{"id":62923,"date":"2020-11-05T14:31:40","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T19:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=62923"},"modified":"2025-11-05T09:54:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T14:54:27","slug":"nabisco-an-american-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/nabisco-an-american-story.html","title":{"rendered":"Nabisco: An American Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about the famous Nabisco cracker\/cookie company, starting with John Pearson\u2019s mill in 1643. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives<\/a>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here is a little tidbit to nibble on: the first commercial bakery in America was birthed in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and is known today as Nabisco. The start of a food empire began in 1792 when the Pearson clan produced a specialty cracker known as Pilot Bread, or ship\u2019s biscuit, a refined version of hardtack. I was able to trace the history of this enterprise by searching through GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: historical Marker for Pearson Mill. Credit: Michael Tiernan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pearson name was well established way before their hot buns hit the market. According to newspaper articles and other sources, including John J. Currier\u2019s History of Newburyport, MA 1764-1905<\/em>, John Pearson, the lineal forerunner, was responsible for erecting the first fulling mill in the North American Colonies, on Mill River. He used a cedar tenter post, brought from England.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 19 January 1925, page 17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mill was for the manufacturing of cloth; however, prosperity allowed for expansion and the Pearsons began operating several grist mills. One of the earliest ones was the Short-Pearson family mill.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: \u201cOld Grist Mill at Knight\u2019s Crossing, Newbury, Massachusetts,\u201d by Mildred S. Harston. Credit: Laurie Short Jarvis, Newbury, Massachusetts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1831 Silas Pearson Jr, a miller, provided a clear history of this mill in the Newburyport Herald<\/em> when he petitioned to build a new mill 100 rods down the river \u2013 which the governor approved on 15 May 1831. Some of the grist mills later provided the necessary ingredients and resources to operate Pearson & Sons bakeries.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Newburyport Herald (Newburyport, Massachusetts), 8 February 1831, page 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pearson bakery had a simple recipe for success, and their product was the major staple for sailing vessels. There was no secret formula, just flour and water; it was the perfect sustenance on lengthy voyages and military campaigns all over the world for years. The shelf life was long and the cost was cheap. The biscuits were 8-9 ounces each and packed into sacks weighing 55-60 pounds.<\/p>\n

Portland Grocers ran an ad in the Portland Daily Press<\/em> in 1867 announcing they carried Pearson\u2019s Cream Biscuit, \u201cWhich is receiving the sanction of physicians and the praises of all connoisseurs in such matters.\u201d Testimonials from various news reports included:<\/p>\n

\u201cA most delicious article \u2013 light, rich and extremely delicate. The high reputation of the old \u2018Pearson Bakery\u2019 of Newburyport will be still further enhanced by this welcome contribution to the table.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"An<\/a>
Portland Daily Press (Portland, Maine), 7 October 1867, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By 1869, the Pearson & Sons bakery was well established, and the Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics<\/em> asserted \u201cthis bakery was probably the most perfect in the state.\u201d John Jr. was the foreman, supplying the whole country as well as the West Indies. A fire that year left the plant in ashes, but he was not about to crumble after his factory went up in flames, and opened another one.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics (Portsmouth, New Hampshire), 10 July 1869, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In December of the same year, Pearson was praised again for his tasty Fruit Biscuit with currants, the soda cracker was raised to a new level and promised good eating without accessories with it. A New Year novelty followed with an Amber Biscuit, a spicy gingerbread cake, and finally the Ralston Health Biscuit.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics (Portsmouth, New Hampshire), 17 June 1876, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1879 the famous Graham Cracker emerged, and John Jr. told the press \u201csomething ahead of anything else is being manufactured.\u201d It will make a \u201cflaky, crispy biscuit that almost melts like honey in the mouth.\u201d The word of this report: \u201cIf a man could live by bread alone this could be the one.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 1890 the John Pearson & Son plant was transferred to the cracker cartel, the New York Biscuit Company, which became known as Nabisco (abbreviated from the earlier name\u00a0National Biscuit Company). That story will come later.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: John Pearson & Son, Specialty Bakery, New York Biscuit Co., Cupid Creams. Credit: American Specialty Postcard Collection; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1996, Nabisco tried to capsize the beloved sea biscuit, but Americans were just not ready to jump ship.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
Brunswick News (Brunswick, Georgia), 5 February 1997, page 10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After several thousand calls and complaints on this \u201cculinary blasphemy\u201d accusing the company of desecrating an historical icon, Nabisco revived the Crown Pilot cracker.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Brunswick News (Brunswick, Georgia), 5 February 1997, page 10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Brunswick News<\/em> covered the story on the cooperate cutters and the old Yankee families spoke out. The Damons of Chebeague Island, Maine resident fishermen since 1756, lived on Pearson\u2019s hardtack \u2013 and Donna Miller Damon claimed: \u201cIt\u2019s what it represents more than what it tastes like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edward Doughty said: \u201cMy grandfather who was on the ocean for 70 years loved them. One of the first memories of my life was seeing my granddad at the kitchen table eating pilot crackers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nancy Ryder Petrus of Cape Cod, daughter of a fisherman who grew up on Crown Pilot crackers, noted: \u201cWe grew up on these. They\u2019re very important to us. Chowder\u2019s just not the same without them.\u201d<\/p>\n

A lesson to Nabisco: Be more a Pearson, who never bit the hand that fed them \u2013 it\u2019s the way to make lots of dough.<\/p>\n

In the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport there are two of the original boxes used by Pearson. Stop by and find out the sweet course that made them bread winners and not loafers!<\/p>\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong> An online collection of newspapers, such as GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>, is not only a great way to learn about the lives of your ancestors \u2013 the old newspaper articles also help you understand American history and the times your ancestors lived in, and the news they talked about and read in their local papers.<\/p>\n

Create a free account<\/a> at GenealogyBank for 7 days to start your journey and discover the stories your ancestors left behind.<\/p>\n

Further Reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n