Trunk, by John Williams, Bangor, Maine, 1830-1850. Maine State Museum. Gift of Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr., 2017.1.4.
Trunk, by John Williams, Bangor, Maine, 1830-1850. Maine State Museum. Gift of Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr., 2017.1.4.
John Williams, the maker of this trunk, was a leading Bangor businessman and master craftsman. In 1828, he was one of four founders of the Bangor Mechanics Association. He reasoned: "there was much feeling at this time among the apprentices against the clerks in stores on account of their real or supposed assumption of superiority, and the older mechanics were determined to afford the apprentices such opportunities as it was in there power to provide, to become at least the equals, if not the superiors, of the clerks in intelligence and cultivation."
Williams trained many apprentices, a number of whom lived with his family.