Black History

Crafting Freedom and Time: The Life and Legacy of Clockmaker Peter Hill

Peter Hill, a skilled clockmaker, was born on July 19, 1767, in Burlington Township, New Jersey. Peter’s journey unfolded against the backdrop of both challenge and triumph.

Published

2 years ago

September 28, 2023

Oakland Post

One of clockmaker Peter Hill’s works is on display at the National Museum of History and Technology at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. File photo.

By Tamara Shiloh

Peter Hill, a skilled clockmaker, was born on July 19, 1767, in Burlington Township, New Jersey. Peter’s journey unfolded against the backdrop of both challenge and triumph.

Hill’s lineage is thought to trace back to enslaved parents, owned by Joseph Hollinshead Jr., a clockmaker. A twist of fate had Peter growing up within the Hollinshead household, where he absorbed the intricate art and craft of clockmaking. As he matured, the hands of destiny guided him towards assisting Hollinshead in his clock store, honing his skills with each passing tick.

In 1794, at the age of 27, Hollinshead emancipated Hill from the chains of enslavement, and the subsequent year witnessed the official affirmation of his freedom through a court document. A momentous turning point, this marked the beginning of Hill’s journey as a free man.

A love story of significance unfolded when Peter Hill and Tina Lewis exchanged vows on Sept. 9, 1795. Tina, celebrated for her adept writing and her efforts in offering education to African Americans within the community through the Society of Friends (Quakers), brought her own radiant light to their shared path.

After marrying, he embarked on a new endeavor in 1795, crafting clocks and watches within his Burlington, New Jersey home. As his craftsmanship flourished, so did his success, prompting him to expand his horizons. Alongside timepieces, Peter’s legacy extended to the ownership of cattle, horses, and expansive plots of land.

By 1814, Peter relocated his clockmaking business to Mount Holly. There, he thrived within the Quaker farming community where his creations would succeed. It was amidst the hum of paper mills and iron works that Peter’s clocks found their place.

The passage of time bore witness to the endurance of Peter’s craft. Not one, but two of his timepieces survived the era. The first, created for neighbor Rowland Jones in 1812, found a new home at Westtown School in Westtown, Pennsylvania.

The second, a stately tall case clock, graced the halls of the National Museum of History and Technology at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., a testimony to Hill’s enduring legacy.

On a notable date, Feb. 20, 1820, Peter Hill’s story took another turn as he acquired a brick dwelling house and land in Mount Holly. That same year, he passed away, leaving behind a legacy woven into every tick of time. Even after his passing, his influence, his craftsmanship, and the spirit of his journey continue to echo through the pages of history.

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Oakland Post: Week of June 4 – 10, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 4-10, 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 7, 2025

Oakland Post

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Remembering George Floyd

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison acknowledges that the Floyd case five years ago involved a situation in which due process was denied, and five years later, the president is currently dismissing “due process. “The Minnesota Atty General also says, “Trump is trying to attack constitutional rule, attacking congressional authority and judicial decision-making.” George Floyd was an African American man killed by police who knocked on his neck and on his back, preventing him from breathing.

Published

1 week ago

June 2, 2025

Oakland Post

Mural showing the portrait of George Floyd in Mauerpark in Berlin. To the left of the portrait the lettering "I can't Breathe" was added, on the right side the three hashtags #GeorgeFloyd, #Icantbreathe and #Sayhisname. The mural was completed by Eme Street Art (facebook name) / Eme Free Thinker (signature) on 29 May 2020. (Wikimedia Commons)

By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA Newswire

“The president’s been very clear he has no intentions of pardoning Derek Chauvin, and it’s not a request that we’re looking at,” confirms a senior staffer at the Trump White House. That White House response results from public hope, including from a close Trump ally, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The timing of Greene’s hopes coincides with the Justice Department’s recent decision to end oversight of local police accused of abuse. It also falls on the fifth anniversary of the police-involved death of George Floyd on May 25th. The death sparked national and worldwide outrage and became a transitional moment politically and culturally, although the outcry for laws on police accountability failed.

The death forced then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to focus on deadly police force and accountability. His efforts while president to pass the George Floyd Justice in policing act failed. The death of George Floyd also put a spotlight on the Black community, forcing then-candidate Biden to choose a Black woman running mate. Kamala Harris ultimately became vice president of the United States alongside Joe Biden. Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison prosecuted the cases against the officers involved in the death of Floyd. He remembers,” Trump was in office when George Floyd was killed, and I would blame Trump for creating a negative environment for police-community relations. Remember, it was him who said when the looting starts, the shooting starts, it was him who got rid of all the consent decrees that were in place by the Obama administration.”

In 2025, Police-involved civilian deaths are up by “about 100 to about 11 hundred,” according to Ellison. Ellison acknowledges that the Floyd case five years ago involved a situation in which due process was denied, and five years later, the president is currently dismissing “due process. “The Minnesota Atty General also says, “Trump is trying to attack constitutional rule, attacking congressional authority and judicial decision-making.” George Floyd was an African-American man killed by police who knocked on his neck and on his back, preventing him from breathing. During those minutes on the ground, Floyd cried out for his late mother several times. Police subdued Floyd for an alleged counterfeit $20 bill.