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 Silver & Gold Smiths/Jewelers in North Carolina

   There were quite a number of silversmiths and goldsmiths in North Carolina in the era before mass manufacturing. Most of these artisans also served as jewelers. Their marketing areas were generally limited. Early clock and watch makers who worked in North Carolina are listed in a separate page.




    		    Among the North Carolina silversmiths and goldsmiths were: 

 Charlotte
   Zenas Alexander, Charlotte (1804? - 1826) — He acted as a silversmith and gunsmith, having numerous apprentices including James McRea (1805), Henry McBride and Elisha Smartt (1810), etc.
   Barzillai Gardner & Andrew McBride, Charlotte (April 1807 - 1814?) — On April 21, 1807, the Raleigh Minerva carried an announcement that the pair had started a silversmith and goldsmithing business, as well as clock and watch making, in Charlotte.
   Gideon Olmstead, Charlotte ( June 1832 - ) — He advertised as a clock and watchmaker, as well as a jeweler, beginning in the June 18, 1832. (Miners and Farmers Journal, Sept. 24, 1832)
   Thomas Trotter, Charlotte (1830s - 1865) — He had long been a jeweler and silversmith, as well as a watchmaker. He formed a partnership with John Huntington — Trotter & Huntington — some time after 1828, which was dissolved on Dec. 31, 1831. Samuel P. Alexander apprenticed with Trotter and the two formed a partnership on Dec. 1, 1837, which was dissolved on Nov. 26, 1838. Around 1850, he apparently worked also worked as a watchmaker, setting up Thomas Trotter & Son in 1856. In 1858, he joined J. G. Wilkinson & Co. He was the prominent jeweler and silversmith in Charlotte for nearly four decades.
   Samuel P. Alexander, Charlotte (1837 - 1843) — Alexander apprenticed with Thomas Trotter and briefly became his partner in 1837-38. In 1839, Alexander bought out the stock of Trotter and advertised that silver spoons would be made to order. In 1843, Trotter bought out Alexander's stock. Alexander would go on to a successful career running a general store and a financial broker.
   Samuel Lawing, Charlotte (June 1841 - 1865) — He started out as a clock and watch maker, but made a partnership with Alexander F. Brewer in 1842. That firm — Lawing & Brewer — advertised jewelry and silverware made to custom order. The firm lasted until 1843, when Lawing continued alone until 1865.

Edenton
   James Wallace, Edenton (1739) — silversmith
   John Cleland, Edenton (1752) — silversmith
   Everard Garrett, Edenton (1760) — silversmith
   Thomas Agnis or Agnes, Edenton (1761 - 1762) — He worked as a silver and goldsmith in Edenton.
   Joseph Whedbee, Edenton (<1773 - 1778+) — silversmith
   Thomas Seaman, Edenton (Dec. 23, 1790 - 1797+) — Advertised in the The State Gazette of North Carolina as a clock and watch maker. In March 1797, he added workers as silversmith and jewelers.
   Isaac Marquand, Edenton (November 1791 - February 1796) — He advertised as a gold & silversmith, as well as a clock and watch maker with a shop on Broad Street. He returned to New York and conducted a merchant and jewelry business there for years.
   Martin Noxon, Edenton (1810 - 1814) — He advertised in the June 8, 1810 edition of the Edenton Gazette that he was a clock and watch maker (apparently with a shop on King St. He also worked as a silversmith and employed a gunsmith. He died in 1814.

Fayetteville
   Peter Strong, Fayetteville (1789 - 1797) — He ran a clock and watch making business, apparently expanded by 1792 to jewelry. He died on June 27, 1797.
   Lord & Gale, Fayetteville (1792 - 1798) — Formed by Joseph Gale and --- Lord, the firm conducted clock and watch making, as well as a general jewelry business, at their shop opposite Mrs. Emett's. (Fayetteville Gazette, Nov. 6, 1792)
   William Hilliard, Fayetteville (December 1805 - 1810s?) — He began advertising on Dec. 29, 1805 (Raleigh Minerva, Jan. 6, 1806) as a watch maker and jeweler in a shop opposite of the post office.
   Alvan Wilcox, Fayetteville (March 1819 - May 1823) — Original from Connecticut, Wilcox worked in that state and New Jersey before moved to Fayetteville in March 1819 and opening a watchmaking and silversmith shop. He sold out his stock in mid-1823 and returned to New Haven where he continued as a silversmith.
   William Widdefield, Fayetteville (1823 - 1827, 1832 - late 1830s) — A watch maker from Philadelphia, Widdefield first came to Fayetteville in 1820 to run the store of Charles Clark. He may have made watches during this time. In 1823, he bought the Clark store and worked as a watch maker and jeweler until selling his stock on Dec. 5, 1827, to Selph & Campbell. On May 8, 1832, he advertised his return to the city and his business as both a clock and watch maker.
   John Peabody, Fayetteville (July 17, 1823 - 1827+) — He advertised in the Carolina Observer as a clock and watch maker, as well as a jeweler and silversmith.
   Benjamin Pyle (Jr.?), Fayettevile (Nov. 8, 1841 - ) — Pyle was a member of the Selph & Pyle firm in 1837 in Fayetteville. He apparently left the town and moved back in 1841 and set up his clock and watch repairing business. Not sure if he built clocks and watches.
   Edwin Glover, Fayetteville, (1840s - 1860s) — Glover was a coin silversmith working during the period from the 1840's to the 1860's. 

