
The Site of Green Pottery, Smyrna Delaware
Posted by:
barbybig
N 39° 18.114 W 075° 36.464
18S E 447599 N 4350455
Quick Description: This location had a facility for the manufacturing of redware pottery in the 1780s.
Location: Delaware, United States
Date Posted: 4/15/2008 11:12:03 AM
Waymark Code: WM3KCJ
Views: 30
Long Description:In 1764, Thomas Green sold a one-quarter acre lot at this location
to his grandson, Charles Green. Sometime thereafter, Charles
established a facility for the manufacturing of redware pottery on
this site. The business is known to be in operation by the 1780s.
Redware is made from clay with high amounts of iron oxide, giving a
red brick color to the finished product. Archeological evidence
indicates that the products of this pottery included cups, mugs,
bowls, plates, pitchers, jugs, bottles, milk pans, butter pots, and
chamber pots some decorated with trailed slip. Upon death of
Charles Green in 1809, responsibility for conducting business
passed to his son William Green, who continued to manufacture
pottery here until circa 1817.
Between 1817-1822 William's brother Daniel D. Green established
a pottery nearby, on the opposite side of North Main Street. After
Daniel's death in 1826, the Kent County Orphans Court hired Abraham
Ritchie to continue the operation of the business to generate
income for Daniel's widow and children. The pottery was closed when
decendants sold the land in 1840.