Time Links Found in New Zealand
Time Links Found in New Zealand
Reflections of endurance, time links to the past. The value of quality: workmanship versus modern technology.
Found in New Zealand a pocket watch with an extraordinary history and links to a remarkable family : Captain James Cook and his wife Elizabeth Cook (Batts) signed by John Cragg.1700’s Great Britain.
It all begins with Able Seaman Isaac Smith who was born in London in 1752, he was a cousin to James Cook’s wife Elizabeth. Isaac Smiths’ first naval service was as an able seaman aboard the HMS Grenville, before transferring at the same rank to Cook’s Endeavour at Deptford on 27 May 1768
Smith sailed with Cook to Tahiti, then to New Zealand and the east coast of Australia. On 28 April 1770 he became the first European to set foot on eastern Australian soil, Cook telling him “Jump out, Isaac” as the ship’s boat touched the shore at Botany Bay.
Issac Smith’s young nephew John Cragg was at the time in his care, Issac later sent him to live at Cook’s home in London. John previousley during his boyhood had been working as a ‘watchmaker ‘ producing pocket watches, it is possible this was in Horsham and/or Southampton
John Cragg was sent from the Cooks household to be an apprentice watchmaker to Charles Smith brother of Issac.
John Cragg continued his close association with Elizabeth Cook and family until her death in 1835.
Elizabeth on hearing Cooks death gave many books, navigation instruments and a watch to Captain John Smith whose will in June 1836 declares : belongings of Captain Cook, including a watch,that Captain John Smith usually wore bequeaths to his son Isaac Bressey, books,instruments charts of Captain Cook to his other son Charles Cook. Possibly Captain Cooks watch crafted by John Cragg.
The watch photographed is signed by John Cragg, engraved with the address No.8 Northampton Square London, his resident at the time, an early 1700 Fusse movement in perfect working condition, the “rope” holding the key is made from human hair.
The watch movement is from the design discovered and drawn by Leonard Da Vinci in 1500, the fusse which consists of a drum with a spiral track cut in a form of a cone on which cat gut or a fine chain is wound. In full working order and keeps perfect time a credit to the skills, as a watchmaker, John Cragg. The outer case made at a later date (probably by John Cragg’s sister Elizabeth of Horsham a silversmith watch case maker)
Elizabeth Batt ( Cook) dies in the year of 1835, her will states to John Cragg of Bunhill Row London ( most likely a business address, it is believed John died in High Street Croydon in 1839) bequeaths John Cragg Five Hundred Pounds of her three percent of her consolidated annuities. (Not to be confused with Number 118 Bunhill Row Middlesex the resident of Issac Cragg Smith ) The name Cragg and Smith had been entwined for quite some decades.
It is known that Captain James Cook whilst in the Deep South of New Zealand used a pocket watch to aid his navigation and position in relationship to England.
Time line with the families of Smith, Cragg and Cook are very entwined. The wills and information, John Craggs’ signed, with address, pocket watch captures a rich historical story. A time linking the great seamen of the British Empire through the warmth of Elizabeth Cook (Batt) and Captain James Cook.
It is extremely rare to find such a watch as photographed above in this condition from the 1700′s. It was not unusual for replacement cases because of wear and tear.
Elizabeth Bates household goods and personal belongings seem to have disappeared over time however the value of this watch is an item that links her remarkable life as the wife of one of the worlds greatest explorers Captain James Cook.
The photographed watch should be in the British Museum, as a vital link to the early exploration and founding of the British Empire.
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