Clock, Tall Case

Object Name:

Clock, Tall Case

Object ID:

1974.007

Creator:

Wilson, James (1755-1809)

Place of Origin:

Merrimack Valley, NH/Birmingham, England (dial)

Date:

1800-1820

Description:

Tall Case Clock. Sheraton style, cherry (pine secondary wood), maker unknown, probably Merrimack Valley, NH. Enamelled cast iron arched dial with moon-phase disk (painted images on disk include two moon images, a house, and a ship image), flanked with global maps; marked on back "WILSON - BIRM." (James Wilson, Birmingham, England). Painted roman numerals. Eight-day brass movement, with strike. Hood is arched, with three spired brass finials on fluted plinths, applied pierced fretwork, cornice follows arch at center front, freestanding fluted columns at front corners, arched sidelights, and hinged door with glazed arch. Waist with cove moldings, fluted quarter columns with brass caps and bases, and door with brass pierced escutcheon, applied moldings and band of line inlay. Base with cove moldings, band of line inlay, ogee bracket feet, patera (sand-shaded pinwheel) inlay, and circular band inlay (13.6" diam.). Brass pendulum. Two weights. The name "Anderson" is written in white chalk at the top of the front backboard, beneath a smaller scratched number "1127". There are about six penciled inscriptions on inside of waist door that record the clock's cleaning history, including (see Notes field for possible identifications): "Cleaned by Wm Jacobs April 20th / 1829 / June 23.169 / J B Coombs / Cleaned Oct the 27 1846 / by A S. Moody / April 8 1851 / J. G__on / Cleaned April 7th / 1860 / By Enoch Morrill / Manchester, N.H. / Cleaned By Rufus C__do / Dec, 21 188_".

Material:

Wood
Cherry
Glass
Metal

Dimensions:

H-83 W-20.5 D-10.5 inches

Provenance:

Clock believed to have been originally owned by Dea. Samuel Anderson (1781-1864) of Windham, NH. Perhaps it was acquired around the time of his marriage to Mary Wilson (1785-1843), in 1810. The clock remained with Deacon Anderson's descendants, father-to-son -- from Dea. Samuel Anderson to son William (1822-1866) who moved several times; then grandson Samuel (1849-1941) of Massachusetts; then great-grandson John W. (1885-1970) of Mass. and Conn. -- until its donation to NHHS.
Samuel Anderson, grandson of Deacon Samuel, requested that the clock be given to the NHHS on the death of his son, John W., and wife Mabel (1888-1982). The clock was given in 1974, after the death of John W. and upon the entry of Mabel into a nursing home.

Credit Line:

Gift of Mabel F. Anderson

People:

Anderson, Samuel (1781-1864), Anderson, Mary (1785-1843), Anderson, William (1822-1866), Anderson, Samuel (1849-1941), Anderson, John W. (1885-1970), Anderson, Mabel F. (1888-1982), Wilson, James (1755-1809), Morrill, Enoch (1833-1907), Moody, Alman S. (1828-1910), Coombs, Stephen B., Anderson, Mary (1785-1843)

Subjects:

Tall clocks