Jacob Jones of Pittsfield, New Hampshire. A mixed woods country case tall clock. NN-105.
This is a fine mixed woods country case tall clock made by Jacob Jones of Pittsfield, New Hampshire.
Jacob Jones was born on December 30, 1749, in Kingston, New Hampshire. He was the son of John Jones (1724-1815) and Hannah Dow (1728-1806). Jacob had a brother John Jr. who is also listed as a clockmaker. Jacob married Mary Dow. They had at least one son, Jacob Jr., who was also a clockmaker. Jacob had a foundry in the Doeboro district of Pittsfield, NH. Here he cast the brass he used to manufacture his clocks. Jacob died in Pittsfield on July 25, 1839. Charles Parsons reports in his book New Hampshire Clockmakers that fifteen tall case examples are known to have survived by this Maker. It is not known if this is one of those examples. The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH, has a very good example in its collection. Their clock features an engraved dial and a lovely tiger-maple case. It was thought to have been made circa 1785. We have recorded two other engraved sheet dial clocks. One of which is engraved with the date 1792 in the arch. Interestingly, the engraving on the two dials appears to be of different hands.
This is a wonderful country representation of the traditional form one expects to find from this somewhat rural region. The case is constructed in a number of woods, including maple, birch, mahogany, and pine. This is a format that was very popular in the southeastern region of New Hampshire. This case form must have sold well due to the number of examples that we handle each year. This case appears to retain its original finish and is in excellent original condition. The case stands on a simple cutout bracket base. Please note the figure exhibited on all three sides of the base section. The waist is fitted with a long rectangular door. This door is trimmed with delicate applied molding. The door is cross-banded with a mahogany border and features a veneered center panel of bird's-eye maple. Bird's maple has a very interesting grain pattern. Inside the door, one should notice that the case is signed in chalk by the Maker. It reads, "J D Jones." In fact, this case has been signed seven times in this fashion in as many locations. Smoothly turned quarter columns are fitted into the sides of the waist and terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet is fitted with fretwork. This whale's tail pattern is original to this clock. In addition, the three-period brass finials that are mounted on chimney plinths are also original to this clock. The hood door is arched and fitted with glass. It opens to access the dial.
This dial is of Boston origin and is colorfully painted. It is decorated with long red swags that are draped from the central theme of an urn in the arch. Each of the four spandrel areas is also colorfully decorated and features fruit themes. A gilt circle frames the time ring. Roman numerals mark the hours. Arabic numerals are used to indicate the five-minute markers. The interior of the dial features a subsidiary seconds dial and a calendar dial viewed through the arched aperture. The hands are steel and very well formed.
This movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. The plates are cast in brass and lack the finishing that is exhibited in city clocks. The movement is weight driven, retaining its original tin can weights, and is designed to run eight days on a full wind. It is a time-and-strike design having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell which is mounted above the movement. The lead pendulum bob is covered in brass. The front-facing of this bob is engraved with the Maker's name and working location.
This clock stands 7 feet 3 inches tall and was made circa 1810. This clock is inventory number NN-105.
We have owned several clocks over the years from this region that are signed by their respected clockmakers in this fashion.
This clock is inventory number NN-105.
Jacob Jones was born on December 30, 1749, in Kingston, New Hampshire. He was the son of John Jones (1724-1815) and Hannah Dow (1728-1806). Jacob was Trained as a clockmaker under the guidance of Daniel Balch of Bradford and Newbury, Massachusetts. Jacob married Hannah Cilley on January 1, 1774, in Pittsfield, NH. They had eleven children. Three sons worked in the clock trades. Joseph was born on March 37, 1775, and died on October 31, 1842. Jonathan Jones was born in Gilford, NH, on October 16, 1787. His death date is not known. Abner Jones, not to be confused with his third cousin Abner Jones of Weare, NH, was born on August 24, 1789, in Pittsfield, NH, and died in Avon, NY, on August 24, 1876.
Jacob had a foundry and workshop near the Quaker Meeting House in the Doeboro district of Pittsfield, NH. Here he cast the brass he used to manufacture his clocks. Jacob died in Pittsfield on July 25, 1839. In his book New Hampshire Clockmakers, Charles Parsons reports that fifteen tall case examples are known to have survived by this Maker. It is not known if this is one of those examples. The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH, has an excellent example in its collection. Their clock features an engraved dial and a lovely tiger-maple case. It was thought to have been made circa 1785. We have recorded two other engraved sheet dial clocks. One of which is engraved with the date 1792 in the arch. Interestingly, the engraving on the two dials appears to be of different hands.
