In the MOOD to learn about a silversmith?

A belt buckle made by Peter Mood Sr.
Photo from The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts

I'm sure you've heard the expression 'born with a silver spoon in your mouth.' However, when Reverend John Mood was born on January 11th, 1792, he took the expression a little more literally. American silversmiths lists his father, Peter Mood Sr., as a silver smith in Charleston South Carolina. Peter would serve as a master to John when he decided to apprentice as a silver smith. John would eventually join his father as a partner at Peter Mood & Son and then Peter Mood & Sons.

A photo of a silver ladle made by John Mood and Peter Jr. Mood
from The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts website

The Reverend was not the only silver smith in the family; his brother Peter Jr. was also a member of the long line of German silver smiths. The three men, father and both sons, worked together until Peter Sr. died in 1821 and the business dissolved. According to The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts the boys had several short lived partnerships before joining back up in business together in 1834. This partnership was dissolved by financial issues and a robbery by an employee. John decided to go into business for himself while his brother moved to New York.

A slave badge from 1835, made by John and Peter Mood Jr.
Photo from Greenwood

At the time the brothers were living in Charleston, the city required all slaves who were hired out by their owners to wear and carry a slave badge at all times. In 1832, John and Peter Mood Jr. won the contract to make all of the slave badges for the city. The badges, however, were not made of silver, instead they were made of copper or tin. They received the bid for this contract several times over the years.

Photo of John Mood
Courtesy of Patrick Harwood's blog

Greenwood  claims that John Mood was born as a Lutheran but later converted to Methodism and became a Methodist minister. Despite making the badges that marked African Americans as slaves, Mood joined Methodism at a time when many members of the faith was opposed to slavery. He decided to violate strict South Carolina laws by teaching black Methodist ministers to read and write. He also established a Sunday school for black children that he ran by himself. 

Photo of Mood's stamp courtesy of American Silver Smiths

A photo of Mood's grave courtesy of Find A Grave

John Mood lived out his life in Charleston and died on March 1st, 1792 at age 72. He is buried at Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Charleston. Mood's work can be traced by his stamp on the silver works he created. In addition to slavery badges and silver creations, John Mood also produced Calvary and weapons for The American Civil War. In the book, American Silver-Hilted, Revolutionary and Early Federal Swords, Mood's products are advertised as "silver or gilt hilted sabersscabbards."