Thomas Chiles Perrin Pitcher
Mark on bottom of pitcher "WOOD&HUGHES"
GALE, WOOD & HUGHES: One of the most important New York City firms of the mid 19th century Gale, Wood and Hughes. The later were apprentices of William Gale. Then formed partnership in 1835 at 116 Fulton St. Together until 1845 when the younger smiths formed their owned firm.
Wood & Hughes
New York, NY 1845-1899.
Founded by Jacob Wood and Jasper W. Hughes. Successors to
Gale, Wood & Hughes. Acquired in 1899 by Graff,Washbourne & Dunn who in turn was acquired by Gorham in 1961. Makers of sterling and coin flatware and holloware.
Monmouth County NJ Archives Biographies.....Wood, Henry 1830 - 1900
Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor (1917)
WOOD, Henry,
Artistic Silversmith.
At the time of his death in January, 1900, Henry Wood was one of the oldest silversmiths and jewelers in New York City. He learned the silversmith's trade in that city, advanced to junior, then to senior member of the firm with which he learned his trade, and until his death, continued head of Wood & Hughes, manufacturing silversmiths and jewelers, his entire business life having been passed with that firm. He was a man entirely devoted to his business and hisfamily, taking but little part in public affairs. This was true of his entire career, and while no man was better known in the jewelry trade, nor more highly regarded as friend, neighbor or citizen, he was not well known to the general public. He possessed all the private virtues, was honorable to the last degree, generous in his deeds of love, friendship or duty, one of the men who form the real bulwarks of the State, unselfish in their devotion and loyal to every trust.
Henry Wood was born in New City, Rockland county, New York, November 1, 1830,died January 13, 1900. His early life was spent in the country, where he
acquired a good education and laid the foundation upon which his later success was built. When quite a young man he went to New York City, entering the employof the manufacturing jewelry firm of Wood & Hughes as an apprentice. This firm was founded in 1833 by William Gale, Jacob Wood, and John H. Hughes. Jacob Wood and Jasper W. Hughes succeeded to the business in 1845, and at that time the firm began trading as Wood & Hughes, a name it yet retains after a lapse of seventy years. At the time of Henry Wood's entering the employ of the firm, his brother, Charles Wood, was the senior partner. After completing his apprenticeship and becoming thoroughly familiar with the business in factory and in office, Henry Wood was given an interest. This was in 1863, the principal partners then being his brother, Charles Wood, Stephen Fraprie and Charles H.Hughes. Dixon G. Hughes was also given an interest in the business and later he, with Henry Wood, was admitted to full partnership. In 1890 these two mensucceeded to full ownership and management, following the death of Charles Woodand Stephen Fraprie's ownership and management continuing until Henry Wood's death in 1900. Mr. Wood at different times during his connection with the business was in charge of the offices, and at others in charge of the factory, but his specialty was the manufacture of silver hollow ware, a line in which he had no superior. He was exceedingly fertile in beautiful appropriate designs, the artistic talent with which he was richly endowed suggesting a variety of treatment which, when wrought out by the skill of silversmith and jeweler, gaveto each article a distinction all its own. The leading jewelry firms of New York came to Wood & Hughes for artistic designs and superior workmanship, while all parts of the United States and even Europe drew largely upon their recognized skill and workmanship as silversmiths and jewelers. Mr. Wood had the happy faculty of inspiring his assistants in both factory and office with his own high ideals, and, from an artistic and a financial standpoint, the continued success of Wood & Hughes may be justly attributed to this spirit of cooperation, born of the enthusiasm of Henry Wood.
Mr. Wood married, June 9, 1880, Mary H. Chadwick. Their home was in New York City for nineteen years, but in 1899 they became residents of Red Bank, where Mrs. Wood yet resides near the scenes of her birth and earlier life.