Appendix
Reading edition
SURVIVING WOODEN SURVEYING COMPASSES
(Asterisk denotes information unavailable)
Collection Type of wood Length (in.) Width (in.) Height of bars (in.) Length of needle (in.) Maker and period
Preston R. Bassett Maple 9 5 3-1/4 * Unsigned (18th century)
Bucks County Historical Society Cherry 11 5-1/2 6-5/8 2-3/8 Thomas Greenough of Boston (1710-1785)
Bostonian Society Apple or walnut 13-7/8 * * 4-3/4 John Dupee of Boston (after 1761)
Dartmouth College Museum Walnut 7-3/4 * * * Thomas S. Bowles of Portsmouth, N.H. (c. 1765-1821)
* 12 8 * * Unsigned (18th century)
* 8-3/8 4-5/8 * * Unsigned (18th century)
L. C. Eichner (U.S. National Museum) Hickory 11 5-1/2 3 4 Thomas Greenough of Boston (1710-1785)
Farmer's Museum Oak 12-3/4 6-1/2 5 * Unsigned (18th century)
Franklin Institute Gum 13-3/4 5-3/4 4 5 Thomas Greenough of Boston (1710-1785)
Mariner's Museum * * * * * Charles Thacher (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 Historical Society Maple 11 5-3/4 2-1/2 4-5/8 Joseph Halsy of Boston (fl. 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 Historical Society Apple or walnut 13-16 * * 4-7/8 John Dupee of Boston (after 1761)
Streeter Coll., Yale University Birch 13 6 * 4 Thomas S. Bowles 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. Stubbs Cherry 7-1/2 3-3/4 3 * Unsigned
Silvio A. Bedini Walnut 12 5-3/8 5 4 Thomas S. Bowles 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 birch 8-1/4 4 * 4-1/4 Benjamin K. Hagger 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 of Fine Art Mahogany 11-1/2 5 * * Andrew Newell of 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, 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