posted 03-25-2003 06:16 PM            

Josephus Brockway was born in Surry NH, 25 Feb 1795. He removed to Middlebury VT and was working there by 1815 when he was a partner in (Orrin) STOWELL & BROCKWAY. He advertised on his own after 1818 from his shop on the Bridge. He was working in Troy NY by 1824 and in 1836, a patent was issued there to Josephus Brockw'y for a machine to manufacture silver spoons.

posted 07-04-2003 12:29 PM              

A newspaper advert:

“J. Brockway, Dentist, from Troy, would inform the ladies and gentlemen of Lansingburgh, that he will be at Mr. Van Buskirk’s Hotel, on Friday and Saturday, of this week, and will be happy to serve those whose teeth are defective or missing. He will at all times be pleased to wait on ladies and gentlemen from Lansingburgh, at his house, corner of Congress and Second streets, Troy. But for their better accommodation proposes to visit this village occasionally; any address left at Mr. Van Buskirk’s will be duly attended to.
Lansingburgh, 31st July.” [Lansingburgh Gazette, 30 October 1827.]

First appears in the Troy directory of 1829 [the first year] as a dentist at 72 Second Street. [1829: 23] The 1832 directory lists him as a jeweler and dentist at 212 River Street, with his house at 65 Fourth Street. [1832: 11] Thereafter he is listed as a dentist with office and house at 8 Second Street. His address is listed as the corner of Albany [Broadway] and Second Street in the 1839 directory [1839: 24]- this is probably the same address. He is not listed in the 1840 or 1841 Directory.

The 1842 Directory lists Josephus Brockway, Jr. as a dentist, and Brockway & Son, dentists, at 8 Second Street. [1842: 18] The directory of 1843 lists a William W. Brockway as a dentist at 8 Second Street, and Brockway & Paine, dentists at 8 Second Street. [1843: 17] Josephus Jr. and William W. were two of Brockway’s sons.

An obit in a History of the City of Albany gives a slightly different picture.

“…Josephus Brockway will be remembered by many of our citizens. He opened an office on the corner of Maiden lane and North Pearl street as early as 1835, and continued in practice for many years. He died in 1879. He had four sons, Josephus, William, Charles and George, all of whom became dentists and followed their profession in Albany. Of his sons, George is the only survivor. Under the elder Brockway’s instruction, many of the earlier Albany dentists studied the art of dentistry. Among his students were Andrew Hoffman and the Nelson brothers, three well-known members of the dental fraternity in this city.” [Howell & Tenny 1886: 708]

From this it appears that Brockway placed most of his silver work in people's mouths!