Benjamin Mead of Wiscasset and Castine, Maine.

It is currently thought that Benjamin Mead moved from Rhode Island as a trained clockmaker and set up shop with clockmaker and silversmith Daniel Dole in Wiscasset, Maine, in 1804. Mead placed an ad in The Eastern Repository and claimed he had eight-day timepieces for sale... In 1805, Mead moved to the coastal village of Castine and had a shop on a new street leading to the Ropewalk. In July of that year, he advertised for an apprentice in clockmaking and watchmaking. On April 17, 1806, he married Nabby Hall of Wiscasset. Several real estate transactions in the area are recorded involving Mead over the next few years. These land transactions list him as a clockmaker and as a shop owner. In 1810, he was listed as the secretary of the Castine Mechanics Association. In 1814, Benjamin moved back to Rhode Island. He is listed in Cumberland working as a jeweler and goldsmith. He also lived in Smithfield.

A small number of clocks are known to us. One tall clock is signed with the place location of Wiscasset, and the other Castine. Several spoons have been identified with his die-stamp, “B MEAD.”