Recently I’ve decided to embark on an educational journey for information on Early American plane makers, and of course, hunting down some of their work. As of this writing I haven’t paid much attention to the wooden planes, sticking with the metallic versions. This will be a new road of education. Feel free to follow me along.
I will try to update this information as I dig in my Quest for Early American plane makers.
If the maker was born after 1755, and/or having started making planes after 1775, I have not included them here (at least for now).
In a some what chronological order.
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Francis Nicholson (believed to be the earliest documented plane maker) (b 1683 – d 1753)
Mark – F.Nicholson
Very early 1700’s in Wrentham MA.
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John Nicholson (Son of Francis)
Mark – I.Nicholson
Mid 1700’s
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Cesar Chelor 1728 to 1753
Mark – CE.Chelor
Mark – CESARCHELOR
Was Francis Nicholson’s slave.
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Jonathan Ballou (b1723-d1770) of Providence, RI (1744-70)
Mark – ION.Ballou
——–
Simeon Pomeroy (b.1725-d.1812) North Hampton MA
Mark – S+Pomeroy
Mark – S+Pomeroy
. . N+Hampton
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Jarvis Pike Sr. (active 1726-33) Deedham MA.
Mark – Ix Pike
………Jarvis Pike jr. (b 1779 – d1872-33)
………..Mark – J.Pike
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Samuel Dean (b.1700-d.17750 Dedham or Norton Ma..
Mark – S*Dean
. Dedham
Mark – S*Dean
Mark – SD
. S.Dean
——–
Thomas Napier (opened business in 1773)
Mark – Tho!Napier **
Mark – T.Napier ***
——–
Asa Hide (1763->)
Mark – A:Hide
Mark – A:Hide
IN:NOrwich
——–
John Walton Jr. (b1710-d1785) of Reading, MA (1731-1735)
Mark – I*Walton
.. IN+Reading
Mark – I.W
——–
Henry Wetheral (b1729 – d1797)
Mark – H.Wetheral
——–
Samuel Dogget (b1727 – d1794) of Dedham, MA
Probably started plane making around 1749
Mark – S:Dogget
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John Akers (d-1770)
Mark – Iohn Akers
——–
Elijah Puffer (b-1738-d-1816) (ref-DAT)
Mark – E.Puffer
Had ties to John and Francis Nicholson
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Daniel? Denison (b-1740)
Mark – D. Denison
——–
Asa Hide (b1741-d1797) of Norwich,CT (earliest CT planemaker)
Mark – A:Hide
Mark – A:Hide
…… IN:NOrwich
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Joseph Fuller (b1746-d1822) of Providence, RI
Mark – Jo:Fuller
Mark – Several others that include “Providence”
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William Sprat(s) (b.1747-d.1810) CT
Mark – W*Sprat
W.Sprats
——–
Jonathan Tower (b.1758-d.1846) Rutland Vt.
Mark – Jn Towner (with a dot under the “n”)
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Benjamin Armitage Jr. 1760-1762 (d-1781)
Mark – B.Armitage
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Henry Wetherall III (b-2-8-1764 – d-11-20-1840
Mark – HWetherall
.. Chatham
Mark – Henry Weitherall
Nicholos Taber (b1761-d1849) of New Bedford, MA
——–
Samuel Caruthers 1740
Mark – S.Caruthers
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Thomas Grant 1750-1800??
Mark – Tho.Grant
——–
James Stiles 1768-1775
Mark – J. Stiles
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William Harris Jr (b.1742-d.1802) New London CT
Mark – Wharris
Mark – W.harris
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John Sleeper (B.1754-d.1834) Newburyport Ma.
Mark – I.Sleeper (these are frequently found)
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Moses Sleeper (B.1752-d.1792) Newburyport Ma.
Mark – M*Sleeper (brother of John Sleeper)
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The Early (pre-1750) planes of New England were usually yellow birch instead of beech.
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My Resources (in no particular order)
