William Claggett (1696-1749), clockmaker, engraver, and printer, was born in 1696 in Wales and immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1708. On October 21, 1714, he married Mary Armstrong (b. 1696) and by the end of 1716, they had moved to 16 Bridge Street in Newport, Rhode Island. While in Newport, Claggett became known for his clocks and clock making, but he was also appointed by the Rhode Island General Assembly to engrave and print paper currency to prevent counterfeiting in 1738. William Claggett died on October 18, 1749, and was buried at the Common Burial Ground in Newport.
Access is open to members and researchers at the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
This collection is owned by the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Special Collections Librarian of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
William Claggett invoice, RLC.Ms.508, Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
This collection consists of an invoice addressed to the Colony of Rhode Island on April 30, 1748, for currency printed by William Claggett. The verso of this document has the authorization to pay Claggett for these services, signed by John Gardner (1679-1764), general treasurer, and his successor, Thomas Richardson (1680-1761).
This collection is arranged in chronological order.
Gift of Richard L. Champlin, 1997.
This collection was originally processed by Aimee Saunders in 2010.