Newport Historical Society identifies rare 18th century watch

NEWPORT – A recent discovery at the Newport Historical Society brought Ingrid Peters, a staff member of the society, all the way to the Royal Observatory, part of the maritime-themed Royal Museums in Greenwich, England.

The item which spurred the trip across the pond was an 18th century timepiece known as a chronometer. At the Royal Museums it was analyzed by Royal Observatory curator of horology Rory McEvoy and identified as an authentic chronometer crafted by London resident John Arnold circa 1772. The artifact is the fourth in a series completed by Arnold while competing for a commission from the Board of Longitude.

Ruth Taylor, Newport Historical Society executive director, is excited by the identification, but now, knowing the chronometer’s significance, is searching for a method of display that will help visitors better understand the artifact’s role in the history of scientific discovery during the 18th century.

“It’s a beautiful, beautiful object, but a lot of the value and importance aren’t there because of the context in which it’s seen. To see it on a pedestal is lovely, but you don’t get the full sense of the object’s importance,” she said.

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The discovery of the No. 4 Arnold-designed chronometer at the Newport Historical Society has doubled the number of his chronometers known to have survived until present day. Currently, the No. 3 design is part of the British Museum collection while numbers one, two and five remain missing.

Estimated to have been produced in 1772, the No. 4 chronometer features a pivoted detent escapement and was one of the first of its kind.

Arnold, who lived from 1736 to 1799, did not receive the Board of Longitude commission, but was instrumental in advancing the field of maritime scientific research during his lifetime.

“We’re very excited to have something in our collection that is connected to the development of the field of [maritime navigation],” said Taylor.

According to Newport Historical Society records, 20 years after its creation, the No. 4 chronometer was purchased by Peleg Clarke, a descendent of one of Newport’s first English settlers and an eye-witness to the Boston Tea Party. The Clarke family has handed the chronometer down for the past 200 years, incorrectly believing it to be a pocket watch, until the item was donated to the Newport Historical society in 1997.

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