Powell, Samuel

Metadata

Title

Powell, Samuel

Description

Samuel Powell came to Philadelphia as a child in 1685 and was probably apprenticed to his uncle John Parsons, carpenter from Somersetshire. Powell's marriage in 1700/1 to the prosperous orphan Abigail Wilcox was witnessed by William Penn, Edward Shippen, Samuel Carpenter, and David Lloyd (among others) and he inherited substantially from the Parsons--hardly a rags to riches story. Powell became a Regulator of Party Walls and Partition Fences in 1712 and, "being a Man remarkable for his Care in promoting Regularity in the Buildings" (quoted by Bridenbaugh in Rebels and Gentlemen), was soon elected to the Common Council (1717 and 1729). A founder or early member of The Carpenters' Company, he was known--according to a long-time resident of the city--as the "rich carpenter." (This observation appears to originate in Watson's Annals, v.1, p. 9.) Indeed, Powell made speculative building a big business, moved into foreign trade, and accumulated a vast estate for the time consisting of over ninety properties (according to Joseph Jackson) in and around Philadelphia. The only building that can be firmly attributed to him is the Philadelphia Court House of 1710, although he was responsible for the Dock Street bridge of 1718, a bridge over Cobb's Creek c.1732, and another bridge over Dock Street in 1735-37. Powell's son of the same name followed the trade of carpentry and was also elected to the Common Council and later became an Alderman; he pre-deceased his father, however, and the accumulated wealth of Samuel Powell the elder passed to Samuel Powel, III. Of him one historian of Philadelphia has written, "the benefits of inherited wealth, superior education and ample leisure, the experiences of extended travel and the effects of changing tastes produced a rounded, urban and cultivated person." Unfortunately, Samuel Powel, III, gentleman (1738-1793), has been confused with another Samuel Powel (see above, d.1815).

Biography by Roger Moss, from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings, a project of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia.

Member Number

Last Name

Powell

First Name

Samuel

Birth Date

1/11673

Where Born

Somersetshire, England

Deceased Date

6/27/1756

Married

12/19/1700

Spouse Name

Abigail Wilcox

Children

Sarah, Samuel, Deborah

Office Held

Warden, 1771

Project

Philadelphia Court House (1710)

Bridges over Dock Street (1718 & 1735)

Bridge over Cobbs Creek (main North-South road, now Woodland Ave.

Reference

*NOT the same Samuel Powell who was Mayor of Philadelphia.

*Subscribed to 4 shares for erection of Hall.

*Tatman & Moss,Biographical Dictionary of Phila. Architect page 620 spells Powell with two Ls. Came to Philadelphia as a child in 1685 and was probably apprenticed to his uncle John Parsons, carpenter from Somersetshire. Powell's marriage in 1700/01 to he prosperous orphan Abigail Wilcox was witnessed by William Penn, Edward Shippen, Samuel Carpenter, and David Loyd (among others) and he inherited substantially from the Parsons -- hardly a rags to riches story. Powell became a Regulator of Party Walls and Partition Fences in 1712, and "being a Man remarkable for his Care in promoting Regularity in the Buildings," was soon elected to the Common Council (1717 and 1729). A founder or early member of The Carpenters' Company, he was known -- according to a long-time resident of the city -- as the "rich carpenter." Indeed, Powell made speculative building a big business, moved into foreign trade, and accumulated a vast estate for the time, consisting of over ninety properties in and around Philadelphia. The only building that can be firmly attributed to him is the Philadelphia courthouse of 1710, although he was responsible for the Dock Street bridge of 1718, a bridge over Cobb's Creek c. 1732, and another bridge over Dock Street in 1735-37. Powell's son of the same name followed the trade of carpentry and was also elected to the Common Council and later became an Alderman; he predeceased his father, however, and the accumulated wealth of Samuel Powell, the elder, passed to Samuel Powel, III. Of him, one historian of Philadelphia has written, "the benefits of inherited wealth, superior education and ample leisure, the experiences of extended travel and the effects of changing tastes produced a rounded, urban and cultivated person." Unfortunately, Samuel Powel, III, has been confused with another Samuel Powel (see above, d. 1815). See Selected Bibliography in "Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects"; Tatman & Moss. Volume at Carpenters' Hall and The Athenaeum of Philadelphia.

*An Original Associator, one of a group of 10 men who formed the Company in 1724.

*Birth date determined by research of Spencer Roach.

*Via Ancestry.com: Phila. wills book Powell had an apprentice Isaac Jenkins, a beneficiary of his will. He was executor for Mary Powell, probably his mother. Samuel Powell's will is Book page: K:422, written November 21, 1752 with a codicil in June 21, 1756. Trustee for money he willed to the poor of the Monthly Meeting of Friends was Samuel Rhoads.

*Trans. APS Vol. 43, Part I (1953), page 99 Listed among original subscribers (1770) to construction of Hall.

*Hinshaw Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 408 The first Samuel Powell died 27th 6 mo 1756.

*PA Gazette 7/1/1756 - #7136 "Last Friday evening departed this life after a short illness Mr. Samuel Powell, one of the first settlers in this Province, who by his great industry . . . has been the greatest contributor to its Growth . . . his death, though in extreme old age, is much lamented."

*Mss. Dept. HSP. Transcript PMHB, Vol. XIII (1899) p. 248 Samuel Powell of Philadelphia, carpenter, and Abigail Wilcox, daughter of Barnabas and Sarah Wilcox, deceased, married at Philadelphia 19th 12 mo 1700 (1700/1).

*Hannah Roach paper, page 7aa Tells about the first Court House (Second and High Streets) and the role of Powell in its construction.

*Hand-written biographical information on the family, the mansion, the differences in spelling and the relationship of the Powells to the Carpenters' Company.

*(Hannah Roach) notes Samuel Powell, carpenter: died 27 6m 1756 (Hinshaw, II, 408) Phila. Will book K, 422, #274, 1756.

*In his folder — copy of page from Norris family papers - 1709-1740.

*In his folder— copy of his will with extensive bequests with description of real estate.

File Number

Grantor Records Notes

All listings for Samuel Powell are under member who died in 1815, even though some probably should be attributed to this man. Overlapping dates make it impossible to distinguish between them.

Collection

Members

Citation

“Powell, Samuel,” Carpenters' Company Digital Archive & Museum, accessed April 16, 2024, https://archive.carpentershall.org/items/show/25792.