Luther Goddard of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. A tall case clock. 213065.
This very important cherry case tall clock was made by Luther Goddard while working in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.
This clock case is constructed in cherry. The form was popular and used by several local clockmakers, including Benjamin Willard and Abel Stowell. This example is well-proportioned and retains a beautiful mellow finish. The case color is rich, and the old surface provides some depth. It is visually pleasing. The case stands off the floor on an applied bracket base that incorporates four feet and subtle returns. The base panel is formatted with the grain of the wood laid out in a horizontal orientation. The waist section is fitted with a nicely shaped waist door. This door shape is frequently found in clock cases constructed in this Central Massachusetts region. The door is trimmed with a simple molded edge and opens to provide access to the case's interior. The front corners of the waist are decorated with a subtle beaded edge detail. The hood or bonnet is surmounted with a very interesting open fret-work pattern. This pattern features a row of open windows above the molded arch hood molding. Above this is a scroll pattern. Three fluted finial plinths support the frets and the three brass ball and spiked finials. The bonnet columns are smoothly turned and terminate in turned wooden capitals. These capitals retain most of their original gilding. The bonnet door is arched in form and fitted with glass. It opens to access the painted dial.
This iron dial was paint-decorated by a local ornamental artist. His identity is currently unknown. He may have worked in the Worcester area because the decoration exhibited here is frequently repeated on other local clocks dial signed by Makers such as Benjamin Willard of Grafton, Joseph Loring of Sterling, and Abel Stowell of Worcester. The presentation has a regional charm. It is less polished than the painted dials from nearby Boston or overseas. The four spandrel areas are decorated with native florals. These are framed with a gilt border. This theme is also repeated in the arch, where they center a lovely pastoral scene. Here two people are depicted standing on a road. Behind them are a field and a couple of structures. This dial is signed by the clockmaker just above the center arbor, where one is accustomed to finding a second hand. The clockmaker’s name is signed in script format, “Luther Goddard.” The working location is written in an old English format. It reads “Shrewsbury / FECIT.” The time ring is traditionally formatted. Large Roman-style numerals are used to display the hours. Each of the five-minute markers is presented in an Arabic format. Below the center arbor is a calendar display. Nicely formed steel hands indicate the time. You may notice that this clock has a third hand. This is a sweep secondhand. It moves with the motion of the pendulum. This is a very unusual feature for a New England clockmaker to incorporate into his movement and dial design. It is more commonly used by Clockmakers working in Pennsylvania.
The movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. It is weight driven and designed to run eight days on a full wind. It is a time-and-strike design having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement. It is interesting to note that this cock features a center sweep secondhand. Very few New England tall clocks are fitted with this feature.
This charming country clock was made circa 1795. It stands approximately 84 inches or 7 feet tall to the top of the center finial.
Inventory number 219115.
Luther Goddard was a Clockmaker, Watchmaker, Silversmith, Jeweler, and Baptist Minister. He worked in Grafton, Shrewsbury, and Worcester, Massachusetts.
Luther Goddard was born February 28, 1762, the fourth child of Daniel and Mary Willard Goddard in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Mary Willard was the sister of Benjamin Willard, father of the clockmaking brothers Benjamin, Simon, Ephraim, and Aaron. That made him the cousin of Simon Willard, the clockmaker, and he is thought to have trained or, more appropriately, apprenticed under him as early as 1778 at the age of 16. This indenture is believed to have lasted five years through 1783. He is then recorded as working in Shrewsbury from 1784 through 1817 as a clockmaker, watchmaker, and as a silversmith. In 1784, Luther married Elizabeth Dakin on June 19. They had at least two children that worked in the clock, watch, and silver trades. Parley Goddard, born in 1787, began training under his father in 1800. His brother Daniel, born in 1796, started training when he was 13. It is thought that Luther also trained his second cousin Nichols Goddard, born in 1773 and died in 1823. Nicholas becomes one of Vermont's most prolific clockmakers working most of his life in the town of Rutland. In 1803, Luther formed what must have been a brief partnership with James Hamilton as Goddard & Hamilton. It is recorded that in 1807, Luther attended the estate sale of the Norwich, Connecticut, clockmaker Thomas Harland. Here, he is said to have purchased a set of clockmakers tools. In 1809, he relocated his shop to Shrewsbury Hill. His shop is said to have been about 18 feet square. It was one story and had a hip roof. It also had a lean-to attached to the back for the casting process. It is in this location that he began to manufacture pocket watches and is credited with making the first American watch and also as being the first American to make a significant attempt to make watches in quantity. His lifetime output of watches is estimated to be approximately 600. His silvered-cased examples are thought to have originally sold for approximately $60. This would have been about the same cost as a tall case clock. Today, his watches are prized by collectors. This first watch venture included his son Parley under the firm name of Luther Goddard & Son. Their timing was pretty good as imports were blocked by Jefferson and the "Jefferson Embargo" during the War of 1812. By 1815 the market was again flooded with imports, and the watch business slowed. It is thought they produced approximately 600 or so watches by 1817. Some of the other firm names that were related to this venture are "Luther Goddard," "L. Goddard & Son," "L&P Goddard," "L. Goddard & Co.," "D&P Goddard & Co.," etc... It is reported that Luther recruited several associates to help him build watches. Some of these were said to have been former British soldiers that trained in Europe before the War and remained here because of the new country's opportunities. Luther trained a number of apprentices too. One was William Keith, who later became an executive at the Waltham Watch Co. A second was Jubal Howe, who later moved to Boston to ply his trade. Luther trained Aaron Dennison, who would later worked with Edward Howard. Dennison and Howard produced the first factory-made watch in this country. In 1817, Luther moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, with his son Daniel and continued to repair watches and clocks, silversmithing, and preached as a Baptist minister. This shop was located on Main Street across from Daniel Waldo's store. Luther died in Worcester on May 24, 1842, at 81.
