Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers
Part 10
This telescope, used by General Washington at Mount Vernon, "was kept behind the hall door and his favorite amusement was to look out over the river with it." According to Mrs. Lewis, the General used it to observe life on the river and especially to discover guests approaching Mount Vernon, as many of their visitors arrived by boat. Benjamin Latrobe, the architect, on a visit to Mount Vernon made an amusing sketch of his host looking anxiously up the stream for some belated dinner guests.
Part of the collection purchased from the Lewis heirs in 1878 by the U.S. Government and transferred to the U.S. National Museum in 1883. USNM 92423. FIGURE 83.
_Survey of Land_, drawn and documented by George Washington on April 2, 1751 for Thomas Loftan of Frederick County, Va. Paper, 12 in. wide by 7-3/4 in. high.
This survey was made by Washington when he was 19 years of age, and it is believed to be the only such document relating to his earliest period as a surveyor. Washington was licensed as a surveyor by the President and Masters of William and Mary College in 1749. On July 20th of the same year he was appointed surveyor in Culpepper County, Va., by Governor Dinwiddie.
Acquired in 1961. USNM 238367. FIGURE 84.
WHITE, PEREGRINE (1747-1834), Woodstock, Conn.
_Surveying Compass_, about 1790, made of brass, complete with original case, tripod, and gunter's chain. The instrument measures 12-1/4 in. overall. The dial, with a diameter of 5-5/8 in. and a pewter vernier ring, is inscribed "PEREGRINE WHITE/Woodstock." Tripod is 57-1/2 in. long and has walnut legs and a brass universal socket joint. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Greenwood.
USNM 388993. FIGURE 23.
WHITNEY, THOMAS (fl. 1798-1821), Philadelphia, Pa.
_Pocket Compass_ of brass encased in brassbound mahogany box with separate carrying case. Paper dial is inscribed "T. Whitney/ Phil^a." Carried by Capt. William Clark on the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Coast in 1803-1806.
USNM 38366. FIGURE 85.
Appendix
SURVIVING WOODEN SURVEYING COMPASSES
(Asterisk denotes information unavailable)
_Length _Height of _Maker _Collection_ _Type _Length _Width of bars needle and of (in.)_ (in.)_ (in.)_ (in.)_ period_ wood_
Preston R. Maple 9 5 3-1/4 * Unsigned (18th Bassett century)
Bucks County Cherry 11 5-1/2 6-5/8 2-3/8 Thomas Greenough Historical of Boston Society (1710-1785)
Bostonian Apple or 13-7/8 * * 4-3/4 John Dupee of Society walnut Boston (after 1761)
Dartmouth Walnut 7-3/4 * * * Thomas S. Bowles College Museum of Portsmouth, N.H. (c. 1765-1821)
* 12 8 * * Unsigned (18th century)
* 8-3/8 4-5/8 * * Unsigned (18th century)
L. C. Eichner Hickory 11 5-1/2 3 4 Thomas Greenough (U.S. National of Boston Museum) (1710-1785)
Farmer's Museum Oak 12-3/4 6-1/2 5 * Unsigned (18th century)
Franklin Gum 13-3/4 5-3/4 4 5 Thomas Greenough Institute of Boston (1710-1785)
Mariner's * * * * * Charles Thacher Museum (18th century)
Old Sturbridge Maple 13 4 * * Unsigned (18th century)
Maple 11-5/8 5-7/8 * * Thomas Greenough of Boston (1710-1785)
Walnut 18 8 * * Aaron Breed of Boston (1791-1861)
New Hampshire Maple 11 5-3/4 2-1/2 4-5/8 Joseph Halsy of Historical Boston (fl. Society 1697-1762)
N. Parker Walnut 13-1/2 4-7/8 5 * John Dupee of Boston (after 1761)
Peabody Museum * 11 * * 3 James Halsy II of Boston (1695-1767)
Worth Shampeny * * * * * Jedidiah Baldwin of Hanover, N.H. (c. 1777-1829)
South Natick Apple or 13-16 * * 4-7/8 John Dupee of Historical walnut Boston (after Society 1761)
Streeter Coll., Birch 13 6 * 4 Thomas S. Bowles Yale University of Portsmouth, N.H. (c.1765-1821)
Cherry 11-5/6 6 4 * Jere Clough of Boston (18th century)
Cherry 12 6 3-1/2 * Benjamin Warren of Plymouth, Mass. (fl. 1740-1790)
Roleigh L. Cherry 7-1/2 3-3/4 3 * Unsigned Stubbs
Silvio A. Walnut 12 5-3/8 5 4 Thomas S. Bowles Bedini of Portsmouth, N.H. (c. 1765-1821)
Pine 5-3/4 3-1/2 2-1/2 * Unsigned (18th century)
Mahogany * * * * Unsigned (18th century)
Basswood 12 5-3/4 2-3/4 4 Thomas Greenough of Boston (1710-1785)
Birch 18 7-1/2 7-1/2 6 Samuel Thaxter of Boston (1769-1842)
Mahogany 13 7-1/4 4-1/4 6 Samuel Thaxter of Boston (1769-1842)
Yellow 8-1/4 4 * 4-1/4 Benjamin K. Hagger birch of Boston and Baltimore (c. 1769-1834)
Cherry 14 5-1/2 6-3/8 4-3/4 Gurdon Huntington of Windham, Conn. and Walpole, N.H. (1763-1804)
Yale Gallery Mahogany 11-1/2 5 * * Andrew Newell of of Fine Art Boston (1749-c. 1798)
MATHEMATICAL PRACTITIONERS AND INSTRUMENT MAKERS
_Alphabetical List_
(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, Surveying Mass.
