[[File:Table clock by Joseph Smith of Chester ca. 1750.jpg|thumb|Table clock ca. 1750 in the Zaanse Time Museum]] '''Joseph Smith''' (b. ca. 1688) was a clockmaker based in Chester in the early part of the 18th century.
==Life== 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<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Timely addition for museum |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003591/19810123/009/0009 | newspaper=Chester Chronicle |location=United Kingdom |date=23 January 1981 |access-date=19 December 2025 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref> 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 ({{Inflation|UK|0.8|1725|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} 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<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=11 July 2018 |title=Lot 59 |url=https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24787/lot/59/a-fine-and-rare-mid-18th-century-five-minute-repeating-mahogany-table-clock-with-alarm-moon-phase-indication-and-exhibition-provenance-joseph-smith-chester/ |website=Bonhams |location= |publisher=Bonhams |access-date=19 December 2025}}</ref> 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. *John Smith (1718–1784) *Joseph Smith (b. 1720) *Mary Smith (b. 1722) *Gabriel Smith (1726–1810) *Thomas Smith (b. 1728) *Samuel Smith (b. 1733)
==Turret clocks== [[File:Makers plate.jpg|thumb|Maker's plate on the clock in St Mary's Church, Tilston]] *Chester Cathedral 1725 (replaced 1872). Auctioned by Christies on 7 December 2005<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=7 December 2025 |title=A George I iron and brass three train posted frame turret clock |url=https://www.christies.com.cn/en/lot/lot-4642690 |website= |location= |publisher=Christies |access-date=19 December 2025}}</ref> and made £3,600. *St Michael's Church, Shotwick 1726 *St Peter's Church, Little Budworth 1727<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Little Budworth |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000157/19600326/395/0020 | newspaper=Chester Observer |location=United Kingdom |date=26 March 1960 |access-date=19 December 2025 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref> for the sum of £10 ({{Inflation|UK|10|1727|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} *St Lawrence's Church, Stoak 1732<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Clock ticks on |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005474/19880518/019/0019 | newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |location=United Kingdom |date=18 May 1988 |access-date=19 December 2025 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref> *St Helen's Church, Tarporley 1736<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Tarporley Church Tower |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000157/18760318/042/0008 | newspaper=Cheshire Observer |location=United Kingdom |date=18 March 1876 |access-date=19 December 2025 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref> for £5 5s. ({{Inflation|UK|5.25|1732|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} *St John the Baptist's Church, Chester 1746 (replaced) *St Mary's Church, Tilston 1750 *St Nicholas’ Church, Burton 1751 *St Mary's Church, Mucklestone *St Alban's Church, Tattenhall (attributed) *Poulton Hall 1755 *Adlington Hall 1755 *Pengwern Hall *Whitemore Hall
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Joseph}} Category:English clockmakers Category:Turret clock makers of the United Kingdom Category:1688 births Category:Year of death missing