Pennsylvania Chippendale Carved and Inlaid Walnut Tall Case Clock, George Hoff

Circa 1780, Lancaster, oak secondary, red-painted iron dial marked "George Hoff, Lancaster" with pewter chapter ring engraved with Arabic and Roman chapters, flanked by pewter spandrels, operated by a 30 hour movement striking on a large apical bell, the developed hood featuring a central carved applied shell flanked by inlaid "H.B.", two stars and two diamonds, surmounted by a flared cove molded cornice with stylized dentil molding, fluted stiles, three-quarter columns to each corner, glass aperture at sides, the case with hinged waist door and inlaid star, chamfered quarter columns, the base with applied panel, chamfered quarter columns, later ogee bracket feet, with four weights and pendulum.

89 x 21 x 10.5 in.

Private Collection, Pittsboro, NC and Formerly York, Pennsylvania

The present owner of this clock is a descendant of the Bream family (also spelled Brem, Brame, Brehm), who were early German pioneers to Tyrone Township of Adams County, Pennsylvania. The inlaid "HB" monogram may relate to its original owner, possibly Henry Heinrich Bream (1748-1828), who was on the 1783-1784 Muster Roll of Captain James Elliot's Company in York, Pennsylvania and married to Barbara Leathers (1762-1820).

Clock and watchmaker John George Hoff, also known as George Hoff Sr., was born in Westerburg, Hesse, Cassel, Germany on October 22nd, 1733 and died at the age of 82 on August 18th, 1816 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He married Justina Margaretta Schnertzel (1743-1806) in 1761, with whom he had 10 children. They sailed to America in August of 1765, settling in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Records indicate that George bought a property on West King Street in Lancaster on December 30th, 1769.

George operated as a well-known clockmaker as well as maker of surveyor's instruments in Lancaster from about 1769 until 1807. Sources indicate George may have learned the trade from his father-in-law, George Schnertzel of Grunstadt, Pfalz, Germany.

George's three sons, George Michael “Michael” Hoff (1766-1810), John Hoff (1766-1818), and John George Hoff Jr. (1788-1822), were all involved in the family clocksmith and survey instrument trade, living in Lancaster throughout their lives. John Hoff was also treasurer and secretary of the Falmouth (Lancaster County, PA) Turnpike; in 1816 he was elected Burgess of the city; and held other notable community positions. A street in Lancaster, "John Hoff Place", is named after John.

George took on his daughter's husband, Frederick Heisely (1759-1843), as apprentice, and two formed a brief partnership of in January of 1796. Heisely would continue his own thriving business in Fredericktown, Maryland, and later in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

He served as a private in the Revolutionary War in Jasper Yeates Company of the Militia of Colonel Mathias Slough's Battalion of the Associates that was "destined for the Jerseys", appearing on a muster roll on September 9, 1776. He was also assistant to the borough of Lancaster Burgesses in 1778, 1779, and 1785, and a member of the Friendship Fire Company.

Movement was operating in the home at the time of evaluation, not guaranteed to be in proper working condition; old alligatored surface; top arched edge of lip to waist door with old chip and loss; later left lip trim to waist door; bottom board broken; ogee bracket foot base is old and appears original.
Please see Terms and Conditions of Sale: Clocks and Watches.