Greensboro(ugh)
   David Scott, Greensboro (Oct. 18, 1826 - 1839?)  — David Scott opened a silversmith (jewelry, spoons and thimbles) business on Oct. 18, 1826, before selling the store to Aaron Woolworth on Aug. 18, 1827. Scott re-acquired the store on Sept. 20, 1828 and the next year took an Anderson as a partner. Apparently, he continued in the jewelry business until joining a general merchant store  — McAdoo & Scott by 1840.
   Lemuel Lynch, Greensboro(ugh) (1828 - 1831), Concord (1832 - 1833), Hillsborough (1834 - 1870s+)  — silversmith; apprenticed with Roswell?  Huntington.
   Scott & Anderson, Greensboro (June 19, 1829 - November 1829) — David Scott and ? Anderson advertised on June 13, 1829, in the Greensboro Patriot, that the firm would do silversmithing, jewelry, watch making and clock work and had employed a first-rate workman. Apparently, the partnership only lasted a few months.
   Woolworth & Anderson, Greensboro (Nov. 21, 1829 - 1830)  — Aaron Woolworth joined with the same Anderson from Scott & Anderson, but once again this partnership for silversmithing and jewelry lasted only a few months.
   Aaron Woolworth, Salisbury & Greensboro (Feb. 16, 1825 - Sept. 14, 1856)  — Woolworth started in Salisbury as a gold and silversmith on Feb. 16, 1825, before moving to Greensboro in 1827 when he purchased David Scott's store. He later moved across the street in 1828 and continued his silver and gold smith and jewelry business. He returned to Salisbury prior to the 1830 census and continued to work until his death on Sept. 14, 1856.

Halifax
    John Archer, Halifax (July 27, 1798 - )  — He opened a goldsmith and silversmith business in the Blue House on July 27, 1798, opposite Fleming's Store in Halifax.
   Robert Wynne, Halifax (Jan. 19,1832 - Nov. 1832+) — watchmaker and silversmith; moved to Halifax from Salisbury where he had operated a silversmithing and watch & clock making business.

Hillsborough
   Roswell Huntington, Hillsborough (1786 - 1833) — silversmith
   Lemuel Lynch, Greensboro(ugh) (1828 - 1831), Concord (1832 - 1833), Hillsborough (1834 - 1870s+)  — silversmith; died in Hillsborough (L. Lynch 1803 - 1893).

Milton
   Robert Payne, Milton (1779 - 1782+ ) — silversmith

Newbern
   John Stevenson, Craven County (1773) — silversmith
   William Tisdale, Newbern (1770 - 1790)  — silversmith and watchmaker. The inventory of his estate in 1797cited: "Silver Smith and watch makers tools...."
   Freeman Mason, Newbern (1794 - 1834) — silversmith
   Allen Fitch, Newbern (January 1817 - ) — He opened his silversmith and watch making business in January 1817 (Carolina Federal Republican, Jan. 25, 1817) at a shop om Middle Street near the courthouse. He previously had conducted a similar business in Connecticut. Silver smithing apparently was the primary line of work. He apparently continued to work into the late 1820s.
   William Tisdale II, Newbern (1821 - 1850s & Washington, NC (Sept. 6, 1816 - 1821)  — He opened his clock and watch making shop in Washington, NC, on Sept. 6, 1816, and worked there until 1821, when he relocated to Newbern. In Newbern he carried on a jewelry and clock/watch making and repairing business. He died on July 9, 1861.
   Riley A. Davis, Newbern (January 1850 - ) — He advertised on January 15, 1850, in The Newbernian that he had opened a shop opposite the Washington Hotel as a clock and watch maker, as well as a jeweler.

