The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-10
PAUL REvERE's WATCH.
History Of the Timepiece Carried by
Him on His Famous Ride.

Boston Globe
The watch which Paul Revere carried on
his midnight ride LIS years ago Is stlll a
serviceable timepiece and is owned by a
well-known Maiden man, Frederick Lincoln
Crane, who resides at 40 Alpine street
kernwood Hill in that city of greater Bos-
ton. This relic, pronounced by expert an
tquarians to be undoubtedly what IL Is
claimed. fell into Mr.. Cranes hands some
thing over year ago, by very interesting
chain of circumstances.
Paul Revere left this watch by VIII 10 ms
son, Joseph Revere. who in turn passea II
down to Col. Frederick w. Lincoln, OF Can
ton, his nephew, and the grandson or the
revolutionary scout. This Colonel Lincoln
was for many years the head Of the Revere
Copper Companys works in Canton, the
industry, 1t will be remembered, with whlcn
Paul Revere was so long connected.
Frederick w. Lincoln, afterward mayor OF
Boston, was adopted by Colonel Lincoin,
and because of this, as well as because he
was the patriot Paurs great-grandson, ne
watch. Just here, however, an interesting
bit or romance came in to divert the relic
to the present owner.
Crane, late of East Boston, the father OF
Mr.. Crane. of Maiden, a friend as dear to
him as Damon was to Pythias.
DR.. Crane was the son Of Maj. Gen. EliJan
II. Crane, who commanded the troops in
New England during the war or lSlz, anu
was also in his time high sheriff of the
county and grand master of the Grand
Lodge Of Massachusetts, Free and Accepted
Masons. DR.. Crane was often at his friend 8
home In Canton, and there one day he met
the young woman with whom he fell In
love and whom he resolved to marry.
he had then just graduated from Har-
ward College and the Harvard Medical
School, but soon he established practice
and in 1893 he persuaded Susan Dwight to
share his home and fortune. OFTEN DR..
Crane had admired the Paul Revere watch
and in his love for the timepiece his bride
heartily shared. This fact he let drop to
Colonel Lincoln one day in the course of
conversation, proposing, half in jest, that
he sell him the watch to give his fiancee the
day she became his wife.
Naturally Colonel Lincoln was averse to
letting the watch go to one not Of the Re-
we're blood, but his friends request seemed
TO offer to him an admirable opportunity to
meant much to them both as well as to
Miss Dwight So he consented to part with
the watch and 1t became the property, the
day she became Mrs. Crane Of the woman
both men wished to please.
From that time 1888, till a year ago last
September, when she passed away, Mrs.
care. All the Revere family and traditions
were known to her, Paul's daughter being
long one Of her friends. and she fully APP
preciated the great honor in making her the
custodian Of the relic. On the slender
chain, like woman's neckchain, which
came with the watch. her husband had her
initials engraved, and these are still dis
tingushable. Rather curiousy those little
letters, -. H. c." are to-day the only
marks on the handsome relic. There is not
even a makers name.
The number of the watch, which Is in
an eighteen-carat gold case, Is 2465O, and
that it was well made is demonstrated by
the fact that to-day, 12S years after the
night IL served the owner on his famous
ride, it keeps good time.
The present custodian Of the watch nat
uraly cherishes it with the greatest care
because 1t is to him precious souvenir of
his mothers first meeting with his father.
Moreover, he himself is fond of antiquities.
By profession Mr.. Crane is a musician, but
he is best known as the inventor of a de-
vice used by all students of the pianoforte.
After graduating from the English High
School of Boston he studied at the Royal
Conservatory in Leipsic.
He no longer teaches music however, but
having retired from active labor in this
field pursues in his charming home the
congenal life of a man of cultivated tastes,
possessed of leisure in which to indulge
them. Meanwhile, he Is bringing up his
one child to honor the Paul Revere watch.