Benjamin King Hagger 



Benjamin King Hagger (c. 1769-1834) was the scion of two well- 

 known families of instrument makers in New England, so it is not 

 surprising that he worked in the same craft. 



It is believed that Hagger was born in Newport, Rhode Island, 

 about 1769, the son of William Guyse Hagger and of a sister of 

 Benjamin King. Although his father made instruments — at first 

 in partnership with Benjamin King, and then working alone — in 

 Newport at least as late as 1776, the family appears to have moved 

 after the Revolution. William Guyse Hagger's name did not 

 appear in the 1790 census of Newport, and it is presumed that he 

 moved with his family to Boston. 



Benjamin King Hagger was listed in the first city directory of 

 Boston in 1789 as "a mathematical instrument maker" with an 

 address on Ann Street; he was only 20 years of age at this time. 



On November 10, 1793, Benjamin King Hagger, "mathematical 

 instrument maker," purchased land with buildings on Prince Street 

 near Snow Hill Street from one Peter Greene. Two years later, 

 on December 1, 1795, Hagger, now listed simply as a "merchant," 

 purchased a brick house, a wooden house, and a shed with land 

 from William Ballard, a tailor of Framingham and an heir of 

 Samuel Ballard. The property was located on the east side of 

 North Street, south of Mill Creek. At the time of purchase, 

 Hagger mortgaged the property to Ballard, and also mortgaged to 

 him the house and land previously purchased from Greene. 



Hagger was listed as a ship chandler in the following year when 

 on March 24, 1796, he deeded part of his land on Prince Street 

 to William and George Hillman, minors. 



On June 22, 1796, three months later, Hagger, now listed as 

 "mathematical instrument maker, and ship-chandler" deeded to a 

 mariner named Thomas Wallis a house and land that formed part 

 of his original purchase near Copp's Hill from Peter Greene. Then 

 on July 21, 1796, he purchased from William Ballard all his right 

 to the brick house and land on North Street (Ann Street), at the 

 same time mortgaging the property to William Ballard, Jr., of 

 Framingham. This mortgage was cancelled on April 11, 1798.^^^ 



These negotiations took place before marriage. A report of the 

 Record Commissioners of Boston, states that "William King 

 Hagger of Boston and Mehi table Ballard of Framingham were 



"^ Land records on Benjamin King Hagger listed in Thwing Catalogue, Massa- 

 chusetts Historical Society. 



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