Elnathan Taber of Roxbury, Massachusetts. Stephen Badlam cabinetmaker. John Minot numbered 89 signed dial. 212044
Elnathan Taber was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on February 14, 1768. He is the older brother of Stephen Taber. Both brothers traveled to Roxbury, where they apprenticed in the art of clockmaking under the guidance of the Willards. After serving his apprenticeship, Elnathan stayed in Roxbury and worked closely with his Mentor, Simon. They had a prosperous working relationship, and he became one of Willard's most famous apprentices. We have owned and sold numerous tall case clocks made by this maker. In addition, we have owned a good number of wall timepieces in the form of banjo clocks and coffin clocks, as well as several Massachusetts shelf clock forms.
This imposing inlaid mahogany case is attributed to Stephen Badlam (1751-1815) of Dorchester Lower Mills, Massachusetts. Badlam is known to have made cases for the Willards and other Roxbury clockmakers. Fortunately, several of these cases are identified by Badlam's occasional practice of stamping his initials or the initials of one of his apprentices inside the case. The Willard House and Clock Museum, located in North Grafton, Massachusetts, has three clocks of this general type in its collection. All of these are illustrated in "THE WILLARD HOUSE AND CLOCK MUSEUM and The Willard Family Clockmakers," written by Dr. Roger Robinson & Herschel Burt. The most impressive example houses a musical set of works constructed by Simon Willard. A second signed example features a painted dial signed by Aaron Willard.
Stephen Badlam was born on May 7, 1751, in Stoughton, now Canton, MA, the son of Deacon Stephen Badlam and his wife Hannah (Clapp) Badlam. After a very difficult childhood, at age 15, Stephen moved to Dorchester to live and work with his older brother Ezra ( born May 19, 1746 – died 1788). There he learned the cabinetmakers' trade from his brother. By 1773, the two brothers had formed a partnership and settled in the Lower Mills section of that town. Soon the Revolution came a calling. Stephen answered the Lexington Alarm as a sergeant in Captain Daniel Vose's train band company. His rise in the ranks was rapid; by July of the same year, he was promoted to the rank of captain. Stephen served in the military for several years. In 1799, he was named a Brigadier General in Gen. Eliot's division. After the war, Stephen resumed his cabinetmaking career. He died in 1815.
This case stands up on boldly formed ogee bracket feet. These are applied to the double-stepped molding mounted to the bottom of the base. The base panel features an intricate inlay design. It incorporates design elements such as barber pole line inlay, multiple layers of cross banding, inlaid quarter fans, and figured veneers. Much of this design is repeated in the waist section. Here a large waist door features a vertical crotch veneer pattern. The corners of the door are cut away so that the inlaid quarter fans are part of the door frame and not the door. This decorative feature appears to be unique to Badlam cases. The door is trimmed with applied molding around the outer edge. Through this door, one can access the weights and pendulum. The sides of this case are fitted with brass stop fluted quarter columns. These terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet features a double-breakarch design. These are separated by intricately designed blind frets. The top of the upper arch supports a pierced and open fretwork pattern that includes three line-laid and veneered finial plinths. These are fitted with three ball and spike brass finials. The bonnet columns are also brass stop fluted and terminate in brass capitals. The bonnet door is an arched form. This door opens to access the colorfully painted iron dial.
This wonderful dial is signed on the back by the Boston dial artist. His name was John Minot (1772-1826). He also took the time to number it. It is numbered "89," which is painted in his own hand. The spandrel areas feature large floral designs. In the arch is a moon phase or lunar calendar mechanism. The hours, minutes, seconds, and calendar days are all displayed in the traditional locations. This dial is signed "Elnathan Taber" in large block lettering.
This fine movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed as a recoil format. The movement is weight driven and designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train or a time and strike design having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell which is mounted above the movement. The front plate of the movement is inscribed, "This clock cleaned by E. Taber Roxbury, November 27, 1812, it then being 20 years old."
This beautiful clock was made circa 1792. It stands approximately 8 feet 7 inches tall (103 inches) to the top of the center finial. Measured at the feet, this case is 21 inches wide and 10.5 inches deep. The case is constructed in mahogany with holly line inlays, and New England white pine is used as a secondary wood. The mahogany retains a deep rich finish.
Inventory number 212044.
Elnathan Taber was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on February 14, 1768, and may have died in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on February 27, 1854, at the age of 86. His grave was moved from Dartmouth to Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain on October 29, 1870. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Swift) Taber. Elnathan is the older brother of Stephen Taber, whose fortune helped found Taber Academy in Marion, MA. Both brothers traveled to Roxbury and were trained as clockmakers by the Willards. Elnathan was just 16. After serving his apprenticeship, Elnathan stayed and worked in Roxbury. His shop was located on Union Street. Union Street was renamed Taber Street in April 1868 in his honor. He was the first resident of that street. William Cummens also moved there and set up shop at the corner of Winslow. This short street was between Warren Street and Winslow Street. Elnathan maintained a close working relationship with his mentor Simon and became one of his most famous apprentices. He was authorized by Simon to make his patent timepieces during the patent period. He was also a prolific repairman. His name can be found engraved on numerous Boston area-made clocks as a service record. Elnathan married Catherine Partridge in January 1797. They had four children between the years of 1797 and 1811. Catherine had three sisters who also married clockmakers. Her sister Elizabeth married Abel Hutchins, and Mary (Polly) married Aaron Willard. A third sister married Samuel Curtis. Over the years, we have owned and sold numerous tall case clocks made by this fine clockmaker. In addition, we have owned a good number of wall timepieces in the form of banjo clocks and coffin clocks, as well as several of the Massachusetts shelf clock forms.
