posted 11-12-2019 02:05 PM            

"... did not find an "A. Lathrop" listed as a Norwich Silversmith. I do find a Rufus Lathrop about the same age. One of his apprentices was David Greenleaf, the original owner and silversmith of our house next door. A. Lathrop may have been related to Joseph Carpenter's mother, Elizabeth Lathrop. He may have apprenticed with either silversmith and then moved to another location to set up shop. I did find a Azariah Lathrop from Norwich who was a revolution soldier but did not find anything else associated with him."

I can make out a faint small size E between where L and A are on this mark. Is it possible someone overstamped a Greenleaf mark? The location of that E would make sense for the name Greenleaf.

posted 11-12-2019 08:52 PM            

Rufus Lathrop (1731-1805) is mentioned in the 1965 Catalog, Craftsmen & Artists of Norwich, but I know of no other indication that he actually worked in the trade. Whatever his occupation, he was wealthy enough to commission a handsome portrait by John Durand.

I have never seen any indication who David Greenleaf (1737-1800) apprenticed to. He had left Norwich by 1768.

There are two Azariah Lathrops of Norwich. The elder (1728-1810) was related to several Norwich smiths. His aunt Amie married William Bradford Whiting, Sr and his daughter married William Bradford Whiting Jr. His sister Elizabeth was the mother of Joseph Carpenter mentioned below.

The second Azariah (1754-1808) was a first cousin of Rufus and second cousin of Elizabeth. He was born in Norwich and died near Stillwater NY. His family parents and siblings moved to Gilman NH around 1780, but there is no record of him, at age 26, accompanying them. I have found no hint of how he passed his time.

Can you post a picture of the entire spoon?