Ansel Turner of Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Ansel Turner was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on October 20, 1787, and died in Savannah, Georgia, on October 3, 1814. Turner was listed as a clockmaker in the 1810-14 Roxbury Voting Lists. He was taxed in Roxbury in May 1809 for "1 Poll + for Knower's shop". This suggests that he may have been in business with Daniel Knower, who is also listed as a clockmaker. (Roxbury Town Records) Turner advertised from Roxbury Street in December 1811 that he was "compelled (by bodily indisposition) to relinquish his present line of business, and offers for sale, an elegant assortment of Clocks and Patent Timepieces, Clock Weights, Catgut, &c. Likewise - a complete set of Clockmakers Tools & Materials." His Savannah death records indicate Turner was a Clockmaker from Massachusetts and died at the young age of 25. (NEHGR, Vol. 125, p. 35) An early patent timepiece with cross-banded frames and a tablet marked "S. Willard's Patent" is known with the movement inscribed "A. Turner, No. 27, 1809". (Sold at Schmitt's 10/2017.) Three signed painted dial tall case clocks are known. All three feature Roxbury-style cases.

Please read Paul Foley's, Willard's Patent Time Pieces for additional information about this clockmaker.