Gawen Brown of Boston, Massachusetts. A pre-revolutionary tall case clock made in 1755 and numbered 77. T-26.
This is a very rare and important mahogany case tall clock made by Gawen Brown of Boston, Massachusetts. This movement is engraved with the Maker’s name, “G. Brown,” dated “1755” and numbered “No. 77” on the front plate. Currently, this is the only example found to date that is dated and numbered.
This rare clock is typical of the early Boston form. It stands on a large double-step molding that rests flat on the floor. The waist door is tombstone shaped and fills the waist or middle section of the case. The bonnet features a caddy top with two carved gilt finials that surmount this clock. 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 form. It is composed of a brass sheet and is decorated with applied brass spandrels, name boss, and time or chapter rings.
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 clock was made circa 1755. We know this because the front plate is skillfully engraved, “G. Brown 1755. / No. 77.” This inscription is a wonderful and important discovery. Before this discovery, it was not known that Brown numbered any of his clocks. One wonders if his shop log will one day be found.
This example stands 7 feet 8 inches tall overall.
Inventory number T-26.
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.
