Serial Number: PW 0132
Subcategory: Pocket Watch
Status: Display
Description:
1812 L Goddard & Sons
Quartz Movements
Massachusetts
Luther Goddard & Sons
In 1809 the Congress of the United States placed an embargo that almost curtailed
trading with other countries. This seriously limited the importing of watches from
Europe. During the same year Luther Goddard commenced watchmaking in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Goddard, is considered to be the first to attempt serious watch making in America. Luther Goddard had learned his trade as a clock maker, but started making watches part time in 1790.
Luther Goddard added his son, Parley Goddardto the business and it flourished until the Treaty of Peace was signed in December of 1814. The treaty removed the war time embargo and the United States was flooded with less expensive watches. Luther Goddard had concentrated on the making of high quality watches, so the Goddard watches were more expensive than most of the imports. By 1817 the company was in financial difficulties. Luther Goddard along
with his younger son, Daniel, moved to Worcester, where they established a repair business. At the time of his move, about 530 watches had been made. Parley Goddard, continued to make watches at Shrewsbury for a while, adding 70 additional watches
before he returned to farming. Luther Goddard continued repairing and making
watches until his death, at the age of 80 years, in 1842.
