John Rogers of Newton, Massachusetts. Tall case clock. SS-125.
This fine cherry case clock exhibits classic early New England proportions. This case stands up on the applied bracket base that incorporates four feet in the design. A simple drop hangs from the center of the bracket molding. The waist section features a tombstone-shaped waist door trimmed with a simple molded edge. The hood reflects a Queen Anne influence. This is surmounted with two wooden finials. It may have had a caddy top at one time, which is now missing. The bonnet has an arched glazed door. Fully turned bonnet columns flank this door. The bonnet door is arched in form and opens to a composite brass dial signed by the Maker.
This style of this dial predates the painted dial. It is composed of a brass base sheet decorated with applied spandrels and a chapter or time ring. In the arch of the dial is the Maker's name-boss. It is decoratively engraved around the outer edge and is signed in the center by the Maker, John Rogers / Newton. The large chapter ring is also applied to the dial. This ring displays the hours in a Roman numeral format. The five-minute markers are indicated in each of the hour positions. The center of this section is nicely matted. This was most likely done to aid in one's ability to locate the hands while reading the dial. A brass dial will tarnish, making reading somewhat challenging in a room lit by candles. The steel hands are wonderfully made. This dial also features the subsidiary seconds dial, which is engraved with a compass star. The calendar date is displayed in the traditional location and can be viewed through the access square.
Behind the dial is a brass weight-driven movement. It is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It will also strike each hour on a cast iron bell. The plates are supported with four turned posts and are supported by a seat or a saddle board. These plates are interesting because they retain the Maker's setup notes in terms of the scribe lines left in the front surface. One will also notice the higher-than-normal copper content, as the copper coloring shows. The pendulum features a wooden rod and a brass-faced lead bob.
This fine clock was made circa 1785. The overall height is 88 inches. It is 83.5 inches tall to the top of the cornice molding.
Inventory number SS-125.
John Rogers was born on May 9, 1724, in Boston. He was the son of Gamaliel Rogers and Mercy (Emms) Rogers. John is recorded as having married twice. His first wife was Hannah Williamson of Newton, and they married on December 11, 1745. Hanna was born October 9, 1723, and died June 8, 1779. Together, they had at least eleven children. John married a second time to Mary (Craft) Towbridge on October 1, 1780. She was born on April 11, 1731. John is listed as a blacksmith and as a clockmaker. He trained as a blacksmith under the guidance of Joseph Ward. John maintained two shops. One was located in Newton, and the other was in the town of Waltham. John is described as an ingenious man who made machines. He also held various town offices, including the position of selectman. In 1780, he served as a committee member to recruit soldiers. It is recorded that he was involved in a number of business dealings with the clockmaker Benjamin Willard. Rogers filed a lawsuit against Willard, which he won. In about 1761, John made and gifted the gallery clock to the Congregational Church in Newton, which is now in the Museum of Fine Arts collection in Boston. We have owned and sold a small number of tall clocks made by this maker over the last 55 years. Several of these have featured unusual calendar displays, and the works were fitted with maintaining power.
Examples of brass composite dials, engraved brass dials, and painted dial clocks are known.
