Benjamin Halsted, also spelled Benjamin Halstead, was an American silversmith active in New York City, Philadelphia, and Elizabeth, New Jersey. In 1794 he founded the first thimble factory in the United States. Halsted was born in Hempstead, New York, made a freeman of New York City in 1764, and married Sarah Treadwell on October 22, 1765. In New York City from 1756 to 1766 he was a partner with silversmith Myer Myers as Halsted & Myers, and in 1766 with his brother Mathias in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and again from 1799-1809 with his son Mathias Halsted as Benjamin Halsted & Son, gold- and silversmiths and thimble manufacturers. In intervening years, he worked from 1783-1785 as a gold- and silversmith in Philadelphia, and from 1786-1814 as a gold- and silversmith in New York City. In 1786 he was a member of Gold and Silversmiths' Society, and listed in the New York City directory at 13 or 18 Maiden Lane.
"A Premonition to those Gentlemen that may hereafter have an Occasion to employ a Silver-Smith, to beware of that Villain Benjamin Halsted; lest they be bit by him, as I have been.
"The Subscriber finds himself obliged, with infinite Reluctance, to address the Public on Account of a surrilous Advertisement in the New-York Gazette of Thursday last Week, signed by one Andrew Bowne. The Character and Reputation of a Man in Trade, being of the most delicate and tender Nature, any Attempts to stigmatize it, not founded on Facts, or supported by Evidence, will never, I flatter myself, influence the impartial Part of Mankind, before the Truth has been scrutinized in a legal Manner. But, some Time must elapse before this can be done: And as the Audaciousness of the Advertisement may make impressions to my Prejudice, I shall endeavour to remove them, by laying all my Transactions with Bowne, open to the Public; where by it may easily be perceived the Means by which his Brain was so violently heated as to overcome his reason.
"Benjamin & Matthias Halsted, Gold and Silver-Smiths, Take this method to acquaint the public, that they have now set up their business in Elizabeth-Town where they propose to carry it on in all its branches, as the said Benjamin Halsted, has followed the business some time in New-York, to the satisfaction of his employers, he hopes his former customers there and in the country will not forget him, as he will now obey all orders for work from them and other gentlemen and ladies of the city or country, at the shortest notice and most reasonable prices, with the greatest care and exactness to their intire satisfaction; as we purpose to make work of all qualities we hope our employers will not expect the best of work for the meanest prices." The New-York Gazette or the Weekly Post-Boy, New York City, September 25, 1766.
"Thimble Manufactory, Benjamin Halstead Respectfully informs his Friends and the Public in general, that he still continues carrying on the Gold and Silversmith business No. 67 Broad street, he has brought the manufactory of Gold, Silver and Pinchbeck Thimbles with steel top to great perfection and thinks he could make a sufficient quantity to supply the United States. Citizens, consider your interest, and encourage American Manufactures.
