Walter Cornell of Newport, Rhode Island. A clockmaker, silversmith, jeweler, and wool carder.

 Walter Cornell was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, on September 15, 1777. His parents were Walter Cornell (1742-1805) and Elizabeth (Mott) Cornell (1753-1810). As a young boy, he traveled to the city of Providence and served an apprenticeship as a clockmaker. In February of 1803, Walter had advertised that he had moved to Newport and carried on the business of manufacturing “Warranted Watches & Eight-Day Clocks.” In 1806, he advertised as being located at 106 Thames Street. In 1814, Cornell relocated to Portsmouth, and George Tompkins assumed ownership of his location on Thames Street. Various advertisements place Cornell in this region of Rhode Island, and working in numerous trades. Some of which included silversmithing, jewelry, and wool carding. Cornell’s death record has not been found. According to the Federal Census, he is listed as working in the jewelry trade as late as the early 1850s. Cornell made tall clocks, shelf clocks, dwarf clocks, and patent timepieces of banjo clocks.