Luther Goddard of Grafton, Shrewsbury and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Luther Goddard was a Clockmaker, Watchmaker, Silversmith, Jeweler, and Baptist Minister. He worked in Grafton, Shrewsbury, and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Luther Goddard was born February 28, 1762, the fourth child of Daniel and Mary Willard Goddard in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Mary Willard was the sister of Benjamin Willard, father of the clockmaking brothers Benjamin, Simon, Ephraim, and Aaron. That made him the cousin of Simon Willard, the clockmaker, and he is thought to have trained or, more appropriately, apprenticed under him as early as 1778 at the age of 16. This indenture is believed to have lasted five years through 1783. He is then recorded as working in Shrewsbury from 1784 through 1817 as a clockmaker, watchmaker, and as a silversmith. In 1784, Luther married Elizabeth Dakin on June 19. They had at least two children that worked in the clock, watch, and silver trades. Parley Goddard, born in 1787, began training under his father in 1800. His brother Daniel, born in 1796, started training when he was 13. It is thought that Luther also trained his second cousin Nichols Goddard, born in 1773 and died in 1823. Nicholas becomes one of Vermont's most prolific clockmakers working most of his life in the town of Rutland. In 1803, Luther formed what must have been a brief partnership with James Hamilton as Goddard & Hamilton. It is recorded that in 1807, Luther attended the estate sale of the Norwich, Connecticut, clockmaker Thomas Harland. Here, he is said to have purchased a set of clockmakers tools. In 1809, he relocated his shop to Shrewsbury Hill. His shop is said to have been about 18 feet square. It was one story and had a hip roof. It also had a lean-to attached to the back for the casting process. It is in this location that he began to manufacture pocket watches and is credited with making the first American watch and also as being the first American to make a significant attempt to make watches in quantity. His lifetime output of watches is estimated to be approximately 600. His silvered-cased examples are thought to have originally sold for approximately $60. This would have been about the same cost as a tall case clock. Today, his watches are prized by collectors. This first watch venture included his son Parley under the firm name of Luther Goddard & Son. Their timing was pretty good as imports were blocked by Jefferson and the "Jefferson Embargo" during the War of 1812. By 1815 the market was again flooded with imports, and the watch business slowed. It is thought they produced approximately 600 or so watches by 1817. Some of the other firm names that were related to this venture are "Luther Goddard," "L. Goddard & Son," "L&P Goddard," "L. Goddard & Co.," "D&P Goddard & Co.," etc... It is reported that Luther recruited several associates to help him build watches. Some of these were said to have been former British soldiers that trained in Europe before the War and remained here because of the new country's opportunities. Luther trained a number of apprentices too. One was William Keith, who later became an executive at the Waltham Watch Co. A second was Jubal Howe, who later moved to Boston to ply his trade. Luther trained Aaron Dennison, who would later worked with Edward Howard. Dennison and Howard produced the first factory-made watch in this country. In 1817, Luther moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, with his son Daniel and continued to repair watches and clocks, silversmithing, and preached as a Baptist minister. This shop was located on Main Street across from Daniel Waldo's store. Luther died in Worcester on May 24, 1842, at 81.