This is a Woodbury, Ct. High Chest in cherry, with original brasses, made by Silas Butler in 1755. He was trained in Hartford, Ct. as was, most likely, Simeon Pomeroy, as evidenced by the familiar 'Hartford' bases. We know the date because he carved his name, Silas Butler March 25, 1755, Woodbury, using both sides of the bonnet. All the knee returns were missing, which I replaced.
I had just ended my tenure as President of the Old Woodbury historical Society in 1992 when I was contacted by a man from Waterbury, Ct. saying he had a Woodbury 'highboy' and asking if I knew of him, I didn't. Sure enough it was the real thing, obviously!
I also had the timing and good luck to be able to direct this High Chest to the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Ct., through Bill Hosley the Curator and a beneficent donor to the Museum, in Dec. 1992. In January it was in my shop and I attached the knee returns just in time for the Portsmouth, NH Regional Furniture Exhibition at the Wadsworth in March. Fortuitous and feathers for the owner, Bill and myself.