Daily AncestorSilversmith
A silversmith made articles of silver, such as spoons, cups, teapots and buckles, usually larger pieces than a jeweler's work.
Colonial silversmiths hammered silver coins and bars into tableware for wealthy customers, who often used silver objects as a way to store value. Paul Revere of Boston is the best-known American example.
Many silversmiths also made jewelry, repaired watches or engraved. Their marked pieces are collected and documented, so a silversmith ancestor may have surviving, identifiable work.
As seen in a recordColonial records and city directories
Jno. Dane, silversmith, of Boston
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Silversmith." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/silversmith. Last checked 2026-10-01.