Early American Silversmith Hallmarks: Makers and Marks

In the world of antique silver, hallmarks are more than just decorative impressions—they are historical fingerprints. Yet for collectors, researchers, and jewelry enthusiasts alike, identifying early American silver can be a daunting task. 

Unlike the more standardized hallmarking systems developed in Europe, American silversmiths in the 18th and early 19th centuries often worked independently, marking their pieces with personal stamps—sometimes just initials, monograms, or crude symbols.

Much of the available information about these makers is scattered across old exhibition catalogs, museum archives, and antique sales records. This fragmentation makes it difficult for collectors and dealers to verify the authenticity and origin of early American silver without a reliable reference point. 

At DSF Antique Jewelry, we believe that understanding hallmarks is essential to appreciating the true value and history of fine antique silver. By bringing these details together in one place, our goal is to help decode the silent signatures of American craftsmanship and make hallmark recognition more accessible to a wider audience. 

This article presents a curated and systematic overview of early American silversmiths and their marks—collected from authoritative historical sources and intended as a reference point for those navigating the complexities of early American hallmarking.

For each maker, we’ve included:

• The full name

• The known hallmark(s) in visual or descriptive form

• Location of activity

• Working period, or birth/death where available

• Brief identifying notes, when relevant

Hallmarks of Early American Silversmiths – From A to Z

Early American Silversmiths: Letter A

• Abbott, J.

Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Years Active: 1839
Mark: ABBOTT – capitals in rectangular frame 

• Ackley, E. (Francis M.)
  

Location: New York, New York
Years Active: 1797
Mark: E.ACKLEY – shaded Roman capitals in rectangle

• Adams, J.
  

Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Years Active: c.1800
Mark: J. ADAM – script; version with eagle in circle also exists

• Adams, L.
  

Location: —
Years Active: 1731
Mark: L.A – shaded Roman capitals with pellet, in shield

• Adams, Dunlap
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1764
Mark: —

• Adams, Pygan
  

Location: New London, Connecticut
Years Active: 1712–1776
Marks: P·A – crowned cartouche with pellets / P A – Roman capitals in rectangle

• Adams, William
  

Location: New York
Years Active: 1833
Marks: W.A. ADAMS – shaded capitals in serrated rectangle / NEW YORK – separate block

• Adgate, William
  

Location: Norwich, Connecticut
Years Active: 1744–1779
Mark: —

• Adriance, E.
  

Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Years Active: c.1820
Mark: E. ADRIANCE / ST. LOUIS – shaded Roman capitals in rectangle

• Aiken, George
  

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Years Active: 1765-1832
Marks: G. AIKEN – shaded Roman capitals, AIKEN – block format, GAIKEN – condensed block, G.A

• Aitken, John
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1785-1796
Mark: J. AITKEN – Roman capitals in rectangle

• Aitkens, W.
  

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Years Active: c.1802
Mark: —

• Alcock & Allen
  

Location: —
Years Active: c. 1810
Mark: ALCOCK & ALLEN – block capitals

• Alexander, Philip
  

Location: —
Years Active: —
Mark: ALEXANDER – large block letters

• Alexander, Samuel
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1797
Mark: S. ALEXANDER – Roman capitals in rectangle

• Alexander, S. & Simmons, A.
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1800
Marks: S. ALEXANDER / A. SIMMONS – block capitals in rectangles with or without spread eagles

• Alford, Samuel

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1759
Mark: —

• Alford, Thomas
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1762
Mark: —

• Allen, C.

