11/01/2026
The Artifact of the Month Series Returns!
For November, we’re featuring a pair of handcrafted silver spoons from our collection that belonged to Brinley Sylvester (1694–1752) and his wife, Mary Sylvester, née Burroughs, (1701–1751). Brinley built the present Manor House between 1735 and 1737, replacing his grandfather Nathaniel's original house. Upon completion, Brinley and Mary moved in with their two daughters, Margaret and Mary, who were teenagers at the time.
The spoons were made by Jacob Hurd, one of Boston’s most prolific silversmiths from 1723 to 1758. Hurd helped establish the reputation of American-made silverware as equal in quality to pieces imported from England. Because the American colonies were not able to mine and refine their own silver, the spoons are made of "coin silver," recovered from coins.
The misshapen bowls of the spoons may hold clues to their history. The basin's worn shape may suggest heavy right-handed use, though future use-wear analysis could help us better understand how they were handled over time.
The spoons are displayed on Brinley’s chair-table, which remains preserved at the Manor House today. These special objects hold stories of the past, offering a fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of the family who first called Sylvester Manor home nearly 300 years ago.
