SHIP INCREASE
Robert and his brother Edward (1615-1665)—and possibly another brother named William—left for America aboard the ship INCREASE, from Ipswitch, England, on April 15th, 1635. Robert was accompanied by his first wife, LYDIA. His second wife, Mary Cross (eventually widowed) and her husband John sailed on the same ship.
This is the Sanderson Family Plantation located in Massachusettes. It is currently rental property
This caudle cup, created by Robert Sanderson, between 1670-1680, is on display in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. After three years in Hampton, Robert moved to Watertown, Massachusetts, and from there to Boston, where Robert would go on to make his name and fortune. The next great partnership in Robert's life was made with John Hull, a silversmith from London—and probably the first silversmith to work in Boston. Together they would create some great work... and become very rich in the process.
This cup, created by Robert Sanderson, between 1670-1680, is on display in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. After three years in Hampton, Robert moved to Watertown, Massachusetts, and from there to Boston, where Robert would go on to make his name and fortune. The next great partnership in Robert's life was made with John Hull, a silversmith from London—and probably the first silversmith to work in Boston. Together they would create some great work... and become very rich in the process.
The First Money In America Until 1652, the Colonies had no currency. In that year, John Hull was made mintmaster by the General Court of Massachusetts. When Hull was named master of the Mint, he took Robert Sanderson, a more accomplished silversmith aand whom he called "another godly goldsmith," into partnership. Despite this godly nature, Hull cut an outrageous deal with the British—his share in the profits of the mint was fifteen pence out of every twenty shillings—and soon he became the wealthiest man in America.¹ Robert Sanderson did pretty well, too (rumor has it that later in life, he kept minting coins even after their contract with the British was up). Hull & Sanderson produced the willow-tree, oak tree, and pine-tree shilling used in the New England Colonies until 1683. A mint committee document dated 11 June 1652 recorded the oath of office created for the deposition of the mintmasters: "It is Ordered that the Oath here written shall be the oath that John Hull and Robert Sanderson shall take as equal officers in the minting of money." The oath then began as follows: "Whereas ye : John Hull and Robert Sanderson are Appointed by the order of the General Court bearing date the 10th of June 1652 to be officers for the Massachusetts Jurisdiction in New England, for the Melting, Refyning, and Coining of Silver..."
This tankard, created by Robert Sanderson, between 1670-1680, is on display in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The tankard was made for Isaac and Mary (Balston) Vergoose. This is the only tankard known from the first generation of American smiths. After three years in Hampton, Robert moved to Watertown, Massachusetts, and from there to Boston, where Robert would go on to make his name and fortune. The next great partnership in Robert's life was made with John Hull, a silversmith from London—and probably the first silversmith to work in Boston. Together they would create some great work... and become very rich in the process.
Origins
Robert Sanderson and his wife Lydia were the first settlers of Hampton New Hampshire He came from Norfolk in the year 1637 and in 1638 Hampton Soon after the birth of Mary he moved to Watertown of which he was a 1642 He had a brother Edward Sanderson who also settled in Watertown and married Mary Eggleston The name is often and Saunders in the early records Sanderson married second in Water 1642 Mary Cross widow of John Cross remained in Watertown until about 1653 he removed to Boston and was deacon of church there He sold his house and ten of land in Hampton July 20 1650 to Swaine He was then of Watertown October 17 1653 he bought land of William Godfrey He was a goldsmith and silversmith smith by trade
John Hull a selectman and many years town treasurer of Boston the first mint master of New England and the coiner of the pine tree shillings in his diary under date of 1652 53 relates how he was chosen to make coins and adds I chose my friend Robert Sanderson to be my partner to which the court consented
On September 1 1652 he adds My boy John Sanderson complained of his head aching and took his bed a strong fever set in and after 17 days sore sickness he departed this life Under date of November 8 1658 he says the Lord exercised with sickness my partner Robert Sanderson and his son Joseph but yet was pleased to recover them both Joseph kept the house about a month and my partner 18 days Robert Sanderson married third Elizabeth whom he mentions in his will which was proved October 20 1693 She died October 15 1695 aged seventy eight years leaving a will
He bequeathed to his wife Elizabeth son Robert Sanderson and daughter Anne West grandchildren Robert Darby Mary Caswell Joseph Jones children of Robert and Anna and of James Penniman great granddaughter Abia Beard son in law Richard West brother Edward Sanderson Joseph son of William Sanderson refers to house and land at Watertown had by former wife mentions kinsman William Shattuck of Watertown When the second daughter of Robert Sanderson was married he gave her as her marriage portion as much silver as would balance her weight He died October 7 1693 Child by first wife Mary baptized at Hampton October 29 1639 Children by second wife William mentioned below Joseph born January 1 1645 Benjamin baptized July 29 1649 Sarah baptized January 18 165 1 Robert baptized October 22 1652 John died September 18 1658
William Sanderson son of Robert Sanderson was born at Hampton New Hampshire in 1643 He took the oath of fidelity All his children except Hannah were born in Watertown and he then removed to Groton Massachusetts but on account of trouble with the Indians returned to Watertown He married in Watertown December 18 1666 Sarah Children John born October 13 1667 Sarah March 17 1668 69 William September 6 1670 Mary November 30 1671 Hannah born in Groton May 3 1674 Lydia born in Watertown April 21 1679 Joseph mentioned below
Joseph Sanderson son of William Sanderson was born in Watertown Massachusetts August 28 1680 and settled in Groton He married there Sarah Page daughter of Samuel and Hannah Page His estate was administered in 1736 by his widow Sarah Children of Joseph Sanderson Joseph mentioned below David born September 5 1715 Sarah January 19 1717 William July 17 1718 Hannah April 5 1720 Joseph March 17 1721 22 died young Susanna May 18 1723 Gideon February 18 1724 25 Joseph March 5 1726 27 Sarah October 15 1729 John December 13 1731
Joseph Sanderson son of Joseph Sanderson was born August 30 17 14 and died at Whately Massachusetts March 20 1772 He settled at Whately in 1752 with his wife and eight children He built a log house near Abraham Parker's perhaps on land belonging to him Later he built a house on his own land where the old Sanderson house was burned about 1800 He married in 1737 Ruth Parker who died December 8 1780 aged sixty four years daughter of Isaac Parker In his will he mentions ten of his twelve children who were married and had families From him have descended between twelve and fifteen hundred children grandchildren great grandchildren and great greatgrandchildren Children Ruth born in Groton October 6 1737 Esther April 6 1739 Joseph March 8 1741 Anna August 7 1742 James April 7 1744 Thomas March 16 1746 Abraham June 10 1748 David May 15 1750 Child 1752 died young John mentioned below Asa April 11 1756 Isaac October 9 1757
found on ancestry.com
Last Will & Testament
"I, Robert Saunderson of Boston, Goldsmith, confirm to my wife Elizabeth the covenant made before our marriage, and give her one-half of all my Household goods. The other half, after my wife's decease, I give to my son Robert Sanderson and to my Daughter Anna West to be equally divided between them. To son Robert the house he lives in, &c. After decease of my wife I give to my daughter Anna West the westerly end of tenement near the Mill bridge, and the Slaughter house and yard, and a Leanto and yard, and a tenement and yard.My dwelling house to son Robert, but if he die without lawful issue, then to daughter Anna. A tenement on the road to Roxbury to be sold to pay legacies; £10 to grandson Robert Darby; £5 to great grand daughter Abiah Beard; £5 to Joseph, son of Wm. Saunderson; £5 to grandson Joseph Jones; £5 to children of James Penniman. All the remainder of produce of said tenement to my grandchildren, the children of my daughter Anna West, my wearing apparel to son Robert, my son-in-law Richard West, and Brother Edward."
