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    1856-1859

Wares

Terra-cotta

terra-cotta drain pipes

Notes

“In 1856 Mr. Yates bought the property from Mr. Hattersley. It was then leased to James and Thomas Lynch who manufactured drain pipes for about two years.”

— Mains, Bishop W. and Fitzgerald, Thomas F. 1879.  Mains and Fitzgerald’s Trenton, Chambersburg and Millham Directory: Containing the Names of the Citizens, Statistical Business Report, Historical Sketches, a List of the Public and Private Institutions, Together with National, State, County, and City Government.  Bishop W. Mains & Thomas F. Fitzgerald, Trenton, New Jersey.

Selected References

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

“The Trenton Potteries: 20 years Ago and Today.” Daily State Gazette, October 6, 1879.

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, 1879.

Quigley, M.A. and D.E. Collier. 1984. A Capital Place: The Story of Trenton. Historical Society and Windsor Publications, Inc., Woodland Hills, California.

Lehner, Lois. 1988.  Lehner’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain & Clay.  Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky.

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

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.

Other firms at this site:

Other Names

Yates & Large

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

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
Commemorative Pitcher, press-molded porcelain with gilding, made by William Young & Company, 1853-1857, 7.5 in H. The pitcher is inscribed to William Young Senior. It descended in the Young family. Young was a founder of the pottery with Richard Millington, John Astbury and Young's three sons, Edward, John and William Junior. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1986.44.21