JDH mark (John D. Hewson?) - SMP Silver Salon Forums

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JDH mark (John D. Hewson?)

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Author	Topic: JDH mark (John D. Hewson?)
OWK Posts: 69 Registered: Apr 2005	posted 09-19-2011 06:12 PM Wev, I couldn't help but notice that you've recently added a mark to your online library with an attribution to John D. Hewson. It is a scroll form mark, and it is on a shoulderless fiddle spoon which I would date to between 1800 and 1810. Curiously enough, I recently purchased the very same spoon. The photo in your library is unequivocally the same mark as is on my spoon (right down to the areas of tarnish. All of this background is an effort to form a question. Are you fairly comfortable with the attribution? I ask because the spoon is a birdback. It is a weak bird (pretty worn) but there's no doubt about it. I didn't think it likely that a birdback would come from an Albany maker. If you agree, I'd pose a second question. Any idea which Eastern Pa. or Delaware maker this JDH might be? Thanks for considering the question. IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 09-19-2011 06:28 PM These initials are in a banner. Banner marks are usually Philadelphia. I believe this mark is that of John David Hostetter, a silversmith who was in Philadelphia early in the century. Edit: I have located my 3 examples with this mark, which I have had for some time - all are finless fiddles like yours, and are birdbacks, but the birds are also too worn to photograph. If I remember correctly, the association of that name with this mark is my own, and I cannot recall or quickly find the source for the name. [This message has been edited by swarter (edited 09-19-2011).] IP: Logged
OWK Posts: 69 Registered: Apr 2005	posted 09-19-2011 07:12 PM Interesting. Thank you swarter. I'm already knee deep in research. It would appear there are many connections between the Hostetter, Dupuy, and David families. (spanning NY, Lancaster, and Philadelphia.) Do you know offhand if John D Hostetter was the son of Jacob Hostetter (Lancaster Clockmaker)? He had a son named John, but I have no middle initial. Perhaps JDH was a Lancaster smith (but my Lancaster reference makes no mention of either Hostetter) Second edit: I am finding pointers to Jacob Hostetter in both Lancaster and Hanover Pa. Thanks again for your response. [This message has been edited by OWK (edited 09-19-2011).] [This message has been edited by OWK (edited 09-19-2011).] IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 09-19-2011 07:52 PM There were two Jacob Hostetters, father and son clockmakers, working in Hanover until their move to Ohio. Since the senior Jacob was also a silversmith, it is possible that there may be a connection. John D must not have worked in Philadelphia very long, or there would be more of a record of him. There were two other Hostetter clockmakers in Hanover, Samuel and William, as well, so there are other possible connections. [This message has been edited by swarter (edited 09-19-2011).] IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 09-19-2011 08:03 PM The image was my mistake -- I intended to remove it before doing the last build and simply forgot. It was sent to me with some assurances, but after I ran across the auction, I saw it as you did, ie unlikely at best. IP: Logged
OWK Posts: 69 Registered: Apr 2005	posted 09-19-2011 08:24 PM Not a problem at all wev. I know you're meticulous, and thought perhaps you knew something that I didn't. (and frankly, I was hoping to spark a conversation on the mark, which is quite distinctive). Thanks. IP: Logged
OWK Posts: 69 Registered: Apr 2005	posted 09-19-2011 08:27 PM Thanks again swarter. I'm still mulling through Hostetters. I suspect there are too many clockmakers and silversmiths and "johns" involved for this not to be a relation. If the information exists, I'll find it. (this is the part of it that I truly love) IP: Logged
OWK Posts: 69 Registered: Apr 2005	posted 10-20-2011 06:55 AM After considerable research, I have concluded that this mark very likely belonged to John D. Haverstick (who worked in association with George Hendel, Silversmith.. and Jacob Hendel, Clockmaker) There was an auction some time ago which featured the birdback spoons of both George Hendel, and John D. Haverstick, both of Carlisle. The birds are very similar between the two makers as well. (may even be the same swage). The Haverstick name itself of course, has obvious ties. I'll need to do more research to find out how John connects to William H., but I'm sure there's a connection somewhere. The spoon has served it's purpose for me.. Mark archived. Thanks for the sounding board. IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 10-20-2011 05:33 PM I have no proof to hand, but this may be John, the son of William Haverstick. He worked in Lancaster until 1809, then went to Carlsle. He is listed as a witness on the August 3, 1812 will of merchant George Strum. The will was executed on September 20 by Jacob Handel and Jacob Cart; George Handel, silversmith, was appointed guardian of Strum's minor son. In 1826, John D. Haverstick witnessed and confirmed, as Justice of the Peace , the statement of accounts given by the Cashier of the Bank of Carlisle. There is no indication (that I have found) of when John left Carlisle, but he moved on to Erie. He is listed there in the 1850 census, but without occupation. I suspect that the D. was for Deschler, his mother's surname. IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 10-20-2011 07:38 PM Forgot to add that I just added, at long last, the Haversticks various via the Shoemaker family of New Jersey. In celebration I have done a new build, which runs the count up to 6,455 makers, &c. IP: Logged

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