jhause_1added this on 28 Apr 2009
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF ROBERT SANDERSON, SR. Dated 18 July, 1693, presented 20 Oct. 1693
found on ancestry.com
Robert Sanderson and John Hull
John Hull (c.1624-1683) and Robert Sanderson (c.1608-1693), the first working silversmiths in North America, became the Colonies' first mint masters when the Massachusetts Bay Colony established a mint in 1652. In that year, they established a partnership producing silver objects as well as coins, most notably the famous "Pine Tree" shilling. Trained in England, Sanderson moved to America for religious reasons, while Hull was brought to Massachusetts as a boy by his staunchly Puritan parents in 1635.King Charles II resented the coining of colonial currency, and "in great wrath questioned" Sir Thomas Temple (d. 1674), the first agent of the legislature of the Massachusetts colony to London (Some Events of Boston and Its Neighbors, 1917, p. 18). Sir Thomas also personally commissioned a silver dram cup from John Hull in 1673, at a cost of 8 shillings (John Hull's Ledger Books, Vol. I, p. 37V).Only 30 surviving pieces of hollowware and six spoons have been recorded from their 31-year partnership; the recent discovery of this cup by a Massachusetts family, descendants of the original owners, adds a 31st object to this group. While five full-size caudle cups survive, there is only one other miniature or "toy" caudle cup by these makers (in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). With its wide band of flat-chased ornament framed by punched beading, this cup relates to two examples at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and to the Joanna Yorke cup given to the church in Quincy (sold Sotheby's, New York, 19 January 2001, lot 253). The twisted-wire handles appear to match those on a dram cup, circa 1670, also at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (see Kathryn C. Buhler, American Silver in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1972, figs. 4, 5, and 6).
found on ancestry.com
Silversmith
Robert Sanderson
Born: 1608, Norwich Norfolkshire England
Marriage: Mary Cross about 1641 in Hampton NH
Died: 7 Oct 1693, Boston MA
General notes:
Silversmith
Events in his life were:
Apprenticed from 1626 to 1635 to William Rawlins in London England 1
Sanderson's mark was registered at Goldsmith's Hall in London in 1635, but he left soon after for the colonies. He was one of the first settlers in Hampton, New Hampshire. After three years he moved to Watertown, Massachusetts and from there to Boston. 3
Made freeman of Hampton NH, 7 Sep 1639. 3
He was a partner from circa 1652 to 1683 with John Hull in Boston MA as HULL & SANDERSON. The earliest known piece of American silver is a dram cup made by the partners, now in the Yale University Art Gallery. The partnership orginally began after Hull was appointed Mint Master and recommended Sanderson as his partner. Sanderson came to Boston and was admitted as an inhabitant on 30 May 1653. 3
Master to Joseph Sanderson 1653 in Boston MA. 1
Cup by HULL & SANDERSON, c 1660Private Collectionh: 6 7/8"wt: 10 ozEngraved B over R A for Richard and Alice (Blower) Brackett.
Master to Benjamin Sanderson abt 1662 in Boston MA. 1
Caudle cupThe Second Church, Dorchester MAEngraved "C over A E" for Augustine and Elizabeth Clement and "The gift of Mrs Elizabeth Clement to the Church of Dorchester, 1678".
Master to Robert Sanderson abt 1665 in Boston MA. 1
Tankard, c 1670-1680Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9h: 8 3/16"d: 6 5/8" (base)wt: 41 oz, 11 ½ dwtMade for Isaac and Mary (Balston) Vergoose. Only tankard known from the first generation of American smiths.
Cup, c 1675Winterthur Libraryh: 4½"d: 4¾" (of top)Engraved S over T A for Thomas and Anne (Tyng) Shepherd.
Caudle cup, c 1680Private Collectionh: 3 13/16"Engraved "The Gift of Eliezer Moody to the Church in Dedham 1720."
Robert married Mary Cross about 1641 in Hampton NH. (Mary Cross was born about 1607 in Hampton NH and died on 21 Jun 1681 in New Haven CT.)
found on ancestry.com
Sotheby ~ (2001) turns Sanderson Silver into Gold
, Boston, Massascusetts ~ 1635 to 2001
Robert Sanderson, a well-known and artfully skilled Silversmith, is my 8th Grt-Grandfather. Born abt 1608 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, he apprenticed as a Silversmith from 1626 to 1635 in his native England. He then made the decision to leave the the only life he knew and make that harrowing Atlantic Crossing to the shores of the New World, the American Colonies; where, no doubt, a fortune could be made thru his acquired skills of Silversmith. He was accompanied by his wife Lydia, brother Edward and (it is thought) a brother William. After a few years in New Hampshire, Robert and Edward relocated to Watertown, Massachusetts where he established himself as an outstanding Silver craftsman, eventually partnering-up with another, John Hull. Some of the items they created, perhaps to be used in religious ceremonies, reached the auction block at Sotheby in 2001 - and the rest of the story follows: [jgk] Source: Boston Globe, January 2, 2001, City and Region Section; John Hull and Robert Sanderson, were mentioned as two of America's first silversmiths. The article related to the sale of an 11 piece silver communion service, valued at $900,000. to $1.3 million, slated to be put on the auction block by Sotheby Auction house on January 19, 2001. The sale proceeds will go to help pay a $1.7 million debt from mass repairs on Church of the Presidents located in Quincy, Ma. The silver pieces were donated to the Church by descendants of the Adams families. Boston Globe, January 20, 2001 - Article by Richard Higgins The heirloom silver from a Quincy church, in spite of protests from historians, sold for over $3,000,000 at in New York yesterday. One piece, a silver wine cup made in 1660 by one of Americas first silversmiths, brought a record $775,000 - about 3 times its estimated value. The auction was tried to be blocked by historians and descendants of the Adams family, but they were not able to raise enough funds. The auction also contained wine cups and double handled caudle cups which were some of the earliest pieces of American-made silver in existence. The pieces bear marks of John Hull and Robert Sanderson, who worked as New England silversmiths in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The collection, estimated to bring between $900,000 and $1.3 million, brought $3,027,875. Information on Robert Sanderson and family, is from the excellent research of my cousin, Jeff Hause, who has kindly shared with me and others.
jgkeeney1added this on 10 Oct 2008
Beautifully crafted Silver pieces by Robert Sanderson and John Hull . . . withstand the test of time, increasing unbelievably in value since 1700's. Auction held by Sotheby in 2001.
found on ancestry.com
Robert Sanderson The Silversmith (1608 - 1693) ~~~~~
ROBERT SANDERSONBirth: 1608, probably in Norwich, Norfolk, England.Death: 7 Oct 1693, in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
1635: Robert apprenticed as a silversmith from 1626 to 1635, to William Rawlins in London, England. His mark was registered at Goldsmith's Hall in London in 1635, but he left soon after that for the American colonies. A fortune was to be made as a silversmith in the colonies.
