Mulberry Street was called Arch Street early on; the reason-- that Front Street formed an arch or bridge when it passed over Mulberry Street, with the latter going down to the riverside to form a public landing-- ceased to be true in the 1720s. The name nevertheless stuck, long after most people had forgotted the arch itself.
CORNER OF ARCH AND WATER
Click here to view the engraving of the Arch Street Ferry made by William Birch in 1798-1800. This would have been about at the corner of Arch and Water. Another view was William L. Breton's 1833 watercolor painted from the wharf, looking toward Arch, which can be viewed here.
According to Rum Punch and Revolution by Peter Thompson, a tavern called the Arch Street Ferry was renamed the "Wilkes and Liberty" in the 1770s, though exactly where this tavern was is not known.
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#7 Arch, northeastern corner.
#9 Arch, northwestern corner.
#6 Arch, southeastern corner.
#5, southwestern corner. This is clearly wrong; a southwestern corner cannot have an odd number.
BETWEEN WATER AND FRONT, SOUTH SIDE
The location of the following five listings is conjectural:
(1785) #2, Dawes, William (possibly at corner of Arch & Water)
(1785) #4, Olden, Daniel
(1785) #5, Austin, Henry
(1785) #6, Rudolph, John
In the next renumbering, that of Clement Biddle in 1791, which established the modern system of odd numbers referring to addresses on the north or east sides of streets (depending on which way the street runs) and even numbers to addresses on the south or west sides of streets, #2, #4 and #6, on the south side, have no entries.
This stretch of Arch Street can also be seen in Breton's 1833 watercolor, mentioned above.
BETWEEN WATER AND FRONT, NORTH SIDE
(1785) #378, Clark, John
(1790 and 1791) #9, Clark, John, grocer
(1785) #379, Austin, Isaac, watchmaker
(1790 and 1791) #7, Austin, Isaac, watch maker
(1785) #380, Moore, Robert
(1790 and 1791) #5, Randolph, John, tobacconist
(1785) #381, vacant or residents would not give name
(1790 and 1791) #3, Ackley, John, chair maker
(1785) #382, Rupert, John
(1790 and 1791) #1, Nigus, John, ferry keeper
BETWEEN WATER AND FRONT, UNKNOWN SIDE
CORNER OF ARCH AND FRONT
(1785) #7 Arch Street, #445 Front Street, Bay, Hugh
Based on the double-listing, on the southeastern corner.
See notes for Elizabeth Nevill, below.
(1790 and 1791) #6 Arch, no entry.
(1785) #8 Arch Street, #35 Front Street, Lynn, Widow
(1785) Linds, Miss, boardinghouse, corner of Arch and Front
Based on the double-listing, on the southwestern corner.
(1790 and 1791) #8 Arch, Wady, Phoebe, widow. Assuming these addresses refer to the same
location (done by counting from Gustavus Risberg of #14), this is one of the very rare instances of a
house number not changing in the 1791 renumbering.
(1785) #376 Arch Street, #36 Front Street, Parker, Matthew
Based on the double-listing, on the northwestern corner.
(1790 and 1791) #11, Brooks, Francis, gunsmith
(1785) #377 Arch Street, #444 Front Street, Burk, Philip
(1785) Burk, Phillip, innkeeper and cordwainer, corner of Arch and Front
Based on the numbering, on the northeastern corner.
(1790 and 1791) #9, Clark, John, grocer
(1785) Carver, Jacob, clock and watch maker, corner of Arch and Front
Apparently by 1790 and 1791 he was at #55 Arch, just to the west of the northwestern
corner of Arch and 2nd.
(1785) Nevill, Elizabeth, prepares medicines against the ague & c., corner of Arch and Front
Not listed in MacPherson, though a Thomas Neville is listed just to the south of the
southeastern corner at #446 Front Street (between Market and Arch, according to White).
This, therefore, may have been part of the property at the southeastern corner, with, perhaps,
the Nevilles renting the more southerly part.
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#12 Arch, northeastern corner. This number is wrong; northeastern corners cannot have even numbers.
#13 Arch, northwestern corner.
#69 N. Front, southeastern corner.
#68 N. Front, southwestern corner.
