Beschreibung:

A good early 19th century mahogany floor-standing regulatorsigned William Reynolds, Launceston, the frontplate further stamped J Reynolds.
the case with shaped cresting over turned tapered columns and a silvered sight-ring, the long glazed trunk door flanked by quarter columns to a plain base, the 12" silvered dial with Arabic outer minute track framing the large subsidiaries for running seconds and Roman hours, with three blued steel hands, the centre signed Wm Reynolds Launceston, the massive movement comprising a pair of arched plates 10mm in thickness united by six substantial pillars screwed front and back, further secured on its seat-board via a pair of heavy brackets, Harrison's maintaining power to the four wheel train, each wheel of six crossings and with high count pinions, the deadbeat escapement with unusual form of fine-screw adjustment, the heavy five-bar gridiron pendulum (consisting of two brass and three steel rods) terminating in a heavy brass lenticular bob with engraved rating nut, with brass cased weight (on a six-spoke pulley) and gridiron pendulum, 214cms highFootnotesWilliam Reynolds was born in Linkinhorne, Cornwall in late 1786. It appears that he was born 'William Reynolds Dingley' to Susanna Dingley. His baptism record notes that he was a 'base child', the exact meaning varying slightly between regions, but generally meaning a child who was born into a family where the parents were unmarried. 'Base child' was also sometimes used to refer to the child of a single mother. As no father is listed on William's baptism, it seems that his mother was a single parent. The use of 'Reynolds' as a middle name may be in reference to the father's surname, as middle names were not common at this time. A baptism record for a Susanna Dingley is known from February 1765 in Linkinhorne. This Susanna was born to John and Susanna Dingley, though no occupation is recorded for either John or Susanna on the baptism record, or on the six other baptism records for Susanna and John's other children. It seems likely that these were William Reynold's relations.
By 1808, William had met his partner, Dinah Hawke, and they had a child named William Reynolds Hawke together in that year. Dinah, also frequently written as Diana, was one year William's senior and was originally from St. Ives (or possibly St. Ives). It is unknown how they met, but William (Jr.) was born in Penzance, where they were apparently living at the time. Interestingly, the baptism record for William (Jr.) records the father's surname as 'Reynolds', rather than Dingley.
In 1811, William and Dinah were married in Lewannick, a small town six miles southwest of Launceston, where it appears the family had relocated shortly after William (Jr.)'s birth. It is noted on the marriage certificate that William was a sojourner, suggesting that the family had not been in Lewannick long. No similar note is made for Dinah, and it is possible that she had some family in Lewannick; a family with the surname Hawke is known from this time in Lewannick and they may have been Dinah's relations. For his marriage, William lists his forenames as 'William Reynolds' and his surname as 'Dingley', although when Mary was born later in 1811, her surname was given as 'Reynolds', and her parents were recorded as William and Diana Dingley.
Two years later, the couple had another child, Eliza Reynolds; both parents used 'Reynolds' as a surname, and William was noted as a clockmaker. Oddly, the next child was born around a year later in 1814, and he was named John Reynolds Dingley. It is noted in the baptism record for John that William was a clock and watchmaker. In 1816 Richard Reynolds Dingley, was born, and William's occupation is again noted as being a clockmaker. The family had been settled in Lewannick throughout this time.
That 'William Reynolds' and 'William Reynolds Dingley' were the same person, seems very likely. Not only do the dates and locations align, but both Williams were described as clockmakers at various points. After the baptism of Richard, no record of William and Dinah Dingley is found. There is a substantial record, however, for William and Dinah Reynolds, six miles away in Launceston.
Additionally, William may have had a motivating desire to change his surname; he was born a 'base child' which in many places at this time was highly stigmatised. A marriage record for one of William's potential siblings, John, shows how pernicious this label could be. In 1853, John Dingley, a miner, married Elizabeth Martin in South Hill, a small town quite close to Linkinhorne. At this point in time, only the father was recorded on the marriage certificate; the entry for the Groom's Father reads 'Susan Dingley (base born child)'. A William Dingley served as a witness; whether this was William Reynolds Dingley, or another sibling, is not known.
By changing his surname when the family moved to a new town, William Reynolds could make a break with his past, potentially avoiding the perpetual ignominy of being a 'base child'. Though it can never be confirmed that this is what happened, the evidence seems quite compelling that 'William Reynolds' and 'William Reynolds Dingley' were the same person.
By 1820, the family had moved to a small town just outside of Launceston centre called Egloskerry. William and Dinah had a child in that year named Henry Reynolds. Four years later, they would have another child, James Reynolds On the baptism records for James, William is described as a clock maker. Thomas Reynolds was born the following year. Elizabeth and Susan Reynolds, were both born in 1826, suggesting they were twins, though the recording may have been slightly off. When Elizabeth was being baptised, William was described as both a watch and clock maker. William (Jr.), Henry, and James would all become horologists, likely being apprenticed to their father.
By 1830, William was advertising in Launceston, as a watch and clock maker, likely operating out of 174 West Gate. By 1841, William, Jr. had established himself as a clockmaker in 1 New Western Road, Launceston and had also married Mary, who had been born in Bampton, Devon; it is unclear how they met. Three years later, the couple would move to Church Street, likely number 126. William was listed as a watch and clock maker, as was his father at this time, the latter still being based at Westgate.
