The Old Grandfather Clock inherited by William Spriggs 6th
This clock belonged to William and Martha Knight and is believed to have been bought by them in about 1782 when they moved to Worcester from London. Martha’s maiden name was Tessyman. The clock descended to their daughter Martha who married William Spriggs, then to their son William Spriggs of Worcester, then to their son William Spriggs who married Elizabeth Sarah Manser of Hoddesdon; then to their son William Manser Spriggs of Ackock’s Green, who married Alice Josephine Hayward of Torquay in 1896; then to their son William Spriggs of Baie d’Urfe, Quebec Canada who married Agnes Elisabeth Lickfold of Trinidad, British West Indies in 1926.
My brother David Spriggs has the clock, still in place in our home on 32 Oxford Road. It used to work well, But is now not working at all, and would need some repairs to get it going again.
Here is a note also that I found on the inside of the door:
Long case clock of 20 Bradeleyes listed in vol. 1 on G.H. Baillies “watch makers and clock makers of the world” The notation is as follows:
Joseph Bradley, Worchester “an 1744 -9 w.”
The “an” signifies “ante” and the “w” signifiers “watchmaker”
The dates indicate the earliest and latest available records; and those called “watchmakers” often made clocks.
The date 1782 found inside the case is probably a purchase (or repair date as suspected).
It seems very probable that this is the Joseph Bradley that is mentioned in the write up.