Manufacturer: Maddock Pottery
User: Fraunces Tavern
Name of pattern: #146 Beslin Border
Distributor: L. Barth & Son
Date of examples: 1907 – 1924

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Notes: Fraunces Tavern, at 54 Pearl and Broad Streets in New York City, dates back to 1719, when it was built as a private home. Samuel Fraunces bought it in 1762 and converted it into a tavern.

It was the site for a number of events during the Revolutionary War period. During a "turtle feast" dinner on Dec. 4, 1783, for example, Gen. George Washington bade farewell to his officers there. From 1785 to 1790, it served as the seat of the Confederation Congress.

The building suffered several serious fires beginning in 1832 and was rebuilt several times, with two floors added. By 1900, it was slated for demolition. But in 1904, the site was purchased by the Sons of the Revolution, and an extensive conjectural reconstruction was begun, which was completed in 1907. (A conjectural reconstruction is the returning of a place as nearly as possible to what is thought to be its original state.) The first floor was leased as a restaurant, while the upper floors became a museum.

Today (2025), the tavern – advertising itself as Revolutionary Since 1762 – is still open with numerous named bars and rooms, as well as the Fraunces Tavern Museum. Click here to visit the website.

Maddock Pottery produced plates on their American China body line that are crested with a portrait of George Washington with "Fraunces Tavern" curved below. The blue transfer border flanking the crest is #146 Beslin pattern. Plates have impressed Maddock's American China backstamps, with transfer L. Barth & Son, New York.

The rectangular Lamberton pin trays with pink decal borders and coin gold rim lines (shown above) may have been used as souvenir items for banquet guests.

Sources:
Wikipedia – history
New York Public Library – 1907 menu

Contributor:
Larry Paul: author