Hoadley was born in
Bethany, Connecticut on January 31, 1786. He was a cousin of the architect and builder
David Hoadley. He received little formal education before becoming apprentice carpenter to his uncle Calvin Hoadley. In 1809 his apprenticeship ended, and he formed a clock-making partnership in
Plymouth, Connecticut with
Eli Terry and
Seth Thomas as Terry, Thomas & Hoadley. Hoadley is the earliest documented practitioner of the decorative-art technique known as
fumage in which impressions are made by the smoke of a candle or kerosene lamp. An example by Hoadley dating from circa 1810-1820 is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Hoadley was elected to the
Connecticut General Assembly several times, and in 1844 to the
Connecticut State Senate. He died at Plymouth, Connecticut. ==Family life==