Thomas Richards, clockmaker? (Collectors' Notes).(clock seller, possible clockmaker)(Biography)

Peter Spellane, a reader and clock collector, has contributed the following fascinating investigation of Thomas Richards of New York City, best known as an agent for the famous Massachuseas clockmaker Simon Willard. He writes:

To sell his "newly invented ALARUM TIMEPIECE," Simon Willard authorized only "Mr. THO'S RICHARDS, New-York, and Mr. J. B. JONES, of Boston" as agents. Willard's advertisement, dated August 10,1822, includes a drawing of the elegant lighthouse clock and is followed by a passionate warning against knockoffs of his other time-pieces. Clearly troubled by earlier infringements of his patents, Willard presumably took great care in selecting sales agents for his new dock.

Willard's advertisement alone has earned Thomas Richards mention in histories of American clockmaking, and Steven Petrucelli and Kenneth A. Sposato illustrate a Boston banjo clock inscribed "Warranted and Made for Thomas Richards, New York" in American Banjo Clocks (Adams Brown, Cranbury, New Jersey 1995, p.96). There is other evidence that Richards sold clocks and watches, but illustrated here is a tall clock that not only has his name painted on the dial but also stamped on the front plate of the brass works. It was not unusual for a retailer to place his name on a clock dial, but the stamp on the works is convincing evidence that Richards actually made clocks, for it is unlikely that an established clockmaker would have marked works made by another.

Early New York City court records document portions of Richards's career and offer a view of the community and economics of clockmaking in Federal New York. The 1796 directory lists Richards and Wolhaupter, clock- and watchmakers at 10 Liberty Street, but whether this refers to our Thomas Richards is unclear. Thomas Richards "watchmaker" first appears in the directory in 1800, presumably a year after his father's death, for his name is accompanied by "widow Ann," listed at the same address. Thereafter, "Richards Thomas watch-maker" appears at 240 Pearl Street, sometimes in partnership with others, in every directory until that of 1831-1832. In the latter, one finds "Richards widow of Thomas," for Thomas had died in October 1830, according to his obituary in the New-York Evening Post on October 18, 1830. His son-in-law William M. Morrell carried on the business at the same address until 1836.

A notice in the New York Mercantile Advertiser of November 23, 1803, records Richards in partnership with John Sayre and documents not only that they sold watches but also that they had all the tools, parts, and know-how to make clocks and watches:

Watches, Plate and Jewellery Sayre & Richards, No 240 Pearl-street, comer of Burling slip, have for sale, wholesale and retail, a large assortment of English watches, direct from the manufactures; also Watch and Clock makers tools, watch and clock materials, viz, best ...