Daniel Balch of Bradford and Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Daniel Balch Sr. was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, on March 1, 1734. He was the son of Reverend William Balch of the East Parish in Bradford and Rebecca (Stone) Blach. It is thought that Daniel had apprenticed and learned clockmaking skills under Samuel Mulliken's guidance. In Bradford, he made clocks until he moved to Newbury in 1756. He was also married this same year to Hannah Clements (1735-1783). His first shop was located on Fish Street, now State Street. In 1765, Newburyport became its own entity, and the two villages were divided. It is recorded that he kept the town clock of Newburyport from 1781 - 1783. Daniel married a second time in 1784 to Judith Thurston (1739-1825) of Newbury. Daniel had two sons from his first marriage whom he trained as clockmakers. They are Daniel Jr. (1761-1835) and Thomas Hutchinson Balch (1771-1817). Together, they continued the business after Daniel Sr. died on November 30, 1790. He is interned at the Old Hill Burying Ground in Newburyport. An interesting note. Jonathan Kettell, a cabinetmaker originally from Charlestown, Massachusetts, who moved to Newburyport after the British burned the town in 1775, recorded in his account books that Daniel Balch purchased as many as twenty-two tall and shelf clock cases in the years that included 1781-1792. Daniel may have also trained David Wood as a clockmaker. 

Examples of tall clocks, some musical and shelf clocks have been found. A very nice example of a brass dial shelf clock is currently in the collection of the Historical Society of Old Newbury. Another example is on display in the Cushing Housemuseum and Garden in Newburyport.