Streets in Harrisburg. He is credited with being the person who 

 selected the melody of "To Anacreon in Heaven" for "The Star- 

 Spangled Banner," while he was serving as a member of the Penn- 

 sylvania State Militia.^" 



Pennsylvania 



A number of instrument makers worked in Philadelphia, which 

 was one of the important shipping centers during the 18th century 

 and consequently one of the important markets for nautical 

 instruments. 



Probably the earliest Philadelphia instrument maker of record 

 was Thomas Godfrey (1704-1749) who was born in Bristol Town- 

 ship. After serving an apprenticeship, Godfrey developed his 

 own business as a glazier and plumber. He is stated to have done 

 the major part of the glazing of the State House in 1732, as well 

 as similar work on Christ Church. He also worked for Andrew 

 Hamilton and for James Logan. 



Godfrey had a natural inclination and interest in science and 

 mathematics, which may have been further encouraged by his 

 friendship with Benjamin Franklin, who resided in the same 

 house. Godfrey was also a fellow member of Franklin's Junto. 



In 1730 Godfrey invented an improved backstaff or Davis 

 quadrant, and loaned the instrument to Joshua Fisher to be used 

 in the latter's survey of Delaware Bay. It is claimed that the 

 location of Cape Henlopen was established on Fisher's map (pub- 

 lished in London in 1756) by means of Godfrey's instrument. 

 James Logan became interested in the improved backstaff in- 

 vented by Godfrey and at Logan's request, the instrument was 

 taken on a voyage to the West Indies by a Captain Wright for the 

 purpose of testing it.^^ 



At the same time Logan sent a description of the instrument 

 to London to the Royal Astronomer, Edmund Halley. No acknowl- 

 edgment was made, and in 1734 Logan sent a second description 

 to Sir Hans Sloane and to Peter Collison for forwarding to the 

 Royal Society. The arrival of this description coincided with 

 the submission of the description of a similar instrument to the 

 Society by its vice president, James Hadley. The Royal Society 

 decided in favor of both inventors, and Godfrey was awarded the 

 equivalent of 200 pounds in household furniture. 



^°" Frederick A. Heisely, Watch and Clockmaker and His Recorded Years, 

 1759-1839," Timepieces Quarterly (November 1948), vol. 1, no. 1, p. 33. 

 ®' HiNDLE, op. cit. (footnote 6), pp. 22, 68. 



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