Raleigh
   Thomas Emond, Raleigh (Sept. 13, 1806 - ) — clockmaker and jeweler.
   John C. Stedman, Raleigh (March 26, 1819 - 1833) — After several ventures as an auctioneer and commission merchant, Stedman took up the watchmaking and silversmith business craft in Raleigh. Stedman joined with John Y. Savage in the firm of Savage & Stedman in 1919. By August 14, 1822, Stedman was conducting business on his own. He was killed in a railroad accident on Nov. 11, 1833.
   William Thomson, Wilmington (Dec. 24, 1834 - 1836; 1840 - 1850), Raleigh (1836 - 1840) — He advertised as a clock and watch maker, as well as a jeweler. He  moved to Raleigh in 1836 and worked there until 1840 as a member of Thomson & Beckwith.
   Jehu Scott, Raleigh ( ) — silversmith
   Mahler & Holst, Raleigh (January 1859 - ) — jeweler and silversmith; H. Mahler and L. Holst.
   John C. Palmer, Raleigh (1860s)  — jeweler and silversmith; he was an apprentice in Raleigh, before establishing his business in Salisbury, later returning to Raleigh. He also ran a daguerreotype gallery as one of the early photographers in the state.

Salem
   Johann Jacob Loesch (1760 - 1821), Salem & Bethania ( ) — A man of many trades, Loesch worked as a locksmith, gunsmith, clockmaker, silversmith, pipe organ designer, and waterworks engineer. His silversmithing efforts are known to range from 1787 to 1802.
   John Vogler, Salem (1819) — silversmith and clockmaker

Salisbury
   Germon Baxter, Rowan County (1765 - 1774) — silversmith
   David Woodson, Salisbury (1769 - 1816) — silversmith
   Henry Horah, Salisbury (1783) — silversmith
   James Townley, Rowan County (1790) — silversmith
   William Atkinson, Salisbury (-1800-)  — reported to be a silversmith.
   Jacob Sassamon, Salisbury (1809 - ) — goldsmith and clock maker
   Wilkinson & Horah, Salisbury (July 1820 - Feb. 3, 1821) — Curtis Wilkinson & Hugh Horah opened a silversmithing and jewelry shop, including watch & clock repair business on Main Street in salisbury, directly opposite the branch of the State Bank. A fire on Jan. 31, 1821, destroyed the shop of Wilkinson & Horah, although most of the valuable contents were saved. The fire led to the dissolution of the partnership on Feb. 5, 1821, although the partners continued separately in business.
   Hugh Horah, Salisbury (Feb. 6, 1821 - ) — Horah carried on the clok and watch making activities, as well as silversmithing at his house, which was adjacent to the shop, but was saved in the Jan. 31st fire.
   Curtis Wilkinson, Salisbury (Spring 1821 - ) — Wilkinson had to build a shop for his watch and clock making, as well as siversmithing. He had resumed business by July 1821.
   E. B. Burnham & Zebulon Elliott, Salisbury (January 1821 - ) — The firm of Elliott & Burnham began business on Main Street, just down from the courthouse, in January 1821 as clock and watch makers formerly from New York (Western Carolinian, Jan. 2, 1821).
   Savage & Kunsman, Salisbury (Nov. 1823 - Sept. 1, 1824) — Previously a watchmaker in Richmond, VA, Henry Kunsman joined with John Y. Savage, a silversmith, to create this firm in Salisbury. The firm advertised watch and clock repairs (Western Carolinian Dec. 2, 1823 & The Star and North Carolina Gazette, Jan. 2, 1824). Savage & Kunsman took over the shop of Curtis Wilkinson. The business was dissolved in Sept. 1824, with Savage continuing the clock and watch making, as well as silversmithing in Salisbury.
   John Y. Savage, Salisbury (Sept. 1, 1824 - ) — Savage worked in Raleigh before relocating to Salisbury and working in Savage & Kunsman in 1823. He was operating in Raleigh before 1818. In January 1819, John C. Stedman had joined Savage in the firm of Savage & Stedman in Raleigh, working as gold and silversmiths, as well as clock and watch makers. This firm dissolved on June 7, 1820, with Savage continuing the business. Savage advertised his silversmith shop as a solo firm in Salisbury on Sept. 1, 1824).
   Aaron Woolworth, Salisbury & Greensboro (Feb. 16, 1825 - Sept. 14, 1856)  — Woolworth started in Salisbury as a gold and silversmith on Feb. 16, 1825, before moving to Greensboro in 1827 when he purchased David Scott's store. He later moved across the street in 1828 and continued his silver and gold smith and jewelry business. He returned to Salisbury prior to the 1830 census and continued to work until his death on Sept. 14, 1856. (also cited under Greensborough).
   Huntington & Wynne, Salisbury (Fall 1826 - Jan. 21, 1828) — Primarily a store selling watches and clocks made in Philadelphia, the firm did manufacture some silverware. The firm also repaired watches and clocks. John Huntington was the senior partner, who apparently decided to leave Salisbury by early 1828 and moved to Charlotte (see Trotter & Huntington).
   Robert Wynne, Salisbury (Jan. 24, 1828 - Jan. 1830) — advertised as a clock and watch repairer. Wynne possessed both watch and clockmaker tools, as well as silversmithing tools, which were sold in February 1830. Wynne relocated to Halifax and resumed silversmithing business by 1832.
   Hampton & Palmer, Salisbury (April 1830 - March 19, 1832) — The previous firm of James B. Hampton evoled into this partnership with John C. Palmer. The firm advertised its services as watch and clockmakers, silversmiths and jewellery. The firm occupied the shop built by Hampton, adjacent to his dwelling — on Maine Street, 6 or 7 doors south of the courthouse.
   David L. Pool, Salisbury (November 1832 - 1861) — Born in Salisbury and trained in Philadelphia, Pool advertised as a clock and watch maker, jeweler and silversmith. His first office was in the building previously occupied by Tailor Benjamin Fraley. In 1839, he moved into the former post office building. He died in 1861.
   John C. Palmer, Salisbury (March 1832 - ) — watch and clockmaker and repairer, silversmith and jeweler.
   James Horah, Salisbury (May 1849 - 1864) — From a silversmith family, James advertised as a clock and watch maker in the May 17, 1849, Carolina Watchman. He also worked as a silversmith.
   Boger & Wilson, Salisbury (March 20, 1846 - 1853) — watchmakers; John E. Boger and William Rowan Wilson operated the partnership until April 14, 1853, when Wilson announced that he had purchased Boger's share of the business. Wilson worked until 1866, but primarily as a silversmith.
   William R. Wilson, Salisbury (1853-1866)  — silversmith; also had worked between 1846 - 1853 in a partnership with John E. Boger (see above).

