James Collins of Goffstown, New Hampshire.

James Collins is known to be buried in Wolcottville, Indiana. His gravestone is still located there. This gravestone gives his birth date of August 8th, 1801, and lists his death on December 8th, 1882. James Collins was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire, the son of Stephen Collins. James married Lucy Knight of Hancock, New Hampshire. Lucy was the daughter of the Clockmaker Elijah Knight. It is thought that James received some clock training from him. It is also reported that Collins traveled to Ashby, Massachusetts, and to Providence, Rhode Island from time to time. One could speculate that he traveled to these towns on clock-related business. The town of Ashby was very small and had little to offer as a destination other than an interest in the Edwards and Willard brothers' School of Wooden Works tall clock production. In Goffstown, Collins is listed as a "Husbandman, Yeoman, Silversmith, Jeweler, Watchmaker, and Clockmaker in various towns deeds. It appears that Collins left Goffstown in the mid-1840s after Lucy died in 1844. From here, he moved to Illinois, possibly Michigan, and then to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Very few clocks have been found. We have owned at least three different forms. They include Tall Clocks, a New Hampshire Mirror clock, and recently, a full Striking Banjo Clock. The New Hampshire Historical Society has an example of his work in their collection. Charles Parsons, the author of New Hampshire Clocks & Clockmakers, lived in Collins's house for several years.