Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-15

The Hon. James Bridge sends the JorR-
NAL some additional particulars concerning
the old clock of which he is the possessor
He also sends the following clipping from
the Boston Transcript:
Note 1852. Owning as do an old tall
clock male by Gawen Browne Iii has brass
face on which is makers name, casin black
with age but still ticks out perfect ,ime,)
was interested in notice of "Ohio'' in recent
Transcript, and inclose copy of letter
given me years ago by DIR. John Elliot, u
noted antiquarian of Buston. since deceased
which may be of interest TO your cores
pondent. W. Il.
"Gawen Browne was born in England,
but resided many years in Boston. He was
an ingenious mechanic, ami his name ap-
pears in the newspapers of his day as a
clock and watch maker in State street, for
merly King street. In 1861 the town clock
which had been for many years on the old
brick meeting house near the head of King
street, having become so much out of order
that the town of Boston, at Il town meeting
held in March of that year, voted to
authorize the selectmen to send TO Eng
land for new clock to be put in its place
Browne offered to construct one upon a
plan of his own, winch he guaranteed should
be equal to any that conld he imported,
aud should cost less. He WAS permitted
to do 50. When completed il was set up in
Faneuil Hall and Exhibited at the town
meeting following. 1t gave entire satisfac-
ton and the town voted to pay Browne one
hundred pounds sterling for it, and gave
him permission to raise as much more as he
could by subscription among the inhabitants
How much he obtained in this wav was
never known, but he always complained
that he had not received enough to compen-
safe him for his work and petitionel the
town many times for further remuneration,
which, after some time, was granted
when they came TO set 1t up in the
place assigned for it il was found that there
we're insurmountable objections to placing
it in the odd Brick and it was decided to
put it in the Old South steeplc as being the
more substantial structure, where 1t has
remained TO the present time, and has al
ways been considered the standard time
piece for the city. and dcservejlv so
Browne lived to quite an advanced age
He was considered the most cross anil i'll
uatured person in Boston and died grun,b-
work. He died August, 1907, aged eighty
two
Mr.. Bridge adds: THE clock in my house
is the counterpart of that owned by the cor
respondent of the Transcript w. r. 1t
bears on its face the makers name, 'G
Browne, Boston. It was given to his
daughter by Gershom Fhgg Esq of Dos
ton. on the occasion of her marriage with
Joseph North. Esq. Their daughter Han
nah married James Bridge. Esq, in 1877.
On the death of the wife of Judge North in
1919, Mrs. Bridge with the ready assent of
her husband, invited her father, then aged
anl very intfm, to dwell with them. There
he remained until his death in 1925 Upon
the abandonment of his own house some
articles of furniture were sold at auction
bu, they comprised small part of his
estate. The hall clock ~as bought BY Judge
Cony; at his death il was transferred to bis
granddaughter AMI her husband. the grand
son of Judge North. and is now in his pos
session.