(Asterisk denotes information unavailable.)

Name Period Place Types of instruments
Bailey, John fl. 1778 Fishkill, N. Y. Surveying; surgical
Bailey, John, II 1752-1823 Hanover and Lynn, Mass. Surveying
Baily, Joel (practitioner) 1732-1797 West Bradford, Pa.
Baldwin, Jedidiah c. 1777-1829 Salem, Boston, and Northampton, Mass.; Hanover, N. H. Surveying
Banneker, Benjamin (practitioner) c. 1734-1806 Baltimore
Benson, John fl. 1793-1797 * Optical
Biddle, Owen (practitioner) 1737-1799 Philadelphia
Biggs, Thomas fl. 1792-1795 New York and Philadelphia Surveying
Blakslee, Ziba 1768-1834 Newtown, Conn. Surveying
Blundy, Charles fl. 1753 Charleston, S. C. Thermometric; watches
Bowles, Thomas S. c. 1765-1821 Portsmouth, N. H. Surveying
Breed, Aaron 1791-1861 Boston Surveying
Brokaw, Isaac fl. 1771 Philadelphia *
Bulmain & Dennies fl. 1799 New York Nautical
Burges, Bartholomew fl. 1789 Boston Scientific
Burnap, Daniel 1759-1838 East Windsor and Coventry, Conn. Surveying; clocks
Caritat, H. fl. 1799 New York Astronomical
Chandlee, Benjamin, Jr. 1723-1791 Nottingham, Md. Surveying; clocks
Chandlee & Bros. fl. 1790-1791 Nottingham, Md. Clocks; surveying
Chandlee, Ellis 1755-1816 Nottingham, Md. Surveying; clocks
Chandlee, Ellis & Bros. fl. 1791-1797 Nottingham, Md. Clocks; surveying
Chandlee, Goldsmith c. 1751-1821 Winchester, Va. Surveying; astronomical; clocks
Chandlee, Isaac 1760-1813 Nottingham, Md. Surveying; clocks
Clark, Robert fl. 1785 Charleston, S.C. Nautical; surveying optical
Clough, Jere 18th century Boston Surveying
Condy, Benjamin fl. 1756-1798, d. 1798 Philadelphia Mathematical; sand glasses
Crow, George c. 1726-1772 Wilmington, Del. Surveying; clocks
Dabney, John, Jr. fl. 1739 Boston Mathematical
Dakin, Jonathan fl. 1745 Boston Mathematical; balances
Davenport, William 1778-1829 Philadelphia Mathematical; surveying
Dean, William (?-1797) Philadelphia Surveying; nautical
Devacht, Joseph and Francois fl. 1792 Gallipolis, Ohio Watches; compasses; sundials
Donegan (or Denegan), John fl. 1787 New York Glass; philosophical
Donegany, John (see Donegan)
Doolittle, Enos clocks 1751-1806 Hartford, Conn. Surveying; nautical;
Doolittle, Isaac 1721-1800 New Haven, Conn. Clocks; scientific
Doolittle, Isaac, Jr. 1759-1821 New Haven, Conn. Surveying; clocks
Dupee, John fl. after 1761 Boston Surveying
Ellicott, Andrew (also practitioner) 1754-1820 Baltimore Surveying; astronomical
Emery, Samuel 1787-1882 Salem, Mass. Mathematical
Evans, George fl. 1796; d. 1798 Philadelphia Mathematical
Fairman, Gideon (See Hooker and Fairman) 1774-1827 Newburyport, Mass. Mathematical
Fisher, Martin fl. 1790 Philadelphia Glass
Folger, Peter (practitioner?) 1617-1690 Nantucket
Folger, Walter, Jr. surveying 1765-1849 Nantucket Astronomical; Surveying
Ford, George fl. late 18th century to 1842 Lancaster, Pa. Surveying; nautical
Ford, George, II fl. 1842 Lancaster, Pa. Surveying; nautical
Fosbrook, W. fl. 1786 or earlier New York Surgical; dental
Gatty, Joseph fl. 1794 New York and Philadelphia Glass; philosophical
Gilman, Benjamin C. 1763-1835 Exeter, N.H. Mathematical; clocks
Gilmur, Bryan fl. end of 18th century Philadelphia Mathematical; clocks
Godfrey, Thomas 1704-1749 Philadelphia Improved reflecting backstaff
Gould, John fl. 1794 Philadelphia Nautical; surgical; optical
Grainger, Samuel (practitioner) fl. 1719 Boston
Greenleaf, Stephen 1704-1795 Boston Mathematical
Greenough, Thomas 1710-1785 Boston Mathematical; surveying; nautical; astronomical
