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Daniel Munroe & Company of Concord, Massachusetts.

It is recorded that the firm of Daniel Munroe & Co. was comprised of Clockmakers Daniel Jr. and Nathaniel Munroe, and their younger brother William Munroe was the cabinet or case maker. This partnership began in 1798 and lasted until 1804.

Daniel Munroe Jr., Clockmaker, and silversmith, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on July 13, 1775. Daniel Munroe Senior and his wife Abigail Parker had five sons. All five boys were raised in Roxbury. The Munroe family is well connected to American History and the clock trade. Daniel Senior's father, Jedediah Munroe, died in the Battle of Lexington. Daniel's mother, Abigail Parker of Roxbury, was the eldest daughter of Jonathan Parker. Jonathan, a farmer living in Roxbury, was one of the 13 Patriots who participated in the Boston Tea Party. This act of defiance against British rule and their taxation policies took place on Griffin's Wharf on December 16, 1773.

Daniel Jr. was trained in the art of clockmaking by America's most famous clockmaker, Simon Willard, in Roxbury. Daniel served the traditional seven-year apprenticeship. Simon wrote in a letter dated July 13, 1796, that described Daniel as "... one of the best workman in America." After serving his apprenticeship, Daniel worked for a short time as a journeyman clockmaker in Willards Roxbury clock shop before moving to Concord, Massachusetts, sometime before 1798. Here he kept a shop opposite the Clothing Mill and worked as a clockmaker and a silversmith. From 1798 through 1804, he formed a partnership with his brothers Nathaniel and William as Daniel Munroe & Co. William was a cabinetmaker and left the partnership in 1804. On November 29, 1804, William married Sarah Dakin (1781-1856) in Concord. The clockmaker partnership of Daniel and Nathaniel lasted another three years when in 1807, Daniel moved back to Boston and opened a shop located at 51 Newbury Street. While in Boston, he advertised being situated at several different Boston addresses, including No. 51 Ann Street, in 1809. In 1811, he was at No. 35 1/2 Cornhill Street; in 1813 and 1814, he formed a partnership with Ezekiel Jones as Munroe & Jones. By 1816, Daniel was working at No. 47 Cornhill Street, and then in 1823, he moved to No. 38 Congress Street. In 1839, he moved to New York City. He then moved back to Boston in 1841 through 1856. Daniel died in Boston on October 21, 1859.

Nathaniel Munroe was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on June 21, 1777. It is recorded that he learned clockmaking from Abel Hutchins of Concord, New Hampshire. Abel was an early apprentice of Simon Willard's. Nathaniel was in business with his brother Daniel between 1800-1807 and is listed as a Clockmaker and a Brass Founder. In 1808, he joined Samuel Whiting and the partnership Munroe & Whiting. In 1817 he moved south to Baltimore and continued to make clocks in what appeared to be small numbers.

William Munroe was also born in Roxbury on December 15, 1778. He served his apprenticeship to Nehemiah Munroe, a cabinetmaker who worked in Roxbury. In about 1800, his two brothers convinced him to move to Concord to build cases for their clocks. They formed a partnership, and he was given a contract in 1801 as a full partner in their business. In 1805, he married Patty Stone and took up residence in her mother's house. William made clock cases and furniture. During the War of 1812, cabinetmaking became a hard way to make a living. So William began to make pencils. In just two short years, he made upwards of 175,000 pencils a year. By 1840, he was the leader in the American pencil industry. William died in Concord on March 6, 1861.

 

Clocks From This Maker

Daniel Munroe & Co., of Concord, MA. An inlaid mahogany cased tall case clock featuring outstanding proportions. 214023. Delaney Antique Clocks.
This wonderful mahogany cased example is nicely proportioned and features delicate line inlay patterns in the base, waist, and on the hood door. This case retains what appears to be an original finish. The case stands on four ogee bracket feet… read more