• Born: 18 Apr 1744, New York City NY
• Marriage (1): Adriaantje Gilbert on 10 Nov 1766 in New York City NY
• Died: c 1810

  General notes:

Silversmith

  Events in his life were:

• Alternate Mark (tentative attribution)

• Alternate Mark

• Alternate Mark

• Alternate Mark

• Alternate Mark ⁴

• Alternate Mark

• Alternate Mark

• Alternate Mark

• Sword, c 1765-1775
  Yale University ¹³
  l: 5 1/2 (hilt)
  Engraved PETRUS • WYNKOOP • JUN^R and Eph^m Brasher / Mak^r: N. York. Petrus Wynkoop was commissioned ensign of the First Regiment, Ulster County, in 1779.
  

• He worked circa 1765-1776 as a silversmith in New York City NY
  Brasher fled with his family to Red Hook when the British occupied the city.

• Tea urn, c 1765-1775
  Art Insitute of Chicago
  h: 17 1/4"

• Tankard, c 1770-1780
  Private Collection
  h: 8 3/4"
  wt: 40 oz
  Engraved with the Sands family arms.

• Coffeepot, c 1770
  Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture
  h: 13"

• An advertisement appeared in the The New-York Journal or the General Advertiser (New York City NY), 22 Feb 1776
  "Stolen. On the nineteenth instant, out of Mr. John Tuttle's, near Powles Hook Ferry, New-York. A Silver mounted Hanger, with a Dog's Head, and green ivory grip, the grip rather small, the swell of which designed for the underside, is above; the Scabbard a little damaged, and cut through in one place. On one side of the Plate of the Scabbard, is engraved E— Brashier, New-York, Maker; and on the other side Isaac Morrison. Whoever secures said Sword, and Thief, so that the Owner may get the one, and the other be brought to justice, shall have for the Sword, three Dollars, and for the Sword and Thief, Seven Pounds Ten Shillings. New-York Currency, paid by John Tuttle."

• Teapot, c 1780
  Private Collection
  

• Sugar urn, c 1780
  Private Collection
  h: 10 1/2"
  wt: 18 oz, 10 dwt

• He worked in 1783-1800 as a silversmith in New York City NY
  Listed in the 1786 city directory at 5 Cherry Street.

• New York City NY, 1786: member of the Gold and Silversmiths Society. ⁸

• Doubloon, 1787
  Smithsonian Institute ¹
  Brasher appears to have joined with the New York silversmith and noted swordmaker, John Bailey in requesting a franchise to produce copper coins for the State of New York. The legislative record for February 12, 1787 stated, "the several petitions" of Brasher and Bailey were filed with the state. Because of the ambiguous wording it is not known if the petitions were joint ventures or simply individual petitions that just happened to have been submitted on the same day. Their petitions, along with the petition of their competitors, were denied a few months later when state decided to refrain from the minting of coppers. Soon after the unfavorable judgment Ephraim Brasher turned his attention from coppers back to designing and minting gold doubloons. Apparently he had been working on a Lima style gold piece the preceding year. Brasher probably worked with John Bailey on this project as the doubloons share letter punches used by Bailey on some New Jersey coppers he made as a subcontractor for Matthais Ogden's Elizabethtown mint. The obverse of the gold doubloon displayed the state seal, depicting the sun rising over a mountain with the sea in the foreground surrounded with the legends: "NOVA EBORACA," "COLUMBIA" and the state motto "EXCELSIOR." Brasher also signed the coins by adding his name below the scene. The obverse displayed the US eagle with shield and the unusually worded national motto "UNUM E PLURIBUS," as well as the date 1787. After making the coins Brasher counter-stamped his initials on the reverse; six examples survive with the stamp on the wing and one survives with the stamp on the shield.
  

• He worked circa 1790 as a silversmith in New York City NY as E. BRASHER & Co. ⁴

• Tablespoons, c 1790
  Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture
  l: 8 1/4"
  Engraved T over S * M for Stephen and Mary (Potter) Tallman.

• Pitcher, c 1790
  Private Collection
  h: 8 1/2"
  w: 9 1/2"
  Scratch marked on bottom EB and 25=13.

• Appointed in 1792 as Assayer to Mint in New York City NY ⁴

• He was a partner in 1800-1801 with George Alexander in New York City NY as BRASHER & ALEXANDER. ⁴

• Advertised in the American Citizen & General Advertiser (New York City NY), 21 Feb 1801, "Dissolved, the partnership of Ephraim Brasher and George Alexander at 350 Pearl Street." ⁴

• He worked in 1808-1809 as an excise officer in New York City NY
  Listed in the city directory at 350 Pearl Street.

Ephraim married Adriaantje Gilbert, daughter of William Gilbert and Aeltje Verdon, on 10 Nov 1766 in New York City NY. (Adriaantje Gilbert was born on 8 Jul 1742 in New York City NY, christened on 14 Jul 1742 and died on 1 Jan 1797.)