Benedict Bros Spoons

[DBray6]

I have two spoons that are labeled BENEDICT BROS and have a W unidentifiable mark and then H. These are monogrammed. I have looked through the marks section of the website and haven't found any marks that match and nothing with Benedict Bros. I picked these spoons up at a thrift store and I am curious as to what I found. Also the feel and color of the spoons is different from any other flatware that I have found. They are much softer than regular silverplate. Any help greatly appreciated, I am new here and I am really glad I found this site.

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[2209patrick]

Hello and welcome.

I enhanced your picture.


Benedict Bros is likely a retailers mark.
Wondering if the marks to the left are an early ( coin silver ) Wood & Hughes mark.
http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_W3.html

Pat.
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[DBray6]

I also saw the the Wood and Hughes similarity. I cannot make out the middle symbol so I wasn't sure although suspected. Benedict Bros I know is a major high end watchmaker in New York City. Could this flatware have been a line specially made for them? I am new to flatware and I finding it very interesting. Any thoughts on what the metal of this flatware might be?
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[2209patrick]

If your Benedict Bros. retailer in New york was in business c.1860, it's possible it was sold by them.
Back then, jewelers often offered full lines of silver wares.

If I'm correct about the Wood & Hughes mark, then your spoon is coin silver.

Wait for other opinions. Sometimes it takes a while for other members to check in.

Pat.
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[silverly]

Although Ovington, Read, Alexander and Samuel Benedict were watch dealers at 5 Wall, New York City in the 1850's, the first listing of Benedict Bros at 5 Wall is found in the 1860 Trow's New York City Directory. At that time Ovington, Read and Samuel Benedict were at the 5 Wall business address.
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[dognose]

Apologies for maybe moving off topic, but I was wondering, as the Ovington name was fairly unusual, if there was a connection with Ovington Brothers, the subject of the below advertisement:


Ovington Brothers - New York - 1891

Trev.

[wev]

The Ovington brothers father, Henry Alexander and Ovington Benedict's mother Susan, were brother and sister.

[silverly]

...I was wondering, as the Ovington name was fairly unusual, if there was a connection with Ovington Brothers, the subject of the below advertisement:


Ovington Brothers - New York - 1891

Trev.

Just for added information, the brothers were fancy goods dealers Theodore T and Edward J.

[wev]

Plus, in later years, their respective sons, Charles and Edward, Jr., though the firm's name remained the same.

[dognose]

Thanks to you both. I note the link between the Benedict and Ovington families appears to originate from the marriage of Samuel Ward Benedict and Susan Ovington in 1822.

119. Samuel Ward 6 (Peter,* Thaddeus,* Thomas* James1 Thomas1), b. March 12, 1798; m. Jan. 23, 1822, Susan S.,' dau. Rev. William and Sarah (Alexander) Ovington of England, b. March 18, 1801. He established, in 1821, on the corner of Maiden Lane and Broadway, New York, the firm known since his connection with it ceased, as Benedict Brothers. A few years later the house removed to the south-west corner of Wall and William streets, and has ever since that time been successfully engaged in the jewelry business. It is one of the best known, most enterprising and honorable houses of its kind in the city. Careful business habits, prompitude, and a perfect knowledge of their entire affairs, are the leading characteristics of the establishment.* Ch.

Source: The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America - Henry Marvin Benedict - 1870

Trev.

[dognose]

Benedict Brothers - New York - 1871

Trev.

[silverly]

I really don't know what to make of all this, but age wise Read H fell between Ovington and Samuel W Jr. Wilson's New York City Copartnership Directory for 1868-69 has Benedict Bros Read and Ovington at 171 B'way. Benedict Bros Ovington & Samuel W Jr & Frederick P were at 691 B'wy. Another brother Edwin who is listed as a watchmaker in the 1870 New York, New York census does not show up in this directory. Edwin does show up in later New York City directories with Read and Frederick P.