1878 Letter to Edward Edes Shead in Eastport, Maine, from Watchmaker Francis Kemlo of Boston, Massachusetts

Letter dated March 10, 1878, from watchmaker Francis Kemlo (about 1817-1892) in Boston, Massachusetts, to Edward Edes Shead (1835-1908), a merchant at Eastport, Maine.  Transcription at the end of this post.

Shead published Eastport and Passamaquoddy, a history of Eastport, Maine, with author William Henry Kilby (1820-1898).

Francis Kemlo was writing, apparently at Shead's request, with his personal recollections of the Willard family, master clockmakers and inventors of Massachusetts.  It would be interesting to know the reason for Shead's interest.  

• Did he own a Willard clock?
• Was he interested in the history of Willard Clocks and perhaps planning to write an article?
• Was he related to the Willard family?
• Was he planning to sell Willard timepieces in his drug store?

Visit the website of the Willard House and Clock Museum at North Grafton, Massachusetts - closed at this time because of the pandemic.

Transcription - please weigh in with clarifications and missing elements

Sunday

Boston March 10th 1878

Mr. E. E. Shead

Dear Sir:

The Willards was born in Grafton this State 40 miles W.S.W. from Boston. Their father's business I do not know. Simon & Aaron was brothers. I don't know if there was any other Children, think there was. Never heard Simon or A say where they learned the trade; think they was mostly self taught learning from such few books as they could get in their days. Simon was the oldest by a few years and the leader and genius of the family. The timepiece called the Willard patent was his invention. He also made light [harness ?] machinery for ____ lights and many other things that required clock works. Aaron also made such things, I think.

They was both good sterling workmen. I only knew Aaron by sight, having while an apprentice to Simon Jr. been into his Shop and workshops for hire. Aaron's shop was on the line that divided Boston & Roxbury on a large lot of land which he owned. He lived in the large house ___ [over ?] his Shop other buildings & Shops Connected with it run up a land ways from Washington St. It was near where Genl. Washington stayed when he visited this City. I know two of his Sons, Aaron Jr. & Henry.  A Jr. followed the same trade. He made clock cases for his Father and others. A. Jr. is dead. H. "Still lives. A lived to be quite aged, died before Simon. He lived to be over 90 . He died ____ like most inventors & ___. A. left some property. Their Clocks was all good & was the most known. S. W. Jr. My Master was the best known of any one in his line.

in this City Ships Chronometers. Clock & watch repairing was his trade. he learned his trade of an old firm in New York. I commenced with him in two years after he opened his Shop No. 9., Congress St. this City. He is now dead. He left a son, one daughter & Wife. The Son is the only one except myself that learned the trade of him. They Sold out 4 years ago. The Son is now engaged in Colorado gold mines. The Willard Clocks Stand No. 1 all over this Country.

The only one of A's family that I know of is Henry who keeps bachelors hall a few miles from this City. His only Companion L. W. Jr. Wife's brother. He is completely ___ [off ?].

I hope this will please you.

I am respectfully yours

F. Kemlo  

P. S. Their Clocks were all made in their own Shops. Some years later there was a firm of ___  by the name of May that imported Clock pinions in the rough, but I believe in their early days everything was made from the rough cast and made here. 

F. K.

My Father was from Aberdeen Scotland. My mother was born in the town of Waltham this State.  I spent 6 years in the West Indies. The rest of my life passed here, ____ [excuse ?] me for saying too much.

"Adieu"

If you have information to share on Edward Edes Shead or Francis Kemlo, please leave a comment.