David Wood of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

David Wood was born to John Wood (1727–1805) and Eunice (Fellows) Wood (1737–1801) in Newburyport, Massachusetts, on July 5, 1766, during a period of burgeoning craftsmanship in early America. He likely apprenticed under either Daniel Balch Senior or a member of the Mulliken family—both recognized as influential clockmakers in colonial New England. These apprenticeships were critical pathways for transmitting specialized skills and sustaining the region’s reputation for horological excellence.

By June 13, 1792, David Wood had established his own shop in Market Square, as reported in the Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet. His business was strategically located near Reverend Andrews' Meeting House, a hub of community activity, reflecting the importance of visible, central locations for artisans of the period. Three years later, he married Elizabeth Bird (1769–1846) of Newbury, further cementing his ties to the local community.

Wood’s career coincided with a transformative era in American clockmaking, marked by innovation and expanding markets. In addition to crafting clocks, Wood was an active retailer. His 1806 advertisement for "Willard's best Patent Timepieces"—well-known products of the pioneering Willard family—illustrates his connection to broader networks of American clockmakers and his responsiveness to consumer demand.

In 1818, partnering with local silversmith Abel Moulton, Wood moved his enterprise into the former shop of Thomas H. Balch, another figure in Newburyport’s artisan community. By 1824, he relocated to the west side of Market Square, opposite the Market House, demonstrating both business adaptability and the fluid nature of commercial life in early 19th-century New England towns. After Elizabeth’s death in 1846, Wood moved to Lexington to be near his son David.

David Wood’s legacy as a master clockmaker and retailer is evident in the many surviving examples of his work—wall, shelf, and tall-case clocks signed by his hand. His long career reflects not only personal success but also the broader evolution of American craftsmanship and commerce during the early republic.