Chair

Object Name:

Chair

Object ID:

2020.016

Place of Origin:

Southeastern New Hampshire

Date:

1780-1800

Description:

Side chair. Vertical split-spindle banister-back chair, painted black, with turned stiles and legs. Four rectangular slats molded on the back and set between a slat-type stepped and curved top crest rail and low stay rail. "I D" carved in front of crest rail. The stiles feature vase-and-ring turnings, and two large rings are turned on the front legs. The finials are urn-on-plinth shaped. There are two plain stretchers on each side, two turned front stretchers, and one plain stretcher at the back. Probably constructed of maple, ash, oak and birch. Woven rush seat, worn and stained.

Material:

Wood
Rush

Dimensions:

H-43.25 W-19.75 D-14.3 inches

Provenance:

James Drake (1755-1834), the original owner of the chair, was the eldest son of Simon and Judith (Perkins) Drake of Epping, NH. He moved to Pittsfield, NH, at about age 19 and began clearing land for a farm. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he joined a company then being organized for the Continental army. After the war he was discharged and returned to Pittsfield in 1781 and resumed the work of clearing and improving his farm. Drake served in the state militia, eventually reaching the rank of major, and was active in town government, serving as constable, selectman, and representative in the state legislature. He eventually became the owner of several good farms in Pittsfield. Drake was married December 17, 1781, to Hannah Ward (1763-1848), daughter of Lieutenant Cotton and Hannah (Mead) Ward, of Hampton, NH. They had twelve children: Cotton Ward, Sarah, Mary, Hannah, Judith, Rachel, Theodate, Simon, Deborah, Betsy, James and Noah Ward. A handwritten tag accompanies chair: "Chair used by Major…Drake in his pew in the Pittsfield Meeting House which was built in 1769." Drake was a member of the committee that oversaw the construction of the town meeting house in 1783.

The chair remained in the Drake family for five generations, until sold to Hollis Brodrick, Exeter, NH, at an auction of the contents of the Drake family house in Pittsfield by Richard W. Withington in 1986. It was next in two private collections, before sale to Lawrence and Dorothy Perkins, New Boston, NH, in 2005. The chair, Lot 115, was sold at an auction of the Perkins collection at Eldred's, East Dennis, MA, on July 30, 2020, when it was purchased by the donors.

Credit Line:

Gift of William W. Upton

People:

Drake, James (1755-1834)

Subjects:

Meetinghouses, Pews