David Williams of Newport and Providence, Rhode Island. Clockmaker, watchmaker, silversmith and jeweler.

David Williams was born in Rochester, Massachusetts, on March 29, 1769, to John Williams (b. 1731) and Mary (Peckham) Williams of Middletown, Rhode Island (b. 1733). Williams was a Quaker. The identity of his clockmaking mentor remains unknown. By 1800, he was likely working in Newport, where his shop was located at the corner of Duke and Queen Streets. In 1811, he relocated his business to the north side of Parade, ten doors above his previous location, in a shop most recently occupied by Zenas Fearing. In 1818, Williams moved again to 56 Broad Street. Throughout this period, he appears to have maintained a retail outlet in Providence. Williams was among the most prolific clockmakers in Rhode Island. Numerous tall clocks, Massachusetts shelf clocks, and banjo clocks produced by him have been documented. Notably, probate court records indicate that John Young crafted the banjo clock cases for Williams. David Williams died in Newport on June 29, 1823, at the age of 54.