Lewis, Jacob

Lewis, Jacob

Jacob Lewis was a master builder who came to Philadelphia from Chester County in 1741 and by 1763 (the date of earliest extant records) was a member of The Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia. The traces of his growing prominence in the building trades community are faint. In 1745 he took one Abraham Wood as an apprentice; in 1748 he became a member of the "Colony in Schuylkill"; and in 1750, together with Edmond Woolley, Samuel Rhoads, and Benjamin Franklin, he was appointed by the Pennsylvania Assembly "to view the River Schuylkill, and consider where a Bridge over that River may be most conventiently built." By 1753 Lewis had been appointed a city assessor and in 1758 he became--together with Samuel Rhoads and Joseph Fox--a Regulator of Streets and Water Courses in Philadelphia, a coveted civic position usually held by the leading master builder/architects of The Carpenters' Company. From 1756 to 1762 Lewis was a director of the Philadelphia Contributionship and from 1764 to 1769 he was a director of the Library Company. An active supporter of the Pennsylvania Hospital, Lewis made several donations toward construction costs and served as a manager from 1759 until his death. At his death his estate, exclusive of several houses, a country "plantation" and twelve ground rents, was 3162 pounds.

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

32*

Lewis

Jacob

1/11714

3/31/1774

Hannah

*Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects page 479. Was a master builder who came to Philadelphia from Chester County in 1741 and by 1763 (the date of the earliest records) was already a member of The Carpenters' Company. The traces of his growing prominence in the building trades are faint. In 1745 he took one Abraham Wood as an apprentice; in 1748 he became a member of the "Colony in Schuylkill"; and in 1750, together with Edmond Woolley (q.v.), Samuel Rhoads (q.v.) and Benjamin Franklin, he was appointed by the Pennsylvania Assembly "to view the River Schuylkill, and consider where a Bridge over that River may be most conveniently built." By 1753 Lewis had been appointed a City assessor and in 1758 he became -- together with Samuel Rhoads and Joseph Fox (q.v.) -- a Regulator of Streets and Water Courses in Philadelphia, a coveted civic position usually held by the leading master builder/architects of the Carpenters' Company. From 1756 to 1762 Lewis was a director of the Philadelphia Contributionship and from 1764 to 1769 he was a director of the Library Company. An active supporter of the Pennsylvania Hospital, Lewis made several donations toward construction costs and served as a manager from 1759 until his death. His estate, exclusive of several houses, a country "Plantation" and 12 ground rents, amounted to 3,162 pounds. See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. Extensive material including article and Scharf & Westcott reference.

*A "signer" of paper currency issued May 1, 1760, by Pennsylvania.

*(Hannah Roach) Tax list, 1756, South Ward, Jacob Lewis, carpenter, 45 pounds.

*Birth date determined by research of Spencer Roach.

*Hannah Roach papers Jacob Lewis, listed as a carpenter in South Ward in 1756, with a ratable estate of 45 pounds. Was received on certificate for himself and wife Hannah from Darby Meeting at Phila. meeting 26 1m 1742. (PGSP, VIII, 272) Was buried 31 March 1774 in 61st year in Friends Ground. (Penna. Gazette: 6 April 1774).

*PA Gazette 1/17/1749 - #10354 Runaway apprentice lad from Jacob Lewis, of this city, a carpenter. "If taken in town, 20 shillings reward; if at any distance, three pounds and reasonable charges."
PA Gazette 10/17/1751 - #1090 Selling lot of land on Penn St. below the drawbridge with brick foundation for a building. Apply to Samuel Rhoads or Jacob Lewis.
PA Gazette 10/4/1753 - #3592 Elected an assessor for Philadelphia (along with others). Samuel Rhoads elected a Warden.
PA Gazette 4/15/1756 - #6870 At meeting of Philadelphia Contributionship, elected Directors: Hugh Roberts, Joseph Fox, Samuel Rhoads, and Jacob Lewis.
PA Gazette 5/8/1760 - #12168 Chosen managers of Pennsylvania Hospital: Jacob Lewis, Samuel Rhoads. Treasurer: Hugh Roberts.
PA Gazette 9/25/1760 - #12862 Jacob Lewis selling or renting two lots of ground; in Moyamensing on the east side of Front St., and on 2nd near Spruce.
PA Gazette 1/22/1761 - #13436 Samuel Rhoads and Jacob Lewis selling 20 acres of pasture on the west side of the road leading from Passyunk to the city; to be broken into one- and two-acre lots.
PA Gazette 3/31/1763 - #17998 Committee including Jacob Lewis and Hugh Roberts are signing orders to regulate construction and placement of "privies and vaults" within built-up areas of the city.
PA Gazette 6/2/1763 - #18389 Mayor Hugh Roberts, Commissioners Samuel Rhoads and Jacob Lewis among group requiring paving of sidewalks and how water is to be controlled from house gutters and wooden overhangs of houses.
PA Gazette 4/11/1765 - #23004 Jacob Lewis, as a commissioner for "paving and cleansing streets," announces a "Scavenger" will collect household trash once a week without charge for households and at a fee for businesses. (This is beginning of public trash collection in the city.) PA Gazette 5/21/1767 - #3117 Jacob Lewis, Joseph Fox, Samuel Rhoads among a group elected managers of the House of Employment of the Poor of Philadelphia and suburbs.
PA Gazette 5/12/1768 - #5231 Elected a manager of Pennsylvania Hospital
PA Gazette 10/7/1772 - #14673 Elected a commissioner for Philadelphia county. PA Gazette 4/6/1774 - #17914 Thursday, March 31, departed this life at age 61, devoted to service of his country. Remains interred at Friends Burying Ground.

*Grantor File Data from the City of Philadelphia Archives:
(Date; Book; No.; Page; Grantee)
1751/1766; H; 8; 98; Evans, Jonathan
1751/1766; H; 8; 316; Neave, Samuel
1751/1766; H; 9; 1; Abercrombie, James
1751/1766; H; 9; 295; Powell, Samuel
1751/1766; H; 9; 550; Brown, William
1751/1766; H; 10; 279; Fest, John
1751/1766; H; 10; 418; Sanderson, Christopher
1751/1766; H; 10; 332; Rhoads, Samuel
1751/1766; H; 12; 278; Jones, Edward
1751/1766; H; 12; 341; Spofford, William
1751/1766; H; 13; 188; Div. of Greenwich Island
1751/1766; H; 14; 126; Huston, James
1751/1766; H; 14; 300; Baker, Joseph
1751/1766; H; 14; 348; Cooper, Rebecca
1751/1766; H; 15; 40; Lisle, Henry
1751/1766; H; 16; 82; Reeve, Peter
1751/1766; H; 18; 175; Pritchett, Rowland

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Also, many other transactions not listed below.