1635: Robert and brother Edward (1615-1665) and possibly another brother named William left for America aboard the INCREASE, from Ipswitch, England, on 15 Apr 1635. Robert was accompanied by his first wife, Lydia. Initially, the Sanderson clan all lived in Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
1639: Silversmiths were rare in early America and highly regarded in the community—and Robert Sanderson was one of the best. He and his wife, Lydia, were among the first settlers in Hampton, New Hampshire.
1639: Robert was made freeman 7 Sep 1639. 1640's: By the 1640's, Robert and Edward had moved to Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. It is here where the lives of brothers Robert and Edward* diverge drastically.
According to the book "Hands that built New Hampshire: the story of granite state craftsmen past & present:""The first New Hampshire silversmith of which there is any record was Robert Sanderson, a highly trained English 'goldsmith'. In 1638, at the age of thirty, he took up eighty acres in the town of Hampton and lived there for four years. There are no proofs that Sanderson ever worked at his trade in Hampton. The only evidence of his New Hampshire sojourn is found in the neglected grave of his wife, Lydia; in the tradition that his daughter, Mary, was the first white child born in Hampton; and in the positive record that he owned property on the plantation."
The line about the "neglected grave of his wife, Lydia" seems to imply that the authors knew of a gravestone for Robert's wife in Hampton (probably at the Pine Grove Cemetery. So by the time Robert moved to Watertown in 1642, Lydia had probably died.
Robert married again: to MARY CROSS before 1641, in Hampton. She was the widow of John Cross, and together they had sailed to America on the same ship as Robert from England. Mary was born in 1617, and died on the 21st of June, 1691, in New Haven, Connecticut.
After three years in Hampton, Robert and Mary moved to Watertown, Massachusetts, and from there to Boston, where Robert would go on to make his name and fortune. Mary was beside him for most of those years.
1646: On 6 Dec 1646, Lawrence Waters testified in a court case that Richard Linton of Watertown "granted unto Robert Sanderson of same for a valuable consideration his dwelling house and lot in Watertown" in a deed dated September 1645, so it appears Robert decided to settle there for a local smithing practice.
1652: Robert went to Boston, where he became associated with his friend, John Hull, silversmith and Master of the Mint which was established by the General Court in Boston, 1652. Robert's work and social life flourished and he became a deacon.,
As a silversmith, Robert enjoyed a great many advantages. His work was highly sought after, because until the arrival of the silversmith, Colonists in the New World only used what utensils they could make. Probably the first plates and perhaps even the first spoons were made of wood. This early ware was known as "treen"—a term derived from the word trees. But there were also pewterers among the early settlers and they were soon making spoons and plates of pewter.
Prosperous citizens and clergy took their coins to Robert and had them melted down and fashioned into household articles—spoons, tankards, and porringers. After melting the coins, Robert refined the metal, and poured it into a skillet to form a flat block of silver. The block was hammered out to the desired thickness and worked into whatever article the patron ordered. The metal was worked while cold, but was repeatedly heated over charcoal to prevent brittleness and to make it tougher. This process was called "annealing."
A finished article was polished by rubbing with pumice and then with a burnisher. This method did not cut away the surface but simply rubbed it smooth while leaving some hammer marks. Collectors feel that these marks add to the charm of a piece of old silver. The surface of antique silver has a patina rather like that of fine old wood and rubbing. Furthermore, since each piece was made by hand, no two were alike. A merchant who had his coins made into household articles would have them engraved with initials or crest. In this way his wealth in silver was useful; it was still an investment, but it was not likely to be stolen, for initialed silver was fairly easy to trace. Old records show that sometimes articles of silver were stolen, but after advertisements appeared with a detailed description of some family piece, it was usually returned and the thief punished.
THE FIRST MONEY IN AMERICA
Until 1652, the Colonies had no currency. In that year, John Hull was made mintmaster by the General Court of Massachusetts. When Hull was named Master of the Mint, he took Robert, a more accomplished silversmith and whom he called "another godly goldsmith," into partnership. Despite this godly nature, Hull cut an outrageous deal with the British—his share in the profits of the mint was fifteen pence out of every twenty shillings—and soon he became the wealthiest man in America.¹ Robert prospered also; (it was rumored that Robert continued minting coins even after the contract with the British was up).
Hull & Sanderson produced the willow-tree, oak tree, and pine-tree shilling used in the New England Colonies until 1683. A mint committee document dated 11 June 1652 recorded the oath of office created for the deposition of the mintmasters: "Itt is Ordered that the Oath here vnder written shall be the oath that John Hull and Robt Saunderson shall take as aequall officers In the minting of mony &c." The oath then began as follows: "Whereas yow : John Hull and Robert Saunderson are Appointed by the order of the Gennerall Courte bearing date the 10th of June 1652. to be officers for the massachusetts Jurisdiction in New England, for the melting, Refyning, and Coining of silver..."
Customers brought in silver buttons, tankards, goblets, knives, old sword hilts, spoons and European coins which were melted down and converted into the coinage. Hull and Sanderson's fee was handsome—they kept one out of every twenty shillings minted—plus "wastage" (leftover scraps)—but their risk was great as well, because they were defying a restriction imposed by the English government which forbade private coinage in the colonies. But the Pine Tree Shilling was so useful in the colonies that the English government chose to ignore its existence rather than attempt to suppress its circulation—which was an important early step toward American independence. Robert worked from 1652 to 1683 with Hull in Boston, partnered as HULL & SANDERSON. This partnership also produced many fine pieces of silver, always identifiable with Hull and Sanderson's marks. They were New England's first master silversmiths, and created the earliest known piece of American silver: a dram cup made by the partners, now in the Yale University Art Gallery. (In 2001, their work earned the record bid for American silver made circa 1660—$775,750.)
On October 1, 1683, John Hull died. It isn't known whether Sanderson continued to work at the mint after Hull's death—since all of the coins were marked "1652," it's impossible to know if he kept minting them. There is no evidence as to when the mint actually closed its doors. Sanderson could have kept the operation going on a part time basis until the silver supply was depleted. A series of letters from the London mint and the Royal Treasury dated from 1684 through 1686 list several objections to the reestablishment of the Boston mint, so we can assume the mint was defunct by that time.
Sanderson continued to work as a silversmith after Hull's death. As Robert's fame and fortune grew, he apprenticed his sons, Joseph Sanderson (1653 in Boston), Benjamin Sanderson (about 1662 in Boston), and Robert Sanderson (about 1665 in Boston). It took seven years of apprenticeship to develop a silversmith in this country. A lad born in the Colonies would be apprenticed at fourteen to a master who had recently come from London. The boy stayed with his master until he was twenty-one and then he too became a master silversmith, if he had proved his skill. But the dynasty was not to be: Joseph and Benjamin died young. Robert Jr., was the only son to survive his father and carry on the business in Watertown. However, his mark and therefore his products, have not been identified. And Benjamin, apparently embittered toward his family, ignored them all in his will, dated Dec. 11, 1678, on file at Suffolk Probate. It names Robert Sr. as executor and the North Church and Mary Sinderlin, sister, as legatees, stating "the rest of my estate to be given to some honest Poor persons."
Robert Sr., himself, died on the 7th of October, 1693, in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. By this time he had been married a third time, with his new wife mentioned in his will (he left his brother Edward one cow).
************************************************************** *Robert Sanderson's brother, Edward, lived in the eastern part of Watertown, and sold land as an agent for Capt. Champernowne, even selling his own place and moving to the western part of Waltham. He then married Mary Eggleston on 15 Oct 1645 and moved to a 12-acre lot in what is now the north part of Brandeis University. At the same time, he was successfully sued for slander by Mrs. Sarah Lynne, whom he claimed to have also wed, in October of 1645. She claimed to have lived in fear of him for two years. Edward and his real wife had several children, but only one, Jonathan (b. 15 Sep 1646), is believed to have lived long. On 7 Jul 1663, he was one of twelve freemen of Saco indicted by the Massachusetts Court for not attending to their orders. His occupatiopn was listed as "Proprietor," but he was not prosperous, and he lived in Waltham until his death in 1694 or 1695, under humble circumstances.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------SOURCES
"John Hull, A Builder of the Bay Colony," by Clarke, Hermann F. Wolfeboro; A.W. Pollock & Co.: 1993. 1940 limited edition. The fourth and final volume in a series of works on 17th century American silversmiths, featuring HULL AND SANDERSON. 221 pages, plus 16 b/w plates.1987 Patricia Kane, JOHN HULL AND ROBERT SANDERSON FIRST MASTERS OF NEW ENGLAND SILVER"Hands that built New Hampshire: the story of granite state craftsmen past & present", compiled by workers of the WPA in NH and published in Brattleboro, VT by Stephen Daye Press, 1940.Albert S. Roe: "Robert Sanderson's Silver Caudle Cup in the Winterthur Collection: The Turkey Motif in Seventeenth Century Design" American Art Journal (vol. 9, no. 1; 1977)General: Vol 2, p 535, 640 First Church Registers 1736-1809, Springfield Massachusetts. Copied by Ella May Lewis 1938. First Century History of Springfield, Volume 2, p 640.Genealogical Charts of the Sanderson/Montague Lineage. Author: Fowler Mallett: Chart J, Sanderson Family, Part 1 A Genealogy of the Mortons, with Related Genealogies. Author: William Markham Morton. Publication: pub. 1930Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp. Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850 [database online].
found on ancestry.com
Robert Sanderson
Robert apprenticed as a silversmith to William Rawlins in London, England, from 1626 to 1635. His official mark (shown at the bottom of this page) was registered at Goldsmith's Hall in London in 1635. But soon after that, Robert sailed for the American colonies—a fortune was to be made there as a silversmith. So Robert and his brother Edward (1615-1665)—and possibly another brother named William—left for America aboard the ship INCREASE, from Ipswitch, England, on April 15th, 1635. Robert was accompanied by his wife, LYDIA. Upon arrival, the full Sanderson clan then lived in Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. But by the 1640's, Robert and Edward had moved to Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. It is here where the lives of brothers Robert and Edward diverge drastically (Why they parted ways isn't known): Edward lived in the eastern part of Watertown, and sold land as an agent for Capt. Champernowne, even selling his own place and moving to the western part of Waltham. He then married Mary Eggleston on 15 Oct 1645 and moved to a 12-acre lot in what is now the north part of Brandeis University. At the same time, he was successfully sued for slander by Mrs. Sarah Lynne, whom he claimed to have also wed, in October of 1645. She claimed to have lived in fear of him for two years. Edward and his real wife had several children, but only one, Jonathan (b. 15 Sep 1646), is believed to have lived long. On 7 Jul 1663, he was one of twelve freemen of Saco indicted by the Massachusetts Court for not attending to their orders. His occupation was listed as "Proprietor," but he was not prosperous, and he lived in Waltham until his death in 1694 or 1695, under humble circumstances. Meanwhile, Robert's life trajectory was much different, and he would become one of the most prosperous men in the colonies: He and Lydia were among the first settlers in Hampton, New Hampshire, and he was made freeman in the 7th of September in 1639. On Dec. 6, 1646, Lawrence Waters testified in a court case that in a deed dated September 1645, Richard Linton of Watertown "granted unto Robert Sanderson of same for a valuable consideration his dwelling house and lot in Watertown," so it appears Robert decided to settle there for a local smithing practice. As a silversmith, Robert enjoyed a great many advantages over his brother. His work was highly sought after, because until that time, Colonists in the New World only used what utensils they could make. The first plates and spoons were probably made of wood. This early ware was known as "treen"—a term derived from the word 'trees.' But there were also pewterers among the early settlers, and they were soon making spoons and plates of pewter. Silversmiths were rare in early America, and highly regarded in the community—and Robert Sanderson was one of the best. Nothing remains of Robert's work in Hampton, if he even practiced it in that primitive area, but we can assume whatever work he could do was in high demand, and he was quickly accepted into the local society. As Robert's business grew, prosperous citizens and clergy took their coins to him and had them melted down and fashioned into household articles—spoons, tankards, and porringers. After melting the coins, Robert refined the metal, and poured it into a skillet to form a flat block of silver. The block was hammered out to the desired thickness and worked into whatever article the patron ordered. The metal was worked while cold, but was repeatedly heated over charcoal to prevent brittleness and to make it tougher. This process was called "annealing." A finished article was polished by rubbing with pumice and then with a burnisher. This method did not cut away the surface but simply rubbed it smooth while leaving some hammer marks. Collectors feel that these marks add to the charm of a piece of old silver. The surface of antique silver has a patina rather like that of fine old wood and rubbing. Furthermore, since each piece was made by hand, no two were alike. A merchant who had his coins made into household articles would have them engraved with initials or crest. In this way his wealth in silver was useful; it was still an investment, but it was not likely to be stolen, for initialed silver was fairly easy to trace. Old records show that sometimes articles of silver were stolen, but after advertisements appeared with a detailed description of some family piece, it was usually returned and the thief punished. According to the book "Hands that built New Hampshire: the story of granite state craftsmen past & present:"
"The first New Hampshire silversmith of which there is any record was Robert Sanderson, a highly trained English 'goldsmith'. In 1638, at the age of thirty, he took up eighty acres in the town of Hampton and lived there for four years. Then he went to Boston, where he became associated with his friend, John Hull, silversmith and master of the mint which was established by the General Court in Boston, 1652. There are no proofs that Sanderson ever worked at his trade in Hampton. The only evidence of his New Hampshire sojourn is found in the neglected grave of his wife, Lydia; in the tradition that his daughter, Mary, was the first white child born in Hampton; and in the positive record that he owned property on the plantation."
The line about the "neglected grave of his wife, Lydia" seems to imply that the authors knew of a gravestone for Robert's wife in Hampton (probably at the Pine Grove Cemetery, pictured above). But Robert married again: to MARY CROSS (1617-21 Jun 1681) in Hampton before 1641. She was the widow of John Cross, and they had sailed to America on the same ship as the Sandersons. After three years in Hampton, Robert and Mary moved to Watertown, Massachusetts, and from there to Boston, where Robert would go on to make his name and fortune. Mary was beside him for most of those years. The next great partnership in Robert's life was made with John Hull, another silversmith from London—and probably the first one to work in Boston. Together, Sanderson and Hull would create some great work... and become very rich in the process. With Hull, Robert became a Master of the Massachusetts Mint for many years, creating the first money recognized by the state. His work and social life flourished and he became a deacon, hobnobbed with the most prominent Bostonians, and was frequently appointed to high positions of trust. The first silver articles made by Americans were spoons. (Knives and forks were not in general use until the eighteenth century.) Today American spoons of the seventeenth century are rare, although many must have been made. The reason for their scarcity today is probably because they got such hard use that they had to be melted down and reformed, either into a later spoon design or into other articles. But whatever the reason for scarcity, the few early spoons known to still exist today are in museums or private collections. One fine early spoon with the mark of Sanderson and Hull is in the Essex Institute in Salem, Massachusetts (you can see it in the top photo). It has a large bowl like a fig, and the handle is a straight piece. This type, usually called the "Puritan spoon," is the earliest known design in this country.
After the spoon, the porringer, bowl, and tankard were made by silversmiths for food and drink. Liquor in some form was generally enjoyed by everyone in those days, even by the clergy. Those who could afford it had these articles made of silver. The tankards were usually made large to hold the large quantities of liquor necessary to stay warm in a cold climate. (At least that was the excuse.) Because the settlers of New England were religious (mostly Puritan), the first silver made there was usually for churches and reflected the simple tastes of the people. Even today many New England churches are proud owners of early silver that has been treasured for generations. (Robert was a member of the First Church in Boston, and made many silver products for his place of worship. You can see his work for the church in the Museum of Fine Arts today.)
found on ancestry.com
Robert Sanderson and his wife Lydia were the first settlers of Hampton New Hampshire He came from Norfolk in the year 1637 and in 1638 Hampton Soon after the birth of Mary he moved to Watertown of which he was a 1642 He had a brother Edward Sanderson who also settled in Watertown and married Mary Eggleston The name is often and Saunders in the early records Sanderson married second in Water 1642 Mary Cross widow of John Cross remained in Watertown until about 1653 he removed to Boston and was deacon of church there He sold his house and ten of land in Hampton July 20 1650 to Swaine He was then of Watertown October 17 1653 he bought land of William Godfrey He was a goldsmith and silversmith smith by trade
John Hull a selectman and many years town treasurer of Boston the first mint master of New England and the coiner of the pine tree shillings in his diary under date of 1652 53 relates how he was chosen to make coins and adds I chose my friend Robert Sanderson to be my partner to which the court consented
On September 1 1652 he adds My boy John Sanderson complained of his head aching and took his bed a strong fever set in and after 17 days sore sickness he departed this life Under date of November 8 1658 he says the Lord exercised with sickness my partner Robert Sanderson and his son Joseph but yet was pleased to recover them both Joseph kept the house about a month and my partner 18 days Robert Sanderson married third Elizabeth whom he mentions in his will which was proved October 20 1693 She died October 15 1695 aged seventy eight years leaving a will
He bequeathed to his wife Elizabeth son Robert Sanderson and daughter Anne West grandchildren Robert Darby Mary Caswell Joseph Jones children of Robert and Anna and of James Penniman great granddaughter Abia Beard son in law Richard West brother Edward Sanderson Joseph son of William Sanderson refers to house and land at Watertown had by former wife mentions kinsman William Shattuck of Watertown When the second daughter of Robert Sanderson was married he gave her as her marriage portion as much silver as would balance her weight He died October 7 1693 Child by first wife Mary baptized at Hampton October 29 1639 Children by second wife William mentioned below Joseph born January 1 1645 Benjamin baptized July 29 1649 Sarah baptized January 18 165 1 Robert baptized October 22 1652 John died September 18 1658
William Sanderson son of Robert Sanderson was born at Hampton New Hampshire in 1643 He took the oath of fidelity All his children except Hannah were born in Watertown and he then removed to Groton Massachusetts but on account of trouble with the Indians returned to Watertown He married in Watertown December 18 1666 Sarah Children John born October 13 1667 Sarah March 17 1668 69 William September 6 1670 Mary November 30 1671 Hannah born in Groton May 3 1674 Lydia born in Watertown April 21 1679 Joseph mentioned below
Joseph Sanderson son of William Sanderson was born in Watertown Massachusetts August 28 1680 and settled in Groton He married there Sarah Page daughter of Samuel and Hannah Page His estate was administered in 1736 by his widow Sarah Children of Joseph Sanderson Joseph mentioned below David born September 5 1715 Sarah January 19 1717 William July 17 1718 Hannah April 5 1720 Joseph March 17 1721 22 died young Susanna May 18 1723 Gideon February 18 1724 25 Joseph March 5 1726 27 Sarah October 15 1729 John December 13 1731
Joseph Sanderson son of Joseph Sanderson was born August 30 17 14 and died at Whately Massachusetts March 20 1772 He settled at Whately in 1752 with his wife and eight children He built a log house near Abraham Parker's perhaps on land belonging to him Later he built a house on his own land where the old Sanderson house was burned about 1800 He married in 1737 Ruth Parker who died December 8 1780 aged sixty four years daughter of Isaac Parker In his will he mentions ten of his twelve children who were married and had families From him have descended between twelve and fifteen hundred children grandchildren great grandchildren and great greatgrandchildren Children Ruth born in Groton October 6 1737 Esther April 6 1739 Joseph March 8 1741 Anna August 7 1742 James April 7 1744 Thomas March 16 1746 Abraham June 10 1748 David May 15 1750 Child 1752 died young John mentioned below Asa April 11 1756 Isaac October 9 1757
found on ancestry.com
Last Will & Testament
"I, Robert Saunderson of Boston, Goldsmith, confirm to my wife Elizabeth the covenant made before our marriage, and give her one-half of all my Household goods. The other half, after my wife's decease, I give to my son Robert Sanderson and to my Daughter Anna West to be equally divided between them. To son Robert the house he lives in, &c. After decease of my wife I give to my daughter Anna West the westerly end of tenement near the Mill bridge, and the Slaughter house and yard, and a Leanto and yard, and a tenement and yard.My dwelling house to son Robert, but if he die without lawful issue, then to daughter Anna. A tenement on the road to Roxbury to be sold to pay legacies; £10 to grandson Robert Darby; £5 to great grand daughter Abiah Beard; £5 to Joseph, son of Wm. Saunderson; £5 to grandson Joseph Jones; £5 to children of James Penniman. All the remainder of produce of said tenement to my grandchildren, the children of my daughter Anna West, my wearing apparel to son Robert, my son-in-law Richard West, and Brother Edward."
jhause_1added this on 28 Apr 2009
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF ROBERT SANDERSON, SR. Dated 18 July, 1693, presented 20 Oct. 1693
found on ancestry.com
Robert Sanderson and John Hull
John Hull (c.1624-1683) and Robert Sanderson (c.1608-1693), the first working silversmiths in North America, became the Colonies' first mint masters when the Massachusetts Bay Colony established a mint in 1652. In that year, they established a partnership producing silver objects as well as coins, most notably the famous "Pine Tree" shilling. Trained in England, Sanderson moved to America for religious reasons, while Hull was brought to Massachusetts as a boy by his staunchly Puritan parents in 1635.King Charles II resented the coining of colonial currency, and "in great wrath questioned" Sir Thomas Temple (d. 1674), the first agent of the legislature of the Massachusetts colony to London (Some Events of Boston and Its Neighbors, 1917, p. 18). Sir Thomas also personally commissioned a silver dram cup from John Hull in 1673, at a cost of 8 shillings (John Hull's Ledger Books, Vol. I, p. 37V).Only 30 surviving pieces of hollowware and six spoons have been recorded from their 31-year partnership; the recent discovery of this cup by a Massachusetts family, descendants of the original owners, adds a 31st object to this group. While five full-size caudle cups survive, there is only one other miniature or "toy" caudle cup by these makers (in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). With its wide band of flat-chased ornament framed by punched beading, this cup relates to two examples at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and to the Joanna Yorke cup given to the church in Quincy (sold Sotheby's, New York, 19 January 2001, lot 253). The twisted-wire handles appear to match those on a dram cup, circa 1670, also at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (see Kathryn C. Buhler, American Silver in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1972, figs. 4, 5, and 6).
found on ancestry.com
Silversmith
Robert Sanderson
Born: 1608, Norwich Norfolkshire England
Marriage: Mary Cross about 1641 in Hampton NH
Died: 7 Oct 1693, Boston MA
General notes:
Silversmith
Events in his life were:
Apprenticed from 1626 to 1635 to William Rawlins in London England 1
Sanderson's mark was registered at Goldsmith's Hall in London in 1635, but he left soon after for the colonies. He was one of the first settlers in Hampton, New Hampshire. After three years he moved to Watertown, Massachusetts and from there to Boston. 3
Made freeman of Hampton NH, 7 Sep 1639. 3
He was a partner from circa 1652 to 1683 with John Hull in Boston MA as HULL & SANDERSON. The earliest known piece of American silver is a dram cup made by the partners, now in the Yale University Art Gallery. The partnership orginally began after Hull was appointed Mint Master and recommended Sanderson as his partner. Sanderson came to Boston and was admitted as an inhabitant on 30 May 1653. 3
Master to Joseph Sanderson 1653 in Boston MA. 1
Cup by HULL & SANDERSON, c 1660Private Collectionh: 6 7/8"wt: 10 ozEngraved B over R A for Richard and Alice (Blower) Brackett.
Master to Benjamin Sanderson abt 1662 in Boston MA. 1
Caudle cupThe Second Church, Dorchester MAEngraved "C over A E" for Augustine and Elizabeth Clement and "The gift of Mrs Elizabeth Clement to the Church of Dorchester, 1678".
Master to Robert Sanderson abt 1665 in Boston MA. 1
Tankard, c 1670-1680Boston Museum of Fine Arts 9h: 8 3/16"d: 6 5/8" (base)wt: 41 oz, 11 ½ dwtMade for Isaac and Mary (Balston) Vergoose. Only tankard known from the first generation of American smiths.
Cup, c 1675Winterthur Libraryh: 4½"d: 4¾" (of top)Engraved S over T A for Thomas and Anne (Tyng) Shepherd.
Caudle cup, c 1680Private Collectionh: 3 13/16"Engraved "The Gift of Eliezer Moody to the Church in Dedham 1720."
Robert married Mary Cross about 1641 in Hampton NH. (Mary Cross was born about 1607 in Hampton NH and died on 21 Jun 1681 in New Haven CT.)
found on ancestry.com
Sotheby ~ (2001) turns Sanderson Silver into Gold
, Boston, Massascusetts ~ 1635 to 2001
Robert Sanderson, a well-known and artfully skilled Silversmith, is my 8th Grt-Grandfather. Born abt 1608 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, he apprenticed as a Silversmith from 1626 to 1635 in his native England. He then made the decision to leave the the only life he knew and make that harrowing Atlantic Crossing to the shores of the New World, the American Colonies; where, no doubt, a fortune could be made thru his acquired skills of Silversmith. He was accompanied by his wife Lydia, brother Edward and (it is thought) a brother William. After a few years in New Hampshire, Robert and Edward relocated to Watertown, Massachusetts where he established himself as an outstanding Silver craftsman, eventually partnering-up with another, John Hull. Some of the items they created, perhaps to be used in religious ceremonies, reached the auction block at Sotheby in 2001 - and the rest of the story follows: [jgk] Source: Boston Globe, January 2, 2001, City and Region Section; John Hull and Robert Sanderson, were mentioned as two of America's first silversmiths. The article related to the sale of an 11 piece silver communion service, valued at $900,000. to $1.3 million, slated to be put on the auction block by Sotheby Auction house on January 19, 2001. The sale proceeds will go to help pay a $1.7 million debt from mass repairs on Church of the Presidents located in Quincy, Ma. The silver pieces were donated to the Church by descendants of the Adams families. Boston Globe, January 20, 2001 - Article by Richard Higgins The heirloom silver from a Quincy church, in spite of protests from historians, sold for over $3,000,000 at in New York yesterday. One piece, a silver wine cup made in 1660 by one of Americas first silversmiths, brought a record $775,000 - about 3 times its estimated value. The auction was tried to be blocked by historians and descendants of the Adams family, but they were not able to raise enough funds. The auction also contained wine cups and double handled caudle cups which were some of the earliest pieces of American-made silver in existence. The pieces bear marks of John Hull and Robert Sanderson, who worked as New England silversmiths in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The collection, estimated to bring between $900,000 and $1.3 million, brought $3,027,875. Information on Robert Sanderson and family, is from the excellent research of my cousin, Jeff Hause, who has kindly shared with me and others.
jgkeeney1added this on 10 Oct 2008
Beautifully crafted Silver pieces by Robert Sanderson and John Hull . . . withstand the test of time, increasing unbelievably in value since 1700's. Auction held by Sotheby in 2001.
found on ancestry.com
Robert Sanderson The Silversmith (1608 - 1693) ~~~~~
ROBERT SANDERSONBirth: 1608, probably in Norwich, Norfolk, England.Death: 7 Oct 1693, in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
1635: Robert apprenticed as a silversmith from 1626 to 1635, to William Rawlins in London, England. His mark was registered at Goldsmith's Hall in London in 1635, but he left soon after that for the American colonies. A fortune was to be made as a silversmith in the colonies.
1635: Robert and brother Edward (1615-1665) and possibly another brother named William left for America aboard the INCREASE, from Ipswitch, England, on 15 Apr 1635. Robert was accompanied by his first wife, Lydia. Initially, the Sanderson clan all lived in Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
1639: Silversmiths were rare in early America and highly regarded in the community—and Robert Sanderson was one of the best. He and his wife, Lydia, were among the first settlers in Hampton, New Hampshire.
1639: Robert was made freeman 7 Sep 1639. 1640's: By the 1640's, Robert and Edward had moved to Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. It is here where the lives of brothers Robert and Edward* diverge drastically.
According to the book "Hands that built New Hampshire: the story of granite state craftsmen past & present:""The first New Hampshire silversmith of which there is any record was Robert Sanderson, a highly trained English 'goldsmith'. In 1638, at the age of thirty, he took up eighty acres in the town of Hampton and lived there for four years. There are no proofs that Sanderson ever worked at his trade in Hampton. The only evidence of his New Hampshire sojourn is found in the neglected grave of his wife, Lydia; in the tradition that his daughter, Mary, was the first white child born in Hampton; and in the positive record that he owned property on the plantation."
The line about the "neglected grave of his wife, Lydia" seems to imply that the authors knew of a gravestone for Robert's wife in Hampton (probably at the Pine Grove Cemetery. So by the time Robert moved to Watertown in 1642, Lydia had probably died.
Robert married again: to MARY CROSS before 1641, in Hampton. She was the widow of John Cross, and together they had sailed to America on the same ship as Robert from England. Mary was born in 1617, and died on the 21st of June, 1691, in New Haven, Connecticut.
