EAVES, William (1792-1879) British-American diesinker.
Born Birmingham, England, May 1792. Developed skill
as diesinker and buttonmaker. Through a friend he is
offered a position in America by J.M.L and W.H. Scovill
but refused to come until they sent an emissary, Israel
Holmes, in 1829, to escort him and other buttonmakers and
their families to Waterbury (even though these raids were
illegal in England, Holmes did this three times). Eaves
orders punches from Richard Hughes in Birmingham in
1830 (and in 20th century these punches were the subject of
study by Wesley Cox). In 1835 Eaves given a 6-year contract
at Scovill at $1,400 per year.
He operated the Scovill button factory until the end of
his six-year contract, January 1841. In 1842 he moves to
Wolcottville to establish and operate his own button
manufacturing business under the name William Eaves &
Sons. In 1845 he moves to New York City while his factory
continues under his son's management until 1848. Eaves is
listed in New York City directories as a lay preacher (until
1860), then removes to Jersey City.
The many varieties of items attributed to Eaves (as
evident in the list below) was the result of dies breaking
and being replaced. This was probably due to poor iron
used in the firm's early die forging.
Eaves did not sign any dies; but the items listed below
made by Scovill are attributed to Eaves by numismatist
Robert Lindesmith, who made a study of early tokens.
This was verified by Wesley Cox who studied die punches
by magnified photographs of punched letters, as reported
by Russell Rulau in S60 {2001} Hard Times Tokens.
Rulau states of Cox's study that Eaves's style was distinctive
and, usually, of excellent quality.
Died Jersey City, New Jersey, 5 February 1879.
C A M P A I G N I T E M S
1832 Floyd (John) Clothing Button . . . . . DeWitt JF 1832-1
1838 Not One Cent For Tribute Hard Times
Token. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-9
1838 [1837] Van Buren (Martin) Metallic
Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-10
1838 [1837] Van Buren (Martin) Metallic Currenty
(with lightning rays). . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-11
1838 [1837] Van Buren (Martin) Metallic Currency
(Current). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-12
1838 [1837] Benton Experiment Hard Times Token
(Ugly head obv, mint drop rev) . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-14
1838 [1837] Liberty Head Hard Times Token (mint
drop rev). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-15
1838 [1837] Liberty Head Hard Times Token
(Bentonian rev). . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-16
C A M P A I G N B U T T O N S
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . . WHH 1840-65
1840 Harrison (William H.) Military Bust Button . WHH 1840-67
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-104
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-105
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-110
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-111
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-116
1840 Van Buren (Martin) Marty Clothing Button . . MVB 1840-11
1840 Van Buren (Martin) Tammany Hard Cider
Clothing Button. . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt MVB 1840-17
E A R L Y I T E M S
1830 Scovill Manufacturer Waterbury Fire Shop Rebuilt Medal
(BURNT DOWN MARCH 1830 REBUILT JULY 1830
issued after their second major fire; dies engraved by
Eaves with punches from Hughes in Bimingham;
struck by Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low 138, Rulau HT 107
Auctions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..PCA 50:7
Illustrated: S58 {1999} Rulau, Catalog U.S. Tokens, p . .18
1830 Scovill Phoenix Rising From Flames Medal (also called
Scovill Gilt Buttons, Sheet Brass and Plated Metal
Waterbury Connecticut Storecard; issued after their
second fire; reissued 1837 and 1952, see
below) . . . Adams Conn 33, Rulau CT 33, Rulau HT 105
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:103
Illustrated: P3 {2013} Coin World 54:2754 (Jan 21) p . 20
1834ca Hallock & Bates Dry Goods Dealer New York
City Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 275-276
1835ca Davenport Perfumery New Haven Connecticut
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 101
1835ca Fobes & Barlow Woodworkers New Haven Connecticut
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 102
1835ca Gasquet, Parish & Company New Orlenas Louisiana
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 118
1835ca Kohn Daron & Company Good For One Loaf Token
(engraved by Eaves, struck by Scovill) . . Rulau HT 431
1835ca Merle (John A.) & Company New Orleans Louisiana
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 122
1835ca Stickney & Wilson Clothing, Hats and Shoes
Montgomery Alabama Storecard (engraved by Eaves,
struck by Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 99
1835ca Watson (James) Hardware and Cutlery Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 421-422
