Asahel Cheney of Hartford, Connecticut, Northfield, Massachusetts, Putney and Royalton, Vermont.

Asahel Cheney was born about 1767 in East Hartford, Connecticut, and died in Royalton, Vermont, on October 31, 1819. He was the oldest son of the Hartford clockmaker Benjamin Cheney and Deborah Olcott. Many examples of Benjamin’s work have been recorded. A large number of them have movement constructed of heavy wooden gearing. Asahel and his two brothers, Martin and Russell, were most likely trained by their father. A clock that is in the Mabel Brady Garvin Collection at Yale University features an engraved brass dial and wooden geared movement that is signed, “Asahel Cheney / E. HARTFORD.” This clock is pictured in CONNECTICUT CLOCKMAKERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, written by Penrose R. Hoopes. By 1790, Asahel had moved to Northfield, Massachusetts, and was a property owner. He lived in what is now known as the Joseph Byrt house. Here he continued to manufacture mostly tall case clocks. We have owned several signed Northfield examples over the years featuring wooden and brass constructed movements. A second fine example can also be found in the Mabel Brady Garvin Collection at Yale University. This second clock is signed “Northfield.” 

By the mid-1790s, Asahel moved to Windham County, Vermont, to the town of Putney. A shelf clock in the Henry Ford Museum collection is signed on the engraved brass kidney-shaped dial, “Asahel Cheney / Putney.” From this clock, we speculate that Asahel trained his brother Martin in the clockmaking trade. On the seat board of this clock, it is inscribed, “This clock was made by Martin Cheney.”

Soon after 1800, the brothers parted company. In 1806, Asahel moved to Royalton, VT, and purchased a store with Mr. Fessenden. He sells out his share and moves to Rochester only to return to Royalton. His name is listed in a land transaction in the town of Royalton, Vermont, in November of 1809. He purchased a shop and some land located near the Hotel from David Waller. In Royalton, he is reported to have had the clockmaker Jacob Kimball working with him. In 1818, he purchased the Gilbert Tavern. He died suddenly of apoplexy. He had a Masonic Funeral.