TOZER John Pinson

Approx. 1841: Moved from South Australia to Tasmania.
By 1843: Business, Elizabeth Street, Launceston.

October 1843: Applied to St John’s Church to wind and maintain the Town Clock. The churchwardens paid John, and he helped them set up a subscription system for donations for the clock’s upkeep.

The Examiner (Launceston) 13 March 1844:
‘Letter to the Editor – The Town Clock.
Sir, An article appeared in the columns of the Cornwall Chronicle of Saturday last, stating that the hands of the town clock were subject to frequent gyrations and that it is useless for persons to set their watches by it. Having the charge of the clock, I beg to contradict that statement and inform the public that the hands of the town clock have neither been turned backwards nor forwards since the 4th of November last. During that period, its greatest variation from mean time at the meridian of Launceston has not exceeded one minute and a half. I have kept a register of errors, as found by comparison with careful observations and timekeepers, almost every day since that time. I am prepared to prove to any scientific person that may wish to investigate the matter, the correctness of the above statement.
And further, the public may always depend on the time shown by the town clock, as above stated, while under my charge. I trust that after what I have now stated no person will put forth any statement of the alteration of the town clock unless prepared to prove it by observation or other undeniable evidence, as no notice whatever will be taken of it. –
I remain, sir, yours JOHN TOZER. Launceston, March 13.’

1850: Relocated business to the corner of Brisbane and Charles Streets. Advertised Repairs of clocks, watches, chronometers, and scientific and nautical instruments.

From approx. late 1854: Employee, clock and watchmaker, William Keys.

1857: Manufactured and installed the clock dial facing west to St John Street (Launceston Town Clock, St John’s Church).

March 1857: John was among the first at the location of gold discovery at the third basin in Launceston.  Fellow watchmakers Arthur O’Leary and Gustavus Boudry were also part of the group.

May 1858: Insolvent Court.

1860s: The Tozer’s moved to Victoria, where John worked in his trade in Williamstown, Sandridge and Emerald Hill.

March 1866: Insolvency – caused by family sickness, losses by fire, a decline in business, and pressure from creditors.
In the same month, John pawned a customer’s chronometer, which he said he would have been returned if his premises hadn’t burnt down. He was sentenced to six months in gaol.

1869: Summoned to Prahran Court in Melbourne for allegedly keeping a customer’s watch.

1872: Benalla, Victoria.