English Rocking Ship Grandfather Clock
The early brass dial has a added brass plaque that is marked “Peter Rawling Dover”. The spandrels and dial date the clock to the middle 1700’s. The clock is 84 inches in height and is 21 inches wide at the hood and 19 3/4 inches wide at the base. The base is only 14 inches in total height leading one to believe that the clock was cut down at some point in time. The motto “Time Goes!AH NO :Time Stays WE GO!” is inlaid on the hood.
Brian Loomes book “Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World – Complete 21st Century Edition” list a Rawlin(g)s Peter, Dover Kent circa 1740 and also a Rawlin(g)s Edward, Canterbury Kent, died 1751.
Follows is the “Last Will and Testament” of Peter Rawling of Dover made in 1749. The copy was obtained from The Center for Kentish Studies in Maidstone, Kent UK. I’d like to thank Charlie Calarco, in Edmonton, for deciphering the text.
In the Name of God amen
I Peter Rawling the Elder of the Town and Port of Dover in the County of Kent one of the superannuated officers of his Majesty’s Customs in the said Port being aged but of sound and disposing mind and memory, (for which I bless God), do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) I give and bequeath unto my son Edward Rawling all the Tools Utensils and Implements of Workmanship whatsoever now belonging to me and being in and about the several Workshops and Places used and occupied by him my said Son in carrying on the Trade and Business he is now in to be delivered him immediately after my decease and as to all that my Leasehold Messuage* or Tenement wherein I now dwell with the Ground and Appurtenances and the Shops and all other my Messuage Lands ……aforesaid and all my Goods Chattels ready money and personal Estate whatsoever (after my Debts, Legacy and funeral Expenses are paid and are satisfied I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my Wife Sarah Rawling her Executors Administrators and Assigns subject nevertheless to the proviso next hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) provided always and my Will is that my Daughter Elizabeth Rawling during her Life shall if she thinks fit have the free use and Enjoyment of the Chamber and Bed over the parlour of my said Dwelling House with free Liberty of Ingress Egress and Regress into and from the same in such manner as she now hath and enjoyeth without paying or accounting for the same in any manner whatsoever and I do nominate and appoint my said Wife Sarah Rawling Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Wills by me made and do publish and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Twentyfourth day of August in the Twenty Third Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second King of Great Britain and in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Nine Peter Rawling Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Peter Rawling the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of Rev. William Barr Wm …..
The before Registered Will of Peter Rawling was proved the Twenty Eight day of (whole line not photocopied)………….Thomas Lamprey Clerk Surrogate to the Worshipfull George Paul Doctor of Laws etc. Commissary General of the City and Diocese of Canturbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Sarah Rawling Relict** and Sole Executrix named in the Will to whom admoner (?) was committed she being first sworn duly to Execute the same.
* messuage = old English legal term meaning property. The word is synonymous with dwelling-house; and a grant of a messuage with appurtenances, will not only pass a house, but all the buildings attached or belonging to it, as also its curtilage, garden and orchard, together on which the house is built.
** relict = widow of Testator
It’s interesting to note that Peter’s son Edward must have died in late 1749 or early 1750, as noted in the Kentish Post, his tools were auctioned off in February 1750. Follows is an entry from the book “Kent Clocks and Clockmakers” by Michael Pearson:
30 January – 2 February 1750/1 Kentish Post
For Sale by Auction, On Saturday the 9th instant February, at the house of Mrs. Sarah Rawling, in the great Street in Dover, THE Shop, Goods and Tools late of Edward Rawling, deceased, in his Trade of a Clock-Smith; consisting of Clocks new and old, Watches, an engine for cutting Clock-Wheels, a Barrel-Engine, Clock-Lades (lathes), and Vices and other tools and Things in the said Trade. N.B. The sale to begin at Ten o’Clock in the Forenoon.