Location: —
Years Active: 1760
Mark: — C.Allen - Roman capitals in rectangle

• Allen, James

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1720
Mark: —

• Allen, Joel

Location: Middletown, Connecticut
Years Active: 1755–1825
Mark: —

• Allen, John
  

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Years Active: 1671–1760
Marks: IA, IE – initials in decorative cartouches (inverted heart, quatrefoil)

• Allen & Edwards (John & John)
  

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Years Active: 1699
Mark: IA & IE – each in quatrefoil / These marks also apear with that of D. Parker

• Alstyne, Jeronimus
  

Location: New York, New York
Years Active: 1787
Mark: —

• Amory
  

Location: —
Years Active: —
Mark: AMORY – Roman capitals in rectangle

• Anderson, William
  

Location: New York, New York
Years Active: Freeman 1746
Mark: WA – shaded Roman capitals

• Andras, William
  

Location: New York, New York
Years Active: 1795
Mark: ANDRAS – Roman capitals in rectangle

• Andras & Richard (William & Samuel)
  

Location: New York, New York
Years Active: 1797
Mark: A&R – block initials

• Andrew, John
  

Location: Salem, Massachusetts
Years Active: 1747–1791
Mark: J. ANDREW – shaded Roman capitals in rectangle

• Andrews, Joseph
  

Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Years Active: 1800
Marks: J. ANDREWS – Roman capitals / ANDREWS NORFOLK – block format / Script variant also exists

• Andrews, Henry
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1796 / 1798
Mark: HA – Roman capitals in rectangle

• Andrews, H.
  

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Years Active: c.1830
Mark: —

• Andrews, JR.

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1746
Mark: —

• Anthony, Isaac
  

Location: Swansea, Mass. / Newport, Rhode Island
Years Active: 1690–1773
Mark: IA - Roman capitals

• Anthony, Joseph
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1764
Mark: J. ANTHONY – capitals in rectangle

• Anthony, Joseph, Jr.
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1783
Mark: J. Anthony – script

• Anthony, Joseph Jr. & Son
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1810
Mark: J.A. & I.A – double initials with pellet in square

• Anwyl, Kenrick
  

Location: Maryland
Years Active: b.1748, working c.1775
Mark: —

• Archie, John
  

Location: New York, New York
Years Active: 1759
Mark: —

• Arms, T.N.
  

Location: Albany, New York
Years Active: 1849
Mark: —

• Armstrong, Allen
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: c.1860 / 1814
Mark: A. Armstrong – sometimes with Philadelphia below

• Armstrong, John
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1811
Mark: —

• Arnold, Thomas
  

Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Years Active: 1739–1828
Marks: T. ARNOLD – capitals / ARNOLD – block capitals / TA – initials / Styles include script, serif, oval and rectangle

• Ashmead, William
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1797
Mark: —

• Atherton, Nathan Jr.
  

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years Active: 1824
Mark: —

• Atterbury, J.
  

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Years Active: 1799
Mark: —

• Austin, Benjamin
  

Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Years Active: 1775
Mark: —

• Austin, Ebenezer
  

Location: Hartford, Connecticut / Boston, Massachusetts
Years Active: b.1733 – d.1764
Mark: Austin / E.A

• Austin, Ebenezer J.
  

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Years Active: 1790
Mark: E. J. Austin

• Austin, Josiah
  

Location: Charlestown, Massachusetts
Years Active: 1719–1780
Marks: J. AUSTIN / I. Austin / I.A

• Austin, Nathaniel
  

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Years Active: 1734–1818
Mark: Austin – italic, lowercase in rectangle / N.A

• Austin, James
  

Location: Charlestown, Massachusetts
Years Active: b.1750
Mark: —

• Austin, John
  

Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Years Active: c.1770
Mark: —

• Austin, Joseph
  

Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Years Active: bap.1719
Mark: —

• Avery, John

Location: Preston, Connecticut
Years Active: 1732-1794
Mark: I Avery / IA - shaded Roman capitals in rectangle

• Ayres, S.
  

Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Years Active: 1805
Mark: S. AYRES - LEX.K.– curved block capitals

• Ayres, T.
  

Location: —
Years Active: c.1800
Mark: T.AYRES. - shaded Roman capitals in rectangle

Early American Silversmiths: Letter B

Babcock, Samuel

Backus, Delurine

Bailey, E. E. & S. C.

