Surveyor's Compass

White, Peregrine

Peregrine White (1747–1834), a namesake and direct descendant of the first European child born in Cape Cod Harbor in 1620, was a clockmaker in Woodstock, Connecticut. This surveyor's compass probably dates from around 1800. Like the Lamb compass in the collection, the vertical sights fold down when not in use. Like the Harland compass, this one has no direction letters and so can be read either clockwise or counterclockwise. There is a level vial on each arm. The face is inscribed "PEREGRINE WHITE Woodstock."