Baily, Joel 1732-1797 West Bradford, (practitioner) Pa.
Baldwin, Jedidiah c. 1777-1829 Salem, Boston, Surveying and Northampton, Mass.; Hanover, N. H.
Banneker, Benjamin c. 1734-1806 Baltimore (practitioner)
Benson, John fl. 1793-1797 * Optical
Biddle, Owen 1737-1799 Philadelphia (practitioner)
Biggs, Thomas fl. 1792-1795 New York and Surveying Philadelphia
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 Surveying; clocks Coventry, Conn.
Caritat, H. fl. 1799 New York Astronomical
Chandlee, Benjamin, 1723-1791 Nottingham, Md. Surveying; clocks Jr.
Chandlee & Bros. fl. 1790-1791 Nottingham, Md. Clocks; surveying
Chandlee, Ellis 1755-1816 Nottingham, Md. Surveying; clocks
Chandlee, Ellis & fl. 1791-1797 Nottingham, Md. Clocks; surveying Bros.
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, Philadelphia Mathematical; sand d. 1798 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 fl. 1792 Gallipolis, Ohio Watches; compasses; Francois sundials
Donegan (or fl. 1787 New York Glass; Denegan), John philosophical
Donegany, John (see Donegan)
Doolittle, Enos 1751-1806 Hartford, Conn. Surveying; clocks nautical;
Doolittle, Isaac 1721-1800 New Haven, Conn. Clocks; scientific
Doolittle, Isaac, 1759-1821 New Haven, Conn. Surveying; clocks Jr.
Dupee, John fl. after 1761 Boston Surveying
Ellicott, Andrew 1754-1820 Baltimore Surveying; (also practitioner) astronomical
Emery, Samuel 1787-1882 Salem, Mass. Mathematical
Evans, George fl. 1796; d. Philadelphia Mathematical 1798
Fairman, Gideon 1774-1827 Newburyport, Mathematical (See Hooker and Mass. Fairman)
Fisher, Martin fl. 1790 Philadelphia Glass
Folger, Peter 1617-1690 Nantucket (practitioner?)
Folger, Walter, Jr. 1765-1849 Nantucket Astronomical; surveying
Ford, George fl. late 18th Lancaster, Pa. Surveying; nautical century to 1842
Ford, George, II fl. 1842 Lancaster, Pa. Surveying; nautical
Fosbrook, W. fl. 1786 or New York Surgical; dental earlier
Gatty, Joseph fl. 1794 New York and Glass; Philadelphia philosophical
Gilman, Benjamin C. 1763-1835 Exeter, N.H. Mathematical; clocks
Gilmur, Bryan fl. end of Philadelphia Mathematical; 18th century clocks
Godfrey, Thomas 1704-1749 Philadelphia Improved reflecting backstaff
Gould, John fl. 1794 Philadelphia Nautical; surgical; optical
Grainger, Samuel fl. 1719 Boston (practitioner)
Greenleaf, Stephen 1704-1795 Boston Mathematical
Greenough, Thomas 1710-1785 Boston Mathematical; surveying; nautical; astronomical
Greenough, William fl. 1785 Boston Surveying
Greenwood, Isaac, fl. 1726 Boston Surveying Sr. (practitioner)
Greenwood, Isaac, 1730-1803 Boston Mathematical Jr.
