Joseph Richardson

  General notes:

Silversmith

  Events in his life were:

• Alternate Mark

• Made chatelaine dated 1780 for wife Ruth; teapot and waste bowl in 1796 for which George Washington paid $44.55; eighty-one piece tea service in 1798 for Joseph Ball; grater in 1800 for Ruth Rutter. Account books, 1796-1801, and ledger, 1796-1831. ⁴

• Apprenticed about 1765 to Joseph Richardson in Philadelphia PA ¹

• He was a partner from 1777 to 1790 with Nathaniel Richardson in Philadelphia PA as I. & N. RICHARDSON, continuing father's business on Front Street. ⁴

• Teaspoon, c 1777
Private Collection
l: 5½"

• Alternate Mark for J & N RICHARDSON.

• Alternate Mark for J & N RICHARDSON.

• Candle sticks by Joseph and Nathaniel Richardson, c 1790
Boston Museum of Fine Arts ⁸
h: 5 3/8"
w: 2 7/8" (of base)
wt: 8 oz, 14 ½ dwt; 9 oz, 9 dwt
This is a unique form in American silver.

• Cup by Joseph and Nathaniel Richardson, 1790
Winterthur Library ²¹
h: 2¾"
d: 3 5/8"
wt: 5 oz, 15dwt
Engraved on back Magdalena Swift died 27^th March 1790 = aged 67 for Magdalena Kollock who married John Swift, collector of the Port of Philadelphia, in 1749. The engraving may have been done by James Smithers, who figures prominently in the Richardson's account books.

• He worked from 1790 to 1795 as a silversmith in Philadelphia PA

• Waste bowl, 1795-1800
Boston Museum of Fine Arts ⁸
h: 5"
d: 6 5/8" (of lip)
wt: 17 oz, 17 dwt

• Spouted cup, c 1795
Boston Museum of Fine Arts ⁸
h; 2 5/8"
d: 2 15/16" (of base)
wt: 4 oz, 7½ dwt

• Appointed in 1795 as Assayer of U.S. Mint in Philadelphia PA by George Washington and continued in office until his death. ⁴

• He was a partner from 1795 to 1802 with James Howell in Philadelphia PA as RICHARDSON & Co.

• Page of day book, 1798, Historical Society Pennsylvania ³⁰. Itemizing a nearly complete dinner and tea service for Rachel Richards.

• Master to Edward Randolph 1801 in Philadelphia PA. ¹

• He worked from 1802 to 1810 as a silversmith in Philadelphia PA then sold the business to his old partner, James Howell.

Joseph married Ruth Hoskins on 15 Jun 1780 in Burlington NJ. (Ruth Hoskins was born on 25 May 1756 in Burlington NJ and died on 14 Jan 1829 in Philadelphia PA.)