Moses Eastman (June 17, 1794 – May 24, 1850) was an American silversmith based in Savannah, Georgia. He was also the founder of, and sole benefactor in the construction of, Savannah's Unitarian Universalist Church.
Early life and career Eastman was born in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1794. He moved to Savannah around 1820 and joined the partnership of J. Penfield & Co., which comprised Connecticut native Josiah Penfield (1785–1828) and Frederick Marquand (1799–1882).Ladle – Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts He became a partner with Penfield in 1826. That partnership dissolved when Penfield died in 1828. Eastman then started out on his own, working under his own name.
In 1830, Eastman was a city constable,Cutten, George, The Silversmiths of Georgia and in 1844 was appointed keeper of the Savannah city clock.Flynt, Henry and Fales, Martha Gandy, The Heritage Foundation Collection of Silver
After Eastman's death in 1850, George M. Griffen continued the business. Griffen had worked for Eastman as a watchmaker.
Some of Eastman's work was displayed in Savannah's Telfair Museums in 2010 during its "Silver in Savannah" exhibit."Telfair opens ‘Silver in Savannah’ exhibit" – Savannah Morning News, 5 March 2010 Silver has played a major part in Savannah's history since its founder Captain James Oglethorpe arrived in 1733.
Personal life Eastman married New Jersey native Elizabeth Tuthill (1799–1883) in 1834 in Savannah. Nine years later, they purchased 233 Bull Street, in the southwest residential block of Chippewa Square. Its construction was started the previous year by Samuel Philbrick.Brown Ward – City of Savannah research paper The couple later started building today's Philbrick–Eastman House, at 17 West McDonough Street, in the southwestern civic/trust lot of the square; however, by the time of its 1847 completion, it was purchased by John Stoddard (1809–1879), later president of the Georgia Historical Society.
Death Eastman died on May 24, 1850, aged 55, in Savannah.CHATHAM COUNTY, GA - OBITS 1850 (Jan 1 to Dec 31), Savannah Newspaper Digest He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in East Concord, New Hampshire.
After Eastman's death, his widow moved to Madison in her native New Jersey. She survived her husband by 33 years and was buried beside him.
In his will, Eastman left $2,525Unitarian Congregations in Ante-Bellum Georgia: The Georgia Historical Quarterly, Vol. 54, No. 2 (Summer, 1970), p. 163 – Georgia Historical Society to build a parsonage (which formerly stood at 123 Abercorn Street on Oglethorpe Square) and a more substantial brick and mortar Unitarian Universalist Church. It was completed a year after his death.A History of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Savannah – Unitarian-Universalist Church of SavannahChurch on the Square – Beehive FoundationSavannah GA Historic Churches – GoSouthSavannah The church was physically moved to Troup Square in 1860.Savannah in the Old South, Walter J. Fraser (2003), p. 196
References
External links A spoon made by Eastman from the 1830s – OldSouthSilver.com