After three years in Hampton, Robert and Mary moved to Watertown, Massachusetts, and from there to Boston, where Robert would go on to make his name and fortune. Mary was beside him for most of those years.
1646: On 6 Dec 1646, Lawrence Waters testified in a court case that Richard Linton of Watertown "granted unto Robert Sanderson of same for a valuable consideration his dwelling house and lot in Watertown" in a deed dated September 1645, so it appears Robert decided to settle there for a local smithing practice.
1652: Robert went to Boston, where he became associated with his friend, John Hull, silversmith and Master of the Mint which was established by the General Court in Boston, 1652. Robert's work and social life flourished and he became a deacon.,
As a silversmith, Robert enjoyed a great many advantages. His work was highly sought after, because until the arrival of the silversmith, Colonists in the New World only used what utensils they could make. Probably the first plates and perhaps even the first spoons were made of wood. This early ware was known as "treen"—a term derived from the word trees. But there were also pewterers among the early settlers and they were soon making spoons and plates of pewter.
Prosperous citizens and clergy took their coins to Robert and had them melted down and fashioned into household articles—spoons, tankards, and porringers. After melting the coins, Robert refined the metal, and poured it into a skillet to form a flat block of silver. The block was hammered out to the desired thickness and worked into whatever article the patron ordered. The metal was worked while cold, but was repeatedly heated over charcoal to prevent brittleness and to make it tougher. This process was called "annealing."
A finished article was polished by rubbing with pumice and then with a burnisher. This method did not cut away the surface but simply rubbed it smooth while leaving some hammer marks. Collectors feel that these marks add to the charm of a piece of old silver. The surface of antique silver has a patina rather like that of fine old wood and rubbing. Furthermore, since each piece was made by hand, no two were alike. A merchant who had his coins made into household articles would have them engraved with initials or crest. In this way his wealth in silver was useful; it was still an investment, but it was not likely to be stolen, for initialed silver was fairly easy to trace. Old records show that sometimes articles of silver were stolen, but after advertisements appeared with a detailed description of some family piece, it was usually returned and the thief punished.
THE FIRST MONEY IN AMERICA
Until 1652, the Colonies had no currency. In that year, John Hull was made mintmaster by the General Court of Massachusetts. When Hull was named Master of the Mint, he took Robert, a more accomplished silversmith and whom he called "another godly goldsmith," into partnership. Despite this godly nature, Hull cut an outrageous deal with the British—his share in the profits of the mint was fifteen pence out of every twenty shillings—and soon he became the wealthiest man in America.¹ Robert prospered also; (it was rumored that Robert continued minting coins even after the contract with the British was up).
Hull & Sanderson produced the willow-tree, oak tree, and pine-tree shilling used in the New England Colonies until 1683. A mint committee document dated 11 June 1652 recorded the oath of office created for the deposition of the mintmasters: "Itt is Ordered that the Oath here vnder written shall be the oath that John Hull and Robt Saunderson shall take as aequall officers In the minting of mony &c." The oath then began as follows: "Whereas yow : John Hull and Robert Saunderson are Appointed by the order of the Gennerall Courte bearing date the 10th of June 1652. to be officers for the massachusetts Jurisdiction in New England, for the melting, Refyning, and Coining of silver..."
Customers brought in silver buttons, tankards, goblets, knives, old sword hilts, spoons and European coins which were melted down and converted into the coinage. Hull and Sanderson's fee was handsome—they kept one out of every twenty shillings minted—plus "wastage" (leftover scraps)—but their risk was great as well, because they were defying a restriction imposed by the English government which forbade private coinage in the colonies. But the Pine Tree Shilling was so useful in the colonies that the English government chose to ignore its existence rather than attempt to suppress its circulation—which was an important early step toward American independence. Robert worked from 1652 to 1683 with Hull in Boston, partnered as HULL & SANDERSON. This partnership also produced many fine pieces of silver, always identifiable with Hull and Sanderson's marks. They were New England's first master silversmiths, and created the earliest known piece of American silver: a dram cup made by the partners, now in the Yale University Art Gallery. (In 2001, their work earned the record bid for American silver made circa 1660—$775,750.)
On October 1, 1683, John Hull died. It isn't known whether Sanderson continued to work at the mint after Hull's death—since all of the coins were marked "1652," it's impossible to know if he kept minting them. There is no evidence as to when the mint actually closed its doors. Sanderson could have kept the operation going on a part time basis until the silver supply was depleted. A series of letters from the London mint and the Royal Treasury dated from 1684 through 1686 list several objections to the reestablishment of the Boston mint, so we can assume the mint was defunct by that time.
Sanderson continued to work as a silversmith after Hull's death. As Robert's fame and fortune grew, he apprenticed his sons, Joseph Sanderson (1653 in Boston), Benjamin Sanderson (about 1662 in Boston), and Robert Sanderson (about 1665 in Boston). It took seven years of apprenticeship to develop a silversmith in this country. A lad born in the Colonies would be apprenticed at fourteen to a master who had recently come from London. The boy stayed with his master until he was twenty-one and then he too became a master silversmith, if he had proved his skill. But the dynasty was not to be: Joseph and Benjamin died young. Robert Jr., was the only son to survive his father and carry on the business in Watertown. However, his mark and therefore his products, have not been identified. And Benjamin, apparently embittered toward his family, ignored them all in his will, dated Dec. 11, 1678, on file at Suffolk Probate. It names Robert Sr. as executor and the North Church and Mary Sinderlin, sister, as legatees, stating "the rest of my estate to be given to some honest Poor persons."
Robert Sr., himself, died on the 7th of October, 1693, in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. By this time he had been married a third time, with his new wife mentioned in his will (he left his brother Edward one cow).
************************************************************** *Robert Sanderson's brother, Edward, lived in the eastern part of Watertown, and sold land as an agent for Capt. Champernowne, even selling his own place and moving to the western part of Waltham. He then married Mary Eggleston on 15 Oct 1645 and moved to a 12-acre lot in what is now the north part of Brandeis University. At the same time, he was successfully sued for slander by Mrs. Sarah Lynne, whom he claimed to have also wed, in October of 1645. She claimed to have lived in fear of him for two years. Edward and his real wife had several children, but only one, Jonathan (b. 15 Sep 1646), is believed to have lived long. On 7 Jul 1663, he was one of twelve freemen of Saco indicted by the Massachusetts Court for not attending to their orders. His occupatiopn was listed as "Proprietor," but he was not prosperous, and he lived in Waltham until his death in 1694 or 1695, under humble circumstances.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------SOURCES
"John Hull, A Builder of the Bay Colony," by Clarke, Hermann F. Wolfeboro; A.W. Pollock & Co.: 1993. 1940 limited edition. The fourth and final volume in a series of works on 17th century American silversmiths, featuring HULL AND SANDERSON. 221 pages, plus 16 b/w plates.1987 Patricia Kane, JOHN HULL AND ROBERT SANDERSON FIRST MASTERS OF NEW ENGLAND SILVER"Hands that built New Hampshire: the story of granite state craftsmen past & present", compiled by workers of the WPA in NH and published in Brattleboro, VT by Stephen Daye Press, 1940.Albert S. Roe: "Robert Sanderson's Silver Caudle Cup in the Winterthur Collection: The Turkey Motif in Seventeenth Century Design" American Art Journal (vol. 9, no. 1; 1977)General: Vol 2, p 535, 640 First Church Registers 1736-1809, Springfield Massachusetts. Copied by Ella May Lewis 1938. First Century History of Springfield, Volume 2, p 640.Genealogical Charts of the Sanderson/Montague Lineage. Author: Fowler Mallett: Chart J, Sanderson Family, Part 1 A Genealogy of the Mortons, with Related Genealogies. Author: William Markham Morton. Publication: pub. 1930Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp. Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850 [database online].
