Measure, Liquid

Object Name:

Measure, Liquid

Object ID:

1996.057.01-.05

Date:

circa 1750

Description:

Measures, copper, graduated set of five, c.1750, marked "PNH". Accompanying label, typed on index card, reads, "SET OF FIVE COPPER LIQUID MEASURES / OFFICIAL NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN MEASURES ALL / MARKED ON BASE WITH P.N.H. (PROVINCE OF / NEW HAMPSHIRE) AS REQUIRED BY A LAW PASSED / ON MAY 14, 1713. THE PURCHASE OF THESE / MEASURES WAS VOTED BY THE TOWN OF ORIGIN / AT TOWN MEETING ON MARCH 5, 1749. / MAKER UNKNOWN."

Measures, 1996.057.01-05. Copper, tin lined. Bottoms stamped impressed "PNH", except for .02 which is stamped "HNH". Hollow C-shaped handles, attached with rivets. Duff-tail marks visible by handles. Brass solder visible. Rolled and slightly flared rims.

Material:

Metal
Copper
Tin

Dimensions:

H-8.5 W-7 Dia-5.5 inches

Provenance:

These are believed to have been official measures for the town of South Hampton, NH (chartered in 1742), used as a standard against which all town measures were tested. The "PNH" mark probably stands for Province of New Hampshire (note that one measure is marked "HNH"). The New Hampshire Weights and Measures Act of 1718 required that each town have a sealer of weights and measures to be chosen by selectmen and town clerk. Each town was directed, at town charge, to supply its sealer with a set of weights and measures which must be "proved" and "sealed" by the Province Treasurer. It also specifies that all town standards shall be stamped with the mark "P.N.H." The sealer kept the weights and measures, until they were passed to a successor. The town of South Hampton ceased electing a sealer in 1917. The town measures were awarded to the last sealer, Arthur Morrill French.
Richard F. Upton (1914-1996), Concord and Bow, NH, purchased the measures c. 1960 from Barbara Taylor (antiques dealer, Georgetown, MA), who purchased them from Annie (Mrs. Arthur Morrill) French , South Hampton, NH.

Credit Line:

Bequest of the Estate of Richard F. Upton

Subjects:

Measures, Weights and measures