Daniel Balch (died November 30, 1790) was an American clock maker. He is perhaps best known for his exquisite workmanship, his high quantity of extant samples, and a particular piece that was sold at

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for over $55,000. Daniel's ancestor, John Balch, first came to America in 1623. Not much is known about Daniel Balch's life, but it is likely he was born in

Newburyport, Massachusetts Newburyport is a coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, northeast of Boston. The population was 18,289 at the 2020 census. A historic seaport with vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island. The mo ...

in the first half of the 18th century. He signed his work "Dan Balch", and may have spent time in nearby

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. He later died in Newburyport (1790), and is

interred Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objec ...

in Old Hill Burying Ground. His extant work tends to be from the 1760s. In 1789, shortly before his death, he bequeathed his Balch coat of arms to his eldest son, also named Daniel. Some of his work can be seen at the

Cushing House Museum and Garden The Cushing House Museum and Garden (circa 1808), also known as the Caleb Cushing House, is a Federal style mansion with a fine garden located at 98 High Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States. It was a home of diplomat Caleb Cushing ...

in Newburyport.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balch, Daniel Year of birth missing 1790 deaths American clockmakers Burials at Old Hill Burying Ground People from Newburyport, Massachusetts People from colonial Massachusetts