Bailey, John

Bailey, Loring

Bailey, Robert H.

Bailey & Kitchen

Baily, William

Baker, E.

Baker, George

Balch, Ebenezer

Baldwin, Jabez

Baldwin, Jebediah

Baldwin, Stanley S.

Baldwin & Jones (Jabez & John)

Ball, John

Ball, William (Father)

Ball, William (Son)

Ball & Heald

Bancker, Adrian

Bard, Conrad

Bard & Lamont (Conrad & Robert)

Bardick, George

Barrett, James

Barriere, David

Barrington & Davenport

Barrows, James M.

Barry, Standish

Bartlett, N.

Bartlett, Samuel

Bassett, Francis

Bayley, Simeon A.

Bayley & Douglas

Beach, A.

Beach, Miles

Beach & Sanford (Miles & Isaac)

Beach & W. (Miles & James)

Beal, Caleb

Becham

Bedford, John

Beebe, James W.

Beebe, James W. & Co.

Beebe, William

Benedict, A. C.

Benedict & Squire

Benjamin, Barzillai (father)

Benjamin, Benjamin

Benjamin, Everard (son)

Benjamin, John

Bentley, Thomas

Berard, E.

Besley, Thauvet

Biershing, Henry

Bigelow, John

Bigelow & Brothers

Billings, Andrew

Billings, Daniel

Black, James

Blackman, John Starr

Blackman, Frederick Starr

Blanchard, Asa

Bleasom & Reed

Blowers, John

Boehme, Charles L.

Boelen, Jacob (father)

Boelen, Hendrik (son)

Bogardus, Everadus

Bogert, Nicholas J.

Bond, W.

Bontecou, Timothy

Bontecou, Timothy, Jr.

Boone, Jeremiah

Bostwick, Zalmon

Bosworth, Samuel

Botsford, Gideon, B.

Boudinot, Elias

Boudot, Louis

Boutier, John

Bowne, Samuel

Boyce, Gerardus

Boyce, John

Boyce & Jones (Gerardus & William)

Boyd, Joseph W.

Boyer, Daniel

Bradbury, Theophilus

Bradley, Abner

Bradley, Phineas

Bradley, Zebul

Bradley & Merriman (Zebul & Merriman Jr.)

Brady, E.

Bramhall, S.

Brasher, A.

Brasher, Ephraim

Breed, William

Brenton, Benjamin

Brevoort, John

Brewer, Charles

Bridge, John

Brigden, C.

Brigden, Zachariah

Brock, John

Brock, L.

Brookhouse, Robert

Brooks, Samuel

Brower, S. & B.

Brower & Rusher

Brown, D.

Brown, John

Brown, Robert

Brown, Samuel C.

Bruff, Charles Oliver

Bruff, Joseph (father)

Bruff, Joseph (son)

Bruff, Thomas (son)

Bryan, Phillip

Buel, Abel

Buell, Samuel

Buichle, Lewis

Bull, G. W.

Burdock, Nicholas

Burger, David I.

Burger, John

Burnet & Ryder

Burnett, Charles A.

Burr, Christopher A.

Burr, Ezekiel

Burrill, Samuel

Burt, Benjamin (son)

Burt, John

Burt, Samuel (son)

Burt, William (son)

Bussey, Benjamin

Butler, James

Buzell, J. L.

Byrne, James

Early American Silversmiths: Letter C

Cammon, Alexander

Campbell, Christopher

Campbell, Robert

Campbell, R. & A.

Campbell, Thomas

Candell, Charles

Canfield, Samuel

Cario, William

Carleton & Co.

Carlile, Abraham

Carrel, John & Daniel

Cary, Lewis

Casey, Gideon

Casey, Samuel (bro.)

Chalmers, James Sr.

