Claggett ― Newport Illustrious Clockmakers

In the 18th century, Newport, Rhode Island, was home to some of the most skillful craftsmen in colonial North America. Among them were the clockmakers William Claggett (1694–1748), James Wady (d. 1759), and Thomas Claggett (1730–1797)—individuals whose surviving works became the best-known records of their lives. Although they flourished in an era widely considered as a golden age of prosperity in Newport, their stories remained elusive, with a few magnificent clocks the only testament to their place in pre-Revolutionary New England. Through a broad search of archival records and a hunt to locate and document not only the work of these artisans—featured here in stunning new photography—but also their interconnected lives, the authors offer a more accurate picture of these three men, their trade, and aspects of life in contemporary Newport. The resulting volume reveals their stories and extraordinary works: an important contribution to the history of masterful craftsmanship in Rhode Island.

Donald L. Fennimore is curator emeritus, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Frank L. Hohmann III is a collector of 18th-century clocks and furniture.