Clock, Tall Case

Title:

Queen Anne Maple Tall Clock

Object Name:

Clock, Tall Case

Creator:

Samuel or Jonathan Mulliken

Date:

1750-1755

Material:

Maple, brass, silver

Dimensions:

H-4.75 L-21 Dia-7 inches

Description:

A Queen Anne Maple, 8-day Tall Clock, inscribed with Maker's name [Mulliken-Newbury] plus retaining a label from the original owner, Major Jeremiah Fogg (1749-1808) labeled on rear of backboard.

Clock is in excellent running order, with labels from various Massachusetts clock repairment attached to inner works, etc. Repairs found include replaced weight cables and replaced interior bottom boards, plus other minor case adjustments. Clock displays an older shellac finish. Feet appear to be correct with recent joint tightening.

Fitted with its original silvered dial and 8-day brass works.

Provenance:

The clock's maker is most likely Samuel Mulliken (1720-1756) or his son Jonathan Mulliken (1754-1782), both of whom worked in Newbury, Massachusetts making tall clocks. Newburyport, Mass., had a number of clockmakers who did excellent work. Samuel Mulliken was one of the best. He was born in Bradford, Mass., in 1720, came to Newbury in 1750. He built a house and shop and repaired as well as made clocks till his death in 1756. Jonathan, son of Samuel Mulliken, advertises as follows in the Essex Journal and Merrimac Packet, for May 25, 1774:

Jonathan Mulliken Informs his customers and others that he still continues to carry on the clock and watch making business in all its branches at his shop near the Town House in Newburyport, where may be had the best of chimes or musical clocks playing seven different Tunes upon twelve bells. Eight day or common one day clocks equal to any imported from Great Britain.

Major Jeremiah Fogg (1749-1808), eldest son of Rev. Jeremiah Fogg of Kensington [NH], was a Harvard graduate and later studied law with Theophilus Parsons, a pre-eminent jurist. In 1775 he joined the regiment of Col. [Enoch] Poor [of Exeter] as a staff officer, served at the battle of Valley Forge, and remained with the regiment throughout the War. After the Revolution, Fogg returned to Kensington and remained active in politics, serving in the NH Senate. He married Lydia Hill of Cambridge.

Major Fogg was one of 31 individuals to organize the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783 and served as secretary for the New Hampshire Society for 18 years, from 1785 until his death in 1808. A room in the Ladd-Gilman House (second floor) is named for him.

This clock was purchased by the Society of the Cincinnati from Philip Harbaugh, Esq., of Colonial Antiques of Arcanum, Ohio.

Subjects:

Clocks, Furnishings, Furniture, Tall clocks, Queen Anne-style

People:

Fogg, Jeremiah, Mulliken, Samuel, Mulliken, Jonathan

Place of Origin:

Newbury, Massachusetts

Collection Name:

Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire

Item Number:

2005.003

Accession Number:

2005.003

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the American Independence Museum

Credit Line:

American Independence Museum

Participating Organization:

American Independence Museum