Joseph Gooding of Dighton, Massachusetts. Tall clock Numbered 22 on the dial. 220045.
This superb inlaid mahogany case example exhibits the finest proportions. The form resembles what the Willard family produced in Roxbury and Boston. The mahogany wood is subltely figured and retains a wonderful older finish. This example stands on nicely shaped and applied ogee bracket feet. They are applied to double-stepped molding. The base panel is decorated with a thin line of light wood inlay. The waist is long and narrow. It features a tombstone-shaped waist door that is also lined inlaid. It is trimmed with applied molding. Fitted into the front corners of the case are brass stop fluted quarter columns, which terminate at both ends in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet features a New England-style fretwork which is surmounted with three ball and spike finials. The bonnet columns are also brass, stop-fluted, and flank the line inlaid bonnet door. It is arched and glazed and swings open to access a nicely painted iron dial.
This imported English dial, having an Osbourne false plate, features a time track that is formatted with Arabic-style five-minute markers, a dotted minute ring, and large Roman-style hour numerals. A subsidiary seconds dial and month calendar can be seen inside the time ring. This dial is signed "Gooding, DIGHTON / No. 22." Each of the four spandrel areas and the area in the lunette are decorated with colorful florals.
This fine movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four turned pillars support the two brass plates. The plates feature oval cutouts at the bottom. 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. This clock will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell which is mounted above the movement. This clock was made circa 1810.
This clock stands approximately 93.5 inches or 7 feet 9.5 inches tall to the top of the center finial.
Inventory number 220045.
Joseph Gooding was born on March 6, 1773, in Dighton, Massachusetts, and died in the same town on November 11, 1853. His parents were Joseph Gooding (1729-1815) and Rebecca (Macomber) Gooding. At 16, he traveled to Hanover, MA, and trained as an apprentice under the Quaker Clockmaker, John Bailey II. By 1793, he was at work on his own in the town of Dighton. Here he worked as a silversmith, jeweler, and clock and watchmaker. He had three younger brothers whom he most likely trained as clockmakers. Josiah (b.1777 – d. 1867) was the most prolific of the four. He set up a shop in Bristol, Rhode Island. Alanson (b. 1789 - d. 1887) worked in New Bedford, MA. Henry (b. 1785 – d. 1875) worked in Duxbury, MA. John (b. 1780 – d. 1870) worked in Wrentham and later in Plymouth, MA. On May 19, 1798, Joseph married Elizabeth Austin in Dighton. They had three boys that were involved in the jewelry and watch trades. Joseph is next listed as a silversmith, jeweler, and clockmaker working in Fall River from 1828 to 1838. He returned to Dighton in 1839 and lived there until he died in 1853.
Currently, we speculate that Joseph made some 40-plus tall case clocks. He apparently numbered many of his tall case clocks on the dial. The highest number found to date is No. 38. Interestingly, No. 8 is in the clock collection of Harvard University. The Harvard-owned example, like the other documented clocks, all share a case form and construction that reflects a strong Roxbury, MA, influence. We have seen or owned numbers 8, 9, 12, 20, 22, 34, 36, and 38. Others have also recorded numbers 2, 6, and 10.
