Meridian was traced at Jones' Point on the West of the Potomac.
From this Meridian an angle of 45 degrees was laid off North
Westerly and a straight line continued in that direction ten
miles.... From the termination of this second line a third making a
right angle with it was carried South-Easterly ten miles: and from
the beginning on Jones' Point a fourth was carried ten miles to the
termination of the third. These lines were measured with a chain
which was examined and corrected daily, and plumbed whenever the
ground was uneven, and traced with a transit and equal altitude
instrument which I constructed and executed in 1789 and used in
running the Western boundary of the State of New York. This
instrument was similar to that described by Le Monnier in his
preface to the French "Histoire Celeste." ... All the lines in this
city in which I have been concerned were traced with the same
instrument which I used on the lines of the ten mile square but as
the Northern part was not finished when I left that place, I cannot
pretend to say what method has since been pursued.
Deposit of Andrew Ellicott Douglass of Flagstaff, Ariz., in 1931. USNM
152080. FIGURE 10.
[Illustration: Figure 73.--Telescope used by Andrew Ellicott for his
survey of the boundary between the United States and the Spanish
territory of Florida. The instrument is signed "W. & S. Jones, 135
Holborn, London." USNM 152082.]
ELLIS, ORANGE WARNER (18th century). _Theodolite_, about 1780, brass;
horizontal circle 5 in., vertical circle 5 in., telescope 7-1/2 in.,
compass 3 in.; spirit level set into compass card; spirit level attached
to telescope; fixed vertical circle; unsigned. Used by Orange Warner
Ellis about 1780 in the surveying of the boundary between the United
States and Canada, the area which is now Vermont.
Acquired from Miss Mary N. Ellis of Chicago, Ill., in 1929. USNM 309596.
FIGURE 74.
FRYE, JOSEPH (fl. 1762-1783), Fryeburg, Maine. _Manuscript Booklet_ of
"Tables Useful in Surveying Land, made and presented by Joseph Frye to
his son, Joseph Frye, Jr., November 18, A. D. 1783." Size 6-1/4 in. by
3-7/8 in., 16 pages, paper covers, marked "Fryeburg Joseph Frye AD
MDCCLXXXIII."
Loan from Laurits C. Eichner of Clifton, New Jersey, in 1957. USNM
315062. FIGURE 45.
(See Greenough, Thomas, for surveying compass used by Joseph Frye.)
[Illustration: Figure 74.--Theodolite used by Orange Warner Ellis about
1780 for surveying boundary between the United States and Canada in the
area which is now Vermont. USNM 309596.]
GREENOUGH, THOMAS (1710-1785), Boston, Mass. _Surveying Compass_, made
of hickory with engraved paper compass card. Over-all length 11 ft.;
dial 5-1/2 in. in diameter. Central medallion on card depicts man along
shoreline using a Davis quadrant with a schooner offshore, with touches
of red. Inscribed in gilt in band around central medallion: "Made and
Sold by THOMAS GREENOUGH, Boston, New Eng." Used by Joseph Frye in 1762
for surveying his land grant in what is now Fryeburg, Maine. Loan from
Laurits C. Eichner, Clifton, N.J., in 1957. USNM 315001. FIGURE 44.
(See also, Frye, Joseph, manuscript booklet of "Tables Useful for
Surveying Land ...")
HAGGER, WILLIAM GUYSE, (C. 1748?-1830?), Newport, R.I. _Backstaff_, or
_Davis Quadrant_, about 1760-1770, made of dark wood with scales and
sights of boxwood, 25 in. long, 14 in. wide at large arc and 5 in. wide
at small arc. Inscribed as follows: "W^m G. Hagger Newp^t R. Island/For
M^r----." The name of the original owner has been blocked out by the
insertion of a piece of ivory. This quadrant was acquired from Mrs.
Carola Paine of Bethel, Conn., in 1961. USNM 319029. FIGURE 59.
Davis quadrants signed by Hagger are in the Comstock Memorial Collection
of the Rhode Island Historical Society (dated 1776); in the Shepley
Library in Providence, R.I. (dated 1768); and in the Peabody Museum at
Salem, Mass. (dated 1775).
Also in the U.S. National Museum is an unsigned quadrant (USNM 178975)
that is almost identical in detail to the one signed by Hagger. It is
the gift of A. R. Crittenden, Middletown, Conn. Another almost identical
instrument, in the collection of the Franklin Institute, is signed "C.
