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WILSON POTTERY FOUNDATION
The Descendants of Hiram, James, and Wallace Wilson Historical Foundation DBA Wilson Pottery Foundation
Founders
Hiram Wilson
Hiram Wilson, aided financially by the Baptist Missionary, Reverend Leonard Isley, formed his own pottery business and brought along other Freedmen who also had taken on the surname of the slave master, Reverend John McKamie Wilson, Jr. James, Wallace, Andrew and George all worked with him. They forged ahead and were also successful in the pottery business.
The pottery made by these Wilsons at the second Wilson Pottery site followed the same configuration of the pottery made at the first pottery site, known as the Guadalupe Pottery. However, they added some innovative changes to some of the features. For instance, instead of tie down tops, rims were added to the jars that supported lids, and crescent shaped handles were replaced with horseshoe shaped handles. Hiram also started placing the name of his shop, H. Wilson & Co., on his wares, which was an ideal way of distinguishing pottery made at his shop. Not all of his pottery included this name, leading one to believe it was an afterthought. However, it is a wonderful addition, especially for those of us wishing to purchase Wilson pottery for it leaves no doubt as to its origin.
Hiram, possessing a strong desire to advance himself and his fellow freedmen, thought in terms of developing a community where they could all live in harmony and advance their lives without strife. Again, aided by the Reverend Leonard Isley, he purchased large tracts of land for settlement in Capote. Of this land, he set aside 10 acres for a church, school, and cemetery and the community was formed. He sold portions of the land to his fellow freedmen for homesteads and farming.Hiram continued to advance by becoming a minister, founding the Capote Baptist Church, and becoming its first pastor. His connections with Reverend Leonard Isley also led him to become the first official pastor of Second Baptist Church in Seguin, Texas. At both churches, he was instrumental in providing a school for the children of the community.
He wanted to advance his peoples education. Therefore, he helped to establish the Guadalupe Baptist District Association that would allow Baptist Churches to work together under one umbrella to spread religious information. He is also credited with helping to found Guadalupe College to promote higher education for all his people. Seeking to advance his own education and become better in his chosen vocation, he entered Bishop College for study. Hiram lived a productive, but short life. He died in 1884.
After Hiram's death, James and Wallace left H. Wilson & Co. and became part owners of the Third Pottery Site, 41-Gu-4, currently owned and operated by Marion Durham, a white potter, and John Chandler, a black potter, both from the Edgefield District in South Carolina. They remained in business until 1903. The pottery at this site follows the same configuration as the others. However, most wares manufactured here tend to have the orange peel look and are of a grayish color. The selection of clay determines the color.
Philosophy
This Foundation operates from the point of view that we are a public entity organized to conserve and share the Wilson heritage with the general public. We seek to explore avenues of discovery that will lend support to our endeavors and help bring our goals to fruition.
The Foundation is financially conservative, aiming always to operate within the stated guidelines set by the IRS. In addition, we remain fiscally and financially sound, taking steps to assure we are operating within the limits of our budget and the funds that we have available for use. We encourage youth involvement, thereby enlightening and transferring our heritage from generation to generation.
Our Products
We offer original products that are tied into an important time in history, the time of the Wilson potters. We use the proceeds from the sale of our products as fundraisers to help open a Wilson Pottery Museum in honor of the 19th Century Wilson Potters and their contemporaries of Guadalupe County. It will also allow us to share their history with the public at large. This means that along with purchasing a high-quality product at a low price, you are also helping a worthy cause.
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