# Joseph Smith (clockmaker)

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[[File:Table clock by Joseph Smith of Chester ca. 1750.jpg|thumb|Table clock ca. 1750 in the [Zaanse Time Museum](/source/Zaanse_Time_Museum)]]
'''Joseph Smith''' (b. ca. 1688) was a clockmaker based in [Chester](/source/Chester) in the early part of the 18th century.

==Life==
Joseph was born ca .1688 in [Barthomley](/source/Barthomley), the son of [Gabriel Smith](/source/Gabriel_Smith_(d.1743)) (1655–1743) a clockmaker, and Ann Whittingham (1655–1738). 

Around 1721 Gabriel Smith moved his family to [Nantwich](/source/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](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive) |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Joseph left home and moved to the Gloverstone area of [Chester](/source/Chester). Just after he settled in the city, he was commissioned to make a new turret clock for [Chester Cathedral](/source/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](/source/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](/source/King's_School%2C_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](/source/St_Mary's_Church%2C_Tilston)]]
*[Chester Cathedral](/source/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](/source/St_Michael's_Church%2C_Shotwick) 1726
*[St Peter's Church, Little Budworth](/source/St_Peter's_Church%2C_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](/source/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](/source/St_Lawrence's_Church%2C_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](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive) |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
*[St Helen's Church, Tarporley](/source/St_Helen's_Church%2C_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](/source/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](/source/St_John_the_Baptist's_Church%2C_Chester) 1746 (replaced)
*[St Mary's Church, Tilston](/source/St_Mary's_Church%2C_Tilston) 1750
*[St Nicholas’ Church, Burton](/source/St_Nicholas_Church%2C_Burton) 1751
*St Mary's Church, Mucklestone
*[St Alban's Church, Tattenhall](/source/St_Alban's_Church%2C_Tattenhall) (attributed)
*[Poulton Hall](/source/Poulton_Hall) 1755
*[Adlington Hall](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joseph Smith (clockmaker)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_(clockmaker)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_(clockmaker)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.