Silversmith J.C. WILSON

[gloverfl]

I have a family heirloom coin silver serving spoon with maker's mark J.C. WILSON. The original owner of the monogrammed spoon, Ephraim Gilmore Means (1795 -1873), lived in Romney, Virginia (now West Virginia). Family story is that the spoon was made from silver dollars the owner earned as a drummer boy in the war of 1812. Traditionally, the spoon has been passed on to our family's oldest surviving son. I inherited the spoon in 1982.

Despite expert assistance, I have been unable to uncover any reliable information regarding the silversmith, J.C. WILSON. However, I have found for sale a set of coin silver teaspoons and a coin silver sugar tongs. Each item had a J.C. WILSON maker's mark identical to that on our serving spoon.

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I am interested in obtaining facts regarding the silversmith J.C. WILSON. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

[Waylander]

Hi

Welcome to the Forum and thanks for your post. While I can't help, we have a number of experts in American coin silver who may be able to assist.

Really like the story behind the spoon too.

Regards

Waylander

[silverly]

I can't do any follow up on this right now myself, but do find a seller selling sugar tongs with what might be the same marking and attributing it to JC Wilson Houston, Texas.

[wev]

I have seen this mark at least half a dozen times on flatware c 1830 or so. I have never found any commonality of locale nor any further information on a possible maker/retailer. The person with the "Texas" tongs could offer no justification for that assumption (except, perhaps, rarity of locale always boosts sales).

[gloverfl]

Dear wev ~ I believe that you are correct. The marking shown on the Confederate sword looks nothing like the J.C. Wilson maker's mark on the spoon or the sugar tongs. I suspect that any suggested Houston connection with the spoon is erroneous, and that the it was made in a place like Philadelphia or Baltimore. These cities are more proximate to Romney, West Virginia and Delaware, Ohio where the original owner of the spoon lived until his death in 1873.

[gloverfl]

I am wondering if the quality of the EGM monogram on the spoon handle could provide a clue as to where and when the spoon was made.