Joseph Smith (b. ca. 1688) was a clockmaker based in Chester in the early part of the 18th century.
Joseph Smith (b. ca. 1688) was a clockmaker based in Chester in the early part of the 18th century.
Joseph was born ca .1688 in Barthomley, the son of Gabriel Smith (1655–1743) a clockmaker, and Ann Whittingham (1655–1738).
Around 1721 Gabriel Smith moved his family to Nantwich, and in 1724-25 [1] Joseph left home and moved to the Gloverstone area of Chester. Just after he settled in the city, he was commissioned to make a new turret clock for Chester Cathedral. As part of this commission he was paid 16s annually (equivalent to £150in 2023) [2] for its maintenance. The clock had no dial, but chimed the quarters with a ting-tang on two bells and struck the hour. The pendulum period was 1¼ seconds.
In addition to turret clocks, he produced long case and mantel clocks. An example of a mantel clock was auctioned as Lot 59 by Bonhams on 11 July 2018 [3] and made £5,250 and another exists in the collection of the Zaanse Time Museum in Holland.
He married Mary Hulse (1698–1761) in Acton, Nantwich on 24 February 1717/18 and had five sons who attended King's School, Chester and one daughter.
