J. Hansell - Silversmith ?

[bobwl]

I am trying to find out some information about J. (James?) Hansell, an american silversmith, active in the late 1790's to 1820's. The two reference books I have do not show any information about him. I have found other items marked by him, mostly tea spoons. I did come across some information that had him working in the Valley Forge/Philadelphia area, but this information cannot be verified. I have an extremely well made three piece tea set, marked "J. Hansell", "Sterling" with an eagle pseudo mark.
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[2209patrick]

One of my books lists a James Hansell (c.1816 - 1850).
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
No picture of the mark shown.

Pat.
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[byron mac donald]

Hi Tom-

The James Hansell you mention here, I believe was a clock maker at least to all that I can find on the internet.

Regards- Byron
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[dragonflywink]

Can you post pictures of the mark? Would seem unusual to me for silver from the late 1790s-1820s to be marked as "sterling".

~Cheryl
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[silverly]

There is a James Hansell in the 1856 Philadelphia Directory listed as a jeweler at 236 Market.
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[silverly]

It looks like the James Hansell that I have referred to in the previous post is basically the same gentleman that has been discussed in the other posts in this thread. James Hansell is listed as a watchmaker in the 1850 Census for Philadelphia. He was born in Pennsylvania in about 1793. In the 1860 census James is still listed in Philadelphia but without an occupation, so 1855 must have been near the ending of his working career. My guess that the majority of his working life was in Philadelphia and his beginnings were in Valley Forge.
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