Metadata
Title
Thornhill, John
Description
John Thornhill, "one of the most celebrated mechanicks in this or any other state...particulary distinguished for his abilities as an Architect," was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Thornhill. In 1741 he married Jane Cook at Christ Church who the next year gave birth to Joseph Thornhill. In 1746 he appears as the witnesses to the will of the carpenter William Russell, in 1748 as the executor of the estate of the painter John Winckles, and in 1753 he preformed the inventory of the estate of the carpenter Andrew Jolley. A long-time resident of the Mulberry Ward of the city, Thornhill was elected to membership in The Carpenters' Company prior to the date of the earliest surviving records. In 1763 he was elected to the important "Committee to Sett prises" and to a committee to locate a lot for the future Carpenters' Hall. In 1770 he was one of the largest contributors toward the construction of the Hall. In 1776 he was elected Assistant of The Company and as late as 1781 was serving on Company committees. As so often is the case with colonial master builders--even those of such obvious important as John Thornhill--virtually nothing is known of his work. As a parishioner of Christ Church, Thornhill was asked in 1741 if he would undertake the new steeple then to be erected. According to the building committee, Thornhill "would cheerfully serve the Church," but was unfamiliar with that sort of work and would need the help of other craftsmen. Between 1746 and 1763 Thornhill received payments for work at Christ Church, including the final steeple account in 1759. (See Robert Smith) Thornhill was also asked to measure the work of Jacob Knorr, the builder of Cliveden (1767).
Biography from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings, a project of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia. Written by Roger W. Moss.
Biography from Philadelphia Architects and Buildings, a project of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia. Written by Roger W. Moss.
Member Number
23*
Last Name
Thornhill
First Name
John
Birth Date
10/23/1716
Deceased Date
1/7/1784
Married
1/1/1741
Spouse Name
Jane Cook
Children
Joseph
Father
Joseph Thornhill
Mother
Elizabeth
Office Held
Vice President, 1762,64,76
Committee Membership
Book Prices Committee, 1763-74,81-82
Project
Committee to select lot for C.H. (1763); one of largest contributors to construction in 1770
Worked on Christ Church steeple (1746-1763)
Measured work of Jacob Knorr, builder of Cliveden (1767)
Reference
*Subscribed to 12 shares for erection of Hall.
*Tatman & Moss Biograhpical Dictionary of Phila. Architects page 790. John Thornhill, "one of the most celebrated mechanicks in this or any other state. . . particularly distinguished for his abilities as an Architect," was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Thornhill. In 1741 he married Jane Cook at Christ Church who the next year gave birth to Joseph Thornhill (q.v.). In 1746 he appears as the witness to the will of carpenter William Russell, in 1748 as executor of the estate of John Winckles, and in 1753 he performed the inventory of the estate of carpenter Andrew Jolley. A long time resident of the Mulberry Ward of the city, Thornhill was elected to membership in the Carpenters' Company prior to the date of the earliest surviving records. In 1763 he was elected to the important "Committee to Sett Prises" and to a committee to locate a lot for the future Carpenters' Hall. In 1770 he was one of the largest contributors toward the construction of the Hall. In 1776 he was elected Assistant of The Company and as late as 1781 was serving on Company committees. As so often is the case with colonial master builders -- even those of such obvious importance as John Thornhill -- virtually nothing is known of his work. As a parishioner of Christ Church, Thornhill was asked in 1741 if he would undertake the steeple then to be erected. According to the building committee, Thornhill "would cheerfully serve the church," but was unfamiliar with that sort of work and would need the help of other craftsman. Between 1746 and 1763 Thornhill received payments for work at Christ Church, including the final steeple account in 1759. (See Robert Smith, q.v.) Thornhill was also asked to measure the work of Jacob Knorr, builder of Cliveden (1767). See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. Good other material listed here.
*See Peterson's book, "Robert Smith", page 18, col 2, last para: Smith and John Thornhill measured and valued Thomas Nevell's work at Mt. Pleasant. Thomas Nevell, in turn, had measured Gunning Bedford's Port Royal, among those with whom Smith was most deeply intertwined was Samuel Rhoads. Like Smith, Rhoads sometimes acted as a designer and a contractor although he became wealthy as a developer. Rhoads, along with Joseph Fox, was a manager and designer for the Pennsylvania Hospital, a project for which Smith was a consultant. Rhoads served in the same capacity for the Almshouse. He handled the finances when Smith built Benjamin Franklins house, where another Company member, Robert Allison, executed the interior woodwork. Rhoads and Smith served together on a committee of the APS, overseeing a platform to observe the Transit of Venus in 1769.
