John Tolson (1691–1737) was an important if elusive English clockmaker and watchmaker of the early eighteenth century who, while not particularly remarkable for his invention, is noteworthy because of the fine quality of his clocks and watches. The style of his early longcase clocks owes much to Thomas Tompion, and the delicate functionality of his early longcase wheelwork echoes Tompion's standards. His short career of 22 years before an early death in 1737 makes his clocks and watches relatively rare and they can command high prices whenever outstanding examples appear at auction.
A fine and beautifully proportioned lacquer longcase clock made by John Tolson, circa 1735
Early lifeedit
John Tolson was born in 1691 in the City of London and was baptised on 30 November 1691 in St Magnus the Martyr.[1] He was the eldest surviving son of John Tolson, a member of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors[2] and his wife Alice (born in 1668) the daughter of Richard Rookes, a vintner, and Frances née Dryden and a cousin of the poets Dryden and Swift.[3] The Tolsons are an old family originally from the West Riding of Yorkshire.
John Tolson was apprenticed for seven years to John Rayner on 3 May 1708 [4] in the reign of Queen Anne and became a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers on 2 May 1715[5] in the first year of George I's reign. In 1717 Tolson established premises in Hand-alley[6] (now New Street), near Bishopsgate Street, where he continued to make clocks and watches until his early death in 1737, which is no doubt why his clocks and watches are rather rare.
Career and later lifeedit
John Tolson’s only apprentice was John Nicholson, the son of Thomas Nicholson of Stapleford Tawney, Essex, Gent, who was indentured to him for seven years on 5th May 1718.[7] John Tolson married Mary Gillett (born in 1696 and believed to be the daughter of the Huguenot Jacques Gylet, an identification perhaps strengthened by the Huguenot watchmaker Louis Gaudin having also had premises in Hand-alley at the beginning of the 18th century[8]) at St Bartholomew the Great on 29 November 1717,[9] by whom he had one son, John, born in 1722 and baptised at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate on 20 July 1722.[10] Mary Tolson died in 1724 aged 28 and was buried at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate on 28 September of that year.[11] John Tolson died in Hand-alley in 1737 aged 45, and was interred with his wife at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate on 11 June of the same year.[12]
The renowned clockmaker Ralph Tolson, who also died in 1737, is believed to have been his near relation.
Additional worksedit
An unusual diamond wall clock made by John Tolson, circa 1720
Numbered movement of silver pair-cased watch made by John Tolson circa 1718
Exceptionally fine pillars and movement of a John Tolson watch
Referencesedit
^London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812; Reference Number: P69/MAG/A/001/MS011361
^Probate of will on 14 March 1736 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
^P Lang, The Correspondence of Jonathan Swift: Letters 1690-1714, 1998, p 640
^Records of Clockmakers’ Company Masters and their Apprentices, Jeremy Lancelotte Evans
^Records of Clockmakers’ Company Masters and their Apprentices, Jeremy Lancelotte Evans
^London Land Tax Records for Bishopsgate Without 1718, London Metropolitan Archives, MS 11316/57
^Records of Clockmakers’ Company Masters and their Apprentices, Jeremy Lancelotte Evans
^London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812; Reference Number: P69/BOT4/A/003/MS04517/001
^London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812; Reference Number: P69/BOT4/A/003/MS04517/001
Further readingedit
Baillie, G H (1929). Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Britten, Frederick James (1982). Old Clocks and Watchers and Their Makers. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
April 12, 2024
