John Rogers of Newton, Massachusetts. A cherry cased tall clock in old surface. YY-79.
This is a fine cherry case clock that exhibits classic New England proportions. The dry old-world finish remains over the cherry wood construction. This case proudly stands on applied bracket feet. A double-stepped molding transitions the feet to the base of the clock. The waist section is fitted with a large tombstone-shaped waist door that is trimmed with applied molding. The open fretwork style bonnet is surmounted with three ball-and-spiked finials. They are brass and are mounted on capped finial plinths. The bonnet has an arched glazed door. Fully turned bonnet columns flank this door. The columns terminate in brass capitals.
The iron dial is colorfully painted and features florals in the four spandrel areas and the arch. The Clockmaker signs the dial below the calendar aperture. The signature reads, John Rogers / Newton.
Behind the dial is a brass weight-driven movement. It is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It will also strike each hour on a cast iron bell. The two large brass plates are supported by four turned posts. This frame is mounted on a seat or a saddle board. These plates are interesting because they retain a higher-than-normal copper content, as is evident by the copper coloring. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed as a recoil format. The movement is weight driven and designed to run eight days on a full wind. The movement is a two-train or 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 mounted above the movement. The pendulum features a wooden rod and a brass-faced lead bob.
This clock was made circa 1800.
The overall height is 7 feet 10 inches tall.
Inventory number YY-79.
John Rogers was born on May 9, 1724, in Boston. He was the son of Gamaliel Rogers and Mercy (Emms) Rogers. John is recorded as having married twice. His first wife was Hannah Williamson of Newton, and they married on December 11, 1745. Hanna was born October 9, 1723, and died June 8, 1779. Together, they had at least eleven children. John married a second time to Mary (Craft) Towbridge on October 1, 1780. She was born on April 11, 1731. John is listed as a blacksmith and as a clockmaker. He trained as a blacksmith under the guidance of Joseph Ward. John maintained two shops. One was located in Newton, and the other was in the town of Waltham. John is described as an ingenious man who made machines. He also held various town offices, including the position of selectman. In 1780, he served as a committee member to recruit soldiers. It is recorded that he was involved in a number of business dealings with the clockmaker Benjamin Willard. Rogers filed a lawsuit against Willard, which he won. In about 1761, John made and gifted the gallery clock to the Congregational Church in Newton, which is now in the Museum of Fine Arts collection in Boston. We have owned and sold a small number of tall clocks made by this maker over the last 55 years. Several of these have featured unusual calendar displays, and the works were fitted with maintaining power.
Examples of brass composite dials, engraved brass dials, and painted dial clocks are known.
