Lefever, Isaac

Metadata

Title

Lefever, Isaac

Description

Isaac Lefever was a master builder elected to The Carpenters' Company prior to 1767. Isaac Lefever begins with an easily traceable history that quickly becomes obscure during the American Revolution. After the Company directed Evan Peters to make a state-of-the-art pump and place it near the Hall, the surrounding neighborhood began to frequently utilize the Company’s water source. In 1774, the Company decided to charge the neighborhood for use of the Company’s pump, according to the Wardens’ minutes, “think it advisable that every family who are able, shall pay at the rate of 6 shillings per year and we further direct Isaac Lefever to collect the same for the benefit of the Company.” Isaac Lefever likely lived near the Hall at this time if he was instructed to collect this small sum from the neighborhood. Later in 1776, the Company decides to “pay a Mrs. Lefever - already working on (at) State Hall - a stipend of 10 pounds per year for teaching at this building.” Although it cannot be proved, this probably was Isaac’s wife. Also, Isaac or a namesake was one of those employed as Door-Keepers and messengers to the First Continental Congress in Carpenters’ Hall in 1774. Isaac was marked dead on the Warden’s list in 1779 which aligns him with an Isaac Lefever of Hereford, Berks County, whose will was proved the same year.

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

Member Number

43*

Last Name

Lefever

First Name

Isaac

Deceased Date

1/1/1779

Date Elected

1/1/1767

Reference

*Subscribed to 6 shares for erection of Hall.

*Tatman & Moss Biographical Dictionary of Phila. Architects. Page 474. Isaac was a master builder elected to the Carpenters' Company prior to 1767. Marked deceased by The Company in 1779, he may be the same Isaac Lefever who died that year in Berks County. See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects.

*Grantor File Data from the City of Philadelphia Archives:
(Date; Book; No.; Page; Grantee)
1751/1766; H; 1; 402; Lefever, Samuel
1751/1766; H; 9; 463; Lefever, Philip

File Number

Revolutionary War

Grantor Records Notes

Also listings for James Lefever.

Collection

Members

Citation

“Lefever, Isaac,” Carpenters' Company Digital Archive & Museum, accessed April 26, 2024, https://archive.carpentershall.org/items/show/25831.