Trenton Pottery Works

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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    1865-1875

Wares

Yellowware; Rockingham ware (Trenton State Gazette, Monday, August 27, 1866)

Notes

“The first pottery in Trenton was established about thirteen years ago by Mr. Taylor of the firm of Taylor & Houdayer, who was the pioneer of the trade in this vicinity. His earliest labors were confined to the manufacture of yellow and Rockingham ware”

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

Selected References

Young, Jennie J. 1879. The Ceramic Art: A Compendium of the History and Manufacture of Pottery and Porcelain. Harper & Bros., New York, New York.

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.

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 Names

Trenton Pottery Company

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

1870 Census

Name in censusTrenton Pottery Co.
Capital Invested50000
Type of power 1Hand
Raw material type 1Coal
Raw material quantity 1800 tons
Raw material value 15000
Raw material type 2Koln [Culm?]
Raw material type 3Clay
Raw material type 4Lead
Raw material type 5Cobalt
Raw material type 6B[oric] Acid
Raw material type 7Zinc
Raw material type 8Flint
Raw material type 9Feldspar
Raw material type 10Straw
Raw material type 11Package
Raw material type 12Total
Raw material quantity 2150 tons
Raw material quantity 3150 tons
Raw material quantity 42 tons
Raw material quantity 5150 lbs
Raw material quantity 62000 lbs
Raw material quantity 72000 tons
Raw material quantity 8100 tons
Raw material quantity 9100 tons
Raw material quantity 1025 tons
Raw material quantity 11600 tons
Raw material value 24000
Raw material value 31500
Raw material value 4250
Raw material value 5500
Raw material value 6600
Raw material value 71700
Raw material value 81700
Raw material value 92000
Raw material value 10300
Raw material value 11750
Raw material value 1216780
Product type 1Pottery
Product value 140000
Male hands above 1620
Female hands above 165
Children20
Yearly wages18000
Months operating6