Jonathan Winslow of New Salem, Worcester, Brookfield, Palmer, and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Jonathan Winslow, a notable figure in early American clockmaking, was born in Rochester, Massachusetts, on August 15, 1765. He was the son of Shubael and Azubah (Blogett) Winslow. His work in towns like New Salem, Worcester, Brookfield, Palmer, and Springfield reflects his regional influence. He married Elizabeth Bailey of Worcester on January 1, 1790. In 1795, he was advertised as a “Brookfield clockmaker,” And by 1818, he was advertising in Springfield. Winslow's clocks exemplify early American craftsmanship, and his life offers insight into the development of regional clockmaking traditions. He died in Springfield on July 20, 1847, leaving a legacy that warrants further exploration for horologists and historians alike.

It is thought by some that he served his apprenticeship with the Cheneys in East Hartford, Connecticut, who were primarily wooden works clockmakers. This information is disputed in Philip Morris’s new book, American Wooden Movement Tall Clocks 1712 - 1835, due to the lack of similarity in construction styles. We have seen and owned several Winslow dwarf clocks over the last forty-five years, which are valued for their distinctive craftsmanship. Many of these clocks are die-stamped on the seatboard by the Maker. This case form appears to be the most common form of this Maker’s output. There might be fewer than half a dozen of these dwarf cases pictured in the horological literature. A similar clock is pictured in Horology Americana, written by Lester Dworetsky and Robert Dickstein, on page 28. Another example is pictured in The American Clock, written by William H. Distin and Robert Bishop on page 82.