Crock
Maker
Thomas Warne
PeriodCirca 1795 - 1805
Place MadeSouth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.A.
MediumSalt glazed stoneware
Dimensions11.88 × 10.38 in. (30.2 × 26.4 cm)
InscribedWritten on the crock's underside in black marker is "P-1 / WARNE / POTTERY / SOUTH AMBOY / CIRCA 1806."
SignedThe crock is stamped "WARNE" above the double holly leaf decoration, and "AMBOY N. JERSEY" below.
ClassificationsStoneware
Credit LineMarshall P. Blankarn Purchasing Fund, 1956
Object number1979.528.50
DescriptionA stoneware crock with a thick rim, widening into a bellied body form, tapering slightly to a plain flat base. The crock has applied rounded strap handles, with an brownish green glaze encircling the attachment points on the body. Four incised lines encircle the crock an inch below the rim. A double holly leaf decoration is incised into the front center.Curatorial RemarksWhen looking at New Jersey and New York stoneware, it is often a challenge identifying and tracking the many stoneware potters because of the connections of marriage, employment, and movement of potters and decorators from one firm to another. In Monmouth and Middlesex counties, for example, potters in the Morgan, Warne, Letts, and Van Wickle families intermarried, worked with and for one another, and moved between kilns.NotesThomas Warne was born on September 3, 1763 to Joshua and Meleny (Disbrow) Warne. Early research into the identification of Thomas Warne was hampered by the proliferation of the many Thomas and Joshua Warnes, all descending from Thomas Warne, who was born in Plymoth, England, and settled in America in 1683.Potter and stoneware maker Thomas Warne learned his trade at the pottery of Captain James Morgan. On March 5, 1786, Warne married his employer's daughter Mary Morgan. The couple had at least two children, Meleny (born circa 1787/88) and James Morgan Warne (1791 - 1852). Thomas Warne's name appears on the South Amboy Township tax ratables for the first time in 1797. Warne most likely purchased the pottery from his father-in-law, while his brother-in-law James Morgan began his own pottery with Nicholas Van Wickle. Warne's stoneware factory was located in the Cheesequake area of Middlesex County, in what today is included in Old Bridge Township but prior to 1869 was included in South Amboy Township. Warne's daughter Meleny married Joshua Letts of South Amboy Township on November 30, 1805. Letts closely followed the path his father-in-law had traveled, learning the craft of stoneware pottery and marrying his employer's daughter. After 1805, the shop became known as the Warne & Letts pottery, with wares being stamped "WARNE & LETTS." Thomas Warne died before October 13, 1818. He died intestate (without a will) and his son James M. Warne was appointed administrator of his father's estate by the courts. After Warne's death, it is apparent that Joshua Letts continued to operate the pottery, with wares from this time period marked only "LETTS." In April of 1816, Joshua and Meleny Letts sold James Morgan ten and a half acres which included the pottery and kiln, and by 1819 Letts had either died or left the South Amboy area as he no longer appeared in the tax ratables lists.
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