Bartholomew Newsam facts for kids
Bartholomew Newsam (died 1593) was a skilled clockmaker for Queen Elizabeth I. He was probably born in York, England.
A Royal Clockmaker
Bartholomew Newsam started his clockmaking business in London around 1558, the year Queen Elizabeth I became queen. In 1565, he received a special agreement from the Queen to rent a place in the Strand area of London. This is where he lived and worked for the rest of his life.
Newsam was very good at making clocks. He even knew important people at the Queen's court, like Sir Philip Sidney. Around 1572, he was promised the important job of "Clock-master to the Queen." He officially got this role before 1582. This meant he was in charge of all the Queen's clocks. He was also the first Englishman to be the "clock-keeper," meaning he looked after them too.
In 1583, Newsam asked Sir Francis Walsingham, another important person at court, for help. He wanted to extend the agreement for his house in the Strand. The Queen later granted him a new agreement for lands in different parts of England, including Lincolnshire and Norfolk. He also owned land in York. Newsam passed away before December 18, 1593.
Newsam's Amazing Clock
There is a special clock made by Newsam in the British Museum today. It is still in great condition! This clock is made of shiny gold-colored brass and has beautiful designs carved into it.
It's a very small clock, only about four inches tall, and it even has a compass built in. It only has one hand to tell the time. The clock is signed with his name, "Bartilmewe Newsum."
The clock has two parts, like two floors. The top part makes the clock tick, and the bottom part makes it chime. Both parts are set up vertically, so you wind the clock from the bottom. The gears are made of iron or steel, and the main parts are brass. It uses special parts called fusees to help it keep accurate time. It also has a verge escapement, which is a key part that helps the clock's movement.
Newsam's will, which is a document stating what he wanted to happen to his belongings after he died, shows how many interesting clocks and time-telling devices he made. It mentions:
- a "strickinge clocke" (a clock that chimes) in a silk bag
- a "cristall Jewell with a watch in it garnished with goulde" (a crystal jewel with a gold watch inside)
- a "sonnedyall of copper gylte" (a shiny copper sundial)
- a "watch gylte to shew the hower" (a gold-colored watch to show the time)
- a "great dyall in a greate boxe of ivory, with two and thirteth poyntes of the compos" (a large ivory sundial with many compass points)
- a "chamber clocke" (a clock for a room)
Newsam's Family
Bartholomew Newsam married Parnell Younge on September 10, 1565, at the church of St. Mary-le-Strand in London. They had four children: William (born in 1570), Edward, Margaret, and Rose.
In his will, Newsam left his clockmaking tools to his son Edward. But there was a condition: Edward had to become a clockmaker, just like his father. Some of his special tools went to John Newsam of York, who was also a clockmaker and likely a relative.
