Gawen Brown. Boston, Massachusetts. A pre-revolutionary American tall clock. UU-99.
Gawen Brown of Boston, Massachusetts, made this important maple case tall clock. Circa 1755.
This rare clock is typical of the early Boston form. The case is maple and stained with a dark tint to look like walnut. The color is excellent. The case is supported on a large double-step molding that rests flat on the floor. The molding that transitions the base to the waist section is complex. The waist section is filled with a tombstone-shaped door that provides access to the two drive weights and brass-faced pendulum bob. The bonnet features a caddy top with two gilt wooden finials. Free-standing columns flank the hood door and visually support the arch molding. Shaped quarter columns are fitted in the back corners of the hood. The hood sides have large rectangular-shaped windows that are glazed. Through these, one can view the clockworks. The bonnet door is arched in form and opens to a composite brass dial signed by the Maker.
This style of dial predates the painted dial. It comprises a brass base sheet decorated with applied spandrels and chapter rings. This clock is signed "Gawen / Brown/ BOSTON" on the name boss in the arch of the dial. The large chapter ring is also applied to the dial. Arabic five-minute markers are indicated in each of the hour positions. These are separated from the Roman-style hour numerals by a closed minute track. The center of this section is nicely matted. This was likely done to aid in one's ability to locate the hands while reading the dial. A brass dial will tarnish over time, making it somewhat difficult to read in a room lit by candles. This dial also features the subsidiary seconds dial and a calendar display. These are engraved and silvered. The steel hands are wonderfully made.
The movement is constructed in brass and is weight-driven. It is designed to run eight days on a full wind and strike each hour on a cast iron bell. The bell is mounted above the movement.
This case stands 7 feet 8 inches tall overall. The upper hood molding is 21.5 inches wide and 10.25 inches deep.
Inventory number UU-99.
Gawen Brown, a significant figure in Boston's history, was born in England in 1719 and died in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1801 at 82. He emigrated to this country sometime before 1749. On February 6, of 1749, he advertised in The Boston Evening Post that he was a "...Clock and Watchmaker lately from London, Keeps his shop at Mr. Johnson's Japanner, in Brattle Street, Boston, near Mr. Copper's Meeting House, where he makes and sells all sorts of plain, repeating and Astronomical Clocks, with cases plain, black walnut, mahogany or Japann'd or with out." This advertisement suggests he came to America and was already trained in clockmaking skills. One of his first public clock repairs was to the clock in the Old North Church. This clock had not operated for almost three decades. Brown was hired to convert the escapement from a balance to a long pendulum arrangement. The work was completed before December of the same year. Between 1752 and 1760, Brown moved his shop and home in Boston several times. During his lifetime, much was written about his making and installing a tower clock in Boston's Old South Church. This Boston landmark was erected in 1730 without a clock. Brown installed his clock sometime between 1768 and 1770, leaving a lasting mark on the city's landscape. Based on several newspaper advertisements, Brown imported English clocks and watches from England. From 1789 through 1796, Brown was also listed in the business directories as a watchmaker. We have owned numerous tall clocks made by this important Boston clockmaker.
Gawen Brown married three times and had a total of twelve children. On April 5, 1750, he married Mary Flagg. Together they had six children before she died in 1760. She was only 31 years old. His second wife, Elizabeth Byles, was Mather Byles' daughter. Mather was a well-known clergyman who presided over the Hollis Street Church. Elizabeth lived only three more years and had no children. She died in 1763. In 1764, Brown again married, this time to Elizabeth Hill Adams. Elizabeth Hill Adams was the widow of Dr. Joseph Adams, who was the brother of Samuel Adams. Elizabeth bore him six more children.