BETWEEN FRONT AND 2ND, SOUTH SIDE
(1785) #9, Smith, Valentine
(1790 and 1791) #10, no entry
(1785) #10, Gitts, Michael
(1785) Gitts, Michael, staymaker, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #12, Miller, Elizabeth, widow
(1785) #11, Risberg, Gustavus
(1785) Risberg, Gustavus, merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #14, Risberg, Gustavus, merchant
(1785) #12, vacant or residents would not give name
(1790 and 1791) #16, Brown, Elizabeth, widow
(1790 and 1791) #16, Morgan, Thomas, merchant
(1785) #13, Hartley, James
(1785) Hartley, James, merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #18, Hartley, James, iron merchant (was also at #33 Arch, according to
the 1791 directory)
(1785) #14, Warner, Widow
(1785) Warner, Mrs., gentlewoman, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #20, Warner, Ann, gentlewoman
(1785) #15, Coburn, John
(1785) Cobourne, John, ship rigger, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #22, Coburn, John, rigger
(1785) #16, Heyler, Frederick
(1785) Hailer, Frederick, hairdresser and bleeder, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #24, Hailer, Frederick, surgeon barber
(1785) #17, Roody, Widow
(1785) Ruddy, Rachel, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #26, Bullman, Samuel, saddler
(1785) #18, Hahn, Christian
(1785) Hahns, Christopher, chocolatemaker, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #28, Stark, Margaret, widow
(1785) #19, Barker, John
(1785) Barker, John, captain, innkeeper, sign St. Tammany and taylor, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #30, Rapp, Godfrey, labourer
(1785) #20, Mayers, Stephen
(1790 and 1791) #32, Downing, Jacob, merchant (also at #65 N. Water St., according to the
1791 directory).
(1785) #21, Reedle, John
(1790 and 1791) #34, Riddle, John, taylor
(1785) #22, Glentworth, George, doctor of physic
(1785) Glentworth, George, physician, Arch between 2nd and 3rd (probably an error).
(1790 and 1791) #36, Glentworth, George, doctor of physic
George Glentworth (1735-1792) died in November 1792, aged 57, and is buried under a now
almost-illegible tombstone in St. Paul's churchyard on Third Street just south of Walnut.
(1785) #23, Norton, Widow
(1785) #24, Smith, William W.
(1785) #25, Hutton, John
(1785) #26, Bless, Widow
(1785) Bliss, Ann, shopkeeper, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
This block location by White is probably, though not certainly, an error.
(1790 and 1791) #38, Craig, Bethia, widow
(1790 and 1791) #40, Kean, Mary, widow
(1790 and 1791) #42, Wurtz, Henry, barber
BETWEEN FRONT AND 2ND, NORTH SIDE (going east)
According to Boulevards & Byways of Historic Philadelphia, the house of Thomas Holme (William Penn's surveyor-general who laid out Philadelphia) was at what is now #113 Arch. It is not yet clear what the 18th century address was of this location, though simply counting westward from Front as we now do, a case can be made for #370 Arch, the house of Benjamin Lawrence in 1785.
(1785) #356, Sullivan, Darby
(1790 and 1791) #51 Arch, Sullee, John, shopkeeper
(1785) #357, Benezet, Daniel
Benezet, Daniel, merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #49 Arch, Benezet or Benezer, Daniel, merchant
(1785) #358 (no entry in 1785 listings)
(1791) #47 (no entry in 1791 listings)
(1785) #359, Syng, Philip
(1785) Lyng, Philip, goldsmith, Arch between Front and 2nd
Philip Syng, Jr. (1703-1789) was a well-known silversmith (a term used more or less
interchangeably with goldsmith, back then) who is best known for having made the standish
(inkstand) used for the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To quote from pp. 127-28
of Stephen
Ensko's American Silversmiths and their Marks (New York: Robert Ensko, Inc., 1948):
Born in Ireland, September 29, eldest son of Philip and Abigail Murdock Syng. Came to America with parents in 1714. Returned to Philadelphia after a trip to England in 1726. Married Elizabeth Warner, February 5, 1729. Became acquainted with Benjamin Franklin about this time. Grand Master, Masonic Grand Lodge (Modern) in 1741; Director of the Library Company, 1731. Advertised, Penna. Gazette, September 14, 1738: "Silversmith, on Front Street." The electrical machine used by Franklin in 1747 was a contrivance of Syng's. An original trustee of Academy of Philadelphia, later to become the University of Pennsylvania. ... Announced retirement from business in notice, which appeared, September 23, 1772, appointing Richard Humphreys, a former apprentice, his successor to his goldsmith's business. Died May 8, 1789. Buried in Christ's Church Burying Ground, Philadelphia. Estate was shared by his eighteen children.
(1785) #360, Hopkins, Samuel, merchant
(1790 and 1791) #43, Hopkins, Samuel, pot-ash maker
(1785) #361, Bayard, James
(1785) Bayard, James, merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #41, Coxe, John D., Esq., attorney at law
(1785) #362, White, Anthony
(1790 and 1791) #39, Parker, Matthew, taylor
(1785) #363, Davies, Benjamin
(1785) Davis, Benjamin, ironmonger, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #37, Thaw, Benjamin, taylor
(1785) #364, Cooper, Jacob
(1785) Cooper, Jacob, gentleman, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #35, Scott, Catharine, widow
(1790 and 1791) #35, Wilson, Mary, