Hoskins, John G.

Hoskins, John G.

John G. Hoskins was a master builder born in Chester County in 1786. He was elected to the Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia in 1809. The City Directory of Philadelphia listed him at 180 Mulberry street beginning in 1814. Initially, he was listed as a carpenter but by 1826, he was listed as a gentleman. Prior, to 1814, Mrs. Hoskins, gentlewoman, occupied 180 Mulberry street. The Mrs. Hoskins in question was John’s widowed mother. The family moved to Philadelphia from Chester shortly after John’s father, Raper Hoskins, had succumbed to the Yellow Plague in 1798. According to a history of the National Bank of Chester, John Hoskins was the superintendent for the construction of a banking building for The Bank of Delaware County, the first bank building in Market Square in Chester. John Hoskins served as president pro tempore of this bank for 6 months in 1815. He was also a lifelong member of the Society of Friends belonging to the Northern District Monthly Meeting. Hoskins served as an overseer for this Meeting. Hoskins spent the last years of his life residing at 238 Filbert street and died there in 1845 at the age of 58.

Biography from the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings site, a project of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia. Written by Tom Stokes.

----------Old Chester, PA: Biographical Sketches: John Graham Hoskins- John Graham Hoskins (1814-16), son of Raper and Eleanor (Graham) Hoskins, grandson of Henry Hale Graham, was born at Chester, in the dwelling afterward known as the Porter Mansion, October 10, 1786. When the son was twelve years old, his father fell a victim of the yellow fever scourge which visited Chester in the fall of 1798. Two years later, the widow sold the real estate and removed with her family to Philadelphia. John G. Hoskins learned the carpenter trade and became a prominent builder and contractor in that city. He resided on Filbert street, near Juniper, then a desirable residential art of Philadelphia for families in comfortable circumstances. A wealthy man and highly respected, one of his enjoyments in summer evenings was to romp with the youngsters of the neighborhood.

He was appointed superintendent for the building of the first banking house at Market Square, erected by The Bank of Delaware County, which was removed in 1882 to give place to the present imposing structure. On April 3, 1815, John G. Hoskins was appointed president pro tempore of the bank for a period of six months, to act in the absence of the president. In a copy of the Testaments printed in 1831 by The Bible Association of Friends in America, and now owned by a relative of Mr. Hoskins, in Philadelphia, appears the following: "Presented by the Bible Association of Friends in America to John G. Hoskins as an acknowledgment of his valuable and disinterested services in copying the whole of the marginal notes and references for their Royal Octavo Bible, and subsequently reading the proof sheets of the stereotypic plates, comparing the text with that of the celebrated Oxford edition of 1813."

John G. Hoskins died at Philadelphia, June 20, 1845, aged 58 years, 8 months and 10 days. In an obituary notice of Mr. Hoskins, which appeared in "The Friend," July 5, 1845, it is stated that he was a member and overseer of the Northern District Monthly Meeting, of Philadelphia; had frequently contributed articles to ‘The Friend’, and held several important stations in the Society. The speakers at his funeral based their remarks upon the text: 'Mark the perfect man and behold the upright.’”

238*

Hoskins

John

G.

1/1/1833

1/1/1809

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180 Mulberry St. (CD) (1830)

Managing Committee Minutes-1809-9-169 John Hoskins elected. --------------------- City Directory - 1814, 24 - John G., carpenter, 180 Mulberry. 1826 - John G., gentleman, 180 Mulberry City Directory - 1830 - John G. Hoskins, gentleman, 180 Mulberry St. 1835 - John G., gentleman, 201 Mulberry.

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