Griscom, Samuel

Metadata

Title

Griscom, Samuel

Description

Samuel Griscom was a master builder elected to The Carpenters' Company before 1766 although no records prior to the 1760s survive to confirm the date of his membership. His daughter was Elizabeth Ross (Betsy Ross, 1752-1836).

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

Member Number

37*

Last Name

Griscom

First Name

Samuel

Birth Date

1/1/1717

Deceased Date

1/1/1793

Children

Elizabeth, Sarah

Descendant

Weston Adams

Allen Griscom

Business Address

54 Vine St. (1791) (Prime)

Project

Said to have helped erect belfry of State House

Reference

*Subscribed to 8 shares for erection of Hall.

*Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects page 317. A master builder elected to The Carpenters' Company before 1766, although no records prior to the 1760s survive to confirm the date of his membership. His daughter was Elizabeth (Betsy) Ross (1752-1836). See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. Notes on Elizabeth Griscom: School she attended is believed to be the one just west of the Hall and marked by brick wall. If correct, she was there prior to the Hall's construction. In the basement of the Gloucester County Historical Society, in Woodbury, NJ, is the brick fireplace removed from Hugg's Tavern. This is the fireplace before which she and John Ross stood for their marriage. The tavern was demolished in the course of making a park and small marina along the waterfront, at the southern end of Gloucester City. On a wall in the Free Friends Meeting House, at 5th & Arch Sts., there is a sheet of signatures of members. Elizabeth Claypoole, the name of her third husband, is on this list.

*Prime Directory: Carpenter, April 7, 1790, Pennsylvania Journal; McCullough's Court (1793); 54 Vine St. (1791). Also lists a possible ancestor, Andrew Griscombe, carpenter, Ph. Wills of Richard Morris. Bk A No. 77, Aug. 20, 1690.

*Hannah Roach-APS: 2 Aug 1764. his new dwelling on north side of Mulberry st. between 3rd and 4th.

*PA Gazette 7/15/1762 - #16465 Selling at London coffee house a lot on north side of Sassafras (Race) St. Information from Samuel Griscom.
PA Gazette 5/2/1765 - #23187 Selling at London coffee house four acres of pasture, off Lower Ferry Road in Southwark.
PA Gazette 11/16/1782 - #30587 Samuel Griscom (and Evarard Bolton) listed as selling property on Arch and Cherry Sts. near the Friends Burial Ground.

*Information on Giscom family can be found at the Camden County Historical Society..

*City Directory - 1814 - Rachel, dry good shop, 52 Race. (possibly Samuel's widow ?)

*In member file: Copy of article,"Betsy Ross, Quaker Rebel," which recounts history of Griscom family and location of dwellings. Andrew Griscom said to have built first brick house in the city. Also, Samuel said to have helped erect belfry of State House, completed some years after main building. As of 2017, the article no longer seems to be in the file?

*in member file: notation from a descendant (Harker) of a book published by the Cultural and Heritage Commission, through the auspices of the Salem County Board of Chosen Freeholders (1983), on the Griscom family. Book titled: "Betsy Ross, the Griscom Legacy," by Timmins and Yarrington.

*In member file: newspaper clipping giving Betsy Ross story and her history. Press Focus, 2001. Ron Pritsch.

*See Hannah Roach paragraph under Wiliiam Rakestraw. Hannah Roach notes - With Isaiah Worrel built a barn near Frankford 1768 for Henry (?) also worked on meeting house 1789; died of yellow fever in 1793.

*Via Hannah Roach: Tax list, 1756, High Street Ward, Samuel Griscom, carpenter, 24 pounds.

*Carpenters' Co. Minutes-1791-11-29 Order for Thomas Nevell and Samuel Griscom 12 pounds each for their present relief, they being much indisposed. Carpenters' Co. Minutes-1794-116 Order for walnut coffin for Samuel Griscom, 3 pounds 15 shillings.

*City Records D.S.B. book #338; filed January 7, 1819; no record of satisfaction Samuel Griscom (possibly a descendant - son?) vs. Charles Tontag. Claim for $191.21 against a three story brick dwelling house situate on the north side of Walnut street about 60 or 70 feet east of 11th street in the city of Philadelphia.

*Two more claims in City Records D.S.B. book #338 filed February 4, 1819, for "work and labour" against the same building.

*Grantor File Data from the City of Philadelphia Archives:
(Date; Book; No.; Page; Grantee)
1739/1751; G; 9; 225; Loyd, Elizabeth
1751/1766; H; 16; 164; Rush, William
1751/1766; H; 17; 499; Kaighn, John
1777/1800; D; 5; 417; Clarkson, Matthew
1777/1800; D; 6; 385; Shaffer, David
1777/1800; D; 14; 47; Kearsley, John
1777/1800; D; 42; 266; Bolton, Edward
1777/1800; EF; 8; 393; Geisse, Francis
1809/1815; IC; 28; 261; Middleton, Samuel
1815/1819; MR; 5; 440; Nicholson, Jr., William
1821/1825; IH; 6; 465; Hoskin, Thomas

File Number

Defendant/Sheriff's Sale Notes

Rebecca lost property in 1790.

Collection

Members

Citation

“Griscom, Samuel,” Carpenters' Company Digital Archive & Museum, accessed April 25, 2024, https://archive.carpentershall.org/items/show/25825.