Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/242

 i86 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. Sanderson, George, watchmaker, of Exeter, who patented on 25 June, 1761, various tools and engines for watch- making (No. 763), and on 25 June, 1762, "a lunar and calendar watch-key " (No. 777). Haywood, John, watch maker, of Crediton, who patented on 7 Jan., 1766, "a lunar or callendar ring" (No. 836). Pearse, John, ironmonger and clock and watchmaker, of Tavistock, who patented on 27 July, 1822, improvements in spring jacks and their connection with roasting apparatus (No. 4693). In two subsequent patents for wheeled car- riages he is described as ironmonger only. Waycott, Peter, clock and watch maker, of Plymouth, who patented, in conjunction v/ith another, on 22 June, 1831, improvements in mangles (No. 6126). Among the persons employed in repairing the Hartland town clock may be mentioned David Frye, Silvester Saint, John Morcombe(who supplied a new clock in 1622-3 for 33s., and "new made" the clock in 1657-8 for 20s.), Henry Clyverdon, Hugh Holloford, Richard Sleeper, and John Oat- way. I know nothing of these, except Morcombe and Oatway, and I doubt whether all of them were really clockmakers, for Hugh Holloford, at any rate, seems to have been the village smith, though, in 1645-6, he was paid 6s. " for amending the clocke and for corde for the peazes " (weights). Morcombe was a Barnstaple clockmaker, and, as the pre- sent clock is of extremely rude and ancient construction, it is suggested that the main portion is really part of the one supplied by Morcombe in 1622-3, ^.nd that the original crown-wheel escapement was converted into a " sliding escapement " controlled by a pendulum when the clock was "new made " in 1657-8. The hands are still driven positively (i.e. without any possible slipping movement), the pen- dulum is suspended by a piece of whalebone, and the weight is a huge stone. If my suggestion is correct, the clock is of great antiquarian value, and is possibly the oldest pendulum clock in the county. The following entries from the town accounts of 1657-8 will be found of interest : — Paid Mr. Morcombe when he came about to see the Towne clocke and for his diet and horsmeate - 10^ Paid George Lendon to show him the way to Docton and Nottacott. . . . . ^^