Trenton Pottery Works

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 1875-1887

Wares

Rockingham Tableware

Notes

“Although the pottery was still referred to as the Trenton Pottery, the company was known as the I. Davis Pottery. Its products were often marked with the British coat of arms and ‘I. Davis’ below.”

— 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

“Trenton Industries — The Pottery Business.” Trenton State Gazette, Tuesday, May 4, 1875.

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

Trenton Historical Society. 1929. A History of Trenton 1679-1929: Two Hundred and Fifty Years of a Notable Town with Links in Four Centuries. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Thorn, C. Jordan. 1947. Handbook of Old Pottery & Porcelain Marks. Tudor Publishing Company, New York, New York.

Lehner, Lois. 1980. Complete Book of American Kitchen and Dinner Wares. Wallace-Homestead Book Company, Des Moines, Iowa.

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

I. Davis Pottery; Isaac Davis

Block and Lot:
52B; 52C; NJ RT 26

Historic Street Address:
Greenwood Avenue corner of Jackson Street; Railroad between Jackson & Mercer; Taylor near Mercer; Mercer corner of Taylor; Taylor near Broad

Municipality:
City of Trenton

1880 Census

Name in census	Isaac Davis
Capital	150000
Number of hands	194
Males above 16	140
Females above 15	27
Children	27
May to Nov hours	10
Nov to May hours	10
Skilled wages	2.25
Ordinary wages	1.25
Total wages in year	66948
Full time months	12
Value of raw material	52401
Value of product	141637
Number of engines	1
Horse power	40

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