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Samuel Ranlet of Monmouth, Maine.

 

Samuel Ranlet was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, on March 28, 1780. In 1800, he moved to Augusta, Maine, where it is thought he served his clock apprenticeship under Benjamin Snow. From 1805 to 1809, he worked in Augusta. In 1809, he moved to Monmouth, where he settled on a farm and set up his clock business, which he ran until 1860. Soon after settling in Monmouth, he was commissioned as a Captain. Samuel married Mary Norris (1793-1836), Daughter of James Norris, a man of many Military distinctions, on June 27, 1811. On September 24, 1814, he was ordered into service in Major Chandler's Battalion of Artillery and served around the region of Wiscasset at Fort Edgecomb.

Samuel made tall clocks as well as banjo clocks, both styles skillfully made. His brother-in-law, Jacob Miller, is thought to have made the wood cases for him. Samuel died in 1860 at the age of 87.

Clocks From This Maker

Samuel Ranlet of Monmouth, Maine. A red washed birch case tall clock. VV-128.
This fine red-washed birch case tall clock features a painted dial that is signed by the Monmouth, Maine clockmaker Samuel Ranlet. This example is well-proportioned. The case stands on a base that features cutout bracket feet. The return or spur is… read more