Isaac Gere of Northampton, Massachusetts.

Isaac Gere was born in Preston, Connecticut, on December 6, 1771. His parents were Nathan and Jerusha (Tracy) Gere. It is believed that his early training in the art of clockmaking was under the guidance of John Avery, who also lived and worked in the same town. In 1793, Gere moved to Northampton, Massachusetts, where he was active as a watchmaker, clockmaker, and silversmith until his death on September 24, 1812.

Shortly after moving to Northampton, Gere hired Nichols Goddard as a journeyman clockmaker. Goddard records this in his journal. Nicholas stayed with Gere for three years and left for Rutland, Vermont, in 1797.

In June 1803, Gere took on Ebenezer Strong Phelps as an apprentice to learn silver and goldsmithing and make brass eight-day clocks. Ebenezer was fifteen years old. In January 1809, with Ebenezer's parents' consent, Isaac sent Ebenezer to Newark, New Jersey, to work in the jewelry business for Messrs. Hinsdale and Taylor.

It is worth noting that the "Hampshire Gazette" carried a fair number of ads (June 1802-June 1803) stating that Gere was a clockmaker and watchmaker and also manufactured silver spoons, gold beads, etc. Gere's later ads (1809-1810) stated that he is "at his brick store opposite the meetinghouse and continues to make every article in the gold and silversmith business."

A small number of tall case clocks are currently known. Two of these clocks share very similar cases. One is a clock that we have owned. A second clock is pictured in Fales's book, The Furniture of Historic Deerfield, on page 264. This clock shares a very similar case, which is credited to having been made by Julius Barnard. Eliphalet Chapin trained Julius Barnard (1741-1807) of East Windsor, Connecticut. He moved up to Northampton and set up his cabinet shop. Naturally, much of his furniture exhibits a strong Chapin influence. The Williams and Billings families of Hatfield and Deerfield once owned the clock pictured in Fales. A third example is pictured in the Sack Volumes, No. 2 on page 303. This clock is now reported to be in The Ford Museum. It differs significantly in case form.

In January 2011, George Thomas Lewis & Co. sold the portraits of Isaac Gere and his wife, painted by Ralph Earl, at a public auction. Isaac is pictured seated, very well dressed, with an open book in front of him on a table. In the background, behind the fancy drapes, is a view of the Connecticut River Valley.