Miniature desk

Date1770-1800

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts or New Hampshire

MediumBirch, white pine

DimensionsHeight: 22"; Width: 21"; Depth: 12 5/8"

Credit LineGift of Anonymous Donors

Object number1971-527

DescriptionMiniature woode desk. The exterior of the desk is maple. The interior and all framing is white pine; the feet and blocks are replacements; the hinges to the lid are replaced and the area around them has been patched; the lock tot he lid is a replacement and there is a patch in the top where the original lock fitted in; the brasses are original to the desk, but were probably taken from another, and earlier piece, the entire desk, inside and out, was originally painted red.Mark(s)Paper label pasted to rear of backboard reads: "This desk belonged to Judge Champney of New Ispswich, NH. It came from England. Came into our family from my great grandmother Billings, a daughter of Judge Champney. My grandfather Lorenzo Champney Billings was the oldest child of Mercy Champney Billings. Mabel B. Armstrong." Handwritten card in OF reads "CHILD'S DESK/ MAPLE - SLANT TOP/ C.1750/FROM VILLAGE GREEN SHOP/ IPSWICH, MASS/ MRS. ROY TOMLINSON"ProvenanceThe history of this desk would appear quite explicit from the attached label, but the geneaology of the Champney family does not coincide with it. Judge Ebenezer Champney was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard in 1762. Following a brief career in the ministry, he settle in New Ipswich, NH. where he practiced law and was judge of probate for Hillsborough County. He had ten children, three of whom died young. Of his three surviving daughters, Abigail married Thomas Gardner of Groton, Massachusetts; Hannah married James Prescott, also of Groton; and Elizabeth married Dr. John Preston of New Ipswich. He did not have a daughter Mercy and there is no record of a marriage to a Billing by any member of the Champney family, although the name was common in the area. In spite of the restoration of the feet, the desk is an important surviving example of well-made children's furniture of the latter part of the eighteenth century.

Based on the written history, line of descent may have been: Benjamin A. BIlling and Mary or Mercy C. Billing or Samuel Hill (1782-1875) and Sarah Loring [Thompson] HIll of Sudbury, MA; to son or daughter Lorenzo Billing (1810-1850) or Harriet N. [Hill] Billing (1814-1903) of Worcester, MA; to daughter Harriet Gray [Billing] Blanchard (1841-1913) and William Henry Blanchard (1835-1900) of Worcester, MA; to daughter Mabel H. [Blanchard] Armstrong (1871-1972?) wife of Albert H. Armstrong (1870-1952) of Worcester, MA.