There are two really good articles published about Lewis Michael. The first article is by Bedini. The second article is by Jeff Lock.



NOTE #1
Lewis Michael was born in 1762 in Germany. In 1786 after completing apprenticeship with Benjamin Rittenhouse he is listed as a journeyman in Worchester Township Montgomery County PA . From 1787 to about 1798 he had shop in Yorktown York County PA and was making surveyors compasses under his own name. Three compasses are known marked York or Yorktown. About 1800 he moved to Baltimore where he and his brother were in business together as dry goods merchants. By 1815 he was back in Pennsylvania at McConnellsburg working as a clockmaker. No compasses are known with this address. In about 1827 he moved to Somerset Boro where he is listed as a silver smith or watchmaker. Four compasses are known marked Somerset. He remained in Somerset Boro until 1850 when he moved to Shade Twp to live with his daughter. He died there in 1852.


Note he is listed in an ad 1832 Chillicothe Ohio There is no evidence that he actually worked in Ohio Probably he simply delivered a lot of instruments to E. Pratt and returned to Somerset



NOTE #2

1762 Born in Wallhalben Germany
1786 Journeyman in Worchester Township Montgomery County PA presumably after
completing apprenticeship with Benjamin Rittenhouse
1787 Set up shop in Yorktown York County PA
1791 Deeds to property in York County PA
1800-1810 Lewis Michael & Co Lewis & Brother Wendell Dry Goods merchants
1800 & 1810 Census Baltimore MD
1815-1829 clockmaker McConnellsburg Ayr township then part of Bedford County
1820 Census Air Township Bedford County
1827-30 Somerset Tax records Silver Smith or Watchmaker.
1830 Census Somerset Borough Somerset County PA
1832 Ad Chillicothe Ohio There is no evidence that he actually worked in Ohio
Probably he simply delivered a lot of instruments to E. Pratt and returned to Somerset
1840 Census Somerset Borough Somerset County PA
1847 Will Somerset County PA
1850 Census watchmaker Living with widowed daughters in Shade Twp, Somerset
County PA. Shade Twp. Is located about 17 miles NE of Somerset.
1852 Died at age 90 years and 16 days

Compasses markings, their location and accessories
Vernier Compass “Lewis Michael Yorktown” on face
Vernier Compass “Lewis Michael York” on face
Plain Compass “Lewis Michael York” on arm
Vernier Compass “Lewis Michael Fecit” on arm
Plain Compass “Lewis Michael” on arm
Plain Compass “Lewis Michael” on arm
Plain Compass “Lewis Michael” on arm
Plain Compass “Made by Lewis Michael Somerset” on face
Level in face and out keeper on arm

Vernier Compass “Made by Lewis Michael * Somerset * Pa” on face
2 internal levels. 5.5” needle. Out keeper on arm.

Vernier Compass “Lewis Michael Somerset Fecit” on face
Level in face and out keeper on arm
This compass appears to has been extensively modified
And may have originally been a plain compass ???

Plain Compass “made by Lewis Michael * Somerset * on face


Possibly the compasses marked Lewis Michael on the arm, without address were made to be sold by others such as Pratt in Chillicothe


References

Forman page 32
“Michael Lewis, Clockmaker” Worchester Township tax records for the year 1786. This is almost certainly a mistake on the part of whoever was keeping the tax records in 1786 and should referee to Lewis Michael.

Harris American Advertiser #1362
The Carlisle Gazette March 4, 1787
To Land Surveyors and Others. That the subscriber has set up his trade in Yorktown, four doors from the East end of High street, where he makes and repairs all kinds of compasses with or without a nonius to lay off the variation on an old line; he will (if required) put on an outbox so that the surveyor can keep his own outs in the field, and in such a manner that if he chooses to keep it secret none can tell its use. He makes parallel rules, scales, protractors, surveyors chains, clocks, etc., etc. he will warrant all his work to stand the most critical examination that possibly any practical surveyor or mathematician can put them to, and perform to the greatest nicety, and minute accuracy. Lewis Michael Instrument maker
I have proven by several trials the compasses above mentioned and find each of them stand proof to the greatest exactness, both with respect to the correctness of the workmanship and being free from mineral attraction John Forsyth, Dep; Sur.


Bedini 441-445
The Pennsylvania Chronicle or York Weekly Advertiser April 2, 1788

TO LAND SURVEYORS And Others. THAT the subscriber
has set up his trade in Yorktown, the south-side of High-
Street, two doors above the Court-house, where he makes and
repairs all kinds of compasses with or without a nonius to
lay off the variation on an old line to five minutes of a degree,
He will (if required) put on an outbox so that the surveyor
can keep his own outs in the field, and in such a manner that
if he chooses to keep it secret none can tell its use. He makes
parallel rules, scales, protractors, surveyors chains, clocks,
etc., etc. he will warrant all his work to stand the most
critical examination that possibly any practical surveyor or
mathematician can put them to, and perform to the greatest
nicety, and minute accuracy. He has some compasses ready
made all which he will warrant, and dispose of on the most
reasonable terms.
LEWIS MICHAEL
Instrument maker

I have proven by several trials the compasses above
mentioned and find each of them stand proof to the greatest
exactness, both with respect to the correctness of the
workmanship and being free from mineral attraction
JOHN FORSYTH, Dep; Sur.
March 12, 1788

LEWIS MICHAEL has lately arrived from Pennsylvania
With a few first rate surveyor’s Compasses of Rittenhouse’s
improved Models. Amongst them is one common
Circumferenter, & a few that lay off variations to five
minutes of a degree wit out boxes to keep the outs in the
field. They are of the first rate workmanship and will he
warranted to prove correct. The said Lewis Michael having
obtained the knowledge of the late Benjamin Rittenhouse of
Philadelphia, and has practiced the business for forty years.
The above compasses are offered for sale at the shop of E. P.
Pratt, Watch and Clockmaker, where they can be had at
Modest prices.
Lewis Michael
Chillicothe, Nov 7, 1832




Wisker James B Pennsylvania Clockmakers and Watchmakers, 1600-1900 page 175

Michael, John L clockmaker. 1818-31, Somerset boro. John continued to serve as a watchmaker until 1833, at which time his shop, tools and shop were destroyed in the great Somerset fire. After the fire, John never replaced his watch and clockmaker’s tools [ tax; family; Somersey Whig, January 1818]

Michael, Lewis clockmaker and silversmith. There were two men, probably father and son , and perhaps as many as three, men by this name. 1781-91, York; 1793-96 Hanover, York County; 1800, Baltimore, Maryland; 1815-29, McConnellsburg, Fulton County[tax]. York County records of 1791 showed Elizabeth, widow of Lewis Michael [Deed book 2-F, p. 491]. The census of 1820 showed Michael was over age 46. A Michael Lewis was a clockmaker, 1830-32 in Somerset boro; and in census of 1850 in Shade Township, Somerset County. Lewis Michael of Somerset County died in 1851 at the age of 90 years and 10 mounths [Somerset County Estates ]