• [excerpts] American silverware firm formed in 1831 by Jabez Gorham (b Providence, RI, 18 Feb 1792; d Providence, 24 March 1869). When he was fourteen Gorham began a seven-year apprenticeship with Nehemiah Dodge (fl 1794-1807), a Providence silversmith. He completed his training in 1813 and in the same year opened a jewelry business known as ‘The Firm’, which lasted until 1818, when economic hardships led to its dissolution. Jabez continued in business in Providence throughout the 1820s, and in 1831 he expanded his production to include the manufacture of coin-silver spoons with Henry Webster (1808-65). In 1837 William G. Price (d 1839) also became a partner in what became known as Gorham, Webster & Price, and in 1841 Gorham brought his son, John Gorham (1820-98), into the business under the name J. Gorham & Son. They expanded their line of flatware to include forks, tongs, thimbles, nursing tubes, toiletries and other small articles, sold mainly through the shop and a network of travelling peddlers.3559, p 1