Draft:George Washington King
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Comment: See WP:REFB to understand how to use inline citations. Bobby Cohn (talk) 19:45, 22 August 2024 (UTC)
George Washington King (February 26, 1813 – December 16, 1893) was born in Newton, New Jersey and lived most of his life in Morristown, New Jersey. He was a jeweler and watchmaker living over his store on the east side of the town square (between the Methodist Church and South Street). He was married to Cordelia Francis Cavender King (b. 1813 d. 1900) where they lived in their home at 125 Washington St. at the base of Fort Nonsense (a redoubt held by George Washington). *1
George King was related by marriage to the Vails. Judge Stephen Vail owned Speedwell Iron Works on the banks of the Whippany River and Speedwell Lake. Alfred Vail, his son, was instrumental in convincing Samuel Morse, in 1837, to bring his telegraph instrument to Speedwell so that Vail and Professor Leonard Gale could perfect it.
Judge Vail, in his journals, wrote of George King's visits to Speedwell while the telegraph was being worked on in the shop, just steps away from the Vail home. Alfred Vail lived on South Street a few doors from King's shop. Excerpt from the novel written by Susan J. LeBel Finley's Message: “My sister Lucy Ann is married to Edward Condict. The Vails and Condicts are related by marriage. Alfred’s sister Sarah is married to Dr. Silas Condict Cutler. He is the great-grandson of Silas Condict who owned most of the land in Morristown at one time. Also, Alfred’s great aunt, Elizabeth Vail married Ebenezer Condict. So we’re related by marriage."
In 1837, Samuel Morse painted several family members' portraits, including that of Judge Vail and a separate one of his wife Berthias. Today, those two portraits hang side by side in the Vail home.
In 1838, according to historical documents, Samuel Morse completed a portrait of George W. King, the clockmaker. The location for the sitting was across from Judge Vail's home in the house belonging to his son George Vail. It was a colonial frame structure (later replaced in 1847 with a stone house now called Willow Hall) that overlooked Speedwell Lake and Fort Nonsense.
The painting has George King seated in a red chair in front of a window with a view of both the lake and Fort Nonsense. Morse was well known for painting messages and historical documentation into his works. When Morse first arrived in Morristown and saw the hill known as Fort Nonsense, he learned that George Washington used the top of the hill for communications using smoke signals. Morse didn't just paint George King with a non-descript background. He placed his sitter in front of the window with Fort Nonsense in the distance and Speedwell Lake (where the telegraph worked in front of 100 people on January 6, 1838).
To further his message in the painting, Morse had George King holding a letter in his left hand. The paper had a red seal on it and the once folded paper is laid open to reveal George King's letterhead at the top: GWK. But why would George King be holding his own letterhead? Is it probable that Morse felt the need to convey that such a letter would no longer be required to send messages as it would be replaced by the telegraph. In prior paintings by Morse, some of his sitters are holding documents with writings on them. However, this letter did not have any writing on it. Instead, Morse cleverly showed dashes and dots. The letter in George King's hand shows Morse's code. In 1837, Morse had drawn a "System of Signs" to be used along with the telegraph, that eventually became commonly known as Morse Code.
*1 Early American Portraits Collected by Mr. Thomas B. Clarke American Art Association NY 1919 "Deluxe Illustrated Catalogue of Early American Portraits"
PROVENANCE When George King passed away, his estate was willed to his wife Cordelia. The provenance of this painting may have missing years, however evidence begins from the present day.
2011 to present: Current ownership is in a private New Hampshire collection having been acquired in 2011 in Boca Raton, Florida from Jay H. Van Vechten
2001 to 2011: Jay H. Van Vechten, Boca Raton, Florida purchased in a private sale from Attorney Lita.
1998 to 2001: Attorney Lita, Miami, Florida acquired in a will from Lord Derek Rayner in NY City
? - 1998: Lord Derek Rayner of Crowborough England and New York NY
1949 to ? : Sold at Auction at Burrwood Estates by Parke-Bernet Galleries
1949: Jeanette Jennings Taylor willed upon her Mother's death in 1949
1933 to 1949: Walter Jennings bequeathed to wife Helen Jennings via estate upon his death in 1933
1919 to 1933: Walter Jennings purchased the painting at auction at the Plaza Hotel, New York City on January 7, 1919 for $1,300.
? to 1919: Thomas Benedict Clarke from his personal collection of American Portraits *1 Early American Portraits Collected by Mr. Thomas B. Clarke American Art Association NY 1919 "Deluxe Illustrated Catalogue of Early American Portraits"
1838 to 1900: George W. King and family