Type of clock: Tallcase clock Clock maker: Samuel Rockwell Location: University Hall Room 104, Office of the Dean of the College Catalogue number: Historical Property #217 Height: 91 in. Width: 21 in. Depth: 11 in. Country: Providence, USA Date: 1780-1800 Marks: Saml. Rockwell Providence Inside door: Original bill of sale (stored at bottom of case) 1752 in possession of Elissa Harris Howard $130 Newsclipping: Saturday Morning April 7, 1855: Brown University & its Library, Commodore Hopkin's Clock Having a leisure hour on Saturday, I sauntered into the University grounds, and was attracted to the library, which I had hardly seen except occasionally at Commencement since its present location. A feeling overcame me as I recalled the days when I was a student, I went to receive my quota of books at the hands of the late Horatio Gates Bowen, in the east projection room of the old college. The library at that time contained six and seven thousand volumes. It is now established in the new chapel, and numbers in all some thirty thousand books. What a change in (alas can it be so long!) twenty old years. The room is well constructed for its object ... when I entered there were some dozen students, all fine looking fellows (how I should like to have a lark with them if I were not so old), quietly pursuing their researches. Everything wore "the still air of delightful studies." A single word of merited commendation to the very accomplished and a gentlemanly librarian, Mr. Guild ... through his instrumentality also, aided by His Honor Judge Staple, who is "every inch a Rhode Islander," the following relics of much interest have recently found a resting place in this ancient seat of learning. A fine old-fashioned clock, made to order in this city by Samuel Rockwell in 1754. Besides indicating the our, minute and second, it also tells the day of the moon, the day of the month and the day of the week. On the door is a silver plate with the following inscription: The Family Clock of Admiral Esek Hopkins presented By his granddaughter Miss Elizabeth Angell AD 1855.
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Description: The Family Clock of Admiral Esek Hopkins has all the typical Rockwell features of center-sweep seconds-hand, calendar and moon dial. Its early date, 1752, can be confirmed from the original bill of sale, stored at the bottom of the case, where three wooden spired urn finials, removed from its hood to reduce its height, have been kept. Its concave block-and-shell carved door relate to the Newport style. The dial exhibits a strike/silent dial on its periphery; the chapter ring is engraved with Roman hour numerals. Arabic minute numerals and minute and half hour gradations. Freestanding turned balusters decorate the four corners of its segmental bonnet complete with keystone and fluted pilasters just as cast brass spandrels adorn the corners of the face. Provenance: The Family Clock of Admiral Esek Hopkins was presented by his granddaughter Miss Elizabeth Angell, AD 1855. Admiral Hopkins was the first and only Admiral appointed in the navy (1755); his son, a Lieutenant in the Continental navy during the Revolution was a Brown alumnus. Admiral Esek Hopkins' sister Susanna Hopkins married Brown President Jonathan Maxcy (1792-1802). His granddaughter, Elizabeth, donated this clock five years prior to her death in 1860, bequeathing all of her remaining possessions to two Baptist churches. Clockmaker biography: Samuel Rockwell was born in 1722, the son of Joseph and Suzanna, and was the first clock maker known in the Virginia colony. Established as a tallcase clockmaker at Hampton by 1752, later at Providence, RI and Philadelphia, he returned to his native Middletown, Connecticut, about 1760. [1] In 1763 Rockwell married Abigail Goodwin Johnson, the widow of Daniel Johnson. A clock made in Middletown was said to be much plainer than those from Providence or Virginia, lacking moon face and elaborate engraving. Towards the end of his career (1746-1763), Rockwell doubled as a trader selling coffee, sugar, and molasses in New York City and eventually died insolvent. [2] References: [1] Bailey, p. 76. [2] Palmer, p. 268