Elliott, New London, 1764"; it differs from the other two only in that a
lens is combined in the middle sight.
HOLBECHER, JOHN, (fl. 1738). _Backstaff_, or _Davis Quadrant_, of dark
wood with boxwood scales and vanes. Length 25-1/2 in.; large arc 15 in.
Inscribed "Made by John Holbecher/ For Capt. Joseph Swan--1738."
Holbecher is not listed as an English or American instrument maker, but
it is believed that the instrument is American.
Acquired from Bern C. Ritchie & Co., Chicago, Ill., in 1960. USNM
318439.
JOHNSON, JOHN, Surveyor, 1818. (See Rittenhouse & Evans, surveying
compass.)
JONES, W. & S., 135 Holborn, London. (See Ellicott, Andrew, telescope.)
PIERCE, ABNER, (c. 1790). _Surveying Compass_ with Jacob's staff. Made
of brass; 12 in. long; 5 in. in diameter; with needle lift. Jacob's
staff 4 ft. high and with wood shaft about 1-1/2 in.; brass head.
Unsigned. Used about 1790 by Abner Pierce, who built Pierce's Mill in
Rock Creek, District of Columbia.
Gift of Mrs. Francis D. Shoemaker of Washington, D.C., in 1930. USNM
309826.
PRIESTLEY, JOSEPH (1733-1804), Northumberland, Pa.
_Chemical Apparatus_ that formed part of the laboratory of Joseph
Priestley at his home. It includes the following specimens: 3 chemical
retorts, 6 bell jars, 1 gas collecting flask, 6 flasks, 4 funnels, 23
miscellaneous metal and glass objects, and 1 eudiometer. A special
exhibition of some of this chemical apparatus was held in the U.S.
National Museum in 1958 (see fig. 69).
Gift of Miss Frances D. Priestley of Northumberland, Pa., in 1958. USNM
315341-315358. FIGURE 75.
_Globes_, one terrestrial (fig. 76) and one celestial (fig. 77), that
formed part of the equipment used by Dr. Joseph Priestley. The
terrestrial globe, of 26 in. diameter, has a Sheraton mahogany tripod
stand and is inscribed--
To the Rt. Honorable/Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B./President of the
Royal Society/containing all the latest Discoveries and
Communications from the most/correct surveys to the year 1798/by
Capt. Cook and more recent Navigators. Engraved upon an accurate
degree by Mr. Arrowsmith, Geographer/Respectfully Dedicated/by
his most obedient servant/W. & T. M. Bardin/Manufactured and Sold
Wholesale and Retail by W. & T. M. Bardin/16 Salisbury Square/Fleet
Street, London.
[Illustration: Figure 75.--Special exhibition of chemical laboratory
apparatus used by Dr. Joseph Priestley. USNM 315341-351358.]
[Illustration: Figure 76.--Terrestrial globe made by W. & T. M. Bardin
of London and used by Dr. Joseph Priestley. Diameter, 26 in. USNM
53253.]
The celestial globe, also with a Sheraton mahogany tripod stand, has a
diameter of 23 in. and is inscribed--
To the Rev./Nevil Maskelyne, D. D. F. R. S./Astronomer Royal/This
New British Celestial Globe/containing the positions of nearly
6,000 stars, clusters, nebulae, Planetary Nebulae/& correctly
computed & laid down for the year 1800 from the latest observations
and discoveries by Dr. Maskelyne, Dr. Herschel, the Rev. Mr.
Wollaston, etc., etc./Is respectfully dedicated by his most
obedient hmbl Servants W. & T. M. Bardin, Manufactured and sold
Wholesale & Retail by W. & T. M. Bardin/16 Salisbury Square/Fleet
Street, London.
Gifts of Mrs. Eliza R. Lyon of Williamsport, Pa., in 1893. USNM 53253,
53254. FIGURES 76, 77.
_Orrery_, mounted on three legs 31 in. high, round top 22-1/2 in. in
diameter. The planets shown are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter,
and Saturn. The base is not original. Maker not known; English, 18th
century.
Gift of Miss Frances Priestley of Northumberland, Pa., in 1958. USNM
315353. FIGURES 76, 77.
RITTENHOUSE, BENJAMIN (1740-c. 1820).