Chalmers, John (son)

Charters, Cann & Dunn

Chitry, Peter

Chittenden, Ebenezer

Churchill, Jesse

Churchill & Treadwell

Clark, George C.

Clark, George D.

Clark, I.

Clark, I. & H.

Clark, Joseph (brother of Thomas)

Clark, J. H.

Clark, Levi

Clark, Thomas (brother of Joseph)

Clark, William

Clark & Anthony

Clarke, Jonathan

Cleveland, Aaron

Cleveland, Benjamin

Cleveland, William

Cleveland & Post (William & Samuel)

Cobb, Ephraim

Coburn, John

Coddington, John

Coe & Upton, & H. L. Sawyer

Coen, Daniel

Cogswell, H.

Coit, E. (brother)

Coit, Thomas Chester

Coit & Mansfield (T. C. & Elisha)

Cole, Albert

Coleman, B.

Coleman, Nathaniel

Coleman, S.

Coles, John A.

Coley, William

Collins, Arnold

Coney, John

Connell, M.

Conning, J.

Connor, John W.

Conyers, Richard

Cook, John

Coolidge, Joseph Jr.

Cooper, Francis W.

Cooper, G.

Cornelius, Christian

Cornell, Walter

L'Couvertie, Louis

Coverly, Thomas

Cowell, William

Cowell, William Jr.

Cowan, William D.

Cowles, Ralph

Cox, J. & I.

Crawford, John

Crosby, Jonathan

Cross, William

Currier & Trott

Curry, John

Curry & Preston

Curtiss, Candee & Stiles

Curtiss & Dunning

Curtis, Lewis

Cutler, A.

Cutler, E.

Dodge, John

Dodge, Nehemiah

Dodge, Seril

Dole, D. N.

Dole, E. G.

Donovan, William

Doolittle, Amos

Dorsey, Joshua

Douglas, James W.

Douglas, Robert

Dowig, George

Downes, J.

Downing, G. R.

Downing & Phelps

Drewry, George

Drown, T. P.

Drowne, Samuel

Drowne, Shem

Du Bois, Abraham

Dubois, Joseph

Dubois, Tunis D.

Duffel, James

Dummer, Jeremiah

Dumoutet, John B.

Dunham, R.

Dunn, Cary

Dupuy, Daniel

Dupuy & Sons

Duvalier

Dwight, Timothy

Early American Silversmiths: Letter E

Easton & Sanford (James & F. S.)

Eayres, Thomas Stevens

Edwards, John

Edwards, Joseph Jr.

Edwards, Samuel

Edwards, Thomas

Embree

Emery, Stephen

Emery, Thomas Knox

Ensign

Eoff, Garrett

Eoff & Howell

Eoff & Phyfe

Eoff & Shepherd

Erwin, Henry

Erwin, John

Etter, B.

Evans, Henry

Evans, John

Evans, Robert

Ewan, John

Early American Silversmiths: Letter F

Fairchild, Robert

Faris, Charles

Faris, William

Farley, Charles

Farnam, C. H.

Farnam, Henry

Farnam, Rufus

Farnam, R. & H.

Farnam, Thomas

Farnam & Ward

Farnham & Owen

Farr, John C.

Farrington & Hunnewell

Fellows, Abraham

Fellows & Green

Fellows & Storm

Fenno, J.

Feurt, Peter

Fielding, George

Fireng, J. P.

Fisher, Thomas

Fitch, John

Fite, John

Fletcher, Thomas

Fletcher & Gardiner

Forbes, Abraham G.

Forbes, Collins V. G.

Forbes, C. V. G. & Son

Forbes, Garret

Forbes, John W.

Forbes, William G.

Force, Jabez W.

Foster, John

Foster, Joseph

Foster, Thomas

Fourniquet, Lewis

Francis, Nathaniel

Franciscus, George

Freeborn, N.

Freemans, J. M. & Co.

Frobisher, Benjamin C.