Tarborough (now Tarboro)
   William Drake, Tarborough (1783) — silversmith

Warrenton
   William Holliman, Warrenton (1783) — silversmith

Washington
   Benjamin Pyle, Washington, NC ( - 1812) — A watchmaker and silversmith, he died in 1812.
   William Tisdale II, Washington, NC (Sept. 6, 1816 - 1821, then relocated to New Bern and worked into probably the 1850s),  — He opened his clock and watch making shop in Washington, NC, on Sept. 6, 1816, and worked there until 1821, when he relocated to Newbern. In Newbern he carried on a jewelry and clock/watch making and repairing business. He died on July 9, 1861.
   Edward Hoell, Washington, NC (Nov. 11, 1822 -) — watchmaker and silversmith.

Wilmington
   Joseph Bishop, Wilmington (1817 - 1821?) — He advertised his services as a watchmaker and jeweler in the Cape Fear Recorder, April 5, 1817.
   Stephen Baker, Wilmington (1817 - 1818?)  — He thanked local patrons in a March 22, 1817, ad that listed jewelry, watches and silverware for sale. He announced in 1818 that he planned to close his store.
   George Lyon, Wilmington (January 1819 - ) — Advertised in the Care Fear Recorder as a clock and watch maker
   Asa Peabody, Wilmington (Dec. 15, 1821 - ) — Advertised in the Care Fear Recorder (including Feb. 22, 1822) as a clock and watch maker, as well as a silver and gold smith. His shop was a house next to Casaux's '76 Hotel.
   William Thomson, Wilmington (Dec. 24, 1834 - 1850) — He advertised as a clock and watch maker, as well as a jeweler. He  moved to Raleigh in 1836 and worked there until 1840 as a member of Thomson & Beckwith. Thomson returned to Wilmington and continued his business until his death in 1850.
   Thomas William Brown, Wilmington (1823 - October 1872) — a silversmith, jeweler and watchmaker. Around 1850, he entered into a partnership of Brown and Anderson, which lasted until 1871. Brown continued the business until his own death on October 15, 1872.
   William S. Anderson, Wilmington (1850 - June 15, 1871) — a silversmith who entered into a partnership with Thomas W. Brown (Brown and Anderson) until Anderson died on June 15, 1871.

Sources: indenture records, business and court papers, newspapers, etc.







 

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