William Adams and Sons (Potters)
From Graces Guide
of Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Earlier titles: W. Adams; W. Adams and Co; W. Adams and Son. [1]
1769 to ?1990s
- The Adams family had potteries in Staffordshire as early as 1650. At that date two brothers, William and Thomas, had separate ventures in Burslem. Such family activity has continued to the present. William Adams and Co, with large potteries in Tunstall is managed by members who are the 11th and 12th generations in direct descent from the original 17th century Adams of Burslem. [2]
- Attributing examples of china marked Adams to a particular man can be complicated and confusing because so many of them bore the same given name, William. This is particularly true with collectible Adams china.
- In the latter part of the 18th-century and continuing into the 19th, there were three William Adams. All were cousins and operated their own large potteries independent of the others. Further, with one exception, they were succeeded by sons of the same given name who, in the main, continued making the same kinds of wares. They were:
- William Adams (I) 1745-1805, of Greengate, Tunstall
- William Adams (II) 1748-1831, of Brickhouse, Burslem and later Cobridge Hall, Cobridge
- William Adams (III) 1772-1829, of Stoke-on-Trent. Important also was:
- William Adams (IV) 1798-1865, of Greenfield, Tunstall, son and successor to William Adams III
- 1925 Incorporated as William Adams and Sons (Potters) Ltd. [3]
- 1947 Advert in British Industries Fair Catalogue as Exhibiting Member of the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation of Federation House, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Composite Exhibit. (Pottery and Glassware Section - Olympia, Ground Floor, Stand No. A.1211) [4]
- 1966 William Adams was acquired by the Wedgwood Group - they continued to manufacture ware with the Adam name, sometimes also with the Wedgwood Group name.