Griffith Owen of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Griffith Owen is a respected clockmaker. He was born in 1759. At the age of fourteen (1773), Owen would have started his apprenticeship under the Philadelphia clockmaker Jacob Godshalk by the consent of his Mother, Elizabeth Owen, on April 7, 1773. This relationship was convenient since Jacob had married Griffith Owen's sister Elizabeth (Sarah) Owen, in December of 1770. Sarah was fourteen years older than her brother Griffith. By 1780, Griffith had earned his journeyman status. In 1781, he took over the family business in Philadelphia due to Jacob's death. One interesting point worth mentioning is that Godshalk was responsible for the maintenance of the clock located in what is now known as Independence Hall. Owen assumed these responsibilities at this time. Owen advertised that he had several tall case clocks for sale and was also engaged in various aspects of the watch business. In 1793, a Yellow Fever epidemic struck the city of Philadelphia. It is thought that in 1794, Owen moved his clock-making business to Towamencin Township in Montgomery County as a result. He stayed there for two years and then moved to Gwynedd Township. This may explain why several examples of his clocks have been found signed with the County location rather than the Township. Griffith is later recorded as living and working in several other nearby locations. He is recorded as having moved back to Philadelphia in 1802 through 1814. Then from 1812 through 1817, he returns to Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County. In 1817 he moved to Hatfield County until 1820. Owen died in Norristown on April 29, 1820.