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Tall Case Clock

Maker Anthony Ward

Period1724 - 1746

MediumMaple, and hard pine

Dimensions95.75 × 20.38 × 10.75 in. (243.2 × 51.8 × 27.3 cm)

InscribedA chalk inscription on the inside surface of the door reads, "G. Williams / Dec. 23 / 90." An additional chalk inscription on the inside backboard reads "Hohn Glow [?]."

SignedThe clock face is engraved on the chapter ring, "A. WARD N. YORK."

ClassificationsClocks

Credit LineGift of Edmund J. Parker and Dr. E. Ely Parker, 1955

Object number1995.532

DescriptionA shallow stepped and domed hood with two turned urn finials sits above an arched and glazed hood door flanked by turned columns at its front and rear corners. Rectangular glazed panels are set into the hood sides revealing the clockworks. The clock face consists of a brass chapter ring with Roman hour and Arabic minute numerals, pierced and scrolled hands, and four cast brass corner spandrels with cupids' heads and scrollwork. Above the dial, a painted face with eyes that move in time with the clock's pendulum swing is flanked by cast brass plaques featuring putti astride eagles. The arched trunk door includes a small circular brass-rimmed and glazed window and a shaped brass escutcheon. The base consists of an ogee waist molding and stepped molding along the bottom above simple curved bracket feet. The skirt and feet are an addition to the clock. The top quarter round molding and finials are replacements.
Curatorial RemarksAnthony Ward was one of the earliest clockmakers working in America, yet little is known about him. Born in Lanlivery Rural in 1670 and by 1705 working in Truro, both in the county of Cornwall, England, Ward was admitted on 27 May 1717 as a Freeman in Philadelphia, PA, by the Common Council. But Ward was said to be working in New York City by 1724. He advertised on 18 February 1729 in The New-York Gazette, "Several Bags of good new Hops to be sold very reasonable for Money or Country Produce. Enquire of Anthony Ward, watch-maker in New-York, and know further." Ward took Samuel Craig (1708 - 1746) of Freehold, Monmouth County, as an apprentice. Craig married Ward's daughter Gertrude on 8 November 1736 in Monmouth County. Both clockmakers were living in Freehold by 1746. The 3 November edition of the New York Weekly Post Boy carried the notice that "Whereas Mary, the wife of Anthony Ward, of Freehold, in Monmouth County, Clock maker, hath lately eloped from her Husband, and strives to run him in Debt, besides leading a lewd and dissolute Life; this is therefore to forewarn all Persons from trusting her on her Husband's account, for he will pay no Debts she shall contract from the Date hereof." Samuel Craig died near Freehold on 17 November 1746. The inventory of his estate taken on 3 February 1746/7 contained the following, "Carpenters toolls, blacksmith toolls, & a clock" valued at 18 pounds 18 shillings, "All the old Iron, Copper, Brass, Instruments & Materials for Making Clocks & Watches & tools of each trade, with a jack, the 1/2 of which is" 3 pounds 10 shillings, "The 1/2 of an old Brass Kittle, & the half of a Table Clock" appraised at 4 pounds, 12 shillings, 6 pence, and "Debts Due by Sundrie Persons & an old watch" estimated at 64 pounds. Ward held the other half interest in the tools, equipment, brass kettle and table clock.. The elder clockmaker died on 6 December 1746, also in Freehold and only nineteen days after his apprentice / son in law / and apparent partner. Both individuals were interred in the Old Scots Presbyterian burying ground in what is now Marlboro Township, Monmouth County, as was Catherine van der Hiden, a daughter of Ward who passed away on 10 January 1747. Given this close range of death dates, it appears that some fatal illness had struck in the Ward and Craig families. The Craig House, under construction at the time of these deaths, still stands on the Monmouth Battlefield State Park and is open to the public seasonally. For a walnut side chair owed by Mr. Tennent, see accession number 251.NotesAn early twentieth century handwritten paper that accompanied the clock gives its detailed provenance. "The Tennent Clock at this writing is the property of Edmund J and E. Ely Parker Xmas 1918. It first came to the Ely family through one Elizabeth Edwards Baird wife of one John Baird, brother of Captain David Baird one time Captain in the Revolutionary war on the battle fields of Monmouth, N. J. Elizabeth E. Baird was born April 1st 1790. Her first husband and John Baird was born about 1740 attended church and owned a pew in Tennent Church which with the widows dower which also included the Old Grand Father's clock bought by John Baird at Wm Tennent's sale of Goods and chattles [sic] - shortly after Tennent's death - March 1777. In 1837 Elizabeth Edwards Baird became the 3rd wife of John J. Ely. After the death of Elizabeth Edwards Baird Ely - The Tennent Clock became the property of her step son John Perrine Ely - who gave the Tennent Clock to his Nephew Asher S. Ely. - son of Enoch and Elizabeth Smith Ely. After the death of Asher S. Ely in July 1914 and his widow Carolyn Holmes Ely in 1917 Said Clock was purchased at a sale of the belongings of Asher S. Ely by his Nephews Edmund J. and E. Ely Parker for $105.00. The said Clock is now at their home, 22 Brinckerhoff Ave., Freehold, N. J." Like many family recollections, this one requires some explanation. The Rev. William Tennent Jr. (1705 - 1777) was the acclaimed pastor of the Presbyterian Church near Freehold that now bears his name. He may have acquired the clock from Anthony Ward while the latter lived in New York as Samuel Craig, his apprentice, and Craig's family were members of Tennent's congregation. Or he may have purchased the clock from Ward while he was living in Freehold with the Craigs. The chapter ring is engraved "A. WARD N. YORK." However, the clockmaker may have brought a stock of chapter rings with him when he moved to Monmouth County. Having had no children, Tennent's possessions were sold at a vendue shortly after his death in 1777. The clock was acquired at the sale by John Baird (1750 - 1834), who in 1818 married as his second wife Elizabeth Edwards (1790 - 1878), a woman who was forty years his junior. She remarried in 1837 to John J. Ely (1792 - 1873) as his third wife. The clock then passed as per the above narrative to her step son J. Perrine Ely (1819 - 1884); then to his nephew Asher S. Ely (1849 - 1914); and finally to his nephews Edmund J. Parker (1873 - 1955) and Dr. E. Ely Parker (1875 - 1961). The Parker brothers placed the clock on loan to the Association in 1932, finally turning it into a gift in 1955.

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