An early 19th century brass inlaid mahogany table clock

Pitt and Goater London

Footnotes

Caleb Pitt was born in Frome around 1748, to Caleb and Betty Pitt; a Nonconformist family, with an apparently long history in Frome. Caleb had at least four siblings; Johnathan, who was born in 1752, Elizabeth, William, who is tentatively suggested as being born around 1768, and Elizabeth. He appears to have been trained as a watchmaker and/or an ironmonger, though it is unknown who his master was. It seems that, at the presumed end of his apprenticeship, on 28 December 1769, he married Mary Golledge in Frome. Around 1776 the couple's only known child, Edward Golledge Pitt was born. The census of 1785 lists Caleb practising as a watchmaker in Frome at the West side of Whittox Lane. It is noted that four men and two women were also living at the same address, though what relation they had to Caleb, if any, is unknown.
By 1791, however, Caleb Pitt was trading at 292 Oxford Street, in London, as a 'watchmaker toyman and ironmonger'. Interestingly, a person with the surname 'Hill' is also noted at that address; one of Caleb's sisters, Elizabeth, changed her surname to 'Hill' presumably after marriage. It is possible then, that Caleb had familial company in London. Two years later, a watchmaker named William Pitt was made a member of the Frome branch of the Masons. It is tentatively suggested that this was Caleb's younger brother. It appears that William was the only member of his family to join the masons.
In 1794, it seems Caleb's son Edward Golledge Pitt, who had remained in Frome as a watchmaker, after presumably serving his apprentice to either his father or uncle, married Ann Golledge. That same year, Caleb was listed at the same 292 Oxford Street, address though now he was described as only a watchmaker. A year later, Caleb's grandson, and Edward and Ann's only known child, William Golledge Pitt was born.
Two years later, Caleb had moved to 12 Dorset Street in Manchester Square and was advertising as a watchmaker and engraver. In 1805, it appears that his father, Caleb Snr., died in Frome, at the age of 78. By 1808, Caleb had moved again, this time to 43 Duke street, also in Manchester Square, and was again advertising only as watchmaker. Less then a year later, he had entered into a partnership with John Goater. The partnership was still operating out of Caleb Pitt's premises, though their trade had increased to encompass watchmaking, silversmithing and jewellery making.
Little was found out about John Goater; apart from his partnership with Pitt, he does not appear to have advertised in trade journals. A John Goater was apprenticed to the famed mathematical instrument maker Jonathan Sisson. He was freed from Sisson and began working in his own right around 1756. Based on the timeline, the son of this John Goater may have been apprenticed to his father and then formed a partnership with Caleb Pitt. There are several baptism records from London in this time period, that record a John Goater baptising his son, John. None of these could be confirmed as THE John Goater, however. Interestingly, there is a John Goater, who is noted as a mathematical instrument maker, baptising his son, John, with his wife, Philadelphia, in 1818. It's possible that this is the son of Sisson's apprentice, though that doesn't mean this John Goater was in partnership with Caleb Pitt.
Another John Goater, was a watch, clock, and chronometer maker working in Winchester, around 1828. Again, it could not be confirmed if this was John Goater from the partnership, who may have moved [back] to Winchester after the partnership ended.
The partnership of Pitt and Goater ended in 1818, whether due to a difference in approach or Goater's death is not known. The last entry for the partnership, from 1817, advertised simply as 'clock and watchmakers'. Pitt remained at 43 Duke Street, and advertised as a 'watchmaker and silversmith'. Two years later, Caleb was advertising only as a watchmaker. By 1830, the 43 Duke Street shop had been taken over by Caleb's grandson, William Golledge Pitt, who was advertising as a watchmaker.
As no reference could be found to the now 82-year-old Caleb, it appears he may have retired at this point, presumably to Paddington. Mary predeceased her husband, Caleb dying in 1836 at Craven Place in Paddington. In his will, he requests to be buried next to his late wife. He leaves some money (£2) to each of his siblings; Elizabeth Toup (who is living in Wrington, Somerset and appears to be quite poorly when the will was written), William Pitt (who was still a practicing watchmaker living in Whetstone, Middlesex), and Elizabeth Hll (who was now a widow and also living in Whetstone, Middlesex). Caleb appoints his son, Edward Golledge (who it appears was still a watchmaker, living in Somersetshire), the sole executor of his will. He also bequeathed Edward his £4 and £5 Government Long Annuities and instructed that Edward and his heirs were to receive the residue of his estate for 'professional use'.
1836 also saw William expand his role at the 43 Duke Street shop to 'clock and watchmaker', though this was pared back to 'watchmaker' the following year. In 1838, William moved to 25 Thayer Street, still in Manchester Square. The following year there is mention of his wife, Sarah, who is possibly a watchmaker in her own right. Whether this is the year of their marriage or not is also uncertain. The census of 1841 records Edward and Ann still living in Frome, though Edward is now referred to a silversmith. The last record of William is in 1843, still at 25 Thayer St., where he advertised simply as a watchmaker. It is unknown what happened to William and Sarah Pitt after this point. A Charles Pitt was recorded as working out of 3 Duke Street in Manchester Square as a watchmaker, beginning in 1852, but it is not known what, if any, connection there was between Charles and Caleb's family.
Edward Golledge Pitt appears to have been one of the last to be interred at the 'old burial ground at Catherine Hill' in Frome before it closed. A stone reading 'E. G. Pitt' and dated to 1850 was the last remaining headstone in the cemetery by 1920.