Greenough, William fl. 1785 Boston Surveying
Greenwood, Isaac, Sr. (practitioner) fl. 1726 Boston Surveying
Greenwood, Isaac, Jr. 1730-1803 Boston Mathematical
Grew, Theophilus (practitioner) fl. 1753 Philadelphia
Hagger, Benjamin King c. 1769-1834 Boston and Baltimore Mathematical; surveying
Hagger, William Guyse c. 1744-1830? Newport, R.I. Nautical
Halsie, James, I (practitioner) fl. 1674 Boston
Halsy, James, II 1695-1767 Boston Mathematical; surveying
Halsy, John fl. 1700 Boston Mathematical
Halsy, Joseph fl. 1697-1762 Boston Surveying; nautical
Ham, James fl. 1754-1764 New York and Philadelphia Mathematical
Ham, James, Jr. fl. 1780 Philadelphia Mathematical
Hamlin, William 1772-1869 Providence, R. I. Mathematical; nautical; astronomical
Hanks, Benjamin 1755-1824 Mansfield and Litchfield, Conn. Surveying
Hanks, Truman fl. 1808 Mansfield and Litchfield, Conn. Surveying
Harland, Thomas 1735-1807 Norwich, Conn. Surveying; clocks
Heisely, Frederick A. 1759-1839 Frederick, Md.; Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, Pa. Mathematical; surveying; clocks
Heisely, George 1789-1880 Harrisburg, Pa. Clocks; mathematical
Hinton, William fl. 1772 New York Mathematical
Hoff, George 1740-1816 Lancaster, Pa. Clocks; surveying
Holcomb, Amasa (also practitioner) 1787-1875 Southwick, Mass. Surveying; astronomical
Hooker & Fairman (William Hooker and Gideon Fairman) before 1810 Newburyport, Mass. Mathematical
Houghton, Rowland c. 1678-1744 Boston Surveying
Huntington, Gurdon 1763-1804 Windham, Conn., and Walpole, N.H. Surveying and other; clocks
Jacks, James fl. 1780's Charleston, S.C. surveying Mathematical;
Jayne, John late 18th century Salem, Mass. Mathematical
Kennard, John 1782-1861 Newmarket, N.H. Surveying; clocks
Ketterer, Alloysius fl. 1789 Philadelphia Glass
King & Hagger (Benjamin King and William Guyse Hagger) 1759 or 1760 until early 1760's Newport, R.I. Mathematical; nautical
King, Benjamin 1707-1786 Newport, R.I. Mathematical; nautical
King, Benjamin 1740-1804 Salem, Mass. Nautical
King, Daniel 1704-1790 Salem, Mass. Mathematical
King, Samuel 1748-1819 Newport, R.I. Mathematical
Lamb, A. & Son 1780's New York Mathematical
Lamb, Anthony 1703-1784 England; Virginia; Philadelphia; New York; Hunter's Key, N.Y. Mathematical; surveying; nautical
Lamb, John 1735-1800 New York Mathematical
Mendenhall, Thomas fl. 1775 Lancaster, Pa. Mathematical; clocks
Miller, Aaron fl. 1748-1771 Elizabethtown, N.J. Surveying; clocks; compasses
Morris, M. fl. 1785 New York Protractors
Newell, Andrew 1749-1798 Boston Mathematical; compasses
Newell, Joseph fl. 1800-1813 Boston Surveying
Pease, Paul fl. 1750 Probably Rhode Island Quadrant
Platt, Augustus 1793-1886 Columbus, Ohio Mathematical; surveying
Platt, Benjamin 1757-1833 Danbury, Litchfield, and New Milford, Conn.; Lanesboro, Mass.; Columbus, Ohio Compasses; surveying; clocks
Pope, Joseph 1750-1826 Boston Scientific; clocks
Potter, John fl. 1746-1818 Brookfield, Mass. Surveying
Potts, W. L. late 18th century Bucks County, Pa. Surveying
Prince, John (practitioner) 1751-1836 Salem, Mass. Scientific
Prince, Nathan (practitioner) fl. 1743 Boston
Pryor, Thomas fl. 1778 Philadelphia Mathematical
Revere, Paul 1735-1818 Boston Gunnery
Rittenhouse, Benjamin 1740-c.1820 Philadelphia Astronomical; surveying
Rittenhouse, David (practitioner) 1732-1796 Philadelphia and Norriton, Pa. Astronomical; surveying
Rittenhouse & Evans fl. 1770's Philadelphia Surveying
Sibley & Marble (Clark Sibley and Simeon Marble) late 18th century New Haven, Conn. Mathematical; clocks; watches
