The Remember Preston Beaker: An American silver beaker, Jonathan Trott, Boston, circa 1755

tapered cylindrical, in small semi-script The Gift of Remember Preston, To the Church of Dorchester

Bequest of Remember Preston in 1747 to

The First Parish in Dorchester, Dorchester, MA

Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1911. American Church Silver of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, with a few pieces of Domestic Plate, no. 960, p. 117
Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, loan, 1938-2011

William Blake Trask, Early Matters Relating to the Town and First Church of Dorchester, 1886, p. 11.
John Henry Buck, Old Plate, its Makers & Marks, 1903, p. 239-40.
E. Alfred Jones, The Old Silver of American Churches, 1913, p. 145.
Patricia E. Kane, Colonial Massachusetts Silversmiths and Jewelers, 1998, p. 932.

very good condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Remember Preston was born in Dorchester on 4 November 1678, the son of Daniel Preston III and his wife Abigail Jackson.  He was the grandson of Daniel Preston II (1649-1726) a Deacon and Ruling Elder of the First Church of Dorchester and great-grand son of Daniel Preston I (1622-1707) who was also a Deacon of the Church.  On 3 May 1705 he married Bebe Bird, daughter of Joames Bird and Ann Withington.  The couple died without issue, Bebe in 1746 and Remember in 1755.  The present lot was almost certainly purchased with funds provided by Preston's estate.  His will dated 11 May 1747 and proved on 30 May 1755 states "I give and bequesth unto this Church in Dorchester the sum of £30 to be used as ye s^d Church shall see fit & to be paid by my Executor hereafter named within two years after my Decease."  His nephew and namesake, Remember Preston (father of Sarah Preston Adams, the donor of lots 188 and 125) was the executor of the estate.

Patricia Kane notes in Colonial Massachusetts Silversmiths and Jewelers, 1998, p. 932., that Jonathan Trott likely specialized in the making of small objects as the majority of the surviving objects bearing his mark are spoons.  Larger objects were likely outsourced to other Boston silversmiths, including Paul Revere Jr. whose ledgers record the six tankards Trott supplied to the Third Church in Brookfield.