Crock
Maker
Thomas Warne
Maker
Joshua Letts
Period1807
Place MadeSouth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.A.
MediumSalt glazed stoneware
Dimensions12.75 × 9.75 in. (32.4 × 24.8 cm)
ClassificationsStoneware
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Henry L. Post, Mrs. Lewis Waring, and Mr. Amory L. Haskell, in memory of their mother, Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1944
Object number1963
DescriptionA stoneware crock in a dark brown clay, with a wide mouth, large bellied body, and semidetached handles. A band of coggle wheel tooth-and-brick pattern runs along the crock's rim. On the upper portion of the crock's front is stamped "LIBERTY FOREV" within a dagged-edge border above "WARNE & LETTs 1807 / S. AMBOY N. JERSEY." A pair of stamped holly leaves appear below the inscription, highlighted with smears of cobalt blue. Additional dabs of cobalt glaze highlight the handles.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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