December 2012 – Artifact of the Month

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BETSY ROSS’ PITCHERS?

Pearlware pitchers decorated with War of 1812 naval battle scenes. Click for larger image.

These two ceramic pitchers were recovered in Independence National Historical Park during the excavations at the site where the National Constitution Center now stands. They were found in the bottom of a privy pit (outhouse) in the backyard behind the house where Betsy Ross spent her last years. Did Betsy throw them away?

Made in England between about 1816 and 1820, the pitchers bear images of two War of 1812 naval engagements in which the fledgling U. S. Navy was victorious over the mighty British Navy. The image on one side of the pitchers depicts the USS United States, commanded by Stephan Decatur, defeating the HMS Macedonian, captained by James Surman Carden, near Madeira in 1812. This hard fought and bloody engagement ended when the outgunned British commander was forced to strike his colors and surrender his ship. In so doing, the Macedonian became the first British warship to be captured by the U.S. Navy. This action greatly boosted American moral and, conversely, defeat by the upstart American navy marked a stinging defeat to the mighty British Navy.

The image on the reverse side of the pitchers depicts the fierce battle that took place between the brigs USS Enterprise and HMS Boxer fought off the coast of Maine in 1813. Again the British ship was out gunned in this battle, and also out manned.

English potteries produced many such designs specifically for export to the American market. In so doing, they were helping an adversary celebrate a victory over their own navy. Whatever they meant to the British potters, for Betsy Ross’ family the pitchers probably marked the stirrings of national pride sparked by the War.

Jed Levin
Independence National Historical Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA


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