_Surveying Compass_, about 1796, of brass, 13-1/2 in. long over-all and
6-1/2 in. diameter. Supported on a tripod by means of a ball-and-socket
joint and screw-tightening device. The name "A. Ellicott" is inscribed
on one arm outside the bezel of the dial, and the name "B. Rittenhouse"
is inscribed on the other arm. The number "10" is marked on the reverse
of this instrument, which is listed in the _Journal of Andrew Ellicott_
as Item 9: "A Surveying Compass made by Mr. Benjamin Rittenhouse upon
the newest and most approved plans."
Gift of Henry B. Douglass of Newton, N.J., in 1934. USNM 310815. FIGURE
78.
RITTENHOUSE, DAVID (1732-1796), Philadelphia, Pa.
_Surveying Compass_, brass, over-all length 14 in., diameter 6-1/2 in.,
silvered dial marked with eight-pointed star indicating the cardinal and
intermediate points, glazed. Inscribed "Rittenhouse, Philadelphia."
Fitted with a ball-and-socket joint for mounting on a tripod, and
complete with wooden field case.
[Illustration: Figure 77.--Celestial globe made by W. & T. M. Bardin of
London and used by Dr. Joseph Priestley. Diameter, 23 in. USNM 53254.]
[Illustration: Figure 78.--Brass surveying compass made by Benjamin
Rittenhouse for Andrew Ellicott and inscribed with both names. The
instrument is described in _Journal of Andrew Ellicott_ (Philadelphia,
1803). USNM 310815.]
Stated to have been used by General Washington for laying out the
estate of Mount Vernon, according to family manuscripts. It was made by
David Rittenhouse and presented by him to General Washington, who
subsequently gave it to Capt. Samuel Duvall.
A manuscript consisting of 14 letters relating to the surveying compass
is filed in the U.S. National Museum (USNM 92542). The letters were
written in 1851 and 1852 by George Washington Parke Custis, Anthony
Kimmel, and other Washington descendants.
Gift of Anthony Kimmel to the U.S. Government, and transferred to the
U.S. National Museum in 1883. USNM 92538. FIGURE 79.
_Zenith Sector_ for measuring the angle between a star at its zenith and
the vertical. Made of brass, with focal length of 6 ft. and an aperture
of 2-1/2 in. The original lens was made in London about 1780. The
instrument was made in the old pattern with brass tube and mountings and
a wooden supporting post. The tube is suspended by trunnions at the top
and swings against a graduated arc extending north and south for
measuring zenith distances in the meridian. It is adjusted in the
vertical by a plumb line whose errors are eliminated by reversing the
whole mounting about the supporting post. Constructed principally by
David Rittenhouse, with some modifications by Andrew Ellicott.
[Illustration: Figure 79.--Surveying compass made by David Rittenhouse
for Gen. George Washington, inscribed "Rittenhouse, Philadelphia." This
instrument was used by Washington in making a complete survey of his
estate at Mount Vernon, 1796-1799. The survey was assisted by Capt.
Samuel Duval, surveyor of Frederick County, Maryland. Washington gave
the instrument to Captain Duval, from whom it descended to the Hon.
Anthony Kimmel, who donated it to the U.S. National Museum. USNM 92538.]
In the _Journal of Andrew Ellicott_ its author referred to this sector
as follows:
The boundary line to the North of Pennsylvania was fixed by Dr.
Rittenhouse and Captain Holland in the year 1774 and completed in
1786 and 1787. We commenced operations by running a guide line west
from the point mentioned on the Delaware 20-1/4 miles and there
corrected by the following Zenith distances taken at its West
termination by a most excellent sector constructed and executed by
Dr. Rittenhouse.
The zenith sector is again mentioned in the appendix of the _Journal_:
"One Zenith Sector of nearly six feet radius similar to the one made by
Mr. [George] Graham for Dr. Bradley and Mr. Molyneux, with which the
aberrations of the stars and mutation of the earth's axis were
discovered, and the quantities determined."
Gift of Andrew Ellicott Douglass, Tucson, Ariz., in 1931. USNM 152078.
FIGURE 11.
_Zenith Sector_, made of brass, original lens broken. Constructed by
David Rittenhouse with some additions made by Andrew Ellicott. In The
_Journal of Andrew Ellicott_ the instrument is described as a Zenith
Sector of 19 inches radius to be used when the utmost accuracy was not
necessary, and where the transportation of the large one could not be
effected without great expense and difficulty. These instruments were
principally executed by my late worthy and ingenious friend, Mr.
