Nathaniel Shepherd working in Dartmouth, Westport and New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Nathaniel Shepherd, clockmaker, watchmaker and goldsmith working in Dartmouth, Westport and New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Nathaniel Shepherd was born in Dartmouth on February 21, 1795 and died in New Bedford on October 28, 1882. He trained as a clockmaker under John Bailey II in Hanover, Massachusetts. It is currently thought that he started working on his own in 1816. In 1820, he formed a partnership with Ezra Kelley and worked with him until 1823 and then again together in 1833 through 1835.

Several tall clocks are known. One signed example owned by us is signed with the place location listed as Westport. A similar Shepherd clock can be found in the Yale University Art Gallery collection, inventory no. 1964.54.2.

Clocks From This Maker

Nathaniel Shepherd, Westport, Massachusetts. A tall clock with moon-phase dial display. XXSL-99.
Nathaniel Shepherd, Westport, Massachusetts. A tall clock with moon-phase dial display. XXSL-99.
This mahogany-constructed cased tall clock features a number of unusual design elements that are worth noting. The first is the feet that elevate the case. All four are an ogee form. They are tall and slender. All four are three-dimensional and have… read more