Smith, Cordial fl. 1775 Connecticut Surveying
Sommer, widow Balthaser fl. 1753 New York Optical
Sower, Christopher c. 1724-1740 Germantown and Philadelphia, Pa. Mathematical; clocks
Stiles & Baldwin (Jedidiah Baldwin) fl. 1791 Northampton, Mass. Surveying
Stiles & Storrs (Nathan Storrs and Jedidiah Baldwin) fl. 1792 Northampton, Mass. Surveying
Taws, Charles fl. 1795 Philadelphia Mathematical
Thacher, Charles 18th century Probably Boston Surveying
Thaxter, Samuel 1769-1842 Boston Nautical; mathematical surveying
Voight, Henry 1738-1814 Philadelphia Astronomical; clocks; watches
Wall, George, Jr. fl. 1788 Bucks County, Pa. Surveying
Walpole, Charles fl. 1746 New York Mathematical
Warren, Benjamin fl. 1740-1790 Plymouth, Mass. Surveying; nautical
White, Peregrine 1747-1834 Woodstock, Conn. Surveying; clocks
Whitney, John fl. 1801 Philadelphia Mathematical; optical
Whitney, Thomas fl. 1798-1823 Philadelphia Mathematical; optical; surveying
Williams, William 1737 or 1738-1792 Boston Mathematical; nautical
Willis, Arthur (practitioner) fl. 1674 Possibly Massachusetts
Wilson, James 1763-1855 Bradford, Vt. Globes
Wistar, Richard fl. 1752 Wistarburg, N.J. Glass
Witt, Christopher (practitioner) fl. 1710-1765 Germantown, Pa. Mathematical; clocks
Wood, John fl. 1790 Philadelphia Compasses
Youle, James 1740-1786 New York Surgical
Youle, John fl. 1786 New York Surgical

MATHEMATICAL PRACTITIONERS AND INSTRUMENT MAKERS

Geographical Listing

CONNECTICUT
Coventry: Daniel Burnap (1759-1838); surveying instruments and clocks.
Danbury: Benjamin Platt (1757-1833); compasses and clocks.
East Windsor: Daniel Burnap (1759-1838); surveying instruments and clocks.
Hartford: Enos Doolittle (1751-1806); surveying and navigational instruments, compasses, and clocks.
Litchfield: Benjamin Hanks (1755-1824); surveying instruments and clocks.
Truman Hanks (fl. 1808); surveying instruments.
Benjamin Platt (1757-1833); compasses and clocks.
Mansfield: Benjamin Hanks (1755-1824); surveying instruments.
Truman Hanks (fl. 1808); surveying instruments.
New Haven: Isaac Doolittle (1721-1800); clocks and scientific instruments.
Isaac Doolittle, Jr. (1759-1821); surveying instruments and clocks.
Sibley & Marble (late 18th century); clocks and mathematical instruments.
New Milford: Benjamin Platt (1757-1833); compasses and clocks.
Newtown: Ziba Blakeslee (1768-1834); surveying instruments.
Norwich: Thomas Harland (1735-1807); surveying instruments and clocks.
Windham: Gurdon Huntington (1763-1804); clocks and surveying and other instruments.
Woodstock: Peregrine White (1747-1834); surveying instruments and clocks.
----: Smith, Cordial (fl. 1775); surveying instruments.
DELAWARE
Wilmington: George Crow (c. 1726-1772); surveying instruments and clocks.
MARYLAND
Baltimore: Benjamin Banneker (c. 1734-1806), practitioner.
Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820), practitioner; surveying and astronomical instruments.
Benjamin K. Hagger (c. 1769-1834); mathematical and surveying instruments.
Frederick: Frederick A. Heisely (1759-1839); clocks and mathematical instruments.
Nottingham: Benjamin Chandlee, Jr. (1723-1791); clocks and surveying instruments.
Chandlee & Bros. (fl. 1790-1791); clocks and surveying instruments.
Ellis Chandlee (1755-1816); surveying instruments and clocks.
Ellis Chandlee & Bros. (fl. 1791-1797); clocks and surveying instruments.
Isaac Chandlee (1760-1813); surveying instruments and clocks.
