The Makers 



Surprisingly, the names of the craftsmen who produced wooden 

 instruments are not noted among the instrument makers. With 

 only one or two exceptions, their names are hitherto unknown in 

 the history of American science, and for that reason it has been 

 considered advisable to present all available information that could 

 be accumulated about them. 



Joseph Haisy 



The earliest known maker of wooden scientific instruments of 

 Boston was Joseph Halsy. He appears to have been one of the 

 sons of the James Halsie I, who was mentioned in a land deed of 

 1674 as a mathematician.^*^ The land records indicate that James I 

 was the father of several children, including Rebecca, a spinster; 

 John Halsey, a mariner who died before 1716; Sarah, who later 

 became Mrs. Dorsan; another daughter, name unknown, who 

 became the wife of a Joseph Gilbert and the mother of two daugh- 

 ters and a son who inherited her share of her father's estate; 

 Nathaniel Halsie; and probably Joseph Halsy. James Halsie I 

 appears to have owned property consisting of land, a wooden house, 

 and wharves on the North End, on North Street between Sun 

 Court and Fleet Street.*^ 



The date of birth of Joseph Halsy of Boston has not been found, 

 but mention is made of the fact that on January 29, 1697, he was 

 married to Elizabeth Eldridge, the daughter of a mariner named 

 Joseph Eldridge, and that five children resulted from the marriage, 

 three sons and two daughters.^^ One son, Joseph, died in infancy 

 and a daughter, Elizabeth, died at an early age. 



On February 26, 1704/5 Halsy purchased from Rebecca Halsey, 

 the spinster daughter of James, her share in the house and land 

 of her late father on North Street between Sun Court and Fleet 

 Street. 



On April 19, 1714, Halsy and his wife deeded a house and land 

 on North End, at the corner of Hanover and Salutation Streets, 

 to a shipwright named Joseph Hood. Two years later, on March 2, 

 1716, he purchased from Jane, his sister-in-law, who was the widow 



^^ Savage, op. cit. (footnote 2), vol. 2, p. 341. 



^^" James Halsy," in Thwing Catalogue, Massachusetts Historical Society. 



^^ Savage, op. cit. (footnote 2), vol. 2, p. 341. 



80 