*Trans. APS Vol. 43, Part I (1953), page 98 One of five members to "fix upon a Propper Lott of Ground to Build a Hall for the Use of the Sd. Company. . ."
*Hannah Roach paper, page 10aa Tells of his work with John Thornhill on the prison at 3rd and High Sts.
*Via Hannah Roach Tax list, 1756, Mulberry Ward, John Thornhill, carpenter, 20 pounds.
* (sic) 1797 lists John Thornhill (possibly a son?) as a "plaisterer" in Willings Alley. (I was unable to find what this was in reference to; left here for legacy reasons).
*Hannah Roach notes: OC 20/71, 72 - June 16, 1802 Petition of Ann Pastorius and Charles Machnet Pastorius by next friend John Tull - they are minors under 14 and have no guardian. Francis Daniel Pastorius who was appointed being dead - court appoints Charles Machnet, guardian. 22/60 - March 21, 1806 #94 JOHN THORNHILL appointed guardian of his minor children Richard, above 14 now on voyage to the East Indies, and Margaret under 14.
*Note in his file folder: (Hannah Roach) several notations including: 23 June 1753 - John Thornhill and Harrison to replace balusters of the Court House steps and 2 handsome turned columns to support the pediment on the Court House stairs. 3 Aug 1753 - John Thornhill order for 5 pounds for entertainment at the raising of the new addition to the prison.
*Hannah Roach papers John Thornhill, carpenter, buried 8 January 1783, Christ Churchyard. Admin Book EYE, 56, #4:1783. Estate rated at 24 pounds in Mulberry ward in 1756 (PGM, XXII, 33).
*In his folder (R) is a copy of page from William Penn cash book - 1699 - APS.
*"The Building of Christ Church," page 145, has note on Thornhill's carpentry bill for Christ Church, which was considered "extravagant." Also, notation work performed. (in file of John H. Jarrison). Another note says he lived on North Third St. and owned a Vine street tavern, "At the Sign of the Tennis Court," according to Pennsylvania Gazette.
*PA Gazette 12/31/1761 - #15356 Tenant of lot on Mulberry St. to be sold by Pennsylvania Land Company.
PA Gazette 7/5/1765 - #24089 Agent for sale of land on south side of Vine St., between 3rd nd 4th; he "living in Third St. near new Presbyterian Church."
PA Gazette 6/7/1786 - #3292 Requests to settle his estate by Joseph Thornhill, administrator. Also signing are John and Richard, apparently sons.
*Buried Christ Church Burial Ground, Section O listed on page 481 (presumably) in Edward Clark's inventory of Christ Church Burial Ground.
Grantor File Data from the City of Philadelphia Archives:
(Date; Book; No.; Page; Grantee)
1683/1751; G; 3; 566; Danby, John
1683/1751; G; 11; 308; Roberts, Hugh
1751/1781; H; 5; 23; Hughs, Hugh
1751/1781; I; 4; 502; Tait, Robert
1751/1781; I; 8; 467; Ewing, John
1777/1800; D; 10; 7; Dorsey, Leonard
1777/1800; D; 10; 206; Keiser, Jacob
1777/1800; D; 14; 160; Thornhill, Richard
1777/1800; D; 14; 462; Thornhill, John
1777/1800; D; 19; 536; Pafilay, John
1777/1800; D; 21; 144; Young, William
*Tatman & Moss Biograhpical Dictionary of Phila. Architects page 790. John Thornhill, "one of the most celebrated mechanicks in this or any other state. . . particularly distinguished for his abilities as an Architect," was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Thornhill. In 1741 he married Jane Cook at Christ Church who the next year gave birth to Joseph Thornhill (q.v.). In 1746 he appears as the witness to the will of carpenter William Russell, in 1748 as executor of the estate of John Winckles, and in 1753 he performed the inventory of the estate of carpenter Andrew Jolley. A long time resident of the Mulberry Ward of the city, Thornhill was elected to membership in the Carpenters' Company prior to the date of the earliest surviving records. In 1763 he was elected to the important "Committee to Sett Prises" and to a committee to locate a lot for the future Carpenters' Hall. In 1770 he was one of the largest contributors toward the construction of the Hall. In 1776 he was elected Assistant of The Company and as late as 1781 was serving on Company committees. As so often is the case with colonial master builders -- even those of such obvious importance as John Thornhill -- virtually nothing is known of his work. As a parishioner of Christ Church, Thornhill was asked in 1741 if he would undertake the steeple then to be erected. According to the building committee, Thornhill "would cheerfully serve the church," but was unfamiliar with that sort of work and would need the help of other craftsman. Between 1746 and 1763 Thornhill received payments for work at Christ Church, including the final steeple account in 1759. (See Robert Smith, q.v.) Thornhill was also asked to measure the work of Jacob Knorr, builder of Cliveden (1767). See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. Good other material listed here.
*See Peterson's book, "Robert Smith", page 18, col 2, last para: Smith and John Thornhill measured and valued Thomas Nevell's work at Mt. Pleasant. Thomas Nevell, in turn, had measured Gunning Bedford's Port Royal, among those with whom Smith was most deeply intertwined was Samuel Rhoads. Like Smith, Rhoads sometimes acted as a designer and a contractor although he became wealthy as a developer. Rhoads, along with Joseph Fox, was a manager and designer for the Pennsylvania Hospital, a project for which Smith was a consultant. Rhoads served in the same capacity for the Almshouse. He handled the finances when Smith built Benjamin Franklins house, where another Company member, Robert Allison, executed the interior woodwork. Rhoads and Smith served together on a committee of the APS, overseeing a platform to observe the Transit of Venus in 1769.
*Trans. APS Vol. 43, Part I (1953), page 98 One of five members to "fix upon a Propper Lott of Ground to Build a Hall for the Use of the Sd. Company. . ."
*Hannah Roach paper, page 10aa Tells of his work with John Thornhill on the prison at 3rd and High Sts.
*Via Hannah Roach Tax list, 1756, Mulberry Ward, John Thornhill, carpenter, 20 pounds.
* (sic) 1797 lists John Thornhill (possibly a son?) as a "plaisterer" in Willings Alley. (I was unable to find what this was in reference to; left here for legacy reasons).
*Hannah Roach notes: OC 20/71, 72 - June 16, 1802 Petition of Ann Pastorius and Charles Machnet Pastorius by next friend John Tull - they are minors under 14 and have no guardian. Francis Daniel Pastorius who was appointed being dead - court appoints Charles Machnet, guardian. 22/60 - March 21, 1806 #94 JOHN THORNHILL appointed guardian of his minor children Richard, above 14 now on voyage to the East Indies, and Margaret under 14.
*Note in his file folder: (Hannah Roach) several notations including: 23 June 1753 - John Thornhill and Harrison to replace balusters of the Court House steps and 2 handsome turned columns to support the pediment on the Court House stairs. 3 Aug 1753 - John Thornhill order for 5 pounds for entertainment at the raising of the new addition to the prison.
*Hannah Roach papers John Thornhill, carpenter, buried 8 January 1783, Christ Churchyard. Admin Book EYE, 56, #4:1783. Estate rated at 24 pounds in Mulberry ward in 1756 (PGM, XXII, 33).
*In his folder (R) is a copy of page from William Penn cash book - 1699 - APS.
*"The Building of Christ Church," page 145, has note on Thornhill's carpentry bill for Christ Church, which was considered "extravagant." Also, notation work performed. (in file of John H. Jarrison). Another note says he lived on North Third St. and owned a Vine street tavern, "At the Sign of the Tennis Court," according to Pennsylvania Gazette.
*PA Gazette 12/31/1761 - #15356 Tenant of lot on Mulberry St. to be sold by Pennsylvania Land Company.
PA Gazette 7/5/1765 - #24089 Agent for sale of land on south side of Vine St., between 3rd nd 4th; he "living in Third St. near new Presbyterian Church."
PA Gazette 6/7/1786 - #3292 Requests to settle his estate by Joseph Thornhill, administrator. Also signing are John and Richard, apparently sons.
*Buried Christ Church Burial Ground, Section O listed on page 481 (presumably) in Edward Clark's inventory of Christ Church Burial Ground.
Grantor File Data from the City of Philadelphia Archives:
(Date; Book; No.; Page; Grantee)
1683/1751; G; 3; 566; Danby, John
1683/1751; G; 11; 308; Roberts, Hugh
1751/1781; H; 5; 23; Hughs, Hugh
1751/1781; I; 4; 502; Tait, Robert
1751/1781; I; 8; 467; Ewing, John
1777/1800; D; 10; 7; Dorsey, Leonard
1777/1800; D; 10; 206; Keiser, Jacob
1777/1800; D; 14; 160; Thornhill, Richard
1777/1800; D; 14; 462; Thornhill, John
1777/1800; D; 19; 536; Pafilay, John
1777/1800; D; 21; 144; Young, William
File Number
a