Danforth family.

Some 19 members of five generations of the Danforth family were involved in the production of pewter and Britannia metal from the 1730s to the 1840s.

The first member of the family to emigrate to America was Nicholas Danforth, who was born in England in 1589. His great grandson, Thomas (1703-1786) became the first pewterer in the family. Thomas was born in Taunton, Ma. and moved to Norwich, Ct. in 1733, where he opened a pewterer's and brazier's shop. Thomas was twice married, first to Sarah Leonard and then to Hannah Hall. Two of his sons, Thomas (1731-1782) and John (1741-1799), also became pewterers. John worked with his father until 1773 when the elder man seems to have retired. John continued the trade in Norwich until about 1792 when his son, Samuel (1772-1827), took over the business. Subsequently, John moved to Ellsworth, Ohio. In 1802, Samuel sold the Norwich shop and moved to Ellsworth.

Thomas, II moved to Middletown, Ct. sometime before 1755. In 1755 he married Martha Jacobs. In addition to pewtering, he had a hardware business and appears to have been a successful merchant. Thomas was the father of six pewters: Thomas, III (1756-1840), Joseph (1758-1788), Edward (1765-1830), Jonathan (b. 1766), William (1769-1820), and Samuel (1774-1816).

Thomas, III apprenticed with his father from 1770 to 1777. Sometime between 1778 and 1782 he opened a shop in the Rocky Hill section of Wethersfield, Ct. He marketed a large range of metalwares and made considerable use of a peddlar's cart. He and Blakeslee Barnes, a tinsmith, set up a business in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1807. Thomas, III traveled between Pennsylvania and Connecticut until 1811. Thomas' son, Thomas, IV (1792-1836), apprenticed in the Philadelphia shop and remained working for Barnes after his father's departure. The younger Thomas continued working as a journeyman in Augusta, Ga.

Joseph trained with his father, Thomas, II, in the Middletown shop and served as executor of his estate inb 1782. Although he shared equally with his brother, Thomas, III, in the distribution of pewter molds, he received the lathe and fittings. When Joseph died in 1788, the business was assumed by his onetime apprentice and younger brother, Jonathan. Joseph's son, Joseph, Jr. (1783-1844) apprenticed under his uncle, William. He briefly worked in the Philadelphia shop owned by Thomas, III. By 1807, Joseph, Jr. had settled in Richmond, Va.

Edward began his training around 1780 under his father and completed it under the supervision of his older brothers, Thomas, III and Joseph. In 1786, he left Middletwon and opened a shop in Hartford, Ct. He made little or no pewter after 1799, but continued to sell goods made Samuel Danforth, his younger brother, and Thomas Boardman, a relative and one time apprentice.

Jonathan served his apprenticeship with his father and older brother, Joseph. He worked with Joseph until the latter's death in 1788. He continued the business until 1790. From 1790 to 1794, he and his brother William were business partners. After 1794, Jonathan became active in land and mercantile ventures, while William continued in the pewter trade until his death in 1820. William's son, Josiah (1803-1872), took over the business. In 1837, he sold the shop and tools and tried manufacturing lamps. In 1841, Josiah and Ephraim Crofoot began producing Britannia ware, operating as J. Danforth & Co.

Thomas, II's youngest son, Samuel, trained under several of his brothers. In 1795, he established a business in Hartford, Ct. He seems to have specialized in ecclesiastical wares.