Illustration 343 shows two tall clocks which were owned originally by Thomas Hancock, from whom John Hancock inherited them. Thomas Hancock was a wealthy resident of Boston in 1738 when he wrote thus to London, ordering a clock of "the newest fashion with a good black Walnut Tree Case Veneered work, with Dark, lively branches; on the Top instead of Balls let there be three handsome Carv'd figures. Gilt with burnish'd Gold. I'd have the Case without the figures to be 10 feet Long, the price 15 not to exceed 20 Guineas, & as it's for my own use, I beg your particular Care in buying of it at the Cheapest Rate. I'm advised to apply to one Mr. Marmaduke Storr at the foot of Londn Bridge."

Illus. 343. - Walnut Case and Lacquered Case Clocks, about 1738.

Which of these two clocks was sent to fill this order we cannot tell. The clock with "Walnut Tree Case Veneered work, with Dark, lively branches" has the name plate of "Bowly, London," probably Devereux Bowley, who lived from 1696 to 1773 and who was master of the Clock-Makers' Company in 1759. The gilt ornaments are missing from the top, so we do not know whether they were the ones so carefully specified in the letter. Both clocks may date to 1738. The clock with the lacquered case has the name "Marmd Storr, foot of London Bridge," the same to whom Thomas Hancock had "been advised to apply." This clock has the "Balls" at the top to which he objected. Possibly the zealous friend may have sent both clocks. The one with a walnut case is now owned by the American Antiquarian Society, to which it was presented, with other pieces bought from the Hancock house in 1838, by John Chandler of Petersham. The clock with lacquered case was also bought from the Hancock house, and is now in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, to which it is loaned by Miss Lucy Gray Swett.

A clock-maker well known in and around Boston in the last half of the eighteenth century was Gawen Brown, who had a shop on State Street, and who made the clock upon the Old South Church, in Boston. A letter is still preserved which he wrote asking permission to make a clock for the Society, and he "Promises and Engages that the same shall be put Up and continued there forever." This handsome offer was made in 1768 but not until 1774 did the town act, when they voted to " purchase the Clock of Gawen Brown."

A Gawen Brown clock is shown in Illustration 344, made for his father-in-law, the Rev. Mather Byles. The case is pine painted and the shape of the top and the general appearance would indicate that it was an early effort made before 1768. It is still running in the rooms of the Bostonian Society, in the Old State House in Boston.

Illus. 344. - Gawen Brown Clock, 1765.

Illus. 345. - Tall Clock, 1780.

Illus. 346. - Maple Clock, 1770.

Illus. 347. - Rittenhouse Clock, 1770.

The clock in Illustration 345 was made by Gawen Brown, and is in a very handsome mahogany case. It is also owned by the Bostonian Society.

Illustration 346 shows a clock owned by the writer, and is given as an example of the use of curly maple, of which the entire case is made. It is unusually tall, over eight feet in height.

The clock in Illustration 347 was made by David Rittenhouse, in Philadelphia, and is owned by Charles D. Clark, Esq., of Philadelphia. David Rittenhouse was a maker of clocks and mathematical instruments, and an astronomer. He held various positions of importance, and was State Treasurer of Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary war, and President of The American Philosophical Society. This clock has a very handsome case of mahogany with fine inlaying, and possesses seven dials. The large dial has three hands, two for the hours and minutes, and the third to point the day of the month. This is set on the first day of each month. At the two upper corners are two small dials, one of which is set to designate which of the twelve tunes shall be played, and the other has on it "strike" and "silent," also for the tunes. Above, the moon shows its phases and the sun rises and sets every day. Upon the round dial below, the planets revolve around the sun.

Illustration 348 shows a tall clock in a mahogany case made about 1770. The maker's name is Richard Simestere, Birmingham, but I can find no record of him in Britten or elsewhere. The shape of the clock-case, particularly the top, is modelled after a Chippendale design. The columns at the corners of the case, sometimes fluted and sometimes plain, are characteristic of Chippendale, and appear on the majority of tall clocks made after 1760. This clock is owned by Francis H. Bigelow, Esq., of Cambridge. After the War of the Revolution enamelled or painted dials took the place of brass dials in this country, to a great extent, the chief reason being, of course, their smaller cost. The works were made by clock-makers who sold them to pedlers, and they took them, four or five at a time, into the country towns to sell; the local cabinet-maker made the case, while the local clock-maker put his own name upon the dial. During the latter years of the eighteenth century, there was a fashion for using moving figures above the dial, a ship heaving upon the waves being the favorite. Many clocks have a painted moon, which rises and sets each month. Miniature tall clocks were made at this time, corresponding in proportions to the tall clocks.

Illus. 348. - Tall Clock, about 1700.