Nine years later, William (Jr.) and Mary had a child, Susan, and William was described in her baptism as a watchmaker. Unfortunately, Susan died less than a week after her baptism. It does not appear that William and Mary had any other children. Less than a year later, in the 1851 census, William was described as a watch and clock maker.
The same census, 1851, indicates that William (Sr.) and Dinah were living at 174 West Gate in Launceston, with Henry, James and Elizabeth also living at 174. William (Sr.), Henry and James are all described as watch and clockmakers. Interestingly, reference is also made to William's grandchild, James, who is listed as a 16-year-old watchmaker living at 174. He was born in 1834 and baptised the following year in Launceston as James Henry Dingle(?), which suggests that he was likely John or Richard Dingley's son. It is possible he was base born, though he seems to have been embraced by William and Dinah.
In 1852, Dinah Reynolds was buried at St. Mary Magdalene, in Launceston. A year later, her son James' death is recorded; although he was also buried at St. Mary Magdalene, in Launceston, he died in Plymouth, though the cause of death is unrecorded. Throughout this time, William (Sr.) and William (Jr.) continued to advertise as watch and clockmakers makers in Westgate and High Street respectively. This continued through 1856, though by 1861 no reference is made to William (Sr.). His death is thus tentatively put between 1857 and 1861.
The 1861 census records William and Mary living at 126 Westgate, with William noted as a watchmaker. Reference is also made to Susan and James, their 10- and 8-year-old niece and nephew. As no mention is made in the census to Elizabeth, it is possible that these are her children, though they could also be from Mary's potential siblings or possibly Richard or John Dingley's children. Both children are noted as scholars.
Henry was occupying 14 Church Street during the 1861 census, as a watchmaker and a jeweller. He had also married Elizabeth by this date, a Launceston local and four years his junior. They had one child together, Mary, born the year before.
By 1871, Henry was working out of 17 St. Thomas Street as a watch and clockmaker, with Elizabeth and Mary living at the same address. The 1861 census is the last record of William and Mary. It is unclear if they retired and/or moved out of Launceston, or if they died. In 1873, Henry was advertising as a watchmaker working out of Westgate Street; it is possible he took over the shop after the departure of his brother and sister-in-law. Elizabeth died before 1881, though her burial is not recorded. Mary, now a manteau maker, was living with Henry at 14 Westgate Street, from which address Henry continued to ply his horological trade. He continued to advertise throughout this time as well, though this stops by 1883. Although no death record exists for Henry, a tentative record for Mary has been identified. A Mary Ellen Sleep Reynolds, born in 1860, was buried at St. Thomas by Launceston in 1914. As no other details are known, this is a purely conjectural association.
It remains unknown what became of John and Richard Dingley; whether they pursued horology is also unclear, although no reference to them could be found in Launceston and surrounding trade directories as horologists. James Henry Dingley's career and later life also remain unknown.
The current Lot is marked on the dial for William, but stamped 'J' on the front plate, meaning it is possible that the clock was made by one of the James Reynolds under William (Sr.)'s guidance. If this was the case, the clock would likely have been made around the late 1840's-1850's, given the respective dates of death for both James and William.
A drop dial gallery clock is known by William (Sr.), made for the Egloskerry Church around 1834. It is still there to this day.
'Reynolds' appears to have been a fairly common surname at this time in Cornwall, and there are several other Reynolds horologists who lived outside of Launceston, but still within Cornwall. It is not currently known how all these horological Reynolds are related, or even if they are. It has been noted that the earliest appearance of a Reynolds horologist in Cornwall is Thomas Reynolds who lived in Wadebridge around 1786, and is described as a watchmaker.
With special thanks to Em Gordon, who was kind enough to review the actual records and offer guidance about the Reynolds' complicated familial relations.
Kelly, F. (1856) Post Office Directory of Cornwall. London: Kelly & Co. p.52.
Slater, I. (1852-53) Slater's (late Pigot & Co.) Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the counties of Berkshire, Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Somersetshire, Wiltshire, and South Wales. Manchester: Slater's. p.26.
Kelly, F. (1873) Post Office Directory of Cornwall. London: Kelly & Co. p.793.
Lovett, A. (2023) Egloskerry Church Clock. Available at: https://launcestonthen.co.uk/index.php/the-parishes/egloskerry/egloskerry-church-clock/
Hart, G. and O'Reilly, W. (2023) Cornwall OPC Database: 1765-1914. Available at: https://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/home/
Pigot, J. (1844) Pigot and Co.'s Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Oxfordshire, Somersetshire, Wiltshire, and North and South Wales. Manchester: Pigot & Co. p.19.
Pigot, J. (1830) Pigot's Directory of Cornwall. Manchester: Pigot & Co. p. 148.
Find my Past (2023) George + William Webb Available at: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=R_930853360&expand=true
Pyke, R. (2023) John Dingley. Available at: https://launcestonthen.co.uk/index.php/the-people/john-dingley/
Brown, H. M. (1970) Cornish Clocks and Clockmakers. Second edition. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.
Hinnrichsen, K. and McCormick, M., (2008) Cornwall Online Census Project 1841-1901. Available at: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/cocp.html