File:Early silver of Connecticut and its makers (1913) (14586880139).jpg

Identifier: earlysilverofcon00curt (find matches)
Title: Early silver of Connecticut and its makers
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Curtis, George M. (George Munson), 1857-1915
Subjects: Silversmiths -- Connecticut Silverwork -- Connecticut
Publisher: Meriden, Conn., International Silver Co.
Contributing Library: University of Connecticut Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Connecticut Libraries

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usiness, fordebts were due his estate from persons inWindham, Colchester, Lebanon, New Lon-don, and Derby. Next in chronological order was Corne-lius Kierstead, a Dutchman by descent,baptized in New York in 1675. He fol-lowed his trade in that city until about1722, when he appeared in New Haven withtwo other New York men and leased landin Mount Carmel and in Wallingford forthe purpose of mining copper. They werenot the first men to search for the red metalin that region, for Governor JonathanBelcher and other Boston men had sunkthousands of pounds in copper mines inWallingford, and the net results or profits,so far as can be learned, were the holes inthe ground. It is perhaps needless to say that Kier-steads venture was not successful, but theincident apparently settled him as a per-manent resident of New Haven. On themap of New Haven, dated 1724, his homeis indicated as on the west side of ChurchStreet, a short distance below Wall Street,and just north of the home of Moses Mans- (48)
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■S^.sc-g a5 Ls.KI 00 rt 5 C •u o % 2 c ufa-* o^ * » J> ■ B a Plate EARLY SILVER OF CONNECTICUT AND ITS MAKERS field, the school-teacher, whose father-in-law he was. He was still living in NewHaven in 1753, for in that year the select-men placed him in charge of a conservator,giving as a reason that, on account of hisadvanced age and infirmities, he is becomeimpotent and unable to take care of him-self. In a few Connecticut churches we findexamples of his work: a caudle-cup in theCongregational Church, North Haven; abaptismal basin and a two-handled beakerin the First Congregational Church, Mil-ford; and a tankard belonging to TrinityChurch, New Haven. There are also twoother pieces extant made by Kierstead,—a fine punch-bowl and a large candlestick.He was certainly a most skilful craftsman. The next to record is John Potwine,who was born in Boston in 1698, and fol-lowed his trade there until about 1737,when he moved to Hartford. For a timehe seems to have continued as a si

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