Rare Thomas Danforth II or III American Pewter Pint Mug

18th century, Connecticut or Philadelphia, tapering cylinder with low band, scrolled handle and molded base rim, interior base with encircled lion rampant touchmark between the initials T.D., used both by Thomas Danforth II (1755-1782) and Thomas Danforth III (1777-1783), upper rim marked "T.D" beneath crown.
4 1/2 in.
Thomas Danforth (1703-1786) became the first pewterer of the Danforth family. Born in Taunton, Massachusetts, he moved to Norwich, Connecticut, 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 II (1731-1782) and John (1741-1799), also became pewterers. Thomas II moved to Middletown, Connecticut sometime before 1755, when 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 pewterers: 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, Connecticut. He marketed a large range of wares and made considerable use of the peddler's cart. He and Blakeslee Barnes, a tinsmith, set up business in Philadelphia in 1807. Thomas traveled between Pennsylvania and Connecticut until 1811.

Biographical Reference: The Winterthur Library: The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera


From the Collection of Quincy and Betty Scarborough, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.lelandlittle.com

Some scattered denting and scratches to body, base, and handle; minute hairline to upper rim near handle.