john, tolson, clockmaker, provost, oriel, college, oxford, john, tolson, academic, john, tolson, 1691, 1737, important, elusive, english, clockmaker, watchmaker, early, eighteenth, century, while, particularly, remarkable, invention, noteworthy, because, fine,. For the Provost of Oriel College Oxford see John Tolson academic John Tolson 1691 1737 was an important if elusive English clockmaker and watchmaker of the early eighteenth century who while not particularly remarkable for his invention is noteworthy because of the fine quality of his clocks and watches The style of his early longcase clocks owes much to Thomas Tompion and the delicate functionality of his early longcase wheelwork echoes Tompion s standards His short career of 22 years before an early death in 1737 makes his clocks and watches relatively rare and they can command high prices whenever outstanding examples appear at auction John TolsonBorn1691City of LondonDied1737LondonNationalityEnglishOccupation s Clock and watchmakerSignature Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Career and later life 2 Additional works 3 References 4 Further readingBiography edit nbsp A fine and beautifully proportioned lacquer longcase clock made by John Tolson circa 1735Early life edit John Tolson was born in 1691 in the City of London and was baptised on 30 November 1691 in St Magnus the Martyr 1 He was the eldest surviving son of John Tolson a member of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors 2 and his wife Alice born in 1668 the daughter of Richard Rookes a vintner and Frances nee Dryden and a cousin of the poets Dryden and Swift 3 The Tolsons are an old family originally from the West Riding of Yorkshire John Tolson was apprenticed for seven years to John Rayner on 3 May 1708 4 in the reign of Queen Anne and became a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers on 2 May 1715 5 in the first year of George I s reign In 1717 Tolson established premises in Hand alley 6 now New Street near Bishopsgate Street where he continued to make clocks and watches until his early death in 1737 which is no doubt why his clocks and watches are rather rare Career and later life edit John Tolson s only apprentice was John Nicholson the son of Thomas Nicholson of Stapleford Tawney Essex Gent who was indentured to him for seven years on 5th May 1718 7 John Tolson married Mary Gillett born in 1696 and believed to be the daughter of the Huguenot Jacques Gylet an identification perhaps strengthened by the Huguenot watchmaker Louis Gaudin having also had premises in Hand alley at the beginning of the 18th century 8 at St Bartholomew the Great on 29 November 1717 9 by whom he had one son John born in 1722 and baptised at St Botolph without Bishopsgate on 20 July 1722 10 Mary Tolson died in 1724 aged 28 and was buried at St Botolph without Bishopsgate on 28 September of that year 11 John Tolson died in Hand alley in 1737 aged 45 and was interred with his wife at St Botolph without Bishopsgate on 11 June of the same year 12 The renowned clockmaker Ralph Tolson who also died in 1737 is believed to have been his near relation Additional works edit nbsp An unusual diamond wall clock made by John Tolson circa 1720 nbsp Numbered movement of silver pair cased watch made by John Tolson circa 1718 nbsp Exceptionally fine pillars and movement of a John Tolson watchReferences edit London Metropolitan Archives London England Church of England Parish Registers 1538 1812 Reference Number P69 MAG A 001 MS011361 Probate of will on 14 March 1736 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury P Lang The Correspondence of Jonathan Swift Letters 1690 1714 1998 p 640 Records of Clockmakers Company Masters and their Apprentices Jeremy Lancelotte Evans Records of Clockmakers Company Masters and their Apprentices Jeremy Lancelotte Evans London Land Tax Records for Bishopsgate Without 1718 London Metropolitan Archives MS 11316 57 Records of Clockmakers Company Masters and their Apprentices Jeremy Lancelotte Evans Proceedings of the Huguenot Society 1933 p509 London Metropolitan Archives London England Church of England Parish Registers 1538 1812 Reference Number P69 BAT3 A 004 MS06779 001 Ancestry com England Select Births and Christenings 1538 1975 database on line Provo UT USA Ancestry com Operations Inc 2014 London Metropolitan Archives London England Church of England Parish Registers 1538 1812 Reference Number P69 BOT4 A 003 MS04517 001 London Metropolitan Archives London England Church of England Parish Registers 1538 1812 Reference Number P69 BOT4 A 003 MS04517 001Further reading editBaillie G H 1929 Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World London a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Britten Frederick James 1982 Old Clocks and Watchers and Their Makers London a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Tolson clockmaker amp oldid 1007954196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
