Pipe Organ Database

From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). —

Born January 27, 1798 in Kent County, England; father of Henry, Jr. and William Pilcher; apprentice with his father and brother William in London, England; operated his firm in Dover, England, 1820; immigrated to New York City, New York, 1832, (with Erben firm?); in Newark, New Jersey, teacher, organbuilder; in New Haven, Connecticut, 1838; (in New York City, New York, 1844-1858?); partner with sons Henry [Jr.] and William in H. Pilcher & Son(s) of St. Louis, Missouri, 1859; retired after 1859; succeeded by his sons and grandsons; in Chicago, Illinois, 1863-1875; returned to Newark, New Jersey, 1875; died November 1, 1880 in Orange, New Jersey.

Sources:

• Company literature.
• One or more local directories of the place and period.
• Orpha Ochse, The History of the Organ in the United States (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975), 142, 167.
• Barbara Owen, The Organ in New England (Raleigh: Sunbury Press, 1979), 410.
• Organ Handbook 1986 (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society), 20.
• Elizabeth Towne Schmitt.

See the entry for The Pilcher Family for an overview and a family tree of the various builders.

See also: H. Pilcher & Son(s) for more information on the St. Louis firm.

Updated by the editor, Feb 11, 2016. —

The first Henry Pilcher was born January 27, 1798 in Kent County, England; he was the father of Henry, Jr. [II] and William Pilcher. He apprenticed with his father and later with his older brother William in London, England. He was operating his own firm in Dover, England, by 1820. He married and soon had a family of five sons. Seeking new opportunities, he immigrated to New York City, New York, in 1832. Settling in Newark, New Jersey, he opened a shop to build organs and and also taught organ. He sent for his wife and sons while in Newark; he also worked in New Haven, Connecticut, circa 1838, according to John Ogasapian in Organ Building in New York City: 1700-1900, page 185. The family moved to New York City, in 1844 where Pilcher worked for Henry Erben for ten years, again teaching and playing for churches as a side job.

The family returned briefly to Newark, before making a leap westward to St. Louis, Missouri. There he partnered with sons Henry {Jr.} and William in H. Pilcher & Son(s)[see note below] of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1854 to 1859 when Henry retired. He was succeeded by his sons and grandsons. The younger Henry and brother William moved the firm to Chicago, Illinois, in 1863 to escape the disruptions of the Civil War, the elder Henry went with them. The Pilchers might have remained there except for the Great Chicago Fire of 1874. After the fire, the Pilchers went there separate ways: Henry II and his sons moved to Louisville, Kentucky and established their own firm there. William remained in Chicago for a year, then returned to St. Louis. Henry senior stayed with William in Chicago until 1875 then he returned to Newark. The patriarch of the Pilcher organ builders died November 1, 1880 in Orange, New Jersey.

*The brothers seemed to have taken turns between them during this period, sometimes both brothers are listed with their father, at other times only one. One brother may have concentrated on organ building while the other operated the chain of music stores and music publishing concerns which the family owned. –Ed.