Paul Rogers & Son (Abner) of Berwick, Maine. A tiger maple case tall case clock. The tallest Maine clock I have seen. QQ-13.
This is a fine maple- and tiger-maple-cased tall clock made by Paul Rogers & Son of Berwick, Maine. This clock was included in the exhibit to complement the 16th Annual NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors) Seminar. The title of the exhibit was "American Masterpieces: Tall Case Clocks of the Eighteenth Century." This very clock is pictured in the exhibit brochure.
This attractive country clock is unusually tall. The case stands a full 8 feet 1 inch tall to the top of the arches or 8 feet 3 inches tall to the tip-top of the brass center finial. This case is constructed from various grades of maple, with white pine as the secondary wood.
This fine example stands on applied bracket feet. The cutout pattern forms nicely shaped returns and a simple base molding. The base panel exhibits tiger maple grain laid out vertically. The waist section is very long and narrow. The smoothly turned quarter columns are fluted and mounted in brass quarter capitals. These help accentuate the case's long, narrow proportions. In addition, the columns help center the long, rectangular-shaped waist door. This door features an incised line detail that follows its shape. Another nice country detail is the multiple pegs in the waist section, used to construct the waist framing. The bonnet features a swan's neck pediment. The rosettes are line-inlaid. Three brass ball-and-spiked finials surmount this clock case. Fully turned bonnet columns terminating in brass capitals flank the bonnet door. This door is arched and fitted with glass. It opens to access a locally painted dial.
This dial is made of iron and painted. It is signed by the Clockmaker's partnership below the center arbor in large block lettering. Each of the four spandrels is decorated with an interesting floral pattern. This theme is repeated in the dial's arch as well. The style of this painted dial decoration is somewhat unique to the Berwick region and is often found on other Rogers families' and their apprentices' clocks. This dial displays the time in a traditional format, with large Roman numerals that mark each of the twelve hours. Arabic numerals are positioned at the five-minute marker locations. A subsidiary seconds dial is located below the Roman hour numeral XII.
The weight-driven movement is of good quality. It is designed to run for 8 days on full wind. This clock will also strike each hour on a cast-iron bell. This movement is typical of the Rogers school of clockmaking in terms of its construction. The movement plates are not brass. They are constructed of iron and feature brass bushings. It is thought this was done to conserve brass, which was an expensive material to work with. This clock was made circa 1805.
Paul Rogers was born in 1752 and died in 1818. He was a Quaker and an active member of the Society of Friends. The Quakers were a sect known for their independence and devotion to hard work. They had established numerous small colonies throughout the more rural parts of New England. He was a very productive clockmaker who worked at his trade for nearly forty years. Notable apprentices of Paul include his son Abner (1777-1809), Reuben Bracket (1761-1867), and John Taber (1796-1859). We have owned many Paul Rogers clocks.
Abner Rogers was born in 1777 and died in 1809. It is logical to assume that his father, Paul, trained him in clockmaking. We have owned several Abner Rogers-signed tall clocks. These clocks also had iron plates incorporated into the movement.
Inventory number QQ-13.
Paul Rogers was born the son of Isaac and Lydia (Varney) Rogers on June 26, 1752, in Berwick, Maine. He was the youngest of eight children. He was a Quaker, more appropriately called a member of the Society of Friends. The Quakers were a sect known for their independence and devotion to hard work and had established small colonies throughout the more rural parts of New England. Paul is often recorded as a “Clerk” in their meeting minutes. Paul was a very productive clockmaker who worked at his trade for nearly forty years. Many of his movements are constructed with cast-iron plates and brass wheels. A few notable apprentices that Paul trained include his son Abner Rogers (1777-1809), Reuben Brackett (1761-1867), and John Taber (1796-1859). Paul Married Deborah Hussey of Kittery, Maine, on August 30, 1774. They had nine children. After clockmaking, Paul became a hatter and made and sold many hats throughout the nearby Maine Villages. Paul Rogers died in 1818.
Abner Rogers was born in 1777, the son of Paul and Lydia (Varney) Rogers of Berwick, Maine. He was one of nine siblings. His father, Paul, was a well-established clockmaker, and it is assumed that Abner was trained by his father. Abner was raised a Quaker and, in 1799, moved to a Quaker settlement in Portland, Maine. He had a shop in Portland and was recorded as a watchmaker when George Peters broke into it on October 6, 1803. It was first located on Fish Street, and in November of 1800, he is recorded as moving into Fore Street. During this time, he married Jennette Warren on October 12, 1800. Sometime after November 1803, Abner and his family returned to Berwick and joined his father in a clockmaking enterprise. Many clock dials are found signed “Paul Rogers and Son, Berwick.” When they worked together, these clocks were made between 1804 and 1808. Abner died on January 25, 1809. He is only 32 years old.
Tall clocks, dwarf clocks, shelf clocks, and wall clocks are known. The Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit reports recently receiving a tall clock made by Abner as a donation.
