The Collection
Puritan Pocket Watch
John Burgis
1625-1650
Oval silver Puritan watch with a plain silver outer case, silver
dial and silver calendar and astronomical dials. Movement signed
John Burgis, fecit. Complete, unaltered and unsprung.
Rear winding verge movement with pre balance spring and gut
fusee (snapped). Modified Egyptian pillar; three-wheel train.
Regulated on strength of main spring. Iron dial and hands in brass
pair case with silver decoration to face. Gearing under the dial
enables its use as an ordinary pocket watch or as an
astronomical/calendar watch.
Engraved "John Burgis Fecit" inside back cover. 47mm long
Donated in 1857 by Captain Eaton, a descendant of a famous Dover
merchant family. Nicholas Eaton was one of Dover’s most wealthy men
in the 17th century. He was mayor in 1617, 1630 and 1631. His sons
were also mayors, William in 1663 and Nicholas in 1664. There is no
particular evidence but this watch may well have belonged to
Nicholas himself, given that the watch is dated 1625 -50 and a
watch is mentioned in his will.