Rooting for Ancestors: An heirloom carriage clock from John Russell Stone

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

An heirloom carriage clock from John Russell Stone

In the early 1990s before she passed away, my mother gave me an antique carriage clock she said belonged to her grandfather, John Russell Stone (1880-1938). Today I tried to find an age for my clock, and one antique store listing says "first half of 19th century." If it came down in John Stone’s family, that would mean it belonged to his grandparents. Mine looks just like the antique store’s photo, and has the key inside the back door, but it doesn't run.

The store called it a French clock, probably because theirs had a French tune in its music box, but John Stone was 7/8 English (from New England) and 1/8 Dutch. Maybe it was a wedding gift? I can't believe any of those ancestors owned a carriage or ever had money for luxuries--they were farmers with wagons and buggies.

Lois Elizabeth Stone, John's eldest child, was my grandmother.

I continued searching Google Images and clock forums. Further research says that it’s tin and brass (inexpensive), and is made by Friedrich Mauthe (Schwenningen, Germany), a mid-19th century clock maker. The video shows this model of carriage clock, with a delightful European folk tune.

That means my carriage clock could have been from John Stone’s parents, Job Ransom Stone and Maria Elizabeth Harper, or could have belonged to his grandparents. Or, if it's not a carriage clock at all, and just a mass-produced reproduction of the carriage style, Great-grandfather John bought it for a mantel clock in the early 1900s. Whatever the history, it's at least 100+ years old. And it's mine. All mine!

Edith Mae Hall Stone and husband John Russell Stone.
For more of their adventures, see my article
https://rootingforancestors.blogspot.com/2016/08/surviving-deadly-forest-fire-in-1910.html

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