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston: Jedidiah Baldwin (c. 1777-1829); surveying instruments.
Aaron Breed (1791-1861); surveying instruments.
Bartholomew Burges (fl. 1789); scientific instruments.
Jere Clough (18th century); surveying instruments.
John Dabney, Jr. (fl. 1739); mathematical instruments.
Jonathan Dakin (fl. 1745); mathematical instruments and balances.
John Dupee (fl. after 1761); surveying instruments.
Samuel Grainger (fl. 1719), practitioner.
Stephen Greenleaf (1704-1795); mathematical instruments.
Thomas Greenough (1710-1785); mathematical, surveying, astronomical, and nautical
instruments.
William Greenough (fl. 1785); surveying instruments.
Isaac Greenwood, Sr. (c.1725-1750), practitioner.
Isaac Greenwood, Jr. (1730-1803); mathematical instruments.
Benjamin K. Hagger (c. 1769-1834); mathematical and surveying instruments.
James Halsie I (fl. 1674), practitioner.
James Halsy II (1695-1767); mathematical and surveying instruments.
John Halsy (fl. 1700); mathematical instruments.
Joseph Halsy (fl. 1697-1762); surveying instruments.
Rowland Houghton (1678-1744); surveying instruments.
Andrew Newell (1749-1798); surveying instruments.
Joseph Newell (fl. 1800-1813); surveying instruments.
Joseph Pope (1750-1826); scientific instruments and clocks.
Nathan Prince (fl. 1743), practitioner; scientific instruments.
Paul Revere (1735-1818); gunnery instruments.
Charles Thacher (18th century); surveying instruments.
Samuel Thaxter (1769-1842); surveying, nautical, and mathematical instruments.
William Williams (1737/8-1792); mathematical and nautical instruments.
Brookfield: John Potter (1746-1818); surveying instruments.
Hanover: John Bailey II (1752-1823); surveying instruments.
Lanesboro: Benjamin Platt (1757-1833); surveying instruments, clocks, and compasses.
Lynn: John Bailey II (1752-1823); surveying instruments.
Nantucket: Peter Folger (1617-1690), practitioner(?).
Walter Folger (1765-1849), practitioner; clocks and astronomical instruments.
Newburyport: Gideon Fairman (1774-1827); mathematical instruments.
Hooker & Fairman (before 1810); mathematical instruments.
Northampton: Jedidiah Baldwin (c.1777-1829); surveying instruments.
Stiles & Baldwin (fl.1791); surveying instruments.
Stiles & Storrs (fl.1792); surveying instruments.
Plymouth: Benjamin Warren (fl.1740-1790); surveying and nautical instruments.
Salem: Jedidiah Baldwin (c.1777-1829); surveying instruments.
Samuel Emery (1787-1882); mathematical instruments.
John Jayne (late 18th century); mathematical instruments.
Benjamin King (1740-1804); nautical instruments.
Daniel King (1704-1790); mathematical instruments.
John Prince (1751-1836), practitioner; scientific instruments.
Southwick: Amasa Holcomb (1787-1875); surveying and mathematical instruments.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Exeter: Benjamin C. Gilman (1763-1835); mathematical instruments and clocks.
Hanover: Jedidiah Baldwin (c.1777-1829); surveying instruments.
Newmarket: John Kennard (1782-1861); surveying instruments.
Portsmouth: Thomas S. Bowles (c.1765-1821); surveying instruments.
Walpole: Gurdon Huntington (1763-1804); clocks and surveying and other instruments.
NEW JERSEY
Elizabeth: Aaron Miller (fl. 1748-1771); surveying instruments, clocks, and compasses.
Wistarburg: Richard Wistar (fl. 1752); glass and thermometric instruments.
NEW YORK
Fishkill: John Bailey (fl. 1778); surveying and surgical instruments.
New York: Thomas Biggs (fl. 1792); surveying instruments.
Bulmain & Dennies (fl. 1799); nautical instruments.
H. Caritat (fl. 1799); astronomical prints.
John Donegan (fl. 1787); barometers, thermometers, and philosophical instruments.
W. Fosbrook (fl. 1786); surgical and dental instruments.
Joseph Gatty (fl. 1794); barometers, thermometers and philosophical instruments.
James Ham (fl. 1754-1764); mathematical instruments.
William Hinton (fl. 1772); mathematical instruments.
A. Lamb & Son (fl. late 18th century); mathematical instruments.
Anthony Lamb (1703-1784); mathematical instruments.
