Watson John Miller

• Born: 28 Nov 1849, Middletown CT
• Died: 24 Dec 1911

  General notes:

Silverplater

  Events in his life were:

• He worked from 1868 to 1874 as a silverplater in Middletown CT

• He appeared on the 1870 census taken at Middletown CT, listed as a traveling agent for britannia wares.

• He worked from 1874 to 1879 as a silverplater in New York City NY for the WEBSTER MANUFACTURING Co.

• He was issued design patent number 10,277 on 16 Oct 1877
  
  WATSON J. MILLER, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO E. G. WEBSTER & BROTHER, OF NEW YORK CITY.
  
  DESIGN FOR DESSERT-SET.
  
  Specification forming part of Design No. 10,277, dated October 16, 1877; application filed October 2, 1877. [Term of Patent 7 years.]
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, Watson J. Miller, of Chicopee, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Design for a Dessert-Set; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification, in which—
  Figure 1 is a side view of a spoon-holder and stand therefor; and Fig. 2, a similar view of a sirup - cup and stand, each of which dessert-sets embodies my design.
  The design relates to two features—first, the spoon-holder or sirup-cup; and, second, the spoon-holder or sirup-cup and stand therefor, taken together.
  The body a of the spoon-holder or sirup-cup is goblet-shaped, or in the form of an inverted truncated conoid. It is provided with a broad base, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2,) and surmounted by a top piece, consisting of a band, c, and a flaring flange or rim, d, having angular points e on two opposite sides. The spoon-holder or the sirup-cup, together with the stand therefor, constitutes a complete article of tableware—namely, a dessert-set. The stand consists of a base, f, and a curved handle, g. The base f has an inner concavity, to receive the base of the holder or cup, and a beveled rim, h, as shown.
  The holder or cup, and also the handle of the stand, may have any suitable ornamentation or ornamental attachments.
  The sirup-cup is shown provided with a handle and hinged lid or cover; but these form no part of my design. Cream cups or holders are made similar to the sirup-cup, with the exception of the lid.
  What I claim as my design is—
  1. The design for a spoon-holder or sirup-cup, the same having the conoidal - shaped body and the top piece composed of the band and the flaring rim, having opposite angular points, substantially as shown and described.
  2. The design for a dessert-set, consisting of the holder or cup, having the body, top piece, and base, and the stand composed of the base f, with beveled rim and curved handle, as shown and described.
  The above specification of my invention signed by me this 25th day of September, 1877.
  
  Watson J. Miller
  
  Witnesses:
  C. Sedgwick
  J. H. Scarborough
  

• He worked after 1880 as a silverplater in Shelton CT joining the DERBY SILVER Co as president.