Savery, Thomas

Savery, Thomas

Thomas Savery, son of the cabinetmaker William Savery, Sr., entered Thomas Nevell's school for persons "anxious to improve themselves in the art of architecture" in December of 1771. Just as Nevell had been groomed for The Carpenters' Company by Edmund Woolley, students of Nevell's school tended promptly to enter The Company. In Savery's case, however, he joined the rival Friendship Carpenters' Company about 1775. In structure the Friendship Company differed little from The Carpenters' Company, except for the cost of admission. Where The Company charged a substantial four pound initiation fee, the Friendship Company demanded only five shillings. At each meeting the members paid six pence to defray costs where The Company paid one shilling. Expectedly, members of the Friendship Company tended to be younger and relatively less successful artisans. When the two companies of masters united in 1786, however, most of the Friendship members paid the four pound Carpenters' Company fee and joined The Company. Savery was one of these. Savery was also a subscriber to fellow Carpenters' Company member Owen Biddle's The Young Carpenter's Assistant; or, a system of architecture adapted to the style of building in the United States (Philadelphia, 1805), one of the earliest American books of architecture.


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

140*

Savery

Thomas

1/1/1751

1/1/1818

William, Sr.

1/1/1786

Warden, 1790

Book Prices Committee, 1786,87,94,1801

26 N. 5th St. (1800) (Prime)

Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects page 693. Son of the cabinetmaker William Savery, Sr., he entered Thomas Nevell's (q.v.) school for persons "anxious to improve themselves in the art of architecture" in December of 1771. Just as Nevell had been groomed for The Carpenters' Company by Edmund Woolley (q.v.), students at Nevell's school tended promptly to enter The Company. In Savery's case, however, he joined the rival Friendship Carpenters' Company about 1775. In structure the Friendship Company differed little from The Carpenters' Company, except for the cost of admission. Where The Company charged a substantial four pound initiation fee, the Friendship Company demanded only five shillings. At each meeting the members paid six pence to defray costs where The Company paid one shilling. Expectedly, members of The Friendship Company tended to be younger and relatively less successful artisans. When the two companies united in 1786, most of The Friendship members paid the four pound Carpenters' Company fee and joined The Company. Savery was one of these. Savery was also a subscriber to fellow Carpenters' Company member Owen Biddle's (q.v.) "The Young Carpenter's Assistant; or a system of architecture adapted to the style of building in the United States" (Philadelphia: 1805), one of the earliest American books on architecture. See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. Also, see Nevell account book, Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania. Also see references to him in "Bring Out Your Dead," a gripping account of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic, in which Savery played a key role. --------------------------- City Directory - 1805 - Thomas, carpenter, 20 N. 5th. 1810 -Thomas, carpenter, near 5 South Alley 1814 - Thomas, carpenter, 50 N. 5th --------------------------- PA Gazette 10/11/1797 - #12428 Living at No. 20 N. 5th St., Thomas Savery joins appeal for people impoverished by yellow fever epidemic. Committee included William Linnard, South 2nd St. in Southwark and George Ingels, New Market St., in Northern Liberties. PA Gazette 11/29/1797 - #12499 The Committee for relief of yellow fever victims, including members above, expresses thanks for outpouring of money "to give comfort to the mourner, bread to the hungry,and consolation to the distressed widows and fatherless." More than 6,000 entrusted to their care, "1,300 heads of households plus 600 men on the roads." A total of $20,500 was collected from city residents in a short period, plus 335 barrels of wheat, rye, buckwheat, Indian meal and potatoes. --------------------------- Dissertation by Donna J. Rilling, chapter 4, page 21 In August, 1795, Jacob Vodges contracted with Isaac Ashton to construct a room, entry, and fronticepiece in Ashton's house. Ashton agreed from the outset to pay the house carpenter "fifty dollars in Cash when the work is judged to be half done and the remainder when the work is Measured . . ." In May, 1796, two master artisans from the Carpenters' Company measured Vodges' work and found that Ashton owed the carpenter an additional sum. Finally, when Thomas Savery worked ten and a half days "putting up Spouts Making Cellar door etc," the young carpenter received 12 shillings per day for a total of six pounds six shillings. ---------------------------- Reference to probable relatives: City Records D.S.B. book #345; 7 claims for unpaid lumber bills filed September 16, 1831; all satisfied May 15, 1833, with signature of Eli K. Price, probably an attorney. William & Thomas Savery vs. Henry Post. All claims are against houses in Nectarine street, west of the west side of Delaware 10th street, in the District of Spring Garden.

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