Pair of Silver Spurs
WOA: A) 2 1/2″
B) 2 3/4″
MAKER: Thomas Sparrow was a silversmith working in Annapolis, Maryland, c. 1765-1773. It is known that Thomas Sparrow, born Chatham, Barnstable Co., Maryland in 1746, apprenticed as a silversmith and jeweler in Philadelphia ca 1760-63 and worked there 1763-65. He was hired by William Farris of Annapolis, Maryland March 21, 1765, then opened his own silversmith/jewelry business there December 13, 1765. His distinctive hallmark script TS in relief within rectangular depression appears on teaspoon shanks, etc.
He married Esther Smith, born June 1, 1750 of Chatham, Maryland. Sparrow is important to numismatic research because his TS signature appears on some of the 1783 silver shillings, sixpences and three penny bits struck in Annapolis by silversmith John Chalmers. However, he has not been traced beyond 1784 and his date of death in unknown.
An advertisement list the following: THOMAS SPARROW / Goldsmith and Jeweller / from Philadelphia, / Has just open’d SHOP / near St. Anne’s CHURCH / in South-East Street, / ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. / MAKES all sort of GOLD and SILVER WORK, such as Tureens, Tea Kettles, Bread Baskets, Chafing Dishes, Coffee Pots, Butter Boats, large and small Winters holding from 1 Glass to 18, fluted Soup Ladles, Tankards of all Sizes, Sugar Dishes, Punch Bowls, Tea Pots, Cream Pots, Quart, Pint, and Half Pint Cans, Slop Bowls, Porringers, Soup Spoons, Table Spoons of all Sorts, Pap Ditto, Tea Ditto, round salts, Casters, Virgin Candlesticks, Pepper Boxes, Punch Strainers, Tea ditto, Tea Tongs plain or pierc’d, chas ‘d, pierc’d, gadroon’d, and plain Sword Hilts, carv’d and plain Stock buckles, sleeve Buckles, carv’d, pierc’d, and plain Shoe Buckles, Broaches, Rings, Coat and Jacket Buttons of all Sizes and Fashions, Tortoise-shell Buttons tipt with Silver, Sleeve Buttons and Studs of all Sorts, Stock Clasps, Shoe Ditto, Pocket Book Ditto, Whistle and Bells chas’d or plain, Whip and Can Heads, chas’d and plain snuff Boxes, Shell Ditto tipt with Gold and Silver, Silver Spurs, Scissor and Pincushion Chains, and Hearts, Watch Chains of all Sorts, Seals of all Sorts, Thimbles, Spectacle Rims and Cases, Arm, Hair, and Wrist Plates, for Indians, Gorgets, and all Sorts of Work for Traders, Garter Buckles, Belt Ditto, Waist band Ditto, Gold Buttons and Studs, Gold Thimbles, Gold Rings, Tortoiseshell Rings lined with Gold, Motto Rings, and Stone Motto Rings, with 1,2,3 Doors, to lock, for secret Names, and to contain Hair, (such as was never made before Gold Lockets, Doctors Instruments of all Sorts, Silver Pipes, Masons Medals and Instruments, Parlour Sconces, Candlesticks, Barometers, Antiguglars, Hydrometers, Ivory Cups and Balls, Ivory Rules, Billiard Balls, Dies, Maces, Guns and Pistols mounted in Silver, Engraving Plates, Cyphers, and Letters at a Penny each Letter, and manufactures all kinds of Stones.
An advertisement list the following: THOMAS SPARROW / Goldsmith and Jeweller / from Philadelphia, / Has just open’d SHOP / near St. Anne’s CHURCH / in South-East Street, / ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. / MAKES all sort of GOLD and SILVER WORK, such as Tureens, Tea Kettles, Bread Baskets, Chafing Dishes, Coffee Pots, Butter Boats, large and small Wainters holding from 1 Glass to 18, fluted Soup Ladles, Tankards of all Sizes, Sugar Dishes, Punch Bowls, Tea Pots, Cream Pots, Quart, Pint, and Half Pint Cans, Slop Bowls, Porringers, Soup Spoons, Table Spoons of all Sorts, Pap Ditto, Tea Ditto, round salts, Casters, Virgin Candlesticks, Pepper Boxes, Punch Strainers, Tea ditto, Tea Tongs plain or pierc’d, chas’d, pierc’d, gadroon’d, and plain Sword Hilts, carv’d and plain Stock buckles, sleeve Buckles, carv’d, pierc’d, and plain Shoe Buckles, Broaches, Rings, Coat and Jacket Buttons of all Sizes and Fashions, Tortoise-shell Buttons tipt with Silver, Sleeve Buttons and Studs of all Sorts, Stock Clasps, Shoe Ditto, Pocket Book Ditto, Whistle and Bells chas’d or plain, Whip and Can Heads, chas’d and plain snuff Boxes, Shell Ditto tipt with Gold and Silver, Silver Spurs, Scissor and Pincushion Chains, and Hearts, Watch Chains of all Sorts, Seals of all Sorts, Thimbles, Spectacle Rims and Cases, Arm, Hair, and Wrist Plates, for Indians, Gorgets, and all Sorts of Work for Traders, Garter Buckles, Belt Ditto, Waist band Ditto, Gold Buttons and Studs, Gold Thimbles, Gold Rings, Tortoiseshell Rings lined with Gold, Motto Rings, and Stone MottoRings, with 1,2,3 Doors, to lock, for secret Names, and to contain Hair, (such as was never made before) Gold Lockets, Doctors Instruments of all Sorts, Silver Pipes, Masons Medals and Instruments, Parlour Sconces, Candlesticks, Barometers, Antiguglars, Hydrometers, Ivory Cups and Balls, Ivory Rules, Billiard Balls, Dies, Maces, Guns and Pistols mounted in Silver, Engraving Plates, Cyphers, and Letters at a Penny each Letter, and manufactures all kinds of Stones.
