Rare Antique E. Smith Newark England Tall Oak Clock from the 1700\'s
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Rare Antique E. Smith Newark England Tall Oak Clock from the 1700\'s :
$299.00
This is for a Rare Original Antique E. Smith Newark, England Tall Oak Clock from the 1700\'s. The do not know if it is Ebeneser or Edward from Newark, England from the 1700\'s.
I was told about this rare clock but since I am not a clock person I tried to do some research on this maker. I researched this clock on the internet and found that it is very rare and an exceptionally valuable clock. The history from this estate is that it has been in this family for generations and generations. It was in the family\'s original estate in Scituate, Massachusetts and it has been passed down from family to family. The estate papers say it is Ebenezerbut I had someone contact me and tell me it is Edward Smith of Newark, England also the 1700\'s. Ido not know if it is Ebeneser or Edward from Newark, England from the 1700\'s. I am listing of information I received but also want someone told me from that it was Edward also 1700\'s from Newark, England.
It has Original Heavy Lead Weight with Counter Weight. The pendulum and Key comes with it.
Also I believe that the minute hand appears that the tip is broken off.
Over the years there was some water damage to the base so they had a clock woodmaker make a new base for this clock. The hinges also were removed and new ones put on at the same time. It is running now but no guarantee. It is however not striking on the hour. There is a calendar dial.
On the face it says E. Smith
and italso says Newark.
On the back of the dial is marked in pencil 1720-1790 which I do not know who wrote this on the dial.
It measures:
79\" Tall
18 1/2\" Wide
9 1/2\" Deep
It is an incredible piece of New England history and only needs a little work to bring it back to its original glory.
While researching this maker I found the following information and this clock is very, very similiar to the one they received as a gift.
The Newtown Historical Society recently received a gift of a rare tall case clock
made by Ebenezer Smith, who was not only Newtown\'s first clockmaker but was
probably the only one in the 18th century. Smith was born in Milford,
Connecticut, in 1745. He is thought to have moved to Newtown with his parents
sometime after 1750. In December, 1767, he received the rights to his parents\'
house in Newtown\'s Newbury Parish on Whisconier Hill Road. A year later Smith
married Esther Booth of Newtown. At that time, Smith was 23 and Esther was 21
. Smith served in the Revolutionary War during the siege of Danbury. Esther
passed away in 1821 and Ebenezer died in Newtown in 1830. Brookfield Historical
Society records indicate they had one son, Daniel.
The town of Brookfield was incorporated in 1788 and the section of Whisconier
Hill where the Smiths lived then became part of Brookfield. Ebenezer and Esther\'s
house and shop still stands today and appear to be in excellent condition. If you
get off Exit 9 on US 84 and travel up Whisconier Hill (route 25) toward
Brookfield, you will see the house on your left. It is a wonderful center chimney
home with a half story ell where Smith\'s forge was located. The house is painted
pale yellow and there is a red barn across the street.
Smith was a rural craftsman and probably made living producing utilitarian
items of iron, tin, pewter and sometimes silver. A few examples of his crafts are
still extant. We know he made several tall case clocks with engraved brass dials
. Note: the term \"grandfather clock\" did not become common until the late 19th
century. Tall case clocks were a rare and highly prized item in the 18th and early
19th centuries as they cost about one year\'s income for the average family. As a
result, these clocks were usually made for the wealthy.
Such a clock is the one that has been given to the Historical Society. Nothing is
known of its history from the time it left Ebenezer Smith\'s workshop until it came
into the possession of the Jackson family of Newtown probably in the late 1940\'s.
Jerome and Mary Jackson, originally from Massachusetts, summered in Sandy
Hook with their three sons before becoming year-round residents in the early
1930\'s. They lived in the white antique house on Berkshire Road across from Zoar
Road. Jerome and Mary collected antiques and their son, Jerome (Jerry) P.
Jackson, collected clocks. Jerome, Sr., born in 1875, was a graduate of MIT and a
World War I veteran. His wife, Mary, was a Wellesley College graduate and
studied at Oxford University in England, a noteworthy accomplishment in a time
when not many women attended college. She was a member of the Suffragist
Party, working hard to try to win the vote for women. Jerome, after he retired
from his career as an architect, ran Newtown Home Service with his two sons,
George and Jerry, doing building and restorations in the area. The family was
very active in Newtown, especially in the Historical Society (charter members),
the Congregational Church (historian and clerk) and the League of Women
Voters. Jerome passed away in September, 1958, Mary died in May, 1972, and
their son, Jerry, who never married, lived on in the home in Sandy Hook until his
death in 1977. At that time the Smith tall clock passed on to Jerome and Mary\'s
granddaughter, Martha Jackson Harris, who lives in New Hampshire.
For many years, Martha felt the appropriate permanent place for the clock would
be at the Newtown Historical Society. In 2012 she contacted the Society and was
assured the clock would be a very welcome addition to its collection
. Arrangements were made and the clock returned \"home\" in early August, 2013.
Mrs. Harris has made this gift in honor of her grandparents and in memory of the
many happy times she spent through the years at their home in Sandy Hook. We
are thrilled that this wonderful part of Newtown history has now returned home to stay.
The clock, probably Smith\'s finest, now stands in the Matthew Curtiss, Jr. House
Museum where it can be enjoyed by visitors. The case is cherry wood, in the
Federal style and was most likely made by a skilled, but country cabinetmaker
who possibly lived in Danbury or Woodbury. Because of the case style, we know
this clock was made sometime after the Revolutionary War. In the 18th and early
19th centuries clockmakers did not make the cases. They made the \"works\" or
\"movements\" and the case was made separately, ordered either by the
clockmaker or the customer. This clock, an excellent timekeeper, has an eight-day
brass movement and a brass dial engraved \"Eben Smith\" along with an inset
calendar ring. Jerome P. Jackson and this clock are mentioned in the landmark
book, \"The Book of American Clocks\", by Brooks Palmer, published in 1950 and
still available.
Ebenezer Smith House and shopBuyer must arrange own pick-up or delivery. I have a reputable shipper and if interested you can contact them for their price to deliver at:
Northwind Transport 603-491-5199.
You also could check with: uship.com
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Rare Antique E. Smith Newark England Tall Oak Clock from the 1700\'s :
$299.00