constructed in about 1760. 102 But it can be argued 

 that the sagger pieces were scattered so liberally 

 around the town that their presence in the builder's 

 trench does not necessarily imply that the factory was 

 still operating at that date. 



In summation, it may be said that the quantities of 

 stoneware and earthenware with possible Yorktown 

 associations which have been found in archeological 

 sites in Tidewater Virginia leave little doubt that the 

 venture established by William Rogers was of con- 

 siderable value to the colony. There can be equally 



'"-' Large numbers of wine-bottle fragments also were recovered 

 from the builder's trench, and provided archeological support 

 for a construction date after about 17mi. 



little doubt that Governor Gooch was aware of this 

 fact and that In- gave his tacit approval to the venture 

 by minimizing its importance in his reports to the 

 Board of Trade. 



J Ik quality of the products was good by colonial 

 standards, and their quantity impressive. Consequent- 

 ly, in spite of Governor Gooch's misleading reports, 

 William Rogers begins to emerge as one of the pio- 

 neers of industry in Virginia. It is to be hoped that 

 it will be possible eventually to undertake a full arche- 

 ological excavation of his factory site and so enable 

 Rogers to step out once and for all from behind the 

 deprecatory sobriquet of the "poor potter" of York- 

 town that has concealed for more than two centuries 

 his name, his acumen, and his potters' talents. 



PAPER 54: THE "POOR POTTER" OF YORKTOWN 



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