# Josiah Crowley — The Secret of the Old Clock character guide

> Josiah Crowley in The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** old Josiah Crowley, Crowley, old Crowley, the late Josiah Crowley, Uncle Josiah, Mr. Crowley

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-lost-will

## Who they are

An eccentric dead man whose hidden notebook and scattered household goods turn his estate into a puzzle box that his greedy relatives never learned to open.

## Relationships

### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/nancy_drew)

_psychological_

Josiah, though deceased, is the central figure whose secret will and past actions drive Nancy's investigation and create a posthumous puzzle.

### [Richard Topham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/richard_topham)

_family_

Richard Topham is a relative of Josiah Crowley, but their relationship is strained due to Richard's greed over the inheritance.

### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/carson_drew)

_professional_

Carson was Josiah's lawyer and trusted advisor, handling his legal affairs before his death.

### [Abigail Rowen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/abigail_rowen)

_friendship_

Abigail was a dear friend of Josiah Crowley, and he intended to leave her a portion of his inheritance out of kindness.

### [Grace Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/grace_horner)

_social_

Grace knew Josiah as a kind old man in the community, but not intimately.

### [Allie Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/allie_horner)

_social_

Allie had a friendly, neighborly acquaintance with Josiah Crowley before his death.

### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/nancy_drew)

_psychological_

Josiah, though deceased, is the central figure whose secret will and past actions drive Nancy's investigation and create a posthumous puzzle.

### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/carson_drew)

_professional_

Carson was Josiah's lawyer and trusted advisor, handling his legal affairs before his death.

### [Grace Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/grace_horner)

_social_

Grace knew Josiah as a kind old man in the community, but not intimately.

### [Allie Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/allie_horner)

_social_

Allie had a friendly, neighborly acquaintance with Josiah Crowley before his death.

### [Abigail Rowen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/abigail_rowen)

_friendship_

Abigail was a dear friend of Josiah Crowley, and he intended to leave her a portion of his inheritance out of kindness.

### [Richard Topham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/richard_topham)

_family_

Richard Topham is a relative of Josiah Crowley, but their relationship is strained due to Richard's greed over the inheritance.

## In the story

### [The Lost Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/i-the-lost-will)

Josiah Crowley is the deceased whose will left everything to the Tophams; he attempted to say something to the doctor before dying, hinting at a possible second will.

### [An Interesting Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/iv-an-interesting-story)

Deceased neighbor of the Horners who hinted at leaving them an inheritance but whose will supposedly favored the Tophams.

### [IX: Vital Information](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/ix-vital-information)

Mentioned as having written a second will and promising to provide for Abigail.

### [X: Abigail's Disclosure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/x-abigail-s-disclosure)

Referenced as having made a second will and hidden a notebook in the family clock.

### [XX: What Nancy Found](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xx-what-nancy-found)

His notebook is the object Nancy seeks inside the clock.

### [Capturing the Robbers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxi-capturing-the-robbers)

His notebook is discovered inside the clock.

### [Looking for the Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxiii-looking-for-the-will)

Referred to as the eccentric deceased who rented a box under the name Josiah Harkston and left a will.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/josiah_crowley
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters