Collections record Beta

Pocket Watch

2014-14-1

Silver pocket watch with plain silver watch case. Exterior watch case opens and an open-face, key-wind watch is removable. Watch has glass cover over face. Face is white with black roman numerals and two hands. Exterior case and inside of watch both hallmarked. Works, gold and silver, signed, "W. Willcox/ London/ 2240". Attached is watch is a silver watchchain with watch key at end. And additional gold watch key is attached to the watch chain with a cream colored ribbon, along with two paper tags. One reads, "243 Silver Watch/ Belonged to D.C. Kilbourn's grandfather/ Date: over 100 years old./ Owner: D.C. Kilbourn." The other reads, "Loaned by/ D.C. Kilbourn." Six watch papers stacked inside watch case. One printed, "R. Merriman/ CLOCK & WATCH/ MAKER/ Litchfield/ Con." Back of Merriman watch paper written in ink, "Sept 17 1850". Three watchpapers printed, "Henry S. Pearson/ Watch & Mathematical/ Instrument Maker/ Jones N:10 Row/ EXCHANGE ST/ PORTLAND." The three Pearson watch papers are written respectively on backs, "June 1824/ New Virge/ $2=00", "Oct 1833/ [illegible] Hale", and "June 1823/ Cleaning". Also is one watch paper printed, "WILLIAM WARD/ WATCH MAKER/ Litchfield Con". The sixth watch paper is printed, "Dalrymple/ PORTLAND" and written on the back is, "March 1814/ 1.00."

According to tradition this watch was owned by Dwight C. Kilbourn's grandfather. Dwight Kilbourn was born in Litchfield, Connecticut in 1837 and passed away in 1914. His paternal grandfather was Norman Kilbourn (1790-1886). His maternal grandfather was Nathaniel Canfield.

None of the watch papers present in the watch represent the watchmaker. Instead these papers document the individuals who either performed repairs on or cleaned the watch over time. Reuben Merriam (1784-1866) was born in Torrington, CT. He was a silversmith and watchmaker in Litchfield, CT for many years. He operated a store next to the Congregational Church. In 1810 he was living in Cheshire, CT, but by 1827 he had moved to Litchfield, CT and continued there with his business until the 1860s. Henry S. Pearson (1789-1878) was born in Newburport, MA. From around 1810 until 1875 he worked as a silversmith and watchmaker in Portland, ME. William Ward (1736-1829) was born in New Haven, CT and died in Litchfield, CT. Prior to 1766 he worked as a silversmith and clockmaker in New Haven, CT. Around 1766 he appears in Litchfield, CT and continued his work there until his death in 1829. John Dalrymple (1772-1819) was born in Templepatrick, Ireland and died in Salem, MA. Upon arriving in the United States he briefly stayed with his brother in Salem, MA before relocating to Portland, ME where he spent his life working as a silversmith and watchmaker. He returned to Salem, MA shortly before his death.

• Willcox, W.

1773

Diameter 2"

• silver
• gold