Oliver Ellsworth Homestead gets rare historic clock with family ties

WINDSOR — A rare historic clock with deep ties to the town has a new home.

The clock, a cherry tall-case brass-dial clock with intricate engravings of a globe, a woman and a bird, and an hourglass and drapery on the clock’s face, has been bought by the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution to be displayed at the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead, 788 Palisado Ave.

The homestead was the home of Revolutionary War-era lawyer and politician Oliver Ellsworth until his death in 1807. The house is now owned, maintained, and operated as a museum by the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution.
Christy Anderson Hendrie, a state regent for the group, said the clock was an amazing find.

One of the state regents contacted her in December and told her William Hosley, a museum curator and historian, had been negotiating with the descendants of the Ellsworth family about an antique clock.

The clock, which had been in the Ellsworth family for over 225 years, was made by Oliver Ellsworth’s brother David, a well-known clockmaker.

Hendrie said the family, which had been in contact with other interested antiques dealers, had decided they would prefer the clock went to the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution, as its members own and maintain the homestead.

But, she said she and others were “under the gun,” only having a few days to raise the necessary funds to buy the clock.

Fortunately, they were able to secure two donors and purchase the clock at the reduced price of $15,000. Hendrie said she was told the clock was worth $50,000.

Part of what makes the clock rare is that the face has two names engraved — David, the clockmaker, and H. Clark, the engraver.
William Hosley, who acted as broker for the clock, said he thought it would be great if the antique clock ended up at the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead.

“I am happy for the (Ellsworth) family because this thing has been in the same family since it was made literally by one of their ancestors,” he said.

As for how Hosley decided where the clock should be relocated, he said it was simply a “match made in heaven.”

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Jane Broderick Louis, a member of the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution and a board member of the Ellsworth Memorial Association, which manages the homestead, said it’s being decided where the clock should be displayed.

It most likely will be exhibited in the homestead’s parlor on the first floor, though there are still some details to work out, which will happen while the museum is closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Connecticut Daughters of the Revolution will hold a celebratory reception in the early summer to celebrate the acquisition. A plaque will be unveiled at that time.

Having the clock at the homestead, Louis said, allows museum staff to further showcase the significance of the Ellsworth family and Windsor during Revolutionary War times.

“They were important during the time that the United States underwent the revolution — before it became the United States, obviously,” she said.

And even though the clock didn’t originate from the homestead, it’s still found itself an appropriate home.

“It was given all was sold to the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution with the hopes that we would place it in that home, the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead. Because of the provenance it belongs there, not out of state,” Hendrie said.
WINDSOR — A rare historic clock with deep ties to the town has a new home.

The clock, a cherry tall-case brass-dial clock with intricate engravings of a globe, a woman and a bird, and an hourglass and drapery on the clock’s face, has been bought by the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution to be displayed at the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead, 788 Palisado Ave.

The homestead was the home of Revolutionary War-era lawyer and politician Oliver Ellsworth until his death in 1807. The house is now owned, maintained, and operated as a museum by the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution.
Christy Anderson Hendrie, a state regent for the group, said the clock was an amazing find.

One of the state regents contacted her in December and told her William Hosley, a museum curator and historian, had been negotiating with the descendants of the Ellsworth family about an antique clock.

The clock, which had been in the Ellsworth family for over 225 years, was made by Oliver Ellsworth’s brother David, a well-known clockmaker.

Hendrie said the family, which had been in contact with other interested antiques dealers, had decided they would prefer the clock went to the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution, as its members own and maintain the homestead.

But, she said she and others were “under the gun,” only having a few days to raise the necessary funds to buy the clock.

Fortunately, they were able to secure two donors and purchase the clock at the reduced price of $15,000. Hendrie said she was told the clock was worth $50,000.

Part of what makes the clock rare is that the face has two names engraved — David, the clockmaker, and H. Clark, the engraver.
William Hosley, who acted as broker for the clock, said he thought it would be great if the antique clock ended up at the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead.

“I am happy for the (Ellsworth) family because this thing has been in the same family since it was made literally by one of their ancestors,” he said.

As for how Hosley decided where the clock should be relocated, he said it was simply a “match made in heaven.”

Jane Broderick Louis, a member of the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution and a board member of the Ellsworth Memorial Association, which manages the homestead, said it’s being decided where the clock should be displayed.

It most likely will be exhibited in the homestead’s parlor on the first floor, though there are still some details to work out, which will happen while the museum is closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Connecticut Daughters of the Revolution will hold a celebratory reception in the early summer to celebrate the acquisition. A plaque will be unveiled at that time.

Having the clock at the homestead, Louis said, allows museum staff to further showcase the significance of the Ellsworth family and Windsor during Revolutionary War times.

“They were important during the time that the United States underwent the revolution — before it became the United States, obviously,” she said.

And even though the clock didn’t originate from the homestead, it’s still found itself an appropriate home.

“It was given all was sold to the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution with the hopes that we would place it in that home, the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead. Because of the provenance it belongs there, not out of state,” Hendrie said.