Frost & Mumford

Fueter, Daniel C.

Fueter, Lewis

Early American Silversmiths: Letter G

Gale, John

Gale, John L.

Gale, John S.

Gale, William

Gale, William, Jr.

Gale, William & Son

Gale, Wood & Hughes

Gale & Hayden

Gale & Mosley

Gale & Stickler

Gardiner, Baldwin

Gardner, John

Garrett, P.

Garrett, T. C. & Co.

Gaskins, J.

Gaskins, W. W.

Geffroy, Nicholas

Gelston, George S.

Gelston, Hugh

Gelston, Ladd & Co.

Germon, John D.

Gerrish, Timothy

Gethen, William

Getz, Peter

Ghiselin, Cesar

Ghiselin, William

Gibbs, John

Gifing, Christopher

Gilbert, Samuel

Gilbert, William W.

Gill, Caleb

Gilman, Benjamin Clark

Gilman, John Ward

Goddard, D. & Son

Goelet, Philip

Goldthwaite, Joseph

Goodhue, John

Gooding, Henry

Gooding, Josiah

Goodwin, Benjamin

Goodwin, Horace & Allyn

Gordon, Alexander S.

Gordon, G.

Gorham, Jabez & Son

Gorham, Miles

Gorham (Jabez) & Webster

Gould, James

Gowen, William

Grant, Thomas

Grant, William, Jr.

Gray, G.

Gray, John

Gray, Robert

Gray, Samuel

Green, Benjamin

Greene, Rufus

Greenleaf, David

Greenleaf, David, Jr.

Griffin & Hoyt

Grigg, William

Grignon, Rene

Griswold, William

Gurley, William

Gunn, Enos

Early American Silversmiths: Letter H

Hackle, William

Hall, David

Hall, Joseph

Hall & Hewson

Hall & Merriman

Halsey, Jabez

Halsted, Benjamin

Hamersly, Thomas

Hamill, James

Hamlin, William

Hancock, John

Hannah, W. W.

Hanners, George

Hanners, George, Jr.

Harding, Newell

Hardy, Stephen

Harland, Thomas

Harris & Stanwood

Harris & Wilcox

Hart, Eliphaz

Hart, Judah

Hart, William

Hart & Smith

Hart & Wilcox

Harwood

Hastier, John

Hastier, Margueriette

Haugh, Samuel

Hayden & Gregg

Hayes, W.

Hays & Myers

Heath, John

Heck, Ludwig

Hedges, Daniel

Helme, Nathaniel

Henchman, Daniel

Hendricks, Ahasuerus

Hews, Abraham, Jr.

Heyer, W. B.

Higbie & Crosby

Hiller, Benjamin

Hinsdale, Ephahras

Hitchcock, Eliakim

Hobart, Joshua

Hobbs, Nathan

Hodge, John

Hoffman, James M.

Holland, Littleton

Hollingshead, William

Holmes, Adrian B.

Holyoke, Edward

Homes, William, Sr.

Homes, William, Jr.

Hood & Tobey

Hull, John

Hull & Sanderson

Humphreys, Richard

Huntington, Philip

Hurd, Benjamin

Hurd, Jacob

Hurd, Nathaniel

Hurlbert, Philip

Hurst, Henry

Hussey, Stephen

Hutchins, Jacob

Hutchins, Nicholas

Hutton, Isaac

Hutton, John

Hyde

Hyde & Goodwich

Hyde & Nevins

 

Work in progress

Bibliography

This article draws on two major reference works in the field of antique silver:

• Graham, James (compiler). Early American Silver Marks. New York, 1936. Smithsonian Libraries Collection.
• A List of Early American Silversmiths and Their Marks by Hollis French (1917)

These foundational texts have been instrumental in shaping our understanding of early American hallmarking traditions. 

All hallmark images and maker references featured in this article were sourced directly from these original publications.

 

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