A Federal mahogany tall case clock of Virginia significance

William Black (American, 1767-1851), Blacksburg, Virginia, dated 1828

With moon painted face and steel hands, the pendulum engraved 慦illiam Black, 1828.?br/>
H: 96 1/4, W: 18 7/8, D: 11 1/4 in.(H: 244.47, W: 47.94, D: 28.57 cm.)

The clock descended through the Black family from William Black to his son Charles Black who passed it down to Frances Black Fergus (1866-1967). Upon her death it passed down to her niece Florence Hope Allen Gockenbach (1903-1999) who, in turn, gave it to her nephew George Allen Hayden in 1977. From there the history is not completely traceable.

There are signs of the old refinishing, some age cracks to case, and a repair to the bottom section of the backside. The dial shows crazing and some chipping. One scroll on top section was repaired, the finials are missing and there is damage to finial mounts. The movement has been serviced, the mounting spring on the pendulum is broken so the clock cannot be tested. Face, hands, hood glass all original. Weights original and present.

This clock is an important part of Virginian history. The clock was made by William Black (1767-1851) who was the founder of Blacksburg, Virginia. William Black was born in 1767 in Montgomery County and helped to establish the city of Blacksburg when he laid out the original sixteen block grid in 1797 using the land he inherited from his father Samuel Black.

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