Christian Hurtin was a very skilled clock, watch, and compass maker based in Goshen NY. Based on a handful of surviving compasses, Hurtin apparently dated and put serial numbers on the surveyor compasses that he made. Roughly speaking, during his prime, Hurtin made about two surveying compasses a year.

From Smart's Book on the Makers of Surveying Instruments Since 1700:

"Christian Hurtin could have been born at either New York City or Newark, New Jersey, about 1743. When he went to live in Goshen, New York is not known though he married Margaret Gale before 1775 as their son, John Gale, was born about that time.

Dr. George Barton Cutten in his book , "Silversmiths and Watchmakers of New York (outside of New York City)" privately printed in 1939, states that Christian Hurtin advertised in 1792 and 1793.

The History of Orange County (by E .M. Ruttenber and L.H . Clark, Philadelphia, 1881) state that St. .James Episcopal Church in Goshen was organized March 27, 1801. Christian Hurtin was elected a vestryman at that time.

The Presbyterian Church of Goshen records , page 93, "Christian Hurtin died December 2, 1830, age 87 (Episcop)."

The Independent Republican, published in Goshen , Orange County (N.Y.) Monday December 6, 1830, Vol. XVI No. 923 had the following in its obituary column:

OBITUARIES

On Tuesday evening, Mr. Christian Hurtin, of this village, aged about 86 years. The deceased was one of our most respectable citizens, extensively known as such. In his good old age , he has gone down to his grave "like as a stock of corn, fully ripe, cometh in its season."

There are privately owned in Virginia two surveyor's compasses, #8 made in 1788 and #39 made in 1811, made by Christian Hurtin - Goshen."