Early 19th century sterling silver pair-cased verge movement pocket watch with original paper for watchmaker John Burns of St. John New Brunswick. Circa 1835. The double sterling silver case with English hallmarks carries the stamps for Charles Read, Birmingham, 1833. John Burns emigrated from Scotland in the early 1800s and was listed as a watchmaker/jeweler in St. John. The 1830s is quite late for a verge movement, but interestingly, they were still in use at that time, mostly in provincial and Commonwealth regions. 

It is worth noting that pieces of newspaper were also often inserted into the back of pair cases to keep the movement from rattling around as well as help prevent dust from getting inside the key hole. This watch still has several pieces from a maritime newspaper tucked in behind the advertising paper, providing further provenance that the watch was in use in the maritimes during the early 1800s. The watch hands look to be original. The movement currently winds up and runs without difficulty.

Dimensions: 2.25"