THE NEXT GENERATION
Ahasuerus's son John, who had learned the pendulum application at Salomon Coster's, became a free-clockmaker in 1663. Given fact that clocks bearing his own name are known, it is conjected that he worked independently of his father, possibly from his own workshop elsewhere. He was then 25 years old. Ahasuerus junior, the second son to became a clockmaker, probably remained with his father. He too spent time in Holland, more of which later. A third son, Abraham, born in 1646, was established as a clockmaker in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but also played a role in the 'Dutch Connection'. In any event by 1675, Abraham worked in Newcastle. In 1678 he was a witness in litigation having roots in Cromwell's time (the 'interregnum'). Several of Abraham's clocks, bearing signature "A Fromanteel Newcastle", are known; also one marked "New Casteel", perhaps to signify an intended Dutch outlet?

THE AMSTERDAM BRANCH
Brian Loomes conjected that the Fromanteels exported clocks to Amsterdam, via Newcastle, to evade regulations of the Clockmakers Company. Certainly, John Fromanteel visited Holland in 1675/76, possibly accompanied by Ahasuerus Jr. It is not known if this was to visit family or was justified by business. By 1681 both the brothers were established on the Vijgendam in Amsterdam; as we now would say, an 'A1' location, almost opposite Dam Palace, where the Krasnapolsky Hotel now stands. Much earlier, by 1667/8, Ahasuerus Snr. had already decided to establish a branch in Holland. He therefore spent time in Holland, which we only know of by his new collision with the Clockmakers Company in 1676, the year he returned to London after a long absence. He was then years in arrears with membership dues and he reneged on payment; pleading "he should pay only during his being in England, he having been beyond the seas some years". That is taken to mean Holland. What activity employed him so long in Holland? Was he accompanied by his son John or by other members of his family? Were they working there as clockmakers?
 

In 1680, Abraham's brothers were probably still in Holland when his father recalled Abraham from Newcastle to London to run the family business. Ahasuerus Sr. was 73 years old, perhaps unable to manage affairs. In those days 73 was a considerable age. He would however survive his son John, who would die circa 1690. Finally, on 15th July 1692, at the age of 85 years, Ahasuerus Sr. made his will and died in February 1692/3 just before his 86th birthday. His long-time rival at the Clockmakers Company, Edward East, was even made of sterner stuff and survived him by four years, living to the very advanced age of 95 years.



Apparently, Abraham Fromanteel was a regular visitor to Holland. In 1694 he had determined that henceforth he would no longer pay his fees to the Clockmakers Company, because "he was forthwith going to Holland". His wife Anna Brown died there in 1694. (Was she originally a de Bruijne, even from the same family as his father's first wife Marie?) Also in 1694, at The Hague, his daughter Anna married clockmaker Christopher Clarke, whose name appears jointly on later dials as "Fromanteel & Clarke" and "Clarke & Dunster".

In 1697 Abraham returned to London, when he too fell foul of the Clockmakers Company for his membership dues being in arrears and re-emphasised his unwillingness to pay for intervening years.



FROMANTEEL & CLARKE
Ahasuerus Jr. died in Amsterdam in 1703. Most clocks bearing joint names Fromanteel & Clarke may be dated to the first twenty years of the 18th Century, so it may be assumed that the partnership between Abraham and his son-in-law Christopher Clarke, which lasted to 1720 or 1722, only commenced when Ahasuerus Jr died (1703). It is also possible that their partnership began in 1694, when Abraham's daughter Anna had married Clarke.

Most of their jointly signed clocks bear no address, rightly creating the impression that movements were being produced in London as well as Amsterdam, being for sale in either place. This astute tradition continued into the 1720s under the business-name of "Clarke & Dunster".

Abraham possibly retained control of the London business, but had, in later life, returned to Newcastle where he died in 1731, making his will there in November 1730. It follows that if Abraham was in England from 1697, no clockmaker bearing the name Fromanteel worked in Holland after 1703, although the business continued under their name.

Given Holland's growing prosperity in first quarter of 18th Century, I believe that not only were London made Fromanteel movements being sold in Amsterdam, but also bought-in movements of other London makers were sold under 'Fromanteel & Clarke's' name. However, the quality of all signed movements, which I inspected, bear witness to a higher-than-average quality. So, whether bought-in from third parties as parts or complete movements, the Fromanteels critically maintained quality control. This also is true of ancillary trade activities, which in all probability were put out, as was usual, such as dial-matting, engraving of dial components, making hands, etc.

CLARKE & DUNSTER (DRURY)
Between 1720-1730, clocks with musical work were being sold under the name 'Clarke & Dunster'. Two are in my possession, over the years I have also handled two others. Beneath each chapter ring each dial plate is fully signed "J Drury London". Jaap Zeeman, in "de Nederlandse staande klok" (the Dutch longcase clock), illustrates another "Clarke & Dunster", formerly in my possession, indicating moonphase and date, which dial too bears Drury's signature placed in like manner under its chapter ring.

 
James Drury became a free-clockmaker in April 1695; his son with the same name qualified in 1720. It may be concluded that the Fromanteel business bought-in complete clock movements from James Drury (in all probability from the younger Drury), which they exported to Holland to be sold under the 'Clarke & Dunster' name. Perhaps Drury made it a condition that his name -though not visible- must stand on all dial-plates of his clock movements when selling to the Fromanteels. Other suppliers of clocks may not have required such a requirement. To my mind, my observation does not detract at all from the reputations of the Fromanteel family, nor their successors.

The astute move to display no address, with only "Fromanteel" being shown, began at the end of the17th Century, in Abraham's time. Again, Zeeman depicts three such, bearing only the name "Fromanteel", though most dials were still being engraved with city name, London or Amsterdam.



I present this resume of what has surfaced in past 25 years. Just how extensive remains to be seen, corrections will probably be needed on grounds of new facts being discovered that extend knowledge and justify follow-up. Accordingly I am delving into the Fromanteel story and into important developments in the field of clock techniques, prompting this history and hoping to align the facts to be better understood by a wider Dutch public. It goes without saying that I am prepared for and hold myself available for informed criticism.