1837 Anderson (Henry) Boots and Shoes New York City
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 219
1837 Centre Market New York City Storecard (engraved by
Eaves, struck by Scovill). . . . . . . Rulau HT 239-240
1837 Deveau (P.B. & S.) Boot Dealer New York City Storecard
(engraved by Eaves, struck by Scovill) Rulau HT 250-252
1837 Jarvis (George A.) Wine and Tea Dealer New York
City Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 283-284
1837 Phalon's Hair Cutting New York City Storecard (engraved
by Eaves, struck by Scovill) . . . . . . . Rulau HT 304
1837ca Barton (Isaac) & Company Dry Goods Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 385
1837ca Buehler's & Smith Hardware Cutlery Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 402
1837ca Chamberlain Woodruff & Scranton Dry Goods New
Haven Connecticut Storecard (engraved by Eaves,
struck by Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 580-581
1837ca Harvey (Samuel & Joseph) Hardware Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 410
1837ca Hooper Martin & Smith Hardware Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 411
1837ca Smith & Brothers Hardware Cutlery Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 417
1837ca Spering, Mixsell & Innes Dry Goods Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 418
1837ca Merchants Exchange New York City Storecard
(engraved by Eaves, struck by Scovill) Rulau HT 291-293
1837ca Riker (Abraham) Boots and Shoes New York
City Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 305-306
1837ca Smith's Clock Establishment New York City
Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 311-317
1838ca Hallock, Dolson & Bates Dry Goods New York City
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 277
1839ca Botsford (S.N.) Clock Dealer Norfold Virginia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 440
Mint Drop Hard Time Tokens:
1837 Mint Drop Hard Times Token (female Head, rev
inscription Mint Drop) . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 61-62
1837 Mint Drop Hard Times Token (female Head, rev
inscription Mint Drop) . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 64-65
1837 Mint Drop Hard Times Token (Phoenix rising from flame
device from firm's own storecard [HT 105], rev
May Tenth 1837 inscription). . . . . . . Rulau HT 66-67
1837 Mint Drop Hard Times Token (female Head, rev
inscription Mint Drop) . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 68
1838ca Patterson Brothers Hardware Dealers New York City
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 212
Daniel Webster Hard Times Tokens:
[Cataloger's Note: The following Hard Time Tokens were
made with the original Richard Huges punches (obtained
by William Eaves from Birmingham in 1830) however he
left Scovill employment in 1841, and may not have created
these dies before he departed. Experts Wesley Cox and
Russell Rulau still attribute these to Eaves]:
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (sailing ship,
rev inscription Not One Cent For Tribute). . Rulau HT 16
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (sailing ship,
rev inscription Not One Cent). . . . . . . . Rulau HT 17
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (sailing ship,
lightening striking sailing ship). . . . Rulau HT 18-19
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (sailing ship,
and female head) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 23
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (female head,
rev inscription Not One Cent). . . . . . Rulau HT 45-52
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (Phoenix rising
from flame, Not One Cent inscription) . . Rulau HT 56-57
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (female head,
rev inscription Not One Cent). . . . . . . . Rulau HT 58
R E P L I C A S & R E I S S U E S
1837 Scovill (J.M.L. & W.H.) Gilt Buttons, Sheet Brass and
Plated Metal Waterbury Connecticut Storecard (reissued
with replica dies copied from firm's 1837 storecard,
HT 105, both struck by Scovill). . . . . . Rulau HT 106
A R C H I V E S
Mss {undated} In list of diesinkers in Scovill archives Baker Library, Harvard.
B I O G R A P H I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 1:1007.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
101 {1896} Anderson (Joseph) The Town and City of Waterbury, Connecticut, From the
Aboriginal Period to the Year Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-five. New Haven:
Price & Lee Co. 1896. 3:714-715.
D15 {1957} Groce and Wallace p 204.
S11 {1959} DeWitt, passim.
E18 {1985} McSorley.
S60 {2001} Rulau. Hard Times Tokens, p 15, 142; HT 16-19
20, HT 23 20, HT 45-52 24-25, HT 56-58 25-26,
HT 61-62 26, HT 64 26, HT 65-68 27, HT 99 43,
HT 100-102 44-45, HT 105-107 45, HT 118 49,
HT 122 50, HT 212 70, HT 219 72, HT 239-240
74, HT 250-252 76, HT 275-277 81, HT 283-284
82, HT 291-293 83-84, HT 304-306 86, HT 311-
315 87-88, HT 317 88, HT 385 100, HT 402 101,
HT 410-411 103, HT 417-418 106, HT 421-422
108, HT 431 50, HT 440 117, HT 580-581 44.
Born Birmingham, England, May 1792. Developed skill
as diesinker and buttonmaker. Through a friend he is
offered a position in America by J.M.L and W.H. Scovill
but refused to come until they sent an emissary, Israel
Holmes, in 1829, to escort him and other buttonmakers and
their families to Waterbury (even though these raids were
illegal in England, Holmes did this three times). Eaves
orders punches from Richard Hughes in Birmingham in
1830 (and in 20th century these punches were the subject of
study by Wesley Cox). In 1835 Eaves given a 6-year contract
at Scovill at $1,400 per year.
He operated the Scovill button factory until the end of
his six-year contract, January 1841. In 1842 he moves to
Wolcottville to establish and operate his own button
manufacturing business under the name William Eaves &
Sons. In 1845 he moves to New York City while his factory
continues under his son's management until 1848. Eaves is
listed in New York City directories as a lay preacher (until
1860), then removes to Jersey City.
The many varieties of items attributed to Eaves (as
evident in the list below) was the result of dies breaking
and being replaced. This was probably due to poor iron
used in the firm's early die forging.
Eaves did not sign any dies; but the items listed below
made by Scovill are attributed to Eaves by numismatist
Robert Lindesmith, who made a study of early tokens.
This was verified by Wesley Cox who studied die punches
by magnified photographs of punched letters, as reported
by Russell Rulau in S60 {2001} Hard Times Tokens.
Rulau states of Cox's study that Eaves's style was distinctive
and, usually, of excellent quality.
Died Jersey City, New Jersey, 5 February 1879.
C A M P A I G N I T E M S
1832 Floyd (John) Clothing Button . . . . . DeWitt JF 1832-1
1838 Not One Cent For Tribute Hard Times
Token. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-9
1838 [1837] Van Buren (Martin) Metallic
Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-10
1838 [1837] Van Buren (Martin) Metallic Currenty
(with lightning rays). . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-11
1838 [1837] Van Buren (Martin) Metallic Currency
(Current). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-12
1838 [1837] Benton Experiment Hard Times Token
(Ugly head obv, mint drop rev) . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-14
1838 [1837] Liberty Head Hard Times Token (mint
drop rev). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-15
1838 [1837] Liberty Head Hard Times Token
(Bentonian rev). . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt CE 1838-16
C A M P A I G N B U T T O N S
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . . WHH 1840-65
1840 Harrison (William H.) Military Bust Button . WHH 1840-67
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-104
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-105
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-110
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-111
1840 Harrison (William H.) Log Cabin Button . . WHH 1840-116
1840 Van Buren (Martin) Marty Clothing Button . . MVB 1840-11
1840 Van Buren (Martin) Tammany Hard Cider
Clothing Button. . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt MVB 1840-17
E A R L Y I T E M S
1830 Scovill Manufacturer Waterbury Fire Shop Rebuilt Medal
(BURNT DOWN MARCH 1830 REBUILT JULY 1830
issued after their second major fire; dies engraved by
Eaves with punches from Hughes in Bimingham;
struck by Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low 138, Rulau HT 107
Auctions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..PCA 50:7
Illustrated: S58 {1999} Rulau, Catalog U.S. Tokens, p . .18
1830 Scovill Phoenix Rising From Flames Medal (also called
Scovill Gilt Buttons, Sheet Brass and Plated Metal
Waterbury Connecticut Storecard; issued after their
second fire; reissued 1837 and 1952, see
below) . . . Adams Conn 33, Rulau CT 33, Rulau HT 105
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 44:103
Illustrated: P3 {2013} Coin World 54:2754 (Jan 21) p . 20
1834ca Hallock & Bates Dry Goods Dealer New York
City Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 275-276
1835ca Davenport Perfumery New Haven Connecticut
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 101
1835ca Fobes & Barlow Woodworkers New Haven Connecticut
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 102
1835ca Gasquet, Parish & Company New Orlenas Louisiana
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 118
1835ca Kohn Daron & Company Good For One Loaf Token
(engraved by Eaves, struck by Scovill) . . Rulau HT 431
1835ca Merle (John A.) & Company New Orleans Louisiana
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 122
1835ca Stickney & Wilson Clothing, Hats and Shoes
Montgomery Alabama Storecard (engraved by Eaves,
struck by Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 99
1835ca Watson (James) Hardware and Cutlery Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 421-422
1837 Anderson (Henry) Boots and Shoes New York City
