Jabez Gorham

  General notes:

Silversmith

  Events in his life were:

• Probably born in the house on Benefit Street, Providence, which is still standing, restored and marked under the guidance of Providence Preservation Society. His father held many civic offices. ³

• Apprenticed in 1807 to Nehemiah Dodge in Providence RI ¹

• He was a partner from 1813 to 1818 with Christopher Burr, William Hadwen, George C. Clark and Henry G. Mumford in Providence RI known as "The Firm." ³

• He worked from 1818 to 1825 as a silversmith and jeweler in Providence RI manufacturing small items, becaming known for his "Gorham chain," unequaled at the time. ³

• He was a partner from 1825 to 1831 with Stanton Beede in Providence RI as GORHAM & BEEDE. ³

• He was a partner from 1831 to 1837 with Henry L. Webster in Providence RI as GORHAM & WEBSTER ³

• Alternate Mark for GORHAM & WEBSTER

• Master to John Gorham 1837 in Providence RI.

• He was a partner from 1837 to 1840 with Henry L. Webster and William Gladding Price in Providence RI as GORHAM, WEBSTER & PRICE. A ³

• He was a partner from 1841 to 1850 with John Gorham in Providence RI as J GORHAM & SON. Son John was one of the first to recognize the advantages of machinery and introduced factory production methods to augment hand work. ³

• Alternate Mark for J GORHAM & SON

Jabez married Amey Thurber on 4 Dec 1816 in Providence RI. (Amey Thurber was born on 30 Jan 1795 in Providence RI and died on 26 Nov 1820 in Providence RI.)

Jabez next married Lydia Dexter on 16 Apr 1822 in Providence RI. (Lydia Dexter was born on 11 Nov 1797 in Smithfield RI and died on 4 Sep 1873.)