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Silver CompaniesBackground of some of the top Silver Companies in History
GorhamGorham ChronologyJabez Gorham: February 18, 1792 to March 24, 1869 Jabez was a 5th generation New Englander who traced his origins to John Gorham. John Groham had been born in Benefield, England in 1621. He immigrated to America around 1640 and married Desire Howland whose parents had arrived in on the Mayflower. Jabex was one of 8 children. At age 14 (1806) he became apprenticed to Nehamiah Dodge of Providence, Rhode Island. 1806 - 1883 Jabez Gorham was apprenticed to Neremiah Dodge. The traditional craft apprenticeships were seven years. These craft apprenticeships began dissapparing in 1860s. 1813-1818 Worked in partnership with Christopher Burr, William Hadwin, George C. Clark, and Henry Mumford in Providence, Rhode Island. 1818-1831 Worked alone as "Jabez Gorham Jeweler" 1831 He began producing coin silver spoons. 1831-1837 Gorham & Webster, Providence, Rhode Island, (Henry L. Webster) 1837-1841 Gorham, Webster, & Price (William G. Price) 1841-1850 Jabez Gorham and Son. (Son: John) Henry Gorham, a cousin was part of the firm. 1848-1865 Gorham Lion faces left 1850 Production of holloware began. 1850-1852 Gorham & Thurber ( Son: John Gorham and Gorham Thruber who was a cousin) 1852-1863 Name of company changed to Gorham and Company. Lewis, Dexter, Jr. another cousin joined the firm. 1860-1891 George Wilkinson (1819-1894) was Chief Designer 1863 Name of the company changed to Gorham Manufacturing Company. 1865 Gorham began electroplating holloware. 1868 Gorham adopted the sterling standard. 1868-1877 Thomas Pairpoint joined Gorham Manufacturing as a desinger. 1869 Gorham adopted a system of date marks for sterling silver. 1878 John Gorham retired. 1891-1914 William C. Codman was Chief Designer 1897 Introduction of Martele' (hammered) style NOTES: Pattern numbers: In 19th century Gorham often used an anchor and shield on electroplated items. Gorham pieces were date marked 1868 - 1959. International SilverInternational Silver Co. 1898 - 1984 Meriden Britannia Company 1852 - 1898 (Meriden means "a pleasant valley") H.C. Wilcox & Co. (1848) International Silver Co. 1898 - 1984 ADDED TO THE INTERNATIONAL SILVER CO. 1946 Purchased hotel business of Gorham Co. 1954 Purchased the hotel line of plated flatware of R. Wallace & Sons PART OF INSCO THROUGH PRIOR PURCHASES INTERNATIONAL SILVER CO. OF CANADA, LTD RogersRogers Silver Enterprises ChronologyJames Rogers (1625 - 1687) Samuel Rogers (1640-1713) Daniel Rogers (1678 - 1713) Alpheus Rogers (1710 -1779) Asa Rogers (Born 19 Feb 1756, Death 07 Dec 1824) Asa Harris Rogers (Born 3 September 1806, Death 1876) Simeon Smith Rogers (1812 - 1874) History Asa Sr. had 12 children. The three sons of interest in our study are Willaim Hazen, Asa Harris, and Simeon Smith Rogers. All were born on family farm in Hartford Connecticut. Not wanting to pursue life as farmers, they turned their engeries to becoming silversmiths. William the oldest of the three became apprenticed to Joseph Church in 1820. In 1825 William Hazen was made a partner and the firm became known as Church and Rogers (1825 - 1836). Asa, Jr. joined the firm next, and finally Simeon Smith Rogers joined. From 1825 - 1841 William Hazen Rogers continued to make and stamp spoons with his individual mark: (Eagle) WM Rogers (Star). In 1830 Asa, Jr formed a partnership with John A, Cole in New Britian. The partnership was called Rogers and Cole (1830 - 1832). John A Cole retired in 1832 and the firm's name changed to Asa Rogers, Jr. & Co. with William Hazen Rogers as a partner. In 1836 William Hazen Rogers left Church and Rogers to start his own firm William Rogers (1836 - 1841) In 1841 Simeon became a partner and firm's name changed to William Rogers and Company (1841- 1855). Simeon Smith Rogers left the firm in 1855 and William Hazen Rogers continued working alone. From 1843-1845 Asa Rogers, Jr. worked alone as Asa Harris Rogers in Hartford. In 1845 Asa, Sr. Died. In 1845 William B. Cowles and Asa Rogers, Jr. , et al, organized the Cowles Mfg. Co.(1845 -1846). In 1845 William Hazen Rogers and Asa Rogers, Jr, and John O. Mead formed the partnership Rogers and Mead, (1845 -1846). In 1847 Rogers Brothers was established. Asa, Jr., William Hazen, and Simeon Smith Rogers. (1847-1853). In 1853 Rogers Brothers Manufacturing Company succeeded Rogers Brothers. William Hazen was President, Simeon was only a shareholder. Asa Jr., William Hazen, and Simeon Rogers. (1853-1861) Consolidated with Rogers, Smith and Company in 1861. William H. Rogers, Jr. became a Director in 1858. Although the partnership of William Rogers & Company was dissolved 1n 1855, William Hazen Rogers continued operating the jewelry store. In 1866 William Henry Rogers son of William Hazen Rogers joined his father as a partner to form William Rogers & Son. (1866 -). In 1857 Rogers, Smith & Co. William Hazen Rogers with George W. Smith organized this firm in 1857. It was consolidated with Rogers Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1861. Became part of the Meriden Britannia Co. in 1883. Became part of the International Silver Company in 1898. In 1858 Rogers and Brother was formed by Asa, Jr and Simeon Rogers, et al. (1858-1898). Became one of the founding companies of the International Silver Co in 1898. Asa, Jr. and Simeon Rogers left the firm in 1886. In 1865 William Rogers Manfacturing Company was formed. William Hazen Rogers and William H. Rogers, Jr., et al. It became one of the founding companies of the International Silver Co. in 1898. Produced for Meriden Britannia Company from 1868 until 1878. From 1878 to 1893 produced for Simpson, Hall, Miller, and company. Was one of the founding companies of the International Silver Company in 1898. In 1871 Rogers Cutlery Company was organized by Asa Rogers, Jr. and his nephew William H. Watrous. Frank Wilson Rogers was a Director in the firm. This company consolidated with William Rogers Manufacturing Company in 1879. It was one of the founding companies of the International Silver Company in 1898. SAMUEL ROGERS LINEAGE James Rogers (1625 - 1687) *See above John Tanner (1715-1783) was Master to apprentices Joseph Rogers (1753-1825) and Daniel Rogers(1753-1792). In 1866 C. Rogers & Brothers (1866 -1903) Cephas B., Gilbert H. and Wilbur Rogers. When taken over by International Silver Company in 1903 all paterns with their trademark were dropped. These brothers in no way were related to the original Rogers Brothers. n 1883 F.B. Rogers Silver Co., was founded in Shelburne, Massachusetts. It became a division of the National Silver Co., in 1955. Bought by Towle in 1980s. In 1866 Rogers & Hamilton Co. was incorporated. Charles A. Hamilton was founder. He was the son of David B, Hamilton, President of of Rogers & Brother. It consolidated with Rogers and Brother in 1898 and becoming part of the International Silver Company. In 1896 Rogers Silver Plate Co. (1896-1922) Danbury, Connecticut was founded by Nathanial Burton Rogers, President, and brothers Cephas B., and Gilbert H Rogers. In 1900 Simeon L & George H Rogers Co. in business in Hartford Connecticut. It was taken over by Wm. A. Rogers Limited in 1918 and finally by Oneida in 1929. Simeon L. and George H Rogers were sons of Simeon S. Rogers, who was son of Asa Rogers. SUMMARY OF MAIN ROGERS BROTHERS AFFILITATIONS Church and Rogers (1825-1836) William Hazen, Asa, Jr., and Simeon Smith UNRELATED ROGERS CAPITALIZING ON NAME William A. Rogers, 1880s, was no relations to the Rogers Brothers but capitalized on his name. Walter Fulton Rogers: Walter Fulton changed his name legally to Walter Fulton Rogers in 1900. He used the trademark W. F. Rogers. He incorporated in William A Rogers, Ltd. In 1918 he took over the Simeon L. and George H. Rogers Company. In 1929 the copined Corporation of William A Rogers, Ltd and Simon L and George H. Rogers Company to Oneida. C. Rogers & Brother no connection to the orginal Rogers brothers. This firm closed in 1903. WallaceWallace ChronologyRobert Wallace: November 13, 1813 to June 1, 1892 Sons: Robert B, William J., George H., Frank A. W. J. Leavenworth husband of Nettie was involved in several Wallace enterprises. Nettie and W. J. Leavenworth had a son, C. W. Leavenworth who also became a part of the Wallace businesses. James Wallace was an immigrant from Edinburgh, Scotland. His son James, married Urania Williams. Their son, Robert Wallace, was born November 13, 1813. Robert Wallace sons included: Robert B., William J., George H., and Frank A. Wallace. He had a least one daughter who married W. J. Leavenworth who became active in various silver concerns. At 16, Robert Wallace became an apprentice to Captain William Mix, a respected spoon maker working for the Meriden Britannia Co. After two years, at age 18, in old grist mill Robert began manufacturing spoons in and about the Wallingford area. While on a trip to New York, he discovered a piece of flatware produced by Dixon and Sons of Sheffield England. It was made of a nickel alloy. He investigated and acquired the formula for this new metal known as "German Silver". Having obtained the formula (for $20.00), he became the first silversmith in America to produce spoons with this new material. In June of 1835 he acquired a small building outside of Wallingford and set up shop and worked under his own name, Robert Wallace. In 1855 he and Samuel Simpson formed a partnership, R. Wallace & Company. (1855-1865). Later in 1855, H.C. Wilocx, W.W. Lyman, and Isaac. C. Lewis joined the firm. In 1865, this enterprise became incorporated as Wallace, Simpson and Company. In 1871 he bought out Mr. Simpson's interest and brought in his two sons (Robert B. & William J) as partners. The new name R. Wallace & Sons Manufacturing. In 1871, his sons formed a new company. The new company, Wallace Brothers, produced Silverplate flatware on a base of stainless steel. Around 1879, Wallace Brothers merged with R. Wallace and Sons Mfg. Co. The company continued to grow. By 1955, R. Wallace and Sons Mfg. Co. had acquired and merged with a number of smaller firms including Tuttle Silver, Smith and Smith, and The Watson Co. In 1956, R. Wallace and Sons Mfg. Co. relocated to the Watson Co.’s Wallingford, Massachusetts factory. Following relocation, its name changed to Wallace Silversmiths. SUMMARY Robert Wallace 1935 - 1955 MiscellaneousE.G. Webster & Son F. Curtis and Co. Holmes and Tuttle MFG. Co. William Holmes Samuel Kirk Liberty & Co Meriden Britannia Company Oneida Silversmiths Reed & Barton Stieff Tiffany Towle Silversmiths Tuttle Silver Company Wallace Wanamaker Wilcox Other Silver Dating Guides and Information
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