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 219
1837 Centre Market New York City Storecard (engraved by
Eaves, struck by Scovill). . . . . . . Rulau HT 239-240
1837 Deveau (P.B. & S.) Boot Dealer New York City Storecard
(engraved by Eaves, struck by Scovill) Rulau HT 250-252
1837 Jarvis (George A.) Wine and Tea Dealer New York
City Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 283-284
1837 Phalon's Hair Cutting New York City Storecard (engraved
by Eaves, struck by Scovill) . . . . . . . Rulau HT 304
1837ca Barton (Isaac) & Company Dry Goods Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 385
1837ca Buehler's & Smith Hardware Cutlery Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 402
1837ca Chamberlain Woodruff & Scranton Dry Goods New
Haven Connecticut Storecard (engraved by Eaves,
struck by Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 580-581
1837ca Harvey (Samuel & Joseph) Hardware Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 410
1837ca Hooper Martin & Smith Hardware Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 411
1837ca Smith & Brothers Hardware Cutlery Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 417
1837ca Spering, Mixsell & Innes Dry Goods Philadelphia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 418
1837ca Merchants Exchange New York City Storecard
(engraved by Eaves, struck by Scovill) Rulau HT 291-293
1837ca Riker (Abraham) Boots and Shoes New York
City Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 305-306
1837ca Smith's Clock Establishment New York City
Storecard (engraved by Eaves, struck by
Scovill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 311-317
1838ca Hallock, Dolson & Bates Dry Goods New York City
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 277
1839ca Botsford (S.N.) Clock Dealer Norfold Virginia
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 440
Mint Drop Hard Time Tokens:
1837 Mint Drop Hard Times Token (female Head, rev
inscription Mint Drop) . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 61-62
1837 Mint Drop Hard Times Token (female Head, rev
inscription Mint Drop) . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 64-65
1837 Mint Drop Hard Times Token (Phoenix rising from flame
device from firm's own storecard [HT 105], rev
May Tenth 1837 inscription). . . . . . . Rulau HT 66-67
1837 Mint Drop Hard Times Token (female Head, rev
inscription Mint Drop) . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 68
1838ca Patterson Brothers Hardware Dealers New York City
Storecard (engraved Eaves, struck Scovill) Rulau HT 212
Daniel Webster Hard Times Tokens:
[Cataloger's Note: The following Hard Time Tokens were
made with the original Richard Huges punches (obtained
by William Eaves from Birmingham in 1830) however he
left Scovill employment in 1841, and may not have created
these dies before he departed. Experts Wesley Cox and
Russell Rulau still attribute these to Eaves]:
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (sailing ship,
rev inscription Not One Cent For Tribute). . Rulau HT 16
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (sailing ship,
rev inscription Not One Cent). . . . . . . . Rulau HT 17
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (sailing ship,
lightening striking sailing ship). . . . Rulau HT 18-19
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (sailing ship,
and female head) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulau HT 23
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (female head,
rev inscription Not One Cent). . . . . . Rulau HT 45-52
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (Phoenix rising
from flame, Not One Cent inscription) . . Rulau HT 56-57
1841 Webster (Daniel) Hard Times Token (female head,
rev inscription Not One Cent). . . . . . . . Rulau HT 58
R E P L I C A S & R E I S S U E S
1837 Scovill (J.M.L. & W.H.) Gilt Buttons, Sheet Brass and
Plated Metal Waterbury Connecticut Storecard (reissued
with replica dies copied from firm's 1837 storecard,
HT 105, both struck by Scovill). . . . . . Rulau HT 106
A R C H I V E S
Mss {undated} In list of diesinkers in Scovill archives Baker Library, Harvard.
B I O G R A P H I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 1:1007.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
101 {1896} Anderson (Joseph) The Town and City of Waterbury, Connecticut, From the
Aboriginal Period to the Year Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-five. New Haven:
Price & Lee Co. 1896. 3:714-715.
D15 {1957} Groce and Wallace p 204.
S11 {1959} DeWitt, passim.
E18 {1985} McSorley.
S60 {2001} Rulau. Hard Times Tokens, p 15, 142; HT 16-19
20, HT 23 20, HT 45-52 24-25, HT 56-58 25-26,
HT 61-62 26, HT 64 26, HT 65-68 27, HT 99 43,
HT 100-102 44-45, HT 105-107 45, HT 118 49,
HT 122 50, HT 212 70, HT 219 72, HT 239-240
74, HT 250-252 76, HT 275-277 81, HT 283-284
82, HT 291-293 83-84, HT 304-306 86, HT 311-
315 87-88, HT 317 88, HT 385 100, HT 402 101,
HT 410-411 103, HT 417-418 106, HT 421-422
108, HT 431 50, HT 440 117, HT 580-581 44.