Thomas Harland

  General notes:

Silversmith and watchmaker

  Events in his life were:

• He worked from circa 1773 to 1796 as a silversmith and watchmaker in Norwich CT
A skilled and prolific maker who is credited with creating the first watch made wholy in America. Machinery in his shop included imported gear cutting lathes and stamping presses. By 1790, he employed a dozen workers and produced over 200 hundred watches and clocks. ³

• Master to Daniel Burnap abt 1773 in Norwich CT. ³

• Master to Nathaniel Shipman abt 1777 in Norwich CT. ³

• Master to Daniel Greenleaf abt 1778 in Norwich CT. ³

• Master to Jedediah Baldwin abt 1781 in Norwich CT.

• Master to William Cleveland abt 1783 in Norwich CT. ³

• Compass, c 1790
Smithsonian Institute

• Master to Thomas Harland abt 1794 in Norwich CT. ²¹

• Master to Henry Harland abt 1802 in Norwich CT. ²¹

• Clock face, 1770-1805
Winterthur Library
Engraved silver face plate on a Chippendale style tall clock.

• Obituary printed in the Connecticut Gazette in Apr 1807
“Died at Norwich, Mr. Thomas Harland, age seventy-two, Goldsmith; he is said to have made the first wrist watch ever manufactured in America.”

Thomas married Hannah Clark in 1773 in Norwich CT.