Jacob Sargeant Pocket Watch
Jacob Sargeant was born in Mansfield, Connecticut in 1761. He was a clock maker, watch maker, jeweler, and silver and goldsmith. Sargeant is most known for his clocks that he made early in his career. He also retailed watches and clocks, including Willard's "Patent Timepieces", today known as banjo clocks.
Sargeant's working dates are 1784 to 1786 in Mansfield, Massachusetts, 1786 to 1795 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and from 1795 to 1843 in Hartford, Connecticut "at the Sign of the Golden Watch". He employed his younger brother, Thomas in the Springfield business and Thomas continued at that location when Jacob relocated to Hartford in 1795. Other apprentices may have included Charles Brewer, Nathan Storrs, Henry and John Owen and Walter Pitkin (Hohmann, 353).
Interestingly, Sargeant taught Henry and James Pitkin watchmaking from 1825 to 1832. The Pitkin brothers would go on to be the first in America to attempt to make movements by machine, producing about 1,000 movements from 1837 to 1841.
Jacob Sargeant Pocket Watch
Few watches by Sargeant survive, this one is serial number 72 and dates to 1801. It is nicely finished with a fusee and verge escapement movement, round baluster pillars, and enamel dial (replaced).
IT Case Maker's Mark for John Taylor
George Solliday Watch Paper
The silver pair cases have London assay date letter for 1801-2 and case maker's mark "IT" with a pellet between for John Taylor of London.
Watch paper by George Solliday, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, located within the watch case.
Additional References and recommended reading:
Frank Hohmann III, Timeless, Masterpiece American Brass Dial Clocks, Hohmann Holdings LLC, New York, 2009, p.352-353