Moses Eastman

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[1] Josiah Penfield (1785–1828) and Frederick Marquand (1799–1882).[2] He became a partner with Penfield in 1826.[3] That partnership dissolved when Penfield died in 1828. Eastman then started out on his own, working under his own name.[2]

In 1830, Eastman was a city constable,[3] and in 1844 was appointed keeper of the Savannah city clock.[4]

After Eastman's death in 1850, George M. Griffen continued the business. Griffen had worked for Eastman as a watchmaker.[2]

Some of Eastman's work was displayed in Savannah's Telfair Museums in 2010 during its "Silver in Savannah" exhibit.[5] Silver has played a major part in Savannah's history since its founder Captain James Oglethorpe arrived in 1733.[5]

Eastman married New Jersey native Elizabeth Tuthill (1799–1883) in 1834 in Savannah.[2] 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.[6] 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.[2]

Eastman died on May 24, 1850, aged 55, in Savannah.[7] He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in East Concord, New Hampshire.[2]

Mr. Moses Eastman, who died yesterday morning, had conducted a large and successful business here for many years. Upright in his dealings, warm in his friendships and ardent in his affections, he has left a cherished wife and many admiring friends to deplore his untimely death. — Eastman's obituary[7]

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 $2,525[8] 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.[9][10][11] The church was physically moved to Troup Square in 1860.[1]

One of his last acts of his life was to contract for the erection of a church on Oglethorpe Square, to be presented to the Religious Society of which he was a member. His magnificent design will not be frustrated by his death. — Eastman's obituary[7]

• A spoon made by Eastman from the 1830s – OldSouthSilver.com