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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 Thomas Tompion, FRS (1639–1713) was an English clockmaker, watchmaker and mechanician who is still regarded to this day as the "Father of English Clockmaking". Tompion's work includes some of the most historic and important clocks and watc ...
, 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.


Biography


Early life

John Tolson was born in 1691 in the
City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...
and was baptised on 30 November 1691 in St Magnus the Martyr. He was the eldest surviving son of John Tolson, a member of the
Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors ] The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors is one of the 110 Livery company, livery companies of the City of London. The Company, originally known as the ''Guild and Fraternity of St John the Baptist in the City of London'', was founded prio ...
and his wife Alice (born in 1668) the daughter of Richard Rookes, a vintner, and Frances née Dryden and a cousin of the poets John Dryden, Dryden and Swift. 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 in the reign of Queen Anne and became a Freeman of the
Worshipful Company of Clockmakers The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers was established under a royal charter granted by King Charles I in 1631. It ranks sixty-first among the livery companies of the City of London, and comes under the jurisdiction of the Privy Council. The c ...
on 2 May 1715 in the first year of George I's reign. In 1717 Tolson established premises in Hand-alley (now New Street), near
Bishopsgate Bishopsgate was one of the eastern gates in London's former defensive wall. The gate gave its name to the Bishopsgate Ward of the City of London. The ward is traditionally divided into ''Bishopsgate Within'', inside the line wall, and ''Bishop ...
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

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. 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) at St Bartholomew the Great on 29 November 1717, by whom he had one son, John, born in 1722 and baptised at
St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate is a Church of England church in the Bishopsgate Without area of the City of London, and also, by virtue of lying outside the city's (now demolished) eastern walls, part of London's East End. Adjoining the buildi ...
on 20 July 1722. Mary Tolson died in 1724 aged 28 and was buried at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate on 28 September of that year. 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.London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812; Reference Number: P69/BOT4/A/003/MS04517/001 The renowned clockmaker Ralph Tolson, who also died in 1737, is believed to have been his near relation.


Additional works

John Tolson Diamond Wall Clock.jpg, An unusual diamond wall clock made by John Tolson, circa 1720 John Tolson watch 02.jpg, Numbered movement of silver pair-cased watch made by John Tolson circa 1718 John Tolson watch 03.jpg, Exceptionally fine pillars and movement of a John Tolson watch


References


Further reading

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tolson, John English watchmakers (people) 1691 births 1737 deaths English clockmakers People from the City of London