Rittenhouse, except some additions which I have made myself. The plumb
lines of both Sectors are suspended from a notch above the axis of the
instruments in the manner described by the Rev. Dr. Maskelyne, the
present Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, in the introduction to the first
volume of his Astronomical Observations. A particular description of
those instruments is rendered unnecessary by being accurately done in a
number of scientific works, particularly by M. de Maupertius in his
account of the measurement of a degree of the meridian under the Arctic
Circle--The Sector is of all instruments the best calculated for
measuring zenith distances which come within its arc. The large one
above mentioned [large Zenith Sector] extends to 5 degrees North, and
South of the Zenith. Stars when so near the Zenith are insensibly
affected by the different refractive powers of the Atmosphere arising
from its different degrees of density. Add to this that the error of the
visual axis is completely corrected by taking the Zenith distances of
the stars with the plane, or face of the instrument both East and West.
USNM 152079. FIGURE 80.
RITTENHOUSE & EVANS, Philadelphia, Pa., 18th century.
_Surveying Compass_, about 1780, made of brass, overall length 13-3/4
in., diameter of dial 5-1/4 in., silvered bubble level, vernier on
alidade. The glazed dial, engraved "Rittenhouse & Evans," is fitted with
a brass cover.
This instrument was made during a brief partnership between David
Rittenhouse and David Evans, a clock- and watchmaker of Philadelphia and
Baltimore. It was one of several owned and used by John Johnson in 1818
for surveying the boundaries between Canada and Maine.
The survey, made in compliance with the Treaty of Ghent, is described in
_The Collections of the Maine Historical Society_ (Portland: Hoyt, Fogg
& Donham, 1881, vol. 8, p. 20):
Thomas Barclay, of whom we have heard more than once before, as a
Commissioner under the treaty, on the part of Great Britain, and
Cornelius P. Van Ness, on the part of the United States, were
appointed Commissioners to ascertain and run the line. An actual
survey was arranged, and surveyors appointed, to wit: Charles
Turner, Jr., on the part of the United States, and Colin Campbell
on the part of Great Britain. About twenty miles of the line was
surveyed, then the work was discontinued, never to be resumed; but
an exploring survey was commenced by Colonel Bouchette, on the part
of Great Britain, and John Johnson, on the part of the United
States. These gentlemen made an exploring line in 1817, extending
ninety-nine miles from the monument at the head of the river St.
Croix, and made separate reports of their doings. In 1818 Mr.
Johnson, with Mr. Odell, who had taken the place of Col.
Bouchette, finished running the exploring line to the Beaver or
Metis River....
[Illustration: Figure 80.--Zenith sector, with a radius of 19 in.,
constructed by David Rittenhouse for Andrew Ellicott. USNM 152079.]
[Illustration: Figure 81.--Brass surveying compass marked "Rittenhouse &
Evans," about 1780. Over-all length, 13-3/4 in.; diameter of dial, 5-1/4
in. This instrument, made about 1780, was owned and used by John Johnson
in 1818 for surveying the boundaries between Canada and Maine. USNM
309543.]
Gift of John Johnson Allen of Burlington, Vt., in 1927. USNM 309543.
FIGURE 81.
THOMPSON, Captain SAMUEL ROWLAND (18th century); Lewes, Del. _Octant_
made of dark wood and with lignum vitae; brass fittings. This
harbormaster's instrument, used by Captain Thompson during the second
half of the 18th century, is without numerical designations on the arc.
The eighth part of a circle is connected to an apex by two side pieces
with a swinging arm hinged at the apex, with a blade at its end that
moves along a checkered scale on the arc.
Gift of George Andrews Thompson of Baltimore, Md., in 1926. USNM 308473.
VOIGHT, HENRY (1738-1814), Philadelphia, Pa.
_Equal Altitude Telescope_ of brass, 17 in. long, on wooden tripod about
46 in. high. Objective lens is missing. Signed "Henry Voigt." Made about
1790 and used for determining meridian lines and time observation of the
sun's noon transit. This form of instrument was originally invented
about 1716 by Roger Cotes, professor of astronomy at Cambridge, as a
simple instrument for the determination of time.
Deposited in the U.S. National Museum by the Smithsonian Institution in
1939. USNM 311772. FIGURE 31.
WASHINGTON, GENERAL GEORGE (1732-1799), Mount Vernon, Va.
_Compass Sundial_ described by the donor as having been presented to
Gen. George Washington by General Braddock on the retreat through Paris
Gap, Fairfax County, Va. Gift of Samuel Keese in 1902. USNM 9842.
