Thornhill, Joseph

Metadata

Title

Thornhill, Joseph

Description

Joseph Thornhill was the son of John and Elizabeth Thornhill, elder brother of master builder John Thornhill and uncle of master builder Joseph Thornhill, Jr.. As early as 1756 he was a resident of Philadelphia's Mulberry Ward and continued to live in that district throughout the Revolution. Prior to 1760 he married Martha Hubbs of Philadelphia, and prior to 1763 he had become a member of The Carpenters' Company. In the latter year he was appointed to the important Company committee that set the prices for carpentry work in Philadelphia. A parishioner of Christ Church, Joseph together with John Thornhill was asked in 1741 if he would undertake the new steeple then to be erected. Christ Church journal records payments to Joseph Thornhill in 1744 and 1745. In 1775, Thornhill was a subscriber to the Philadelphia edition of Abraham Swan, The British Architect, the first book of architecture printed in America.

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

Member Number

22*

Last Name

Thornhill

First Name

Joseph

Birth Date

3/17/1714

Where Born

Philadelphia, PA

Deceased Date

5/17/1797

Married

prior to 1760

Spouse Name

Martha Hubbs

Father

Joseph Thornhill

Mother

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick

Descendant

Ms. Karen Thornhill Ware

Committee Membership

Book Prices Committee, 1763-72

Business Address

Norris Alley bet. Front & 2nd. - 1785 (Roach), see "Comments"

Project

Christ Church steeple, 1744/45; Joseph & John Thornhill

2nd St. above Market.

Reference

*Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects page 790. Was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Thornhill, elder brother of master builder John Thornhill (q.v.), and uncle of master builder Joseph Thornhill, Jr. (q.v.). As early as 1756 he was a resident of Philadelphia's Mulberry Ward and continued to live in that district throughout the Revolution. Prior to 1760 he married Martha Hubbs of Philadelphia, and prior to 1763 he had become a member of The Carpenters' Company. In the latter year he was appointed to the important Company committee that set the prices for carpentry work in Philadelphia. A parishioner of Christ Church, Joseph, together with John Thornhill, was asked in 1741 if he would undertake the steeple then to be erected. Christ Church journal records payments to Joseph Thornhill in 1744 and 1745.. In 1775 Thornhill was a subscriber to the Philadelphia edition of Abraham Swan, "The British Architect," the first book of architecture printed in America. See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. Also extensive material and article references.

*"The Building of Christ Church," page 134, tells of payments to John and Joseph Thornhill, parishioners, for work on new building. (see John Harrison file). Page 137 tells of his work on steeple, together with Robert Smith.

*Hannah Roach paper, page 14aa Mention of working with John Nichols on Christ Church.

*Via Hannah Roach: 1756 tax list, Mulberry Ward, Joseph Thornhill, carpenter, 24 pounds.

*Address - 1793 - 11 Willings Alley (Hannah Roach)

*Hannah Roach papers Joseph Thornhill, carpenter, will dated 8 September 1792; proved 26 November 1793 (Will book W, 646 #385:1793). Estate rated in Mulberry ward in 1756 at 24 pounds (PGM, XXII, 33) Also owned the "Sign of the Jolly Post" in Oxford Township on the Bristol Road (Penna. Gazette, 10 March, 1779)

*PA Gazette 3/10/1779 - #26978 Advertises to rent stables and house "suitable for a tavern, known by name of Jolly Post, near Frankford."

*Buried in Christ Church Graveyard Section O on page 478.

*From Karen Thornhill Ware (2002): "Coincidentally, my father, Grandfather Thornhill and his father all were in the carpentry business. Guess old family habits never die."

File Number

Collection

Members

Citation

“Thornhill, Joseph,” Carpenters' Company Digital Archive & Museum, accessed April 25, 2024, https://archive.carpentershall.org/items/show/25813.