Indentures were signed in 1771 for William, son of John Mean, Carman of Surrey to be the apprentice of Thomas Layton (Grimwade p.321), Citizen, Farrier and watch case maker of Dean Street, Fetter Lane.
He married Sarah Davies of St Mary Magdalene parish, Bermondsey at St James, Clerkenwell in 1784.
He entered a maker’s mark at Goldsmiths Hall as a case maker from 8 St John’s Street in 1783, notified moves to 7 Albermarle Street in 1784, to 19 St John’s Lane in 1799 and to 2 Jerusalem Passage in 1818. He had paid Land Tax on property in Albermarle Street from 1784 where a neighbour was Wilkes Booth (Grimwade p.445) and in Jerusalem Passage as early as 1806.
The burial in 1793 of his wife Sarah aged 46 years was recorded at St John the Baptist, Clerkenwell; her last address was Albermarle Street.
He paid duties as a Citizen and Clockmaker in 1790 for the apprentice indentures of James Barwick and in 1801 for William Henry Voice.
He appeared on the St James, Clerkenwell Poll List of 1838 in connection with the freehold of property at 11 Jerusalem Passage but was noted living in Camberwell
His burial aged about 83 years, late of St Giles, Camberwell, was recorded at St James, Clerkenwell in 1838.