Rakestraw, Joseph

Rakestraw, Joseph

Joseph Rakestraw was a master builder listed as an early member of The Carpenters' Company in 1786, but no Company records prior to the 1760s survive to confirm that claim. He married Elizabeth Fox, the sister of Joseph Fox and granddaughter of Joseph Yard, by which he had a son Joseph Rakestraw who also became a member of The Company, as did his nephew by the same name. Together with John Nicholas, Rakestraw measured a new stone bridge erected over Pennypack Creek in 1741.


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

16*

Rakestraw

Joseph

1/11700

8/1/1750

9/14/1723

Elizabeth Fox

1707 - 1779

Joseph, John, Elizabeth, Hannah

Jos. (b1680 - d1700)

Ms. Nancy Cobie

Mr. Brad Feldmaier

Measured (with John Nicholas) 1741 bridge over Pennypack Creek.

*Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects page 641. Was a master builder listed as an early member of The Carpenters' Company in 1786, but no Company records prior to the 1760s survive to provide a date for his election. He married Elizabeth Fox, the sister of Joseph Fox (q.v.) and granddaughter of Joseph Yard (q.v.), by whom he had a son, Joseph (q.v.), who also became a member of The Company, as did his nephew by the same name. Together with John Nicholas (q.v.), Rakestraw measured the new stone bridge erected over Pennypack Creek (1741). See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. Volume at Carpenters' Hall and The Athenaeum of Philadelphia. See "Growing With America, The Fox Family of Philadelphia,"by Joseph M. Fox, published 2006. Copy in Fox file. page 36 -Joseph Rakestraw married Joseph Fox's sister. Father Joseph born in 1680, Oxfordshire, England. Died 1700 in Philadelphia. Info from 1st cousin eight times removed.

*Article from "The American Genealogist" on Rakestraw family.

*This is Joseph Rakestraw Sr. and the father of Joseph Rakestraw, Jr., who died in 1791.

*See Hannah Roach material in file of William Rakestraw.

*Birth date determined by research of Spencer Roach.

*Hannah Roach paper (New Prison & Work-house) Mentions his role in its construction.

*Hannah Roach, page 8aa Reference to measuring the masonry of a new bridge over Cobb's Creek. (Probably where Woodland Ave. crosses creek, which was the old north-south road. Washington said to have stayed overnight at inn (still standing) on his trip to inauguration. - CGK, not Roach)

*(Hannah Roach) notes Joseph Rakestraw, house carpenter: will dated 23 July 1750; proved 25 August 1750, Joseph Fox as a witness. Phila Will book EYE, 295, #185:1750.

*PA Gazette 9/24/1767 - #3896 Advertises for return of a horse "broke out of pasture in this city 20th September/" Followed by detailed description of horse. "Return to Joseph Rakestraw, in Arch St., reward of 2 shillings." PA Gazette 8/3/1769 - #7866 Sale of 2 lots of ground next to land of Joseph Rakestraw, between 7th & 8th Sts., south side of Arch. PA Gazette 5/11/1785 - #1977 Joseph Rakestraw and Gunning Bedford elected among others as Managers of Contributors to the Corporation for Relief and Employment of the Poor in Philadelphia - i.e. as overseers of the almshouse. PA Gazette 5/101786 - #3215 Gunning Bedford, Joseph Rakestraw and Silas Engles among others elected to Committee, above. PA Gazette 3/14/1788 - #4118 Gunning Bedford, Joseph Rakestraw and Silas Engles among others submitting report on operation, funding and need for support of almshouse.

*Member file — E-mail dated May 2007 with information on the Rakestraw family. email 10/3/11 Symara Rakestraw SBRakestraw86@yahoo.com phone: 4232849895 705 Rakestraw Rd. McDonald, TN 37353 descendent of Joseph & joseph, Jr. Rakestraw. 6/25/2012: Diana Krause thekrauses@yahoo.com 949-283-3281 10 Palmento WayIrvine CA 9261 Joseph Rakestraw is my ancestor b. 1700 in Philadelphia, d. 1750 in Philadelphia He and 2 of sons were carpenters and members of the Company. response: Thanks for adding this new information to our member database for the Rakestraw Family. If you come to the east coast do stop in to this our historic building that was not here when Joseph was a member but was here for his sons. BBK

Grantor File Data from the City of Philadelphia Archives:
(Date; Book; No.; Page; Grantee)
1718/1739; F; 6; 207; Duffield, Benjamin
1739/1751; G; 1; 202; Wright, Edward
1739/1751; G; 3; 50; Tidmarsh, William
1766/1781; I; 14; 6; Pemberton, Joseph
1766/1781; I; 14; 8; Emlen, George
1777/1800; D; 77; 48; Smock, Robert
1777/1800; D; 77; 50; Brown, Thomas
1799/1809; EF; 10; 532; Bettle, Samuel
1799/1809; EF; 29; 463; Colladay, Hannah
1809/1815; IC; 8; 623; Hart, Joseph
1809/1815; IC; 15; 733; Carter, Sharon
1809/1815; IC; 32; 702; Middleton, Jr., Jacob
1815/1819; MR; 11; 130; Whittleseed, Mary Ann
1815/1819; MR; 11; 561; Physick, Abigail

a

Also listings for Jane. NOTE: Because dates of both Joseph Rakestraws overlap, there is no simple means of separating listings in the Grantor book. Inspecting the actual deeds may help.