David Young of Hopkington, New Hampshire.

David Young was a cabinetmaker who worked in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. He is known to have made clock cases for several clockmakers, including Levi & Able Hutchins, Timothy Chandler, and Edmund Currier. Some of these cases can be positively identified. Young often pasted a label inside the cases he made. 

Knowing who made the cases for the 18th-century clockmaker is very unusual. This fine birch example retains the Joiner’s label. It reads, “MADE / BY / David Young, / JOINER, / Hopkinton, New Hamp- / shire.” This printed paper label is pasted to the backboard and is located inside the case. Printed labels by New Hampshire artisans of this period are difficult to find. It is easy to speculate that a percentage of these types of applied labels have been lost due to neglect, poor adhesive quality, or, in some instances, wear. David Young’s labels have been found on a small percentage of clock cases with dials signed by Levi & Able Hutchins and Timothy Chandler. Young’s name also appears in Edmund Currier’s account books as having provided him with at least 10 cases and hardware between 1816 and 1822.

David Young was born on July 13, 1746, in Kingston, New Hampshire. On January 13, 1773, David married Sarah (Sally) Eastman (1755-1836) in Concord. NH Governor John Wentworth signed the marriage certificate. The Youngs had twelve children. One son, David, also became a joiner. The father may have worked independently in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, as early as 1776. By 1800, he was taxed for stock and trade in that town. In 1801, he was listed as a “cabinetmaker” and was also described as a joiner in numerous transactions. The Hopkinton Baptist Church records his death on December 10, 1836, in Lebanon, NH. David Young Labels have been found in clocks made by Levi and Able Hutchins of Concord, Timothy Chandler of Concord, and Edmund Currier of Hopkinton. It is interesting to note that the Town of Hopkinton, in the early 1800’s, was visited daily by a stage. It was located on a direct route between Boston and Montreal. The town steadily grew until the 1830s.