Will of Caleb Pitt (1836). The National Archives: Public Record Office. Catalogue reference: PROB 11/1856/432
Critchett & Woods (1817) The Post Office London Directory for 1817. 18th Edition. London: T. Maiden.
Lewis, J. O. (1920) History of the Royal Clarence Lodge Frome 1790 – 1838. Frome: Royal Somerset Lodge
Wakefield, R. (1794) Wakefield's Merchant and Tradesman's General Directory for London. London: T. Davison.
Johnstone's London (1818) Johnstone's London Commercial Guide and Street Directory. London: Narnard and Farley.
Critchett & Woods (1820) The Post Office London Directory for 1820. 21st Edition. London: T. Maiden.
Sun Fire Office (1791-1839) Records of Sun Fire Office, London: London Metropolitan Archives: City of London
Free UK Genealogy CIO (2023) Pitt and Goater between 1740-1890. Available at: https://www.freereg.org.uk/freereg_contents/new?locale=en
Williams, J. (1864) Williams's Manufacturers Directory for London and the Principal Towns in England. London: J. Williams.
Kelly (1843) Post Office London Street Directory, London: Kelly's Directories Ltd.
The National Archives. "HO 107/942, Folio 23, Page 4, Schedule : General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns database." From Free UK Genealogy, FreeCEN. Transcription. https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a1568f0f4040b9d6e7fdbb5
John Goater. Has served an apprenticeship with Jonathan Sisson, mathematical instrument maker (1756). The National Archives: Public Record Office. Catalogue reference: ADM 106/1118/439
Thomas Heath, Strand. Recommends John Goater as compass maker (1756). The National Archives: Public Record Office. Catalogue reference: ADM 106/1118/441
'Caleb Pitt'(1785) A Particular Account of the number of Families & Inhabitants within the Town and Parish of Frome Selwood In the County of Somerset Taken by Messrs. Battle & Cruse. Available at: http://www.gomezsmart.myzen.co.uk/census/b&c1785.htm
Penney, D. (2022) 'The Padbury Collection of Watchpapers', Horological Journal, Vol. 164 (10), p.417.
University of Leicester (2022) Historical Directories of England & Wales: London 1808-1915. Available at: https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/search/searchterm/London/field/place/mode/exact/conn/and/order/nosort