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Lyon, Irving Whitall, 1840-1896. / The colonial furniture of New England
(1891)

Chapter VII. Clocks.,   pp. [233]-264


Page [233]

CHAPTER VII. 
CLOCKS. 
CLOCKS are not infrequently mentioned in the 
New England records of the seventeenth century, 
and usually belonged to well-to-do people. 
They were of two principal kinds, - one with 
works driven by weights after the old system, the 
other with works driven by a spring. The spring 
clocks were placed upon mantelpieces, cupboards, 
tables, etc., and were easily moved about; but the 
clocks with weights were fastened to the wall high 
up at the side of the room with their weights and 
chains exposed. 
In the inventory of Thomas Coytemore, of 
Charlestown, made in 1645, " a clock" is apprized at 
,,'I, and in that of John Cotton, made in 1652-53, 
"1 clocke & Case, In ye great Parlour," are valued 
at Z6. These, however, are the extremes in prices, 
the average valuation of thirty-six clocks taken with- 
out selection from inventories between the years 
1645 and 1689 being £2. 12. 
The kinds of clocks mentioned are few. The 
ordinary entry is clock. Among the thirty-six above 


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