Worrell, Joseph

Worrell, Joseph

The master builder Joseph Worrell was the son of Ezekiel and Ann (King) Worrell. Following her husband's death, Ann Worrell petitioned The Carpenters' Company for help in "placing one of her sons Apprentice to a House Carpenter." Company records strongly suggest that that son was Joseph Worrell and that he was taken as an apprentice by James Pearson. On 21 January 1788, "James Pearson proposed Joseph Worrel (sic.) Son of ye Late Ezekial Worral (sic.)" as a member of The Company. As this birthright builder matured, he took an ever greater role in Company affairs; he was elected Company Secretary 1801-1803, Vice President 1818-1820, and President 1821-1823, 1827-1829. Nothing is known of Worrell's building practice except that he briefly appears to have been in partnership with the carpenter Isaac Forsyth (7 Little George Street) for which bills marked Worrell & Forsyth survive for the period 1809-1811. When The Carpenters' Company established an architecture school in 1833, Worrell was appointed chairman of the school committee. Worrell was on the Select Council of the City of Philadelphia and was appointed as one of the committee members to oversee the design and construction of Girard College by Thomas Ustick Walter. A portrait (c.1815) of Worrell attributed to Jacob Eichholtz survives in the possession of the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia.


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

155

Worrell

Joseph

1/1/1841

Ezekiel

Ann King W.

See Ezekiel

1/21/1788

President, 1821-23,27-29

Secretary, 1802-04

Vice President, 1818-20

Warden, 1798-99

Book Prices Committee, 1800,12-17,22-26

104 Lombard St. (1799) (Prime)

505 Delancey St. (demolished)

Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects page 884. This master builder was the son of Ezekiel and Ann (King) Worrell (q.v.). Following her husband's death, Ann Worrell petitioned The Carpenters' Company for help in "placing one of her sons apprentice to a house carpenter." Company records strongly suggest that the son was Joseph Worrell and that he was taken as an apprentice by James Pearson (q.v.). On January 21, 1788, "James Pearson proposed Joseph Worrel (sic.) son of ye late Ezekiel Worral (sic.) as a member of The Company. As this birthright builder matured, he took an ever greater role in Company affairs; he was elected Company Secretary 1801-1803, Vice President 1818-1820, and President 1821-1823, 1827-1829. Nothing is known of Worrell's building practice except that he briefly appears to have been in partnership with the carpenter Isaac Forsyth (7 Little George St.) for which bills marked Worrell & Forsyth survive for the period 1809-1811. When The Carpenters' Company established an architecture school in 1833, Worrell was appointed chairman of the school committee. Worrell was on the Select Council of the City of Philadelphia and was appointed as one of the committee members to oversee the design and construction of Girard College by Thomas Ustick Walter (q.v.). A portrait (c. 1815) of Worrell attributed to Jacob Eichholtz survives in the possession of the Misses Helen H. & Elizabeth A. Livingston, Northford, CT; the Misses Livingston also own some Worrell manuscripts. See Selected Bibliography in Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects. See Peterson article on architecture school at Athenaeum; also Scharf & Westcott. ------------------------ Painting on second floor Dalkeith Room over the fireplace is that of Joseph Worrell. ------------------------ Certificate of membership is in Box 121 file #39 in Archives ------------------------ "Philadelphia Preserved" (page 32) 505 Delancey St. erected 1796 by George Summers and Joseph Worrell; demolished 1964. ----------------------- City Directory - 1805, 10, 14, 20, 24 - Joseph, carpenter, 56 S. 6th. City Directory - 1830, 35 - Joseph, gentleman, 1 N. 7th St. 1840 - Joseph, gentleman, 369 Mulberry. ------------------------ Managing Committee Minutes-1827-18-281 Application being made by Joseph Worrell for a certificate to measure and value carpenters'work the committee approved of him and he presenting the qualifications received the certificate. Carpenters' Co. Minutes-1841-149 Mr. Worrell's 52nd attendance at Annual Meetings. Carpenters' Co. Minutes-1846-222 Resolution that Managing committee be directed to obtain from executors of late Joseph Worrell the legacy left by him to Carpenters' Company. Carpenters' Co. Minutes-1850-266 Resolution that President and Secretary be authorized to execute for the Company a release to Joseph Worrell of the legacy of $1,000 bequeathed to them by his father's will and affix the Company's corporate seal to the release. ------------------------ from bio sketch in member file, prepared by Spencer & Hannah Roach Incorporator #79 Listings: Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biographer Vol. 7; page 458 1776 tombstone of perhaps an ancestor of the same name. page 483 1735 Joseph Worrell married Judith Chevalier, ditto. ------------------------ City Records D.S.B. book # 335; Oct. 25, 1811 judgment Joseph Worrell, Bartholomew Greaves, George Bartram, Jr., Matthew Weaver vs. Miles H. Hughes DSB and now the defendant by J. Hopkinson, esq., his attorney comes and confesses judgement to the plaintiffs for the sum of $1,318 debt with costs of suit & c. ------------------------- City Records D.S.B. book #338; filed Jan. 12, 1818 - tells of claim for materials and workmanship filed by John H. Worrell, probably a relative. Claim for $1584,95 against two saw mills situate partly in Oxford township and part in the Northern Liberties on Frankford and Tacony creek about one-half mile northwest of the town of Frankford on the estate known as Decatur Mills, for materials and workmanship. ------------------------- Managing Committee Minutes-1788-3-166, 171 James Pearson proposed Joseph Worrell; Joseph Worrell elected.

1

X