John Lamb (1735-1800); mathematical instruments.
M. Morris (fl. 1785); protractors.
Widow Balthaser Sommer (fl. 1753); optical instruments.
Charles Walpole (fl. 1746); mathematical instruments.
James Youle (1740-1786); surgical instruments.
John Youle (fl. 1786); surgical instruments.
OHIO
Columbus: Augustus Platt (1793-1886); mathematical instruments.
Benjamin Platt (1757-1833); surveying instruments and clocks.
Gallipolis: Joseph (fl. 1792) and Francois Devacht; watches, compasses, and sundials.
PENNSYLVANIA
Bucks County: W. L. Potts (late 18th century); surveying instruments.
George Wall, Jr. (fl. 1788); surveying instruments.
Germantown: Christopher Sower (c. 1724-1740); mathematical instruments and clocks.
Christopher Witt (fl. 1710-1765); mathematical instruments and clocks.
Harrisburg: Frederick A. Heisely (1759-1839); clocks and mathematical instruments.
George Heisely (1789-1880); clocks and mathematical instruments.
Lancaster: George Ford (late 18th century to 1842); surveying and nautical instruments.
George Ford II (fl. 1842); surveying and nautical instruments.
Frederick A. Heisely (1759-1839); clocks and mathematical instruments.
George Hoff (1740-1816); clocks, surveying instruments.
Thomas Mendenhall (fl. 1775); mathematical instruments and clocks.
Norristown: David Rittenhouse (1732-1796), practitioner; astronomical and surveying instruments.
Philadelphia: Owen Biddle (1737-1799), practitioner.
Thomas Biggs (fl. 1792-1795); surveying instruments.
Isaac Brokaw (fl. 1771).
Benjamin Condy (fl. 1756, d. 1798); mathematical instruments and sand glasses.
William Davenport (1778-1829); surveying and mathematical instruments.
William Dean (?-1797); surveying and nautical instruments.
George Evans (fl. 1796, d. 1798); mathematical instruments.
Martin Fisher (fl. 1790); glass instruments.
Joseph Gatty (fl. 1794); barometers, thermometers, and philosophical instruments.
Bryan Gilmur (end of 18th century); mathematical instruments and clocks.
Thomas Godfrey (1704-1749); improved reflecting backstaff.
John Gould (fl. 1794); nautical, surveying, and optical instruments.
Theophilus Grew (fl. 1753), practitioner.
James Ham (fl. 1754-1764); mathematical instruments.
James Ham, Jr. (fl. 1780); mathematical instruments.
Alloysius Ketterer (fl. 1789); glass instruments.
Anthony Lamb (1703-1784); mathematical instruments.
Thomas Pryor (fl. 1778); mathematical instruments.
Benjamin Rittenhouse (1740-c.1820); surveying and astronomical instruments.
David Rittenhouse (1732-1796), practitioner; astronomical and surveying instruments.
Christopher Sower [Sauer] (c. 1724-1740); mathematical instruments and clocks.
Charles Taws (fl. 1795); mathematical instruments.
Henry Voight (1738-1814); clocks, watches, and astronomical instruments.
John Whitney (fl. 1801); mathematical and optical instruments.
Thomas Whitney (fl. 1798-1823); mathematical and optical instruments.
John Wood (fl. 1790); compasses.
Pittsburgh: Frederick A. Heisely (1759-1839); clocks and mathematical instruments.
West Bradford: Joel Baily (1732-1797), practitioner.
RHODE ISLAND
Newport: William G. Hagger (c.1744-1830?); quadrants.
King & Hagger (1759/60); mathematical and nautical instruments.
Benjamin King (1707-1786); mathematical and nautical instruments.
Samuel King (1748-1819); mathematical instrument.
Paul Pease (fl. 1750); quadrants.
Providence: William Hamlin (1772-1869); mathematical, astronomical, and nautical instruments.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Charleston: Charles Blundy (fl. 1753); thermometric instruments.
Robert Clark (fl. 1785); nautical, surveying, and optical instruments.
James Jacks (fl. 1780's); mathematical and surveying instruments.
VERMONT
Bradford: James Wilson (1763-1855); globes.
VIRGINIA
Winchester: Goldsmith Chandlee (c.1746-1821); surveying and astronomical instruments and clocks.
Anthony Lamb (1703-1784); mathematical instruments.

TYPES OF INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR MAKERS

(Categories based on specific designations noted in advertisements)

ASTRONOMICAL