Thomas Dodswell

The Dadswell Clockmakers

Clock making in the Dadswell family started with Thomas Dadswell, born 1688 died 1752, who was probably an apprentice of his brother-in-law Thomas Muddle, clockmaker at Rotherfield. After completing his apprenticeship, probably in 1709, when he was 21, he set up his own clock making business at Burwash where he was recorded as taking his nephew, Thomas Dadswell, son of his brother Edward, as an apprentice in 1735, and it’s thought that he also took his nephew John Dadswell, son of his brother Alexander, as an apprentice in about 1740. This nephew, John Dadswell, born 1727 died 1789, took over his uncle’s clock making business at Burwash after his uncle’s death in 1752 and continued as a clockmaker there until his own death in 1789. Thomas Dadswell, born 1719 died 1769, who had been an apprentice to his uncle Thomas Dadswell, clockmaker at Burwash, then became a clockmaker at Rotherfield from about 1742 and then at East Grinstead from about 1757. Thomas would have been passing on his clock making skills to his two eldest sons, Thomas and Edward, when he died in 1769. His eldest son, Thomas Dadswell born 1749 died 1794, probably then took over the clock making business at East Grinstead and may have continued the training of his younger brother Edward. This Thomas continued to work as a clockmaker at East Grinstead until his death in 1794. The other son, Edward Dadswell, born 1754 died 1802, may have completed his apprenticeship working for his elder brother at East Grinstead but it seems more likely he completed his apprenticeship working for his father’s cousin John Dadswell at Burwash, and then in about 1783 he set up his own clock making business at Eastbourne until his death in 1802 brought to an end the Dadswell family’s association with clock making. http://www.muddlefamilies.info/familystories/rotherfieldclockmakers...