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THE WEDGWOODS. 



was seven years the senior of Josiah, and had therefore 

 already attained his majority. Samuel Astbury, the other 

 attesting witness, was uncle to Josiah, having married bis 



X / 



father's sister, Elizabeth Wedgwood. He was one of the 

 family of Astbury to whom the potters were indebted for 

 the discovery of so many improvements in their art, some 

 of which it may not be out of place briefly to notice. 



Towards the close of the seventeenth century, when the 

 brothers Elers, to whom I have before referred, had begun 

 their manufacture of fine red ware at Brad well, and had 

 surprised their neighbours with their productions, and 

 excited their jealousy by their success and the care with 



