octant
Date: 1801
Inventory Number: 5302
Classification: Octant
Subject:
Attributed to: Benjamin King (II) (1740 - 1804)
Repaired by: Samuel Emery (1787 - 1882)
Maker: English
Owner: Captain Thomas Perkins (1758 - 1830)
Owner: David P. Wheatland (1898 - 1993)
User: Students' Astronomical Laboratory, Harvard University (owner of King octant that this replaced) (1903 - c. 1953)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
octant: 33.8 × 29.6 × 8 cm (13 5/16 × 11 5/8 × 3 1/8 in.)
box: 10.6 × 37.7 × 34.1 cm (4 3/16 × 14 13/16 × 13 7/16 in.)
Accessories: box
Description:
This octant has an ebony frame, with no marks on the ivory nameplate, but the ivory scale is marked with a small fouled anchor in the center. It has a reinforced brass index arm with an ivory vernier. The index mirror has three removable shades and a slot for relocating the index shades. There is a horizon glass with a thumbscrew and a lever adjustment device. There is a plain back sight with a single pinhole and a front sight with a double pinhole and rotating cover.
The index arm has a 11.625" radius. The limb is engine-divided from -5° to 95° every 20' and the vernier, 0-20 vernier, every 1'.
The octant has a stepped keystone oak box, with the tradecard of Samuel Emery of Salem. The exterior has a dark green finish.
The index arm has a 11.625" radius. The limb is engine-divided from -5° to 95° every 20' and the vernier, 0-20 vernier, every 1'.
The octant has a stepped keystone oak box, with the tradecard of Samuel Emery of Salem. The exterior has a dark green finish.
Signedin cartouche on tradecard pasted in lid: SAMUEL EMERY, / Mathematical Instrument / MAKER, / Water Street, / Salem. / NB. Orders thankfully received and punctually executed.
below cartouche on tradecard: Callender SP.
below cartouche on tradecard: Callender SP.
Historical AttributesAccording to tags on instrument written by David P. Wheatland, the octant was made by Benjamin King, Salem, 1801 for Captain Thomas Perkins.
Captain Thomas Perkins (1758-1830) was born on a farm in Topsfield and trained as a cordwainer. He left home to seek his fortune in Salem. In about 1770 he shipped out on a privateer. He went into partnership with Joseph Peabody (1757-1844), whom he met aboard ship in the 1780s. Together they were merchants with a sizable fleet of ships going between Salem and the West Indies.
In 1807, Perkins inherited his father's farm in Topsfield. He built a rural home as a retreat on Salem Road. Perkins was a progressive farmer and a founding member of the Essex Agricultural Society in 1818. Perkins spent more of his later years in Topsfield than Salem. When he died, his farm was bequeathed to his nephew, Asa Pingree (2) (1807-1869) a son of his sister, Annar Perkins Pingree. His older brother, David Pingree, was heir to the shipping business. Among many improvements to the farm and the family buildings, Asa built an unusual stone stable / carriage house in 1850. When Asa died in 1869, the farm was passed to his nephew David Pingree (2). He died in 1932, and the farm passed to his grand-nephew, David Pingree Wheatland (b. 1898) who owned it into the 1980s.
Captain Thomas Perkins (1758-1830) was born on a farm in Topsfield and trained as a cordwainer. He left home to seek his fortune in Salem. In about 1770 he shipped out on a privateer. He went into partnership with Joseph Peabody (1757-1844), whom he met aboard ship in the 1780s. Together they were merchants with a sizable fleet of ships going between Salem and the West Indies.
In 1807, Perkins inherited his father's farm in Topsfield. He built a rural home as a retreat on Salem Road. Perkins was a progressive farmer and a founding member of the Essex Agricultural Society in 1818. Perkins spent more of his later years in Topsfield than Salem. When he died, his farm was bequeathed to his nephew, Asa Pingree (2) (1807-1869) a son of his sister, Annar Perkins Pingree. His older brother, David Pingree, was heir to the shipping business. Among many improvements to the farm and the family buildings, Asa built an unusual stone stable / carriage house in 1850. When Asa died in 1869, the farm was passed to his nephew David Pingree (2). He died in 1932, and the farm passed to his grand-nephew, David Pingree Wheatland (b. 1898) who owned it into the 1980s.
Curatorial RemarksOn the tag David Wheatland has written across the maker's name, Benjamin King, the following: False name for Brewington 67. DW
This octant and its case are nearly identical to octant DW0534.
This octant and its case are nearly identical to octant DW0534.
ProvenanceThe original Benjamin King octant was brought into the Collection from the old Astronomy and Navigation building, Jarvis Street, 1953. It had been on display in the Students' Astronomical Laboratory. In 1977, David P. Wheatland replaced it with an "identical" instrument in better condition. The replacement had been in his family since 1801, when it was made by King for Capt Thomas Perkins, a merchant of Salem.