Clock Makers

James Emmett Caldwell was born in 1813 in Poughkeepsie, New York. He trained in the jewelry and watchmaking trades by apprenticing with Peter B. Hayes in his hometown. After completing his training, Caldwell worked in New York City and later moved to Philadelphia. In 1839, he opened his own shop… read more

Joseph Carpenter was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on July 4, 1747. His Parents were Joseph Carpenter (b 1715 - d 1749) and Elizabeth Lathrop (b 4/05/1724 - d 12/26/1817 at the age of 93.) Elizabeth married Joseph Peck (b 11/14/1706 - d 9/06/1776 ) of Norwich on December 22, 1754. It is suggested… read more

  James Cary Senior and his wife moved to Brunswick, Maine, from Boston, Massachusetts, shortly after the American Revolutionary War. They lived in a house on the corner of Main and Mason Streets. James Senior was the town's first gunsmith. James Cary Jr. was born in Brunswick, Maine, on July 22… read more

  Eleazer Cary was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, on December 14, 1769, and died in Windham on November 20, 1820. The late 18th and early 19th centuries were a period of significant growth and innovation in American clockmaking, and Cary’s life and work were deeply embedded in this historical… read more

  Joseph Chadwick was born on July 19, 1787, in Boscawen, New Hampshire. The Town of Boscawen is situated in Merrimack County. It is on the northern border of the Capital City, Concord. Joseph's father was Edmund Chadwick, and his mother was Susanna (Atkinson) Chadwick. It is now thought that he… read more

  Abiel Chandler was born in Concord, New Hampshire, on April 2, 1807. He was one of twelve children born to Major Timothy Chandler and his wife, Sarah Abbot. Abiel was the youngest son. Seven of Abiel's brothers and sisters died young, and three became insane. It is thought that Abiel and his… read more

Major Timothy Chandler was born on April 25th, 1762, in Rumford, Maine, and died on July 22nd, 1848, in Concord, NH. He is the son of Timothy and Elizabeth (Copp) Chandler and was one of five children. His father died when he was eight years old, and it has been suggested that Timothy traveled to… read more

The Chelsea Clock Company Board of Directors met for the first time on July 28, 1897. The Board consisted of Whipple N. Potter, Jr., President, Charles H. Pearson, Treasurer, Reginald Foster, Clerk and Secretary. Allen L. Shepherd served on the Board with the elected officers. This first group of… read more

Asahel Cheney was born about 1767 in East Hartford, Connecticut, and died in Royalton, Vermont, on October 31, 1819. He was the oldest son of the Hartford clockmaker Benjamin Cheney and Deborah Olcott. Many examples of Benjamin’s work have been recorded. A large number of them have movement… read more

  Benjamin Cheney was born on September 8, 1725, in East Hartford, Connecticut. His parents were Benjamin, originally from Newbury, MA, and Elizabeth (Long) Cheney. They had three children. Benjamin was the oldest. It is thought that he served his apprenticeship, beginning about 1739, under the… read more

  In 1778 Martin Cheney was born into a well-known and established clockmaking family. He was one of four clockmakers born to Benjamin Cheney 1725-1815 and Elizabeth Long Cheney in East Hartford, Connecticut. Benjamin most likely trained all four of his boys in the art of clockmaking. Asahel was… read more

Russell Cheney was born on January 12, 1772, into a well-known and established clockmaking family. He was one of four clockmakers born to Benjamin Cheney 1725-1815 and Elizabeth Long Cheney in East Hartford, Connecticut. Benjamin most likely trained all four of his boys in the art of clockmaking.… read more

  Timothy Cheney was born in East Hartford, CT, on May 10, 1731. His parents were Benjamin Cheney (1699 – d. about 1760) and Elizabeth (Long) Cheney (b.1769 – d.1759). He was the brother of Benjamin Cheney (1725-1815), also from East Hartford, Connecticut. They both became well-known clockmakers… read more

John Child (Childs) (1789-1876) appears in the Philadelphia directories from 1813 through 1847 as a clock and watchmaker. His shop was located at 452 North Second Street. He was a Quaker and made four clocks of note. A bracket clock is known in the collection of the Henry Ford Museum. Very few… read more

Past research suggests that Thomas Claggett was born in about 1730 and died in 1797. His parents were William Claggett and Mary Armstrong, married on October 21, 1714. His father, William Claggett, is considered to be one of America's earliest clockmakers who immigrated to Boston sometime around… read more

William Claggett is included in Patrick T. Conley's Rhode Island's Founders from Settlement to Statehood. Conley's book, written in 2010, lists 57 names of the most historically significant members of the State of Rhode Island. Claggett is the only clockmaker to be included. William Claggett was a… read more

Heman Clark was born in 1783, the son of Jehiel and Patience (Sanford) Clark near West Haven. He was the third of ten children. Four of his brothers grew to become involved in the clock industry in some manner. He died in 1838. He learned to make clocks under the instruction of Eli Terry. Clark… read more

George was born in 1786 and is listed as working in Bristol circa 1807. In the 1820s, he appears in Wilmington, North Carolina, and then in New York in the 1830s. By 1836, he is listed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a clock and watchmaker.

  James Charles Cole was born in Boston in 1791 and died in Rochester, New Hampshire, in 1867. At an early age, Cole traveled from Boston to Rochester to learn the trades of clockmaking and the sale of jewelry and flatware under the guidance of Edward S. Moulton. In 1813, Cole assumed control of… read more

  James Collins is interred in Wolcottville, Indiana, where his gravestone remains. The gravestone records his birth as August 8, 1801, and his death as December 8, 1882. Collins was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire, to Stephen Collins. He married Lucy Knight of Hancock, New Hampshire, who was the… read more