SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
American Silver before sterling Forum

A GLOSSARY of MILLED BANDS
Past American Coin Silver Forum topics/threads worth a look
WEV's American Silversmith's Family Tree Project Smith's Index

How to Post Photos REGISTER (click here)

customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  American Silver before sterling
tline3open  James M Fenner

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   James M Fenner
bascall

Posts: 1629
Registered: Nov 99

iconnumber posted 07-13-2009 05:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bascall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
James M Fenner is listed in the 1860 U S Federal Census for Providence, Rhode Island as a jeweler. His son Albert is in the same census and also listed as a jeweler.

IP: Logged

wev
Moderator

Posts: 4121
Registered: Apr 99

iconnumber posted 07-13-2009 09:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for wev     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Albert apparently tired of his father's occupation and took up the drug trade, as did his brothers James and Conrad. His quack tonic proved popular and he became quite wealthy selling it.

IP: Logged

bascall

Posts: 1629
Registered: Nov 99

iconnumber posted 07-13-2009 10:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bascall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, and on a side note I find it interesting that quack doctors were actually listed as such in the nineteenth century census's.

It seems more jewelers than not turned to other occupations at some point in their career. Either they pursued their father's trade while he was living and then left it, or after completing apprenticeships found they weren't cut for the trade for any number of reasons.

[This message has been edited by bascall (edited 07-13-2009).]

IP: Logged

bascall

Posts: 1629
Registered: Nov 99

iconnumber posted 07-21-2009 10:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for bascall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's a mysterious change of occupations from my point of view. The Boston silversmith Nathan C Littlefield is listed as a janitor in 1884. Maybe the money was good at Weld Hall, H U.

IP: Logged

wev
Moderator

Posts: 4121
Registered: Apr 99

iconnumber posted 07-21-2009 11:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for wev     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hmmmm. Sure it's the same fellow? He is listed in the 1880 census as a silversmith and in Clark's 1885 Blue Book: The Elite of Boston on Mellon Street. Then again, perhaps he had a reversal of his reversal. . .

IP: Logged

bascall

Posts: 1629
Registered: Nov 99

iconnumber posted 07-22-2009 01:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bascall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I had noticed all that you mention. It's all part of the mystery at this point.
Nathan C Littlefield at 10 Mellen, Cambridge, Massachusetts went from being listed as a silversmith in 1883 to a becoming a janitor in 1884. He was at Weld Hall H U until 1890 when he begins being listed as a janitor at Washington Grammar School.

There was a janitor at Harvard with the surname Littlefield who helped solve a murder that occured there in the mid nineteenth century. Could Nathan have a connection to that gentleman...more to think about...maybe there was a problem with his mental state?

Of course the most likely answer is that there is nothing to this at all. Maybe business was off and Nathan needed a more reliable source of income.

In the 1900 U S Federal Census Nathan is still a janitor and still clearly at 10 Mellen. His son William L (Willie) is an ensign in the Navy, and Nathan's wife Sarah E is still present.

[This message has been edited by bascall (edited 07-22-2009).]

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices