Silas Hoadley (1786 – December 28, 1870) was an American

clockmaker A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and/or repairs clocks. Since almost all clocks are now factory-made, most modern clockmakers only repair clocks. Modern clockmakers may be employed by jewellers, antique shops, and places devoted strictly to ...

Biography

Hoadley was born in

Bethany, Connecticut Bethany is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,297 at the 2020 census. History Bethany was first settled in 1717, but it was not until May 1832 that Bethany separated from Woodbridge to become incorporate ...

on January 31, 1786. He was a cousin of the architect and builder David Hoadley. He received little formal education before becoming apprentice carpenter to his uncle Calvin Hoadley. In 1809 his apprenticeship ended, and he formed a clock-making partnership in

Plymouth, Connecticut Plymouth is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England. The population was 11,671 at the 2020 census, down from 12,243 at the 2010 census. The town of Plymouth includes the villages of Plym ...

with

Eli Terry Eli Terry Sr. (April 13, 1772 – February 24, 1852) was an inventor and clockmaker in Connecticut. He received a United States patent for a shelf clock mechanism. He introduced mass production to the art of clockmaking, which made clocks ...

and Seth Thomas as Terry, Thomas & Hoadley. The partners gradually withdrew to create their own firms – Terry in 1810, Thomas in 1814 – leaving Silas Hoadley as sole owner. He continued to make mantel and tall clocks until 1849. Hoadley was a Freemason of high standing and one of the most respected and oldest members of Harmony lodge, No. 42 F. and A. M. having been intimately associated with the lodge in

Watertown, Connecticut Watertown is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 22,105 at the 2020 census. The ZIP codes for Watertown are 06795 (for most of the town) and 06779 (for the Oakville section). It is a suburb of Waterbury. ...

in 1817. his lodge bears testimony that "His heart was in the right place, with a hand as open as the day to meeting charity, of him it may be truly said an honest man is the noblest work of god". Hoadley was elected to the

Connecticut General Assembly The Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. ...

several times, and in 1844 to the

Connecticut State Senate The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 99,280 inhabitants. Sena ...

. He died at Plymouth, Connecticut.

Family life

Hoadley was married to Sarah N. Painter; they are buried together in West Cemetery, and share a stone. They had five children. ''Early American Craftsman''. Walter A. Dyer, The Century Company, 1915.

Death

Hoadley died on December 28, 1870, and is interred at West Cemetery in Plymouth, Connecticut.

References

External links

Early American Craftsmen
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoadley, Silas American clockmakers 1786 births 1870 deaths People from Bethany, Connecticut People from Plymouth, Connecticut