George Welsh

Henry Welsh Papers at the Hanover Public Library showed a
receipt for silversmith tools purchased in August 1799.
George Welsh was a son of Henry Welsh, Esq., one of the
leading residents of the town.

The set of tools was purchased from Jacob Spangler for
the substantial sum of 850 pounds.  The tools had
originally belonged to Rudolph Spangler of York Town who
had worked as a silversmith and clockmaker from before
the Revolution until he retired about 1792.  His son
Jacob worked with him and clocks signed by both father
and son have been reported.  When Rudolph retired, he
turned over the stand and his silversmith tools to his
son.  By 1793, Jacob is charged as a clockmaker and
appears to have taken George Welsh as an apprentice.
George appears on 1799 York Borough tax list as an
unmarried silversmith.  Also in 1799, Jacob had found
surveying more to his liking and is so charged.  By 1818
Jacob had been appointed Surveyor General of Pennsylvania.

George Welsh (1776-1854) is on the Hanover tax rolls dated
1799 and 1800 as an unmarried carpenter.  Also in the
Henry Welsh Papers is an invoice dated March 1, 1800, from
George Welsh to Canrod Hoke, a saddlemaker of Hanover,
for three gold rings and for mending a gold ring.  George
moved to Gettysburg, Cumberland Township, in 1800 and was
charged on the tax rolls as a silversmith through 1812,
except in 1808 when he was called a watchmaker.  Invoices
in the Welsh Papers to George include in 1801 two 30 hour
dials and sets of casting, pinions and forgings.  In 1802
he purchased dials, etc.  for both a 30 hour and 8 day
clock, so he was also building tall case clocks.

In 1804 he supplemented his income by holding a tavern
license.  He became postmaster in 1810 and resigned in 1819
to hold a commission as Justice of the Peace.  In 1824 he
was appointed clerk of courts and prothonotary of Adams
County, positions he held until 1833 when he moved to
Washington D.C.  He died at home of his son in Waynesboro,
Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on January 1, 1854.  There
is no indication in the silver literature that he worked as
a silversmith.

Tim Sweet
TIMEKEEPR2@AOL.COM
M.O.S.T (MY OWN SWEET TIME) WATCH COMPANY.
14002 Tuckey Lane
El Paso, Tx, 79927
(915) 852-2409  (See my add in the MART)

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