Made By Ezra Bryan?—

An 18th Century Newtown Chest Emerges In Canada

By Jan Howard

A rare six-board blanket chest created by an 18th Century craftsman in Newtown now resides appropriately in a Canadian Loyalist-built stone house in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

When the Newtown Historical Society recently received an account book of the pre-Revolutionary War era that provided a rare look at the life and methods of a colonial carpenter, Ezra Bryan, it was not known whether any of the furniture he created existed in the area.

While Canada is definitely not in the area, the chest’s existence there has excited Town Historian Dan Cruson. During a trip to New Brunswick, he met the current owner, Owen Fowler, who found the chest by accident while attending an estate sale about two years ago.

Mr Fowler collects antiques that he is able to attribute to a person, in this case Annis Skidmore of Newtown. “He is a passionate collector,” Mr Cruson said. “He showed me some of his other treasures. He has a wonderful collection.”

It is definitely Annis Skidmore’s wooden chest, Mr Cruson said. Her initials are inscribed on the back, and later her grandson, David Albert Brown, carved his initials in the top. During his visit with Mr Fowler, Mr Cruson was thrilled to touch the chest and run his hands over the initials of its owner, Annis, who had followed her Loyalist husband to Canada following the Revolutionary War.

The account book, which had been brought to Tucker Frey’s antique shop by Mary Silks, a direct descendent of Ezra and his father, Alexander, documents Mr Bryan’s work from 1760 to the 1790s. Though the six-board blanket chest is not mentioned in the Bryan account book, “There is no question it’s a Bryan chest,” Mr Cruson said.

“Tucker Frey is convinced it could date as early as 1750,” he said. If so, the chest could have been made by Ezra’s father, who was also a carpenter. Mr Cruson noted, however, that Ezra was making the same type of chests as his father, who died in 1760, and that this chest might have been made by him prior to the account book, which was begun in 1759.

“It could be earlier than the 1770s when the Skidmores purchased furniture from Ezra Bryan,” he said. The account book mentions several transactions between Mr Bryan and John Skidmore during the 1760s and 1770s.

“Bryan had done a lot of work for Skidmore so it is inconceivable that the chest was not made by Bryan,” he said. If sold to an antique dealer, the chest’s pedigree would be accepted, he added.

“There is enough documentation that a Bryan made the chest,” Mr Cruson said. “The pedigree is very certain. According to Tucker Frey, there is no question it’s an American chest.” The chest has feet, he noted, which those made in New Brunswick did not.

Mr Cruson said he has given Mr Fowler documentation about the chest and scans of the Bryan account book that mention Skidmore purchases. “He was tickled pink,” Mr Cruson said.

In a letter to Mr Cruson in June, Mr Fowler wrote that the chest he owns with Annis’ initials conforms to American style, and “I believe, indicates that it is probably the only piece or the only surviving piece, to have been brought from the USA during the loyalist exodus.”

He wrote that the style is not of New Brunswick origin because the six-board chests created there were not raised from the floor, “nor were they of the narrow front to back proportions seen in this piece.”

It is believed that Annis probably used the chest to carry a few possessions, such as clothing and linens, she was able to bring with her on the ship that took her to Canada.

According to Mr Fowler, the chest remained on the Browns original homestead until he purchased it at the auction.

 “There was an inventory of goods of 225 years being auctioned off,” Mr Cruson said. “It included this chest, but they didn’t know what it was.” Because the chest was not in good condition, it was overlooked by antique dealers, he said.

Mr Cruson said that after Mr Fowler purchased the chest, he knew there was a Newtown connection because of Annis. He began looking at articles on The Newtown Bee website that led him to Mr Cruson, then called him “out of the blue,” Mr Cruson noted. They corresponded, which in turn led to the visit in New Brunswick.

The chest measures about five feet by two and a half feet off the floor by two feet wide.

“It shows 250 years of use and wear,” Mr Cruson said. “It’s in its original condition, but the original lock is missing.”

Ezra Bryan’s father-in-law, Samuel Peck, was a blacksmith. “It would be fun to know if he was the blacksmith that made the hardware for the chest,” Mr Cruson said. “But that’s highly speculative.”

From entries in the account book, it appears that Annis was working for Mr Bryan at one time, but Mr Cruson said it is not clear what she did, though “she obviously had a business relationship with Ezra Bryan.”

Not much is known about Annis, Mr Cruson said, but her father had held several positions in Newtown. Her parents remained in Newtown after her departure, and appear to have been Patriots during the Revolution.

Annis Skidmore married Zachariah Brown in 1770. He is listed among the names of those who lived in the Obtuse Road area where Ezra Bryan resided.

“They were neighbors of where I live today,” Mr Cruson said. Mr Bryan was one of the signers for the school district for the Lake George school district, he noted.

In 1775, Zachariah joined the DeLancey Brigade, a group of Americans who were fighting for the British, which made him “not as welcome here after the war,” Mr Cruson said.

About 1783, the couple went to New Brunswick, though there is no actual record of their departure, and were probably among the first settlers of Fredericton, he said.

Unfortunately, Mr Cruson said, Annis died soon after the move, probably before 1790.

Mr Cruson believes that Annis may have followed Zachariah to Canada. “He would have gone right after the war. She probably joined him later. I don’t think the estate was confiscated.” However, he noted, further research is needed regarding Annis Skidmore Brown and Zachariah Brown, and more information about the couple and their connection with the Bryans may be available in the future.