Abel Stowel Sr. of Worcester, Massachusetts. A tall case clock.
This is a beautiful example. It is nicely proportioned and features several decorative construction details. The case is constructed in cherry and currently retains a light finish. The coloring is warm and inviting. The secondary wood used is New England white pine. The case stands on an applied bracket base. This base is more detailed than most, incorporating a shaped apron. The base section is also decorated with a scalloped apron or dropped border that hangs from the lower waist molding. This apron is a distinctive architectural detail found in numerous clock cases produced along the Connecticut River Valley trade routes. These run as far North as White River Junction and South through Central Massachusetts and into Hartford. It is also a detail that was used in Norwich, Connecticut. The waist section is long and fitted with a wonderfully or fancifully shaped waist door. This large door opens to allow access to the weights and pendulum. The front corners of the waist are decorated with long, fluted quarter columns. Both of these terminate in turned wooden quarter capitals. The bonnet is a swan’s neck form. The arches are well-formed with finely made molding. Three brass ball and spike finials sit on delicate wooden plinths. Fully turned and fluted free-standing bonnet columns ending in turned brass capitals flank the bonnet door. This arched door, fitted with glass, opens to access the painted dial.
The painted dial is colorfully decorated with florals. These are found in the spandrel areas as well as in the arch. In the center of this arch is a painted country view. This is wonderful. The colors are exceptional, and the theme reinforces the country feel of this clock. The time ring is displayed in both Arabic numerals used for the five-minute markers, and Roman Numerals used to mark each hour. A subsidiary seconds dial is located within the time track. This clock is signed on the dial by the clockmaker. In block lettering, it reads, “Abel Stowel.” It is worth noting that this dial and its decoration are of local origin.
The movement is brass and of good quality. It is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is constructed in the traditional format, striking each hour on a cast-iron bell.
This clock was made circa 1795 and stands 7 feet 5 inches tall.
Inventory number 210011.
Abel Stowel was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1752. His parents were Cornelius Stowell (1724-1804), a prosperous clothier, and Zurvillar (Goulding) Stowell (1730-1812). He lived 66 years before he died on August 3, 1818. On November 22, 1871, Abel married Relief Jennison in Worcester. They had at least five children. Three sons, Cornelius (1784-1836), Abel (1789-1860), and John J. (1793-1834), worked in the clockmaking, watchmaking, and jewelry trades. Even his daughter Faith married the clockmaker James Ridgeway Jr. in January 1802. Both James Ridgeway and Stephen Hasham worked as Abel's apprentices.
Abel, a truly ingenious individual, is listed as a clockmaker, watchmaker, screw maker, and inventor. His lifetime was marked by numerous patents for various types of machinery, many of which involved cutting the head of a screw. His civic duties in Worcester, including serving as constable in 1785, 1792, and 1793, and being appointed fence viewer in 1811, further underscore his versatile talents.
Abel is best known for his tower clocks. He is recognized as having introduced the first widely copied wooden beam flatbed tower clock design. It featured a pinwheel deadbeat escapement. This design originated in France and is thought to have been invented after 1740. It became so popular that American clockmakers widely copied it and became the standard design for 100-plus years. Abel built this tower clock on speculation. He soon sold it and installed it in the Old South Church, located on the Common, in 1800. This clock was also fitted with a Revere Bell that was installed in 1802. The clock works were moved in 1887 to Worcester's City Hall and then ten years later to the tower of a Worcester factory on Coes Square. The factory and clock were lost to a fire in 1842. He also built a similar example that he installed in 1807 in the First Parish Church in Hubbardston. This clock is still there and operates daily.
Abel's business, Stowell, A. & Son, which he ran with his son, Able Jr, was a significant contributor to Worcester's economy. Located next to the Worcester Town Green, the business offered for sale' stoves, small machinery of brass and iron, and tower clocks made to order.' Operating from 1815 to 1860, the business served the printing and wool-carding industry, playing a crucial role in the development of Worcester's economy.
Along with his son, Cornelius, Abel was a founding shareholder in the Worcester, MA, Cotton Manufactory Company.
Abel died on August 3, 1818. He is buried in the Worcester Common Burial Ground in Worcester.
We have owned several clocks by this Maker in the last fifty years of business. In addition, a watch paper signed by him is in the AAS collection.
