posted 06-29-2003 02:29 PM            

One day, some years ago, at a large and heavily attended outdoor antique market, I came upon a neoclassical helmet-shaped cream jug. I had seen pictures of these, but had never owned one. The market had been open at least three hours by then - how was it that it was still there? I examined it, and read the lengthy presentation inscription, recognized the name of the presenter, and realized that that name and the date inscribed were too late for the style of the pitcher. I turned it over, read the name of the maker, and knew that it was indeed about a century out of period. A wave of disappointment washed over me, as I realized why it had not been picked off - I handed it back, and went on. Another couple of hours passed, and as I prepared to leave, another wave of emotion passed over me as I realized with a shock what I had done - how dumb could a person be? I rushed back to the sellers' booth, expecting it to have been long gone, but no! It was still there, and I grabbed it up!

Now, I had no idea whether or not the sellers or any other potential buyers knew who Ralph Waldo Emerson was, or that he was one of the best known poet - essayists in the history of American literature, but I surely did! Whew! I would still be regretting it had I lost it.

The inscription reads as follows:

quote:

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From the family of / RALPH WALDO EMERSON / by his desire / to / CALVIN H, SAWIN / in acknowledgement of / his kindnesses / to them all / 1887

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The next tasks were to determine just whom Calvin H. Sawin was, what the kindnesses might have been, and why it had taken 7 years to execute his wish (Emerson had died in 1882, following a lengthy illness). Was he a family friend, a physician, an attorney? I searched the census lists and the multitudinous published volumes of correspondence of Emerson himself, his wife, and daughter, all with no avail. There was no mention of this man. I put the matter aside, until not long age, when I had gotten a set of CDs with business directories to aid in identificattion of various craftsmen's names. On a chance I searched the Massachusetts directories for him, and in a Boston directory for 1890 there was Calvin H. Sawin - a baggage master on the "F.R.R."

A further search of genealogical records now available on the internet revealed a Calvin Houghton Sawin, born in 1820, but nothing else. He would, however, have been 69 years old on receiving this rememberance - was this something planned before Emerson's death to be given on his expected retirement, or his 70th birthday, or did it merely take that long to probate the will and get the pitcher made. It must have been a special commission, rather than a stock manufactured item, as there is much evidence of handwork in addition to the spinning marks underneath the foot, and there is the added stamp of "MAKERS" to the mark of Bigelow Kennard & Co.

What the "kindnesses" might have been remains a matter of conjecture, but in all probability are related to one or more journeys taken on that railroad.

posted 06-29-2003 07:02 PM            

Besides, the coincidence of name and occupation just has to make it right - can't you just hear ol' Calvin sawin' away on that lumber?

posted 06-29-2003 09:54 PM            

I have been doing a bit of digging and so far have found no connection between the two Calvin's. The cabinetmaker's line is quite solid (and fits nicely into my silver tree); I can provide it, if desired. The railroading Calvin is cloudier. His parents were James and Eunice (Hyde) Sawin of Worcester and there is some indication that the line heads back to Maine before that, but not much else.