John Whitear of Fairfield, Connecticut. Clockmaker and Bell founder.

John Whitear's birth date is not currently known. It is currently thought that he may have been born in Fairfield and traveled to Boston to learn the art of clockmaking and bell casting. It is known that he returned to Fairfield in 1736 because he is listed as a member of the Church of England under the pastorship of Reverend Henry Caner in that year. On May 29, 1738 he advertised in the Boston Gazette \"John Whitear of Fairfield (CT) Bell-founder, makes and sells all sorts of bells from the lowest size to two-thousand weight.” He was skilled in metal work. He is recorded as casting a bell for the new Anglican Church in Fairfield in 1739. In 1743\/44 he cast a bell for Dr. Johnson who was a member of the Christ Church in Stratford. Whitear also made a clock for Dr. Johnson in 1750. This clock may have also been for the church?  In 1751, he cast a bell the Congregational Church in Fairfield. John married, his wife is not currently known. They had at lest four children that were born in Fairfield. His son John Jr was trained as a clockmaker and bell founder and worked for many years with his father until he passed in 1762 in Fairfield. John had a working career that spanned approximately 28 years. Assuming he started with clock No.1 and we know that Number 103 (made by his son) is dated 1764 two years after his death. This would suggest that they made approximately three or four clocks a year. His estate was settled by his son John Jr who succeeded both branches of his business, Bell founder and Clock maker.

Several tall clocks are known. Many of these are numbered and luckily a few are dated. The lowest number now known to us is No. 52. The highest number is No. 103. This No., 103 clock is also dated “1764.” This clock would have been made two years after John Seniors death.