_Field Glass_, brass tube in three sections, length closed 9 in., opened
22-1/2 in. Diameter of object lens 1-3/4 in., of ocular lens 1-1/8 in.
With original case of russet leather, which is 9-1/2 in. long and 2-1/2
in. in diameter. Maker not known. Stated to have been used by Washington
during the Revolutionary War at the campaign of Valley Forge.
According to related correspondence, when not in use the instrument was
carried by the General's body servant, Billy Lee. The General presented
the field glass to Major Lawrence Lewis, his favorite nephew, in 1799,
the last year of his life.
Purchased by the U.S. Government from the Lewis heirs in 1878 and
transferred to the U.S. National Museum in 1883. USNM 92424, 92425.
FIGURE 82.
_Spyglass or Telescope_, made of wood, 9-sided, wrapped throughout with
twine, 62 in. long. Brass mountings for object and ocular lenses made by
"Cole, Fleet Street, London." Diameter of object lens 2-3/4 in.,
diameter of ocular lens 1 in.
[Illustration: Figure 82.--Brass field glass in case of russet leather,
stated to have been used by General George Washington at Valley Forge.
USNM 92424, 92425.]
The maker, Benjamin Cole (1725-1813), was the third generation of
instrument makers of the same name. Other instruments by this maker are
in the National Maritime Museum and the Whipple Museum, Cambridge.
[Illustration: Figure 83.--Telescope, 62 in. long, made of wood wrapped
with twine. It was made by Benjamin Cole of London and was owned and
used by Gen. George Washington at Mount Vernon. USNM 92423.]
This telescope, used by General Washington at Mount Vernon, "was kept
behind the hall door and his favorite amusement was to look out over the
river with it." According to Mrs. Lewis, the General used it to observe
life on the river and especially to discover guests approaching Mount
Vernon, as many of their visitors arrived by boat. Benjamin Latrobe, the
architect, on a visit to Mount Vernon made an amusing sketch of his host
looking anxiously up the stream for some belated dinner guests.
Part of the collection purchased from the Lewis heirs in 1878 by the
U.S. Government and transferred to the U.S. National Museum in 1883.
USNM 92423. FIGURE 83.
_Survey of Land_, drawn and documented by George Washington on April 2,
1751 for Thomas Loftan of Frederick County, Va. Paper, 12 in. wide by
7-3/4 in. high.
This survey was made by Washington when he was 19 years of age, and it
is believed to be the only such document relating to his earliest period
as a surveyor. Washington was licensed as a surveyor by the President
and Masters of William and Mary College in 1749. On July 20th of the
same year he was appointed surveyor in Culpepper County, Va., by
Governor Dinwiddie.
Acquired in 1961. USNM 238367. FIGURE 84.
WHITE, PEREGRINE (1747-1834), Woodstock, Conn.
_Surveying Compass_, about 1790, made of brass, complete with original
case, tripod, and gunter's chain. The instrument measures 12-1/4 in.
overall. The dial, with a diameter of 5-5/8 in. and a pewter vernier
ring, is inscribed "PEREGRINE WHITE/Woodstock." Tripod is 57-1/2 in.
long and has walnut legs and a brass universal socket joint. Gift of Dr.
and Mrs. Arthur M. Greenwood.
USNM 388993. FIGURE 23.
[Illustration: Figure 84.--Survey of land drawn and documented by George
Washington for Thomas Loftan of Frederick County, Va., in 1751. Size: 12
in. wide, 7-3/4 in. high. USNM 238367.]
WHITNEY, THOMAS (fl. 1798-1821), Philadelphia, Pa.
_Pocket Compass_ of brass encased in brassbound mahogany box with
separate carrying case. Paper dial is inscribed "T. Whitney/ Phil^a."
Carried by Capt. William Clark on the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the
Pacific Coast in 1803-1806.
USNM 38366. FIGURE 85.
[Illustration: Figure 85.--Pocket compass made and signed by Thomas
Whitney of Philadelphia. With original carrying case. Carried by Capt.
William Clark on the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific Coast,
1803-1806. USNM 38366.]
Appendix
SURVIVING WOODEN SURVEYING COMPASSES
(Asterisk denotes information unavailable)
_Length
_Height of _Maker
_Collection_ _Type _Length _Width of bars needle and
of (in.)_ (in.)_ (in.)_ (in.)_ period_
wood_
Preston R. Maple 9 5 3-1/4 * Unsigned (18th
Bassett century)
Bucks County Cherry 11 5-1/2 6-5/8 2-3/8 Thomas Greenough
Historical of Boston
Society (1710-1785)
Bostonian Apple or 13-7/8 * * 4-3/4 John Dupee of
Society walnut Boston (after
1761)
Dartmouth Walnut 7-3/4 * * * Thomas S. Bowles
College Museum of Portsmouth,
N.H. (c.
