Joseph Gooding of Dighton and Fall River, Massachusetts.

Joseph Gooding was born on March 6, 1773, in Dighton, Massachusetts, and died in the same town on November 11, 1853. His parents were Joseph Gooding (1729-1815) and Rebecca (Macomber) Gooding. At 16, he traveled to Hanover, MA, and trained as an apprentice under the Quaker Clockmaker, John Bailey II. By 1793, he was at work on his own in the town of Dighton. Here he worked as a silversmith, jeweler, and clock and watchmaker. He had three younger brothers whom he most likely trained as clockmakers. Josiah (b.1777 – d. 1867) was the most prolific of the four. He set up a shop in Bristol, Rhode Island. Alanson (b. 1789 - d. 1887) worked in New Bedford, MA. Henry (b. 1785 – d. 1875) worked in Duxbury, MA. John (b. 1780 – d. 1870) worked in Wrentham and later in Plymouth, MA. On May 19, 1798, Joseph married Elizabeth Austin in Dighton. They had three boys that were involved in the jewelry and watch trades. Joseph is next listed as a silversmith, jeweler, and clockmaker working in Fall River from 1828 to 1838. He returned to Dighton in 1839 and lived there until he died in 1853.

Currently, we speculate that Joseph made some 40-plus tall case clocks. He apparently numbered many of his tall case clocks on the dial. The highest number found to date is No. 38. Interestingly, No. 8 is in the clock collection of Harvard University. The Harvard-owned example, like the other documented clocks, all share a case form and construction that reflects a strong Roxbury, MA, influence. We have seen or owned numbers 8, 9, 12, 20, 22, 34, 36, and 38. Others have also recorded numbers 2, 6, and 10.