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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Liverpool, New York City, England, United States · Dates not established

John Wright

Partially verified

Maker of catalogued bracket clock, oval pocket watch

Life & work

John Wright was born in Cronton, England, before emigrating to colonial New York City around 1711.

While in New York, he operated as a watchmaker and potentially finished movements imported from his relative Richard Wright in England. Colonial-watch researchers credit him with the oldest known American-signed watch, which has a distinctive convex champlevé dial. Historical records of his professional activity in New York include property filings and a bill of sale issued in 1744.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • Wright provided evidence that the transatlantic trade of watch movements between Liverpool and America was established early in the 18th century.

Documented works

  • The oldest known American watch, produced circa 1715–1720, survives with its original signed dial.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under John Wright. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Front view of the English bracket clock showing the dial, hands, and ebony case.
  • The watch case, dial, and winding key as recorded by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Sources & references

  1. ColonialWatches.com - John Wright, colonialwatches.com, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. (PDF) John Wright and the Discovery of America's Oldest Watch, academia.edu, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. ColonialWatches.com - Articles, colonialwatches.com, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.