Frederick Heisely was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1759. In 1778 he enlisted in Captain Joseph Howell's Company, 2nd Pa. Regiment, Colonel Stewart in command, and was in service during the Jersey campaign of 1778. It is assumed that when he was discharged from the Army, he became an apprentice to George Hoff of Lancaster, a clock and instrument maker. He married George Hoff's daughter, Catherine, in 1783 and moved to Frederick, Maryland. While there he made the town clock. His two sons were born in Frederick: George Jacob in 1789, and Frederick Augustus in 1792. In 1793 the Heisely family moved back to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Frederick became a partner with this father-in-law, George Hoff. They were in partnership for about eight years, making surveyor's instruments, land compasses and projectors. About 1811 the family moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Frederick became a prominent citizen of Harrisburg, being Treasurer of Dauphin County from 1827 to 1829. He was in business with his son George J. from 1811 until Frederick retired. The firm was known as Heisely & Son. Frederick died in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1843.

Heisely and Son: There is a hiatus in the history of the Heisely family from 1801 to 1811. However, it is assumed that George Jacob Heisely was an apprentice of his father, Frederick Heisely because the firm of Heisely & Son was established in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania about 1811."

Frederick Augustus Heisely, a son of Frederick Heisely instrument maker, was born July 3, 1792 in Frederick, Maryland. About 1811, the Heisely family moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. "It is assumed that Frederick A. served an apprenticeship with his father. He is first listed in the 1837 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Directory. He has an advertisement in that directory which illustrates a surveyor's compass stating that he also makes clocks and watches. The 1839 directory lists: Heisely, F. A., Watch and Instrument Mfg., 6 St. Clair, between Penn. and Liberty. From 1844 on, he is listed intermittently until 1872-3 when the listings cease. His name is among the first to be recorded of the members of the First Lutheran Church of Pittsburgh as he was elected an Elder of the congregation on the date of its organization January 15, 1837. Frederick Augustus Heisely died May 21, 1875. He is interred in the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh."

George Jacob Heisely, (1789-1880), Frederick's son, who was born at Frederick, Maryland, achieved note in his own right as a maker of clocks and instruments. He is listed as a mathematical instrument maker, NW corner Second and Walnut Streets, in the 1845 Harrisburg Directory. He was married to Anna Maria Kurtz (1792-1863) and had a daughter, Louisa Carolina Heisely (1817-1903). George worked with his father from 1811 until his father retired. It is noted "while the elder Heisely's compasses had an ornate rose...his sons adopted a much simpler design: a star or fleur-de-lis at north, and letters indicating the cardinal and ordinal points. However, a plain compass made by George exists with an ornate face very similar to his father's work. The compass is signed George J. Heisely, Harrisburg and is presumed to be made early in his career.

George Jacob Heisely had a very interesting military history. He served in both the War of 1812 and the Civil War in 1863. George is credited with suggesting singing a Francis Scott Key poem to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven." This song later became our National Anthem, he is credited with being the person who selected the melody of "To Anacreon in Heaven" for "The Star-Spangled Banner," while he was serving as a member of the Pennsylvania State Militia.
George also volunteered and served in the Pennsylvania State Militia for a short time during the Civil War. His troop consisted of seventeen veterans of the War of 1812 and ranged in ages form 68 to 76 complete with an old tattered flag. They volunteered directly to the Governor on the condition they could be outfitted with the old flint-lock muskets they used in their youth. The Governor gladly accepted their service.

National Museum of American History - Vernier Compass