Clock Makers
Benjamin Bagnall Sr was born in England in 1689 and came to America, Philadelphia, sometime before 1710. Here it is thought that he was trained as a clockmaker by Peter Stretch. By 1710 he had moved up and settled in Boston, where he died on July 11, 1773. In moving to Boston, Benjamin is generally… read more
Calvin Bailey was born in Hanover, MA, the son of John (A shipbuilder) and Ruth Randall Bailey on May 6, 1751. He died in Bath, Maine, in 1835. He was into Southeastern Massachusetts's most prominent clockmaking family. He was a Quaker and one of six members of the Bailey family that were involved… read more
Lebbeus Bailey was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, in 1763. His career, which began in Hanover and continued in North Yarmouth, Maine, is a testament to his dedication and skill. His house, still standing in North Yarmouth, serves as a reminder of his contributions. He was the son of Colonel… read more
Phinehaus J. Bailey was born on November 6,1787 in Landaff, NH. He was the son of Asa and Abigail (Abbott) Bailey and was the fourteenth of seventeen children. In 1793, his parent recently separated, Phinehaus was sent to live with his older sister Abigail and her husband, Stephen Bartlett, in… read more
John Bailey II was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, the son of Colonel John (A shipbuilder) and Ruth Randall Bailey on May 6, 1751. He died there 72 years later, on January 23, 1823. It is thought that he learned clockmaking at a very young age and may have been self-taught. John is responsible… read more
John Bailey III, or Junior, was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, on August 13, 1787. It is thought that he learned the family trade of clockmaking from his father, John II. John III finished his apprenticeship in 1809 at the tail end of the tall case clock's popularity. The wall timepiece and shelf… read more
Edward Payson Baird was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1860, and died on October 23, 1929, at the age of 69. In 1879 he went to work for the Seth Thomas Clock Company until 1887, when he moved to Montreal, Canada. Here he formed the Baird Mfg. Co., which was located at 112 Queen… read more
Edward Payson Baird was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1860, and died on October 23, 1929, at the age of 69. In 1879 he went to work for the Seth Thomas Clock Company until 1887, when he moved to Montreal, Canada. Here he formed the Baird Mfg. Co., which was located at 112 Queen… read more
Eleazer Baker was born on December 17, 1764, in Tolland, Connecticut, and died on December 3, 1848, in Mansfield Center, Connecticut. His parents were Joseph Baker (1738-1804) and Lois Carpenter (1740–1808). He married Hannah Trowbridge in Pomfret, Connecticut, on April 12, 1787. Baker’s life… read more
Eleazer Baker was Born on December 17, 1764, in Tolland, Connecticut, and died on December 3, 1848, in Mansfield Center, Connecticut. His parents were Joseph Baker (1738-1804) and Lois Carpenter (1740 – 1808). He married Hannah Trowbridge in Pomfret, Connecticut, on April 12, 1787. Baker is… read more
Daniel Balch Sr. was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, on March 1, 1734, the son of Reverend William Balch of the East Parish in Bradford and Rebecca (Stone) Balch. It is believed that Daniel apprenticed under Samuel Mulliken (1720-1756), where he acquired clockmaking skills. He produced clocks… read more
Jedidiah Baldwin was born in Norwich, Connecticut on March 29, 1768. He was the oldest son of Jabez and Lydia (Barker) Baldwin of that seaport town. Jedidiah was to apprenticed to Thomas Harland who was also working in Norwich. Harland was a very accomplished clockmaker watchmaker, silversmith… read more
Jedidiah Baldwin was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on March 29, 1768. He was the oldest son of Jabez and Lydia (Barker) Baldwin of that seaport town. Jedidiah was to apprentice to Thomas Harland, who was also working in Norwich. Harland was a very accomplished clockmaker, watchmaker, silversmith,… read more
Webster Clay Ball was born on a farm in Knox County Ohio on October 6, 1848. After a two year apprenticeship to a jeweler in Fredericktown, Ohio, Ball relocated to Cleveland, Ohio. After several years of working for various firms in nearby cities, he formed the Ball Watch Company in 1879. At this… read more
Jonathan Barker and Samuel Taylor formed a partnership as Barker & Taylor sometime before 1807. Little is currently known of these two individuals, and their clocks are considered rare. Based on the number of clocks that have survived, they were not prolific clockmakers. This is only the second… read more
Ezra Batchelder was born in Andover, Massachusetts, on November 13, 1769. His father, also named Ezra, was a blacksmith who was baptized on May 31, 1741, and died in 1809. His mother was Mary (Woodbury) Ober from Beverly. The couple married on March 15, 1763, and raised five children on Maple… read more
Eli was born on February 16, 1752 in Concord, Pennsylvania. He was the third child of Joseph Bentley, the tavern keeper of the Red Lion Tavern in Doe Run, Pennsylvania. At age twenty, he married Mary Hunter who was the first cousin of clockmaker Thomas Shields. He soon bought a home at West… read more
Eli was born on February 16, 1752, in Concord, Pennsylvania. He was the third child of Joseph Bentley, the tavern keeper of the Red Lion Tavern in Doc Run, Pennsylvania. At age twenty, Eli married Mary Hunter, the first cousin of clockmaker Thomas Shields. He soon bought a home at West Whitelands… read more
Louis Bernhard is listed in several references as a watchmaker and jeweler working most of his life in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
The (History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887, Bloomsburg, pg. 323) provides the following information about this industrious person.
Louis… read more
John Bigelow was born in Westminster, Massachusetts on May 26, 1802. His parents were Luke Bigelow and Asenath (Winship) Bigelow. John was trained as a silversmith and is first listed as doing business in Boston as early as 1824 as John Bigelow & Co. In the early 1830's, he was joined by his… read more