James Markwick & Markwick Markham. There were two London makers named James Markwick, who were father and son. The elder was apprenticed on 25 June 1656 to Richard Taylor, and subsequently to Edward Gilpin. He became free of the Clockmaker's Company on 6 August 1666. Six apprentices were bound to him between 1674 and 1699. In 1673 he succeeded to Samuel Betts behind the Royal Exchange. Although he held office in the Clockmaker's Company, he was irregular in attendance, ceasing to tend to its affairs after 1700. He worked until at least 1704 or 1706. His son, James Markwick Jr., became free of the Company in 1692 by patrimony, and died in 1730. The younger James Markwick was an eminent maker, Master of the Clockmaker's Company in 1720 and a very early user of jeweled bearings. In later years he was in partnership with his son-in-law Robert Markham who succeeded him, using the trading name of Markwick Markham which became famous for watches destined for the Turkish market. Not only did this notoriety encourage the appearan e of spuriously signed watches, but at the end of the century Markham, or his successor, associated the names of other watchmakers with their own products intended for the East. The makers thus found associated are: Francis Perigal, Peter Upjohn, H. Story, Borrell, John Johnson, Louis Recordon, Dupont. All were reputable watch-makers in their own right, selling other products under their own names. Francis Perigal (also Perrigal) Was active from about 1770 to the time of his death in 1794. He was admitted as honorary freeman of the Clockmakers' Company in 1781. A maker of fine and interesting watches, he made a very early lever watch which, having been recased, can only be dated by the signature: "Watchmaker to the King". This appointment was conferred upon him in 1784. Little is known of Perigal, but the few surviving watches bearing his name are of considerable mechanical interest and are of fine quality. He was succee ed in business by his son, also named Francis. There were several other makers in the family. Markwick Markham, Perrigal, London, circa 1780. Very fine and impressive large silver triple-cased quarter striking coach watch with quarter-repeating, alarm and date.