Moses Wing of Windsor, Connecticut. A cherry case tall clock. HH-16.
This is a fine cherry case tall clock with an engraved silvered brass dial made by Moses Wing of Windsor, Connecticut.
Of the Twelve or so examples identified by the Windsor Historical Society in Windsor, Connecticut, This is said to be the most developed in terms of its case form. This example has the combination of applied moldings added to the pagoda, quarter columns in the waist section, and a robust double step molding that is unique to this clockmaker.
This clock stands on an applied molding which rests flat on the floor. The waist is long and narrow and features a nicely shaped waist door. The sides of this case are fitted with fluted quarter columns that end in decoratively turned wooden capitals. The bonnet is a modified pagoda form that is original to the clock. It supports three turned wooden finials. The center finial is mounted on a platform, while the other two are supported on square plinths. The bonnet door is a tombstoned shape and is fitted with glass. Fully turned and free-standing bonnet columns are located on either side of this door. This case exhibits typical proportions and wood selection for this region.
The skillfully engraved dial is brass and has been silvered with a wash. The decorative designs are consistent with dials found along the Connecticut River Valley and then down to Norwich. This dial is signed by the Maker in the arch along with his working location. It also bears the initials "D. P." below the calendar aperture. These initials are thought to stand for the dial engraver, Daniel Porter. The time and strike movement is brass, eight-day duration, and of good quality. This clock was made circa 1785 and stands approximately 7 feet 10 inches tall.
Moses Wing was born on April 25, 1760. He served in the Revolutionary War and was present at the retreat from New York. He was known as a Goldsmith but made brass clocks, silver spoons, etc. By the style of the dial and the construction of the movement and case, one can assume that he trained with Daniel Burnap, who was a Thomas Harland apprentice. Wing died in 1809 and is buried in Windsor, where his tombstone still stands.
This clock is inventory number HH-16.
Moses Wing was born on April 25, 1760, the son of Samuel and Joannah (Haskell) Wing. He served in the Revolutionary War and was present at the retreat from New York. In 1777, He enlisted as a private for service at Peekskill in Capt Edward Griswold's company of the Conn militia. End ended his service as a Major. He returned to Windsor and worked as a Goldsmith, but made brass clocks, silver spoons, etc., and also repaired watches. Several tall case clocks are known to us. All but one have skillfully engraved sheet brass dials. These are finished in a silver wash. Three of these dials have been found with the initials "DP" engraved on them. The "DP" has been identified as Daniel Porter, who Daniel Burnap trained in Windsor. This type of engraved brass dial was very popular with the clockmaking school of Thomas Harland and later Daniel Burnap. In March 1803, he and Geer Terry advertised their partnership in the Hartford American Mercury that they were "Makers of all kinds of gold and silver work." They were located in Hartford until 1805, when Moses relocated to Worcester, MA, and advertised as a gold and silversmith. Here he took on Martin Moses as an apprentice. Moses married twice. His first wife was Hannah Denslow. They married on December 12, 1781, in Windsor. Wing's second wife was Huldah Denslow. She was a cousin of Hannah's. They were married on April 8, 1793, in Windsor. Moses Wing died on October 28, 1809, in Worcester and is buried in Palisdo Cemetry in Windsor, where his tombstone still stands. Huldah Wing was appointed administrator of her husband Moses's estate, inventoried for $2284.67.
