Notes for: Thomas Jefferson CASWELL
Caswell House is recognized for its architecture. This two-storey dwelling is a good example of vernacular Second Empire residential architecture. Among the traditional details of this style exhibited by this residence is the mansard roof. It was built in 1840 for Thomas Jefferson Caswell
Caswell House is also recognized for its association with it original occupants. Thomas Jefferson Caswell and his wife Sarah Livermore came to Milltown in 1830 from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Caswell was an outstanding local cabinetmaker. His furniture plant was located on the banks of the St. Croix River. He was a contemporary of notable St. Stephen cabinet maker John Warren Moore. His work was applied with carved medallions and stamped 'TJC' in cartouche with a metal stamp. The descendants of Thomas J. Caswell occupied the house until the late 1970’s.
Thomas Jefferson Caswell
Thomas Jefferson Caswell was born in Harrison, ME, in March of 1806. He was the son of Simeon and Rachel Caswell. He was married to Sarah Livermore (1810 – 1878) and was the father of one son and seven daughters. He died In 1894 at Milltown, N.B. at the age of eighty-eight. He was quite young when he and his family arrived in Milltown, N.B. and he subsequently built a large white house on Main Street. (This was built before the brick building, which now houses Jack Reid’s apartment building. T. J. Caswell had a large furniture shop near the river at the end of what was then Elm St. and is now Murchie Ave.
John Moore and Caswell probably worked together at one time as their works bore very similar resemblances.
An advertisement in Hutchinson’s 1865 Provincial Directory read:
Thomas J. Caswell
Water Street
Milltown & St. Stephen
Manufacturer & Dealer in furniture & chairs. Special attention paid to Birch and Pine tables, wood bottom CHAIRS, SETTEES of any kind or length from the Nursery Cradle to the Public Hall; Cottage & Round Cornered Bedsteads, Chamber Sets of the newest style. The above articles constantly on hand or made to order at the shortest notice.
T.J. Caswell’s work and that of John Moore were so similar that it is thought that both men were apprenticed to the same cabinet maker.
For those young men who apprenticed under a master cabinetmaker hard and fast rules were set and a contract drawn. It was expected to be faithfully followed. Usually five to six years of apprenticeship were common. Young men were not allowed to imbibe spirits, gamble or marry during this time and were expected to serve their master faithfully. The master, in turn, would be responsible for the young apprentice. As well as teaching him the trade, he provided “food, drink and lodging”. Clothing was also provided after the first year as well, to the amount of forty dollars. If the apprentice should be ill for any considerable period during the first part of his apprenticeship the apprentice would to bear an equal proportion of the expense. Schooling was also included and the master saw that the apprentice was taught reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic at least for a period of three months during the apprenticeship.
One apprentice known to be taught by Caswell was Eben Thompson. T. J. Caswell’s work were owned by family members, chairs especially, were numerous and varied in styles that spanned 60 years. A chest of drawers by Caswell strongly resembled one made by John Moore in 1845.