18th Century Stoneware From New Jersey

Summary

The origins of the New Jersey stoneware industry -- and perhaps even the American stoneware industry -- seem to lie in the late 17th century with an awareness that high-grade clays suitable for making dense, hard, durable pottery were present in the South Amboy area of Middlesex County in the Province of East Jersey.  As early as 1685-86, there are indications in the court records of Burlington County in West Jersey that such clays were known to early settlers.  This clay source was presumably the well-known Morgan bank, a vast expanse of high quality stoneware clay exposed along both the south shore of Raritan Bay and the Cheesequake Creek   The clay mined from this area fueled the colonial American stoneware industry up and down the east coast for more than a century.  A total of nine stoneware manufactories are known to have operated in New Jersey during the 18th century.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016   •
• The Production and Archaeological Analysis of 18th and 19th Century American Ceramics

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 197