found on ancestry.com
Robert Sanderson
Robert apprenticed as a silversmith to William Rawlins in London, England, from 1626 to 1635. His official mark (shown at the bottom of this page) was registered at Goldsmith's Hall in London in 1635. But soon after that, Robert sailed for the American colonies—a fortune was to be made there as a silversmith. So Robert and his brother Edward (1615-1665)—and possibly another brother named William—left for America aboard the ship INCREASE, from Ipswitch, England, on April 15th, 1635. Robert was accompanied by his wife, LYDIA. Upon arrival, the full Sanderson clan then lived in Hampton, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. But by the 1640's, Robert and Edward had moved to Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. It is here where the lives of brothers Robert and Edward diverge drastically (Why they parted ways isn't known): Edward lived in the eastern part of Watertown, and sold land as an agent for Capt. Champernowne, even selling his own place and moving to the western part of Waltham. He then married Mary Eggleston on 15 Oct 1645 and moved to a 12-acre lot in what is now the north part of Brandeis University. At the same time, he was successfully sued for slander by Mrs. Sarah Lynne, whom he claimed to have also wed, in October of 1645. She claimed to have lived in fear of him for two years. Edward and his real wife had several children, but only one, Jonathan (b. 15 Sep 1646), is believed to have lived long. On 7 Jul 1663, he was one of twelve freemen of Saco indicted by the Massachusetts Court for not attending to their orders. His occupation was listed as "Proprietor," but he was not prosperous, and he lived in Waltham until his death in 1694 or 1695, under humble circumstances. Meanwhile, Robert's life trajectory was much different, and he would become one of the most prosperous men in the colonies: He and Lydia were among the first settlers in Hampton, New Hampshire, and he was made freeman in the 7th of September in 1639. On Dec. 6, 1646, Lawrence Waters testified in a court case that in a deed dated September 1645, Richard Linton of Watertown "granted unto Robert Sanderson of same for a valuable consideration his dwelling house and lot in Watertown," so it appears Robert decided to settle there for a local smithing practice. As a silversmith, Robert enjoyed a great many advantages over his brother. His work was highly sought after, because until that time, Colonists in the New World only used what utensils they could make. The first plates and spoons were probably made of wood. This early ware was known as "treen"—a term derived from the word 'trees.' But there were also pewterers among the early settlers, and they were soon making spoons and plates of pewter. Silversmiths were rare in early America, and highly regarded in the community—and Robert Sanderson was one of the best. Nothing remains of Robert's work in Hampton, if he even practiced it in that primitive area, but we can assume whatever work he could do was in high demand, and he was quickly accepted into the local society. As Robert's business grew, prosperous citizens and clergy took their coins to him and had them melted down and fashioned into household articles—spoons, tankards, and porringers. After melting the coins, Robert refined the metal, and poured it into a skillet to form a flat block of silver. The block was hammered out to the desired thickness and worked into whatever article the patron ordered. The metal was worked while cold, but was repeatedly heated over charcoal to prevent brittleness and to make it tougher. This process was called "annealing." A finished article was polished by rubbing with pumice and then with a burnisher. This method did not cut away the surface but simply rubbed it smooth while leaving some hammer marks. Collectors feel that these marks add to the charm of a piece of old silver. The surface of antique silver has a patina rather like that of fine old wood and rubbing. Furthermore, since each piece was made by hand, no two were alike. A merchant who had his coins made into household articles would have them engraved with initials or crest. In this way his wealth in silver was useful; it was still an investment, but it was not likely to be stolen, for initialed silver was fairly easy to trace. Old records show that sometimes articles of silver were stolen, but after advertisements appeared with a detailed description of some family piece, it was usually returned and the thief punished. According to the book "Hands that built New Hampshire: the story of granite state craftsmen past & present:"
"The first New Hampshire silversmith of which there is any record was Robert Sanderson, a highly trained English 'goldsmith'. In 1638, at the age of thirty, he took up eighty acres in the town of Hampton and lived there for four years. Then he went to Boston, where he became associated with his friend, John Hull, silversmith and master of the mint which was established by the General Court in Boston, 1652. There are no proofs that Sanderson ever worked at his trade in Hampton. The only evidence of his New Hampshire sojourn is found in the neglected grave of his wife, Lydia; in the tradition that his daughter, Mary, was the first white child born in Hampton; and in the positive record that he owned property on the plantation."
The line about the "neglected grave of his wife, Lydia" seems to imply that the authors knew of a gravestone for Robert's wife in Hampton (probably at the Pine Grove Cemetery, pictured above). But Robert married again: to MARY CROSS (1617-21 Jun 1681) in Hampton before 1641. She was the widow of John Cross, and they had sailed to America on the same ship as the Sandersons. After three years in Hampton, Robert and Mary moved to Watertown, Massachusetts, and from there to Boston, where Robert would go on to make his name and fortune. Mary was beside him for most of those years. The next great partnership in Robert's life was made with John Hull, another silversmith from London—and probably the first one to work in Boston. Together, Sanderson and Hull would create some great work... and become very rich in the process. With Hull, Robert became a Master of the Massachusetts Mint for many years, creating the first money recognized by the state. His work and social life flourished and he became a deacon, hobnobbed with the most prominent Bostonians, and was frequently appointed to high positions of trust. The first silver articles made by Americans were spoons. (Knives and forks were not in general use until the eighteenth century.) Today American spoons of the seventeenth century are rare, although many must have been made. The reason for their scarcity today is probably because they got such hard use that they had to be melted down and reformed, either into a later spoon design or into other articles. But whatever the reason for scarcity, the few early spoons known to still exist today are in museums or private collections. One fine early spoon with the mark of Sanderson and Hull is in the Essex Institute in Salem, Massachusetts (you can see it in the top photo). It has a large bowl like a fig, and the handle is a straight piece. This type, usually called the "Puritan spoon," is the earliest known design in this country.
After the spoon, the porringer, bowl, and tankard were made by silversmiths for food and drink. Liquor in some form was generally enjoyed by everyone in those days, even by the clergy. Those who could afford it had these articles made of silver. The tankards were usually made large to hold the large quantities of liquor necessary to stay warm in a cold climate. (At least that was the excuse.) Because the settlers of New England were religious (mostly Puritan), the first silver made there was usually for churches and reflected the simple tastes of the people. Even today many New England churches are proud owners of early silver that has been treasured for generations. (Robert was a member of the First Church in Boston, and made many silver products for his place of worship. You can see his work for the church in the Museum of Fine Arts today.)
found on ancestry.com
This is great info. I am also a descendant of Robert Sanderson. Could I share this info on my family blog?
ReplyDeleteCan you share your source for the information about Robert sailing on the Increase in 1635. I have looked at copies of the manifest and he nor anyone named Sanderson is on any. The names John and Mary Cross are also not on any copy of the manifest that I have seen, just wondering where you found the info.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie