Ezra Batchelder of Danvers, Massachusetts. Captain Thomas Cheever's cross-banded mahogany case tall clock. 216057.
This is a fine cross-banded mahogany example. According to Ezra Batchelder's existing shop log book, only one tall clock example is singled out as being made with a "mehogany case." That clock was made for Captain Thomas Cheever of Danvers in 1813 and sold to him for $65.00. Cheever commanded the ship, Augustus.
This case is constructed in the finest figured mahogany and mahogany veneers. It currently retains an old mellow surface that has aged gracefully. This case stands on four cut-out bracket feet. They retain their original height and elevate the case up off the floor. The feet transition into a spur and a drop apron. A thinly applied molding visually separates the feet from the base. The mahogany used in constructing the base panel is formatted in a vertical position and visually lifts the case. This crotch pattern radiates with long sweeping lines. This panel is cross-banded along its perimeter. The rectangularly shaped waist door is trimmed with applied molding. The veneer selected for this panel is outstanding. This door opens to access the interior of the case. Finely reeded quarter columns flank the sides of this case. These terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet top of the bonnet is fitted with a very fancy and lacy open fretwork design. Three reeded plinths support this. Each plinth is capped at the top and fitted with a brass finial. Fully turned and reeded bonnet columns or colonnettes visually support the upper bonnet arch molding. They are mounted in brass capitals and are free-standing. The arched bonnet door is fitted with glass. It opens to access the dial.
This iron dial measures 12 inches across and was paint-decorated by the Wilson firm in Birmingham, England. Each of the four spandrel areas is decorated with representations of floral patterns and cherries. A colorfully painted bird is featured in the arch of this dial. This dial also displays the hours, minutes, seconds, and calendar date in their traditional locations. Please note the wonderfully shaped steel hands. The Maker's signature with is painted just below the calendar. The signature reads, "Ezra Batchelder / Danvers," in block lettering.
This fine movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed in a recoil format. The movement is weight driven and designed to run for 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 which is mounted above the movement. It is interesting to note the unusual and distinctive shaping of the strike work. This design feature is also found on other clocks known that are signed by this North shore clockmaker.
This fine example is nicely proportioned and stands a modest 7 feet 2.5 inches or 86.5 inches tall to the top of the center finial. As a result, it would fit nicely in many of the period homes of the day. This clock is 17 & 5/8 inches wide and 8.75 inches deep when measured at the upper hood molding. It was made circa 1813.
Inventory number 216057.
Ezra Batchelder was born in Andover, Massachusetts, on November 13, 1769. His father, also named Ezra, was a blacksmith who was baptized on May 31, 1741, and died in 1809. His mother was Mary (Woodbury) Ober from Beverly. The couple married on March 15, 1763, and raised five children on Maple Street. Over time, they became some of the largest landowners in Danvers.
Ezra’s brother Andrew, born in 1772, was also a clockmaker and blacksmith. The two worked together in Danvers after 1801, and it is believed they learned their trade from their brother-in-law, Nathan Adams. An account book from their business covers the years 1803 to 1830. During this time, they sold 36 clocks, with prices ranging from $35 to $65 depending on whether the clock included a case. The account book also lists the names of the original buyers. Both brothers were skilled cabinetmakers and likely made their own clock cases and other wooden items. The following are entries from their account book.
In 1803, five clocks were sold. Nathaniel Lang bought two for $50 each, Edmund Johnson bought two for $35 each, and Charles Foster bought one for $35. The clocks sold to Foster and Johnson had a 12-inch face and no case, while the ones sold to Lang were likely cased. This was Ezra’s most productive year for clock sales.
1804-1805. No clock sales are listed.
1806. Peter Woodbury of Beverly purchased a clock with a "Moon face" for $40, and Solomon Dodge bought one at $37.50. "Tucker" from the town of Andover bought one at $38.
1807. Elias Endicott bought a cased clock for $52.50.
1808. Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth paid $50 for a clock that was to be delivered to Rev. Mr. "Bawlch" of Salisbury. Capt. Samuel Trow of Beverly bought a "moon face" for $45. William Dodge of Beverly bought a "moon Face" for $45. This clock was sold without a case. Mr. Lemon of Beverly bought a "12-inch moon face" for $43.
1809. No clock sales are listed.
1810. Amos Gould of Ipswich purchased a clock for $50.
1811. Jacob Towne of Topsfield purchased a "clock compleat" for $47.50.
1812. Capt. Thomas Raymond of Beverly bought a clock "without case" for $40. John H. Leonard of Salem bought a "compleat clock" for $55.
1813. Capt. Thomas Cheever of Danvers bought a clock for $65. (Capt. Cheever commanded the ship, Augustus.) This clock is listed as having a "mehogeny case." David Perkins of Topsfield bought a clock for $50.
1814. No clock sales are listed.
1815. Elezer Pope, a yeoman who resided in Salem, bought a clock for $50.
1816. Elezer Lake of Topsfield bought a "clock and case compleat and case varnished" for $52. John Averill of Topsfield is listed as buying a clock. The price is not recorded. Major Solomon Wilkins of Middleton paid $50. This is later sold to the Newhall family.
1817. No entries.
1818. No entries.
1819. Ebenezer Goldthwaite purchased a "clock and case compleat, and case varnished" for $53. "Esq" Elezer Putnam paid $53 for a clock.
1820. Alen Porter bought a "compleat," clock for $53.
1821. Stephen Whipple of Salem bought a "compleat," clock for $53. Daniel Porter of Topsfield purchased a "clock and case" for $50.
In 1822, Capt. Asa Tapley of Danvers paid $53 for a clock. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and served as a lieutenant during the War of 1812, guarding Fort Lee. In 1833, he received a Revolutionary War pension. Tapley was a successful businessman and one of Danvers’ early brick manufacturers. He also served the town as a constable, a highway surveyor, a member of the board of health, and a school committee member. Records show he was involved in many land transactions and was listed as a yeoman.
1823. Levi Preston of Danvers paid $55.
1824. Mr. Killam, probably of Boxford, paid $40.
1825. No entries.
1826. Mark How paid $53.
1827. Mr. Hardy bought a clock "without case" for $32.50.
In 1828, Perley Tapley of Danvers bought a clock for $53. He was well known for moving buildings and also worked as a highway surveyor.
In 1829, Hicks Richards of Danvers bought a clock without a case for $38. Col. Nathan Tapley purchased a case for $15.75. Nathan, Asa’s brother, led a military company in Danvers and nearby areas, earning the title of Colonel. He was also a successful businessman.
1830. Joseph Porter purchased "one eight-day clock with weights without the case," for $38. (This is Ella J. Porter's clock. She lived on Cherry Street.)
Ezra married Anna Brown on December 17, 1795. She was born in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1772 and died on June 4, 1856. They had 11 children together. Ezra also worked as a farmer and is said to have been the first expressman in Danvers, transporting goods to and from Boston in a road wagon. From 1825 to 1830, he made about three trips a week, using either two or four horses, depending on the load. He later sold this route to Joseph Porter. Ezra died in Danvers on October 10, 1858, from lung fever. He lived nearly 90 years and worked until the end of his life.
One clock sold to Mrs. Porter in Danvers is inscribed inside the case, "sixty dollars or a pair of Oxen.
Over the last forty-plus years of being in the business of selling clocks, we have seen at least 12 tall clocks signed by this Maker.