1765-1821)
* 12 8 * * Unsigned (18th
century)
* 8-3/8 4-5/8 * * Unsigned (18th
century)
L. C. Eichner Hickory 11 5-1/2 3 4 Thomas Greenough
(U.S. National of Boston
Museum) (1710-1785)
Farmer's Museum Oak 12-3/4 6-1/2 5 * Unsigned (18th
century)
Franklin Gum 13-3/4 5-3/4 4 5 Thomas Greenough
Institute of Boston
(1710-1785)
Mariner's * * * * * Charles Thacher
Museum (18th century)
Old Sturbridge Maple 13 4 * * Unsigned (18th
century)
Maple 11-5/8 5-7/8 * * Thomas Greenough
of Boston
(1710-1785)
Walnut 18 8 * * Aaron Breed of
Boston (1791-1861)
New Hampshire Maple 11 5-3/4 2-1/2 4-5/8 Joseph Halsy of
Historical Boston (fl.
Society 1697-1762)
N. Parker Walnut 13-1/2 4-7/8 5 * John Dupee of
Boston (after
1761)
Peabody Museum * 11 * * 3 James Halsy II of
Boston (1695-1767)
Worth Shampeny * * * * * Jedidiah Baldwin
of Hanover, N.H.
(c. 1777-1829)
South Natick Apple or 13-16 * * 4-7/8 John Dupee of
Historical walnut Boston (after
Society 1761)
Streeter Coll., Birch 13 6 * 4 Thomas S. Bowles
Yale University of Portsmouth,
N.H. (c.1765-1821)
Cherry 11-5/6 6 4 * Jere Clough of
Boston (18th
century)
Cherry 12 6 3-1/2 * Benjamin Warren of
Plymouth, Mass.
(fl. 1740-1790)
Roleigh L. Cherry 7-1/2 3-3/4 3 * Unsigned
Stubbs
Silvio A. Walnut 12 5-3/8 5 4 Thomas S. Bowles
Bedini of Portsmouth,
N.H. (c.
1765-1821)
Pine 5-3/4 3-1/2 2-1/2 * Unsigned (18th
century)
Mahogany * * * * Unsigned (18th
century)
Basswood 12 5-3/4 2-3/4 4 Thomas Greenough
of Boston
(1710-1785)
Birch 18 7-1/2 7-1/2 6 Samuel Thaxter of
Boston (1769-1842)
Mahogany 13 7-1/4 4-1/4 6 Samuel Thaxter of
Boston (1769-1842)
Yellow 8-1/4 4 * 4-1/4 Benjamin K. Hagger
birch of Boston and
Baltimore (c.
1769-1834)
Cherry 14 5-1/2 6-3/8 4-3/4 Gurdon Huntington
of Windham, Conn.
and Walpole, N.H.
(1763-1804)
Yale Gallery Mahogany 11-1/2 5 * * Andrew Newell of
of Fine Art Boston (1749-c.
1798)
MATHEMATICAL PRACTITIONERS AND INSTRUMENT MAKERS
_Alphabetical List_
(Asterisk denotes information unavailable.)
_Name_ _Period_ _Place_ _Types of
instruments_
Bailey, John fl. 1778 Fishkill, N. Y. Surveying; surgical
Bailey, John, II 1752-1823 Hanover and Lynn, Surveying
Mass.
Baily, Joel 1732-1797 West Bradford,
(practitioner) Pa.
Baldwin, Jedidiah c. 1777-1829 Salem, Boston, Surveying
and Northampton,
Mass.; Hanover,
N. H.
Banneker, Benjamin c. 1734-1806 Baltimore
(practitioner)
Benson, John fl. 1793-1797 * Optical
Biddle, Owen 1737-1799 Philadelphia
(practitioner)
Biggs, Thomas fl. 1792-1795 New York and Surveying
Philadelphia
Blakslee, Ziba 1768-1834 Newtown, Conn. Surveying
Blundy, Charles fl. 1753 Charleston, S. C. Thermometric;
watches
Bowles, Thomas S. c. 1765-1821 Portsmouth, N. H. Surveying