Jacob Morse of Westfield, Massachusetts. A birch case tall clock. 211021.
Jacob Morse of Westfield, Massachusetts, made this birch case tall clock. This clock stands a modest 7 feet 6.5 inches tall to the top of the center finial, 20 inches wide, and 11 inches deep at the upper hood molding. It was made circa 1795.
This case features typical New England proportions and is constructed in birch, with New England white pine used as the secondary wood. The birch retains much of its original red wash. The red tint would have been applied to the surface to attain a warm, inviting tone. Over the years, it has mellowed to an excellent subtle cherry color. The case stands on four somewhat compressed ogee bracket feet. These are applied to the bottom of a double-step molding fitted to the base section. The front panel has the grain laid out horizontally. The waist is long and features a rectangular-shaped waist door. This door is trimmed with an applied molding. The sides of the case are fitted with fluted quarter columns that terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet is surmounted by a New England-style fretwork design supported by three chimneys or final plinths. These are capped, providing the base for the three brass ball and spike finials. The sides of the bonnet are fitted with tombstone-shaped side lights. Fluted bonnet columns flank the bonnet door and are mounted in brass capitals. The hood door is arched in form and fitted with glass. It opens to a colorfully painted dial.
The iron dial is paint-decorated and features a lunar calendar or moon phase mechanism in the arch. The four spandrel areas are decorated with colorful floral designs. The time ring is formatted traditionally for the period. Roman numerals are used to mark each of the twelve hours. Arabic numerals indicate the five-minute markers, ten-second intervals on the subsidiary seconds dial, the lunar day, and the calendar day. The Clockmaker signs this dial in a wonderful variation of an old-world script. It also lists his working location. The scale of this signature is such that one can read the Maker’s name from across the room. The hands are made of steel and have a fascinating design.
The movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four-turned pillars support the two brass plates. Both plates have a small cut-out at the bottom, so they appear to be elevated on bracket-style feet. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions, brass gearing, smooth winding drums, and recoil escapement. The weight-driven movement is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train or a time-and-strike design with a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement.
Inventory number 211021.
Jacob Morse was born in Hempstead, New Hampshire, the son of Lieutenant Edmund Morse, originally from Newbury, MA, and Rachel Rowell of Amesbury and Essex, Massachusetts, on March 31, 1751. He died at the age of 68 in Westfield, Massachusetts, on December 17, 1819, and is buried in the Old Burying Ground, Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
James served in the American Revolution and fought in the battle of Long Island under William Shepard and George Washington. Jacob was married twice. His first wife was Naomi Sykes of Springfield, MA. They were married on October 16, 1779, in Springfield. Together, they had at least seven sons and three daughters before she died in 1802. In 1781, a deed in Hampshire County lists him as a Goldsmith of Westfield. In 1805, Jacob married Metitable Williams of Westfield on February 11. Together, they had two more children. Jacob is listed as working in Westfield, Massachusetts, on the corner of Main Street and Broad Street from about 1790 through 1800. Jacob is thought to have trained his son James Morse, born in 1784, as a silversmith.
Over the years, we have owned several other tall case clocks made by this Maker. His estate inventory mentions clocks, cases, a gear-cutting engine, and a lathe.
