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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Silver before sterling
 William P. McKay and Co.
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| Author | Topic: William P. McKay and Co. |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 08-06-2008 06:06 PM
  
Below are a teaspoon and tablespoon with the mark of William P. McKay and Co. James R. Cormany in his book “Alabama Silversmiths – Little Known Craftsmen Form A Long Forgotten Era” and E. Bryding Adams in his book “Made in Alabama – A State Legacy” both attribute this mark to a William McKay who settled in Huntsville, Alabama from Petersburg, Virginia about 1817 or 1818. His advertisements in 1819 stated he was a watchmaker and that he carried a supply of the latest watches, Jewelry and Silver plate. He was stated to be in Huntsville until at least 1837, but by 1848 there was a William P. McKay and Company in Sumter County Alabama. By 1859-60 a William McKay was back in Huntsville operating a large school. The teaspoon below is engraved on the back with the name S. C. Jones while the tablespoon is engraved on the front with the name L. S. Caldwell. The teaspoon is engraved on the back in the French tradition. This is curious as Jones does not sound French nor did Huntsville or Sumter County have a French tradition as did parts of south Alabama. It is also curious to me that the style of these spoons is not the style one normally finds in Alabama. I have always considered this style to be the Eastern version of the Midwestern double swell fiddle. I have never seen another spoon in this pattern attributed to an Alabama dealer or silversmith. My question is could there be two William P McKay’s in the world of silversmithing. IP: Logged |
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swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 08-06-2008 06:46 PM
These New England style fiddles have occasionally appeared in various states to the West and South of New England, but I have always assumed they were imported from Eastern manufacturers and marked by their retailers. In this case, they could have come in through the ports of Mobile or New Orleans. There was a McKay in Boston who was a principal in the firms of McKay, Spear, & Brown (1854) and McKay, Brown & Co. (1856). The Fredymas refer them to a group of "Merchants, jewelers, manufacturers, etc. . . . whose marks are found on silver . . . ." No further details are given, but there might be a connection here. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 08-07-2008 05:39 AM
There doesn't appear to be a Sumner County, Alabama. There is a Wlliam P McKay in the 1850 U S Federal Census for Boston, Massachusetts who was born in Ireland in about 1812 and who was a jeweler. IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 08-07-2008 07:42 AM
Thanks Swarter and Bascall. I misspelled the county. It is Sumter County Alabama which is a very small county on the Mississipi border. IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 08-07-2008 09:40 AM
Wm P. McKay & Co, watchmakers (no partners given) is listed at 52 Milk Street in the 1845 Boston city directory. In 1850, the firm is listed at 195 Washington, with Wm P. McKay, H. T. Spear, and J. W. L. Brown as principles. In 1855, it is listed as McKay & Brown at the same address and with the same principles. In 1860, neither McKay nor Brown is listed, but Henry Spear is a jeweler and watchmaker at 89 Washington. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 08-07-2008 12:35 PM
Sumner County, Tennessee is not far North of Huntsville, but there was nothing obvious in either of these two counties. There is a William McCay or McCoy in the 1850 and 1860 U S Federal Census for Huntsville, Alabama who was a teacher and was born in Virginia in about 1805, but there's nothing else in Census's that looks close. However, there is a John W McCay in the 1860 U S Federal Census for Tuscaloosa, Alabama who was a watchmaker and who was born in Virginia in about 1805. Not much actual help here though. IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 08-07-2008 02:03 PM
Thanks WEV. The references in the "Made in Alabama" book do cite several advertisements by McKay in Alabama, but the style of this spoon is really wrong for Alabama. I brought the teaspoons from a northeastern dealer, however to made it somewhat confusing I brought the serving spoon from a long time Alabama family. They did not know the history of the spoon, except that one of their ancestors had it. Right now I would say the Boston McKay is more likely the right McKay as the Alabama one. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 05-19-2013 02:25 PM
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 05-19-2013 04:01 PM
Thanks for the interesting information Scott. Does $47.00 seem right for a dozen forks and one ladle? I do not recall seeing other prices from 1848, but that seems a little high to me. IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 05-19-2013 04:14 PM
In 1834, Steele & Hocknell of Syracuse was offering table forks at $10.50 the dozen plus silver at $1.20 per ounce used, wholesale. In 1836, Fletcher & Bennett were selling (again at wholesale) a dozen tablespoons (20 oz silver to the making) at $31.75 IP: Logged |
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