The flowerpot in the exhibit signed "J.R. Wooton" and dated "1890" has a Tennessee oral history. Census searches reveal a J.R. Wooten 42 years of age living in the household of N.L. Wooten in Jefferson County in 1880. Unfortunately, the 1890 Tennessee general census was destroyed which makes it difficult to locate him at the time the pot was made. To date the individual whose name is also incised on the flowerpot, "Hattie Halperon", has not been located in Tennessee records.

Smith and Rogers state that according to local tradition a "man named Hooten" worked for the potter Benjamin Anderson in Hawkins County around 1880. Also, Marcus King reports finding pottery sherds in Hawkins County and being told that a Hooten or Wooten potted in the area. Hooten is close to Wooten. Perhaps this man was J.R. Wooten. However, it is also possible that J.R. moved to Washington County, Virginia and potted with the Wootens in Zenobia.

More census and genealogical research is required to say with any surety where this pot was made.

Note: The background image is a stoneware jar incised in large script on the side "Jehu T Wooten".

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Napps, Klell Bayne, Ed.D. Traditional Pottery in Washington County, Virginia and
Sullivan County, Tennessee, The Historical Society of Washington County,
Virginia, Publications Series II, No. 10. 1972, pp. 3-16.

Smith, S. D. and Rogers, S. T. A Survey of Historic Pottery Making in Tennessee,
Nashville: Research Series, No. 3, Division of Archaeology, Tennessee Department
of Conservation, 1979, p.43.

King, Marcus, A personal communication.

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