John Edwards. Ashby, Massachusetts Clockmaker.

John B. Edwards was the son of Ashby clockmaker Abraham and Rebecca (Houghton) Edwards. John was born in Ashby on October 20, 1787. Abraham and his first wife, Rebecca, had four children before Rebecca died in 1813. Their four children are Rebecca, b. April 1, 1785, John, b. October 20, 1787, Sally, b. September 28, 1794, and Abraham, A. b. June 17, 1796.

It is reported that John not only created wooden geared movements but also designed his own cases. A tall clock case that is thought to have been made by him is in the Old Sturbridge Village Clock Collection. The case is signed in chalk on the backboard.

On June 13, 1811, John married Libby Waters in Ashby. John lived a total of 38 years and died on October 1, 1825, in Ashby.

John was a clockmaker. We have owned and seen several examples of his work. The movements have been very similar to the thirty-hour wooden geared clocks made by his Father and the other Ashby clockmakers.