The Blasdel Clockmaker Family of Amesbury

Amesbury’s industrial history is rich with stories of geniuses, skilled mechanics and entrepreneurs. One of the earliest examples are David Blasdel (1712-1756) and his sons, David Jr., Isaac and Jonathan. They remain famous among antique clock collectors. And despite the primitive mechanical workings of clocks built 250 years ago, some still exist in running condition today.

Local historian and ACM Industrial Survey Group member Steve Klomps has assembled a brief but fact-filled history of this clock-maker family, from David Blasdel’s apprenticeship in Boston in the early 1700s to Jonathan’s death in 1781 after serving as a gunsmith in the Revolutionary War. Read Steve’s story of the Blasdels here.