Grew, Theophilus fl. 1753 Philadelphia (practitioner)
Hagger, Benjamin c. 1769-1834 Boston and Mathematical; King Baltimore surveying
Hagger, William c. 1744-1830? Newport, R.I. Nautical Guyse
Halsie, James, I fl. 1674 Boston (practitioner)
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 Mathematical Philadelphia
Ham, James, Jr. fl. 1780 Philadelphia Mathematical
Hamlin, William 1772-1869 Providence, R. I. Mathematical; nautical; astronomical
Hanks, Benjamin 1755-1824 Mansfield and Surveying Litchfield, Conn.
Hanks, Truman fl. 1808 Mansfield and Surveying Litchfield, Conn.
Harland, Thomas 1735-1807 Norwich, Conn. Surveying; clocks
Heisely, Frederick 1759-1839 Frederick, Md.; Mathematical; A. Lancaster, surveying; clocks Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, Pa.
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 1787-1875 Southwick, Mass. Surveying; (also practitioner) astronomical
Hooker & Fairman before 1810 Newburyport, Mathematical (William Hooker and Mass. Gideon Fairman)
Houghton, Rowland c. 1678-1744 Boston Surveying
Huntington, Gurdon 1763-1804 Windham, Conn., Surveying and and Walpole, N.H. other; clocks
Jacks, James fl. 1780's Charleston, S.C. Mathematical; surveying
Jayne, John late 18th Salem, Mass. Mathematical century
Kennard, John 1782-1861 Newmarket, N.H. Surveying; clocks
Ketterer, Alloysius fl. 1789 Philadelphia Glass
King & Hagger 1759 or 1760 Newport, R.I. Mathematical; (Benjamin King and until early nautical William Guyse 1760's Hagger)
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; Mathematical; Virginia; surveying; nautical Philadelphia; New York; Hunter's Key, N.Y.
Lamb, John 1735-1800 New York Mathematical
Mendenhall, Thomas fl. 1775 Lancaster, Pa. Mathematical; clocks
Miller, Aaron fl. 1748-1771 Elizabethtown, Surveying; clocks; N.J. 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 Quadrant Island
Platt, Augustus 1793-1886 Columbus, Ohio Mathematical; surveying
Platt, Benjamin 1757-1833 Danbury, Compasses; Litchfield, and surveying; clocks New Milford, Conn.; Lanesboro, Mass.; Columbus, Ohio
Pope, Joseph 1750-1826 Boston Scientific; clocks
Potter, John fl. 1746-1818 Brookfield, Mass. Surveying
Potts, W. L. late 18th Bucks County, Pa. Surveying century
Prince, John 1751-1836 Salem, Mass. Scientific (practitioner)
Prince, Nathan fl. 1743 Boston (practitioner)
Pryor, Thomas fl. 1778 Philadelphia Mathematical
Revere, Paul 1735-1818 Boston Gunnery
Rittenhouse, 1740-c.1820 Philadelphia Astronomical; Benjamin surveying
Rittenhouse, David 1732-1796 Philadelphia and Astronomical; (practitioner) Norriton, Pa. surveying
Rittenhouse & Evans fl. 1770's Philadelphia Surveying
Sibley & Marble late 18th New Haven, Conn. Mathematical; (Clark Sibley and century clocks; watches Simeon Marble)
Smith, Cordial fl. 1775 Connecticut Surveying
Sommer, widow fl. 1753 New York Optical Balthaser
Sower, Christopher c. 1724-1740 Germantown and Mathematical; Philadelphia, Pa. clocks
Stiles & Baldwin fl. 1791 Northampton, Surveying (Jedidiah Baldwin) Mass.
Stiles & Storrs fl. 1792 Northampton, Surveying (Nathan Storrs and Mass. Jedidiah Baldwin)
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 Boston Mathematical; 1738-1792 nautical
Willis, Arthur fl. 1674 Possibly (practitioner) Massachusetts
Wilson, James 1763-1855 Bradford, Vt. Globes
Wistar, Richard fl. 1752 Wistarburg, N.J. Glass
Witt, Christopher fl. 1710-1765 Germantown, Pa. Mathematical; (practitioner) 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