Worrell, James

Metadata

Title

Worrell, James

Description

The master builder James Worrell first comes to historical attention when he married Hannah Parsons, daughter of William Parsons, at Christ Church on 11 October 1749. When his father-in-law died in 1757, Worrell received forty pounds with which he was "to make up and decorate the graves and tombs of my late dear mother" and his three children, including Worrell's first wife who had died in 1753. Worrell continued to live in Parson's house near the corner of Second and Vine (which placed him in the Northern Liberties, Vine being the northern-most boundry of the City at that date) throughout the pre-Revolutionary War years. He was also a founding member (1756) of the Northern Liberties Fire Company. A keen patriot--as were most of the master builders--Worrell was an officer of the 1st Company of Artillery of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia (see, Benjamin Loxley). Together with Robert Allison, Worrell worked on the Liberty Island fort in 1776 and in 1777 (again with Robert Allison and also Evan Evans) he removed lead downspouts prior to the fall of the city to the British. Worrell became a member of The Carpenters' Company prior to the date of the earliest surviving records of the 1760s. Certainly he was fully active in his craft by the 1750s; he worked for Edmund Woolley at the State House (Independence Hall), 1751-1752, and in 1758 he performed a variety of repairs to the Rolls Office at the State House. By the 1760s he was a leading member of The Company. In the 1760s he was on the important committee that set the prices charged for carpentry work in Philadelphia; in 1765-1767 and again in 1775-1779, Worrell was Assistant of The Company. At some time in the 1770s he took Joseph Armitage as an apprentice and in 1773 assigned him to his father, Benjamin Armitage. Worrell was also an "encourager" to the Philadelphia, 1775 edition of Abraham Swan, The British Architect, the first book of architecture printed in America. While Worrell took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania in 1779, a James Worrell of Philadelphia was attainted and his property confiscated during the Revolution. Since there were two men with such similar names in Philadelphia, it it unclear which James Worrell was elected to the American Philosophical Society on December 20, 1768, and was a subscriber to the Silk Society in 1770.

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

Member Number

Last Name

Worrell

First Name

James

Birth Date

1/1/1731

Deceased Date

1/1/1797

Spouse Name

See "Reference"

Father

Peter (R)

Descendant

Thad James Worrell

Office Held

Vice President, 1765,75

Warden, 1762

Committee Membership

Book Prices Committee, 1763-76

Reference

*Subscribed 20 shares to erection of Hall.

*Tatman & Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects Bio Dictionary Phila Architects page 884. The master builder James Worrell first comes to historical attention when he married Hannah Parsons, daughter of William Parsons, at Christ Church on 11 October 1749. When his father-in-law died in 1757, Worrell received forty pounds with which "to make up and decorate the graves and tombs of my late dear mother" and his three children, including Worrell's first wife who had died in 1753. Worrell continued to live in Parson's house near the corner of Second and Vine (which placed him in the Northern Liberties, Vine being the northern-most boundary of the city at that date) throughout the pre-Revolutionary War years. He was also a founding member (1756) of the Northern Liberties Fire Company. A keen patriot during the Revolution -- as were most of the master builders -- Worrell was an officer of the 1st Company of Artillery of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia (see Benjamin Loxley). Together with Robert Allison (q.v.) Worrell worked on the Liberty Island fort in 1776 and in 1777; again with Robert Allison and also with Evan Evans (q.v.) he removed lead down spouts prior to the fall of the city to the British. Worrell became a member of The Carpenters' Company prior to the date of the earliest surviving records of the 1760s. Certainly he was fully active in his craft by the 1750s; he worked for Edmund Woolley (q.v.) at the State House (1751-1752), and in 1758 he performed a variety of repairs to the Rolls Office of the State House. By the 1760s he was a leading member of The Company. In 1763 he was on the important committee that set the prices for carpentry work in Philadelphia; in 1765-1767 and again in 1775-1779, Worrell was Assistant of The Company. At some time in the 1770s he took Joseph Armitage as an apprentice and in 1773 assigned him to his father, Benjamin Armitage (q.v.). Worrell was also an "encourager" to the Philadelphia, 1775, edition of Abraham Swan, "The British Architect," the first book of architecture printed in America. While Worrell took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania in 1779, a James "Warrell" was attainted and his property confiscated during the Revolution. Since there were two men with such similar names in Philadelphia, it is unclear which James Worrell was elected to the American Philosophical Society on December 20, 1768, and was a subscriber to the Silk Society in 1770. See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. See references and papers at Dilks College, Christ Church, Historical Society of Penneylvania.

*In file on 2nd floor. Worrell's account sheets for construction of Carpenters' Hall (APS, #23) Three typed pages telling of his relationship to the American Philosophical Society, his work for the Committee of Safety in the Revolution relating to construction of fortifications at Mud Island (Fort Mifflin) and removal of lead spouting from city roofs to make bullets.

*In his file, see pages copied from "Fort Mifflin of Philadelphia," telling of his work at the fort protecting Philadelphia.

*Hannah Roach notes on parentage (father) - James Worrell Adm.H/263 - 1797 #40 WO 12, RO 42, Peter Worrell 1663-1722 at (?) had issue John, James, Benjamin.

*F.S. Hannah Roach notes on bio form, in file: married twice: 1. Hannah Parsons, born ca. 1731, married Oct. 11, 1749; died Jan. 17, 1752 2. Mary Stuart, married April 24, 1757; died Feb. 28, 1758. With Robert Allison, fortifications at Fort Island, 1777. With Evan Evans and Robert Allison, removed lead spouts from State House, and made an evaluation. Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, #24, page 106. Sold lots 2nd & Vine Sts., south of Joshua Emlen's alley. Rolls Office in State House, paid 15 Feb 1758.

*Hannah Roach paper, page 12aa Mention of him and Robert Allison making repairs to State House following British occupation; in addition, mention of his working with Allison on fortifications to Fort Island, 1777, before British occupation.

*"Fort Mifflin of Philadelphia" page 23 James Worrell, working on strengthening of the Fort, reported grumbling among the workers who handled heavy logs.

*PA Gazette 7/13/1758 - #9509 James Worrell living on "a very good lot of ground in Vine St. near 2nd with large 3-story brick messuage/" Property for sale.
PA Gazette 2/21/1776 - #21721 James Worrell eleced to six-month term for Commitee for City and Liberties.
PA Gazette 1/14/1784 - #37 Owned land in Blockley township, 4 1/2 miles from Philadelphia.
PA Gazette 8/27/1783 - #31795 Owned land in Blockley, county of Philadelphia (University City area).

Grantor File Data from the City of Philadelphia Archives:
(Date; Book; No.; Page; Grantee)
1777/1800; D; 4; 378; Miller, David
1777/1800; D; 7; 445; Herley, George
1777/1800; D; 15; 484; Robbles, Michael
1777/1800; D; 4; 427; Mans, Frederick
1777/1800; D; 18; 333; Seyferheld, B.
1777/1800; D; 44; 246; Summers, George
1777/1800; D; 71; 379; Wolff, John
1809/1815; IC; 28; 632; Scheuffele, Lewis
1815/1819; MR; 19; 388; Dehart, James

File Number

Revolutionary War

Grantor Records Notes

Also listings for Joseph, John H., Jacob and Jonathan.

Collection

Members

Citation

“Worrell, James,” Carpenters' Company Digital Archive & Museum, accessed April 25, 2024, https://archive.carpentershall.org/items/show/25817.