellowware with green and brown spotted lead glaze, made by William H. Young Pottery, 1852-1859, 4.75 in H. This rare flask in the shape of a book retains the collection label of George McKearin, an early American antiquarian and ceramics collector. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH355.8

Map Gallery

City Pottery, 1875 Everts & Stewart Map
1870 Beers (Yates & Titus)
Map References

Beers, F. W. 1870  Map of the City of Trenton, New Jersey. F.W. Beers & Company, New York, New York.  (Shown as “Yates & Titus Pottery City Pottery”)

Everts & Stewart.  1875  Combination Atlas Map of Mercer County. Everts and Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Shown as “City Pottery”)

1860 Census

Name in censusRhodes, Yates & Co.
Capital Invested25000
Raw materials 1Clay
Quantity materials 1275 tons
Value materials 1900
Raw materials 2Quartz
Quantity materials 2100 tons
Value materials 22500
Raw materials 3Spar
Quantity materials 360 tons
Value materials 3720
Raw materials 4Coal
Quantity materials 4600 tons
Value materials 42400
Raw materials 5Other Materials
Value materials 52500
Power type 1Hands and Steam Engine
Male hands employed48
Female hands employed3
Male wages1220
Female wages36
Kind of productQueens, White Granite & Rockingham Ware
Value of product30000

1870 Census

Name in censusYates & Titus City Pottery
Capital Invested70000
Type of power 11 Steam Engine
Horsepower 115
Machine name 1Grinding Pans & Jiggers
Machine quantity 115
Raw material type 1Clay
Raw material quantity 1400 tons
Raw material value 16000
Raw material type 2Quartz
Raw material type 3Feld Spar
Raw material type 4Coal
Raw material type 5Wood
Raw material type 6Other Materials
Raw material type 7Total
Raw material quantity 2100 tons
Raw material quantity 3100 tons
Raw material quantity 41200 tons
Raw material quantity 550 cords
Raw material quantity 660 tons
Raw material value 22500
Raw material value 32000
Raw material value 48400
Raw material value 58000
Raw material value 6250
Product type 1White Earthen Ware
Product type 11600 crates & casks
Product value 158550
Male hands above 1631
Female hands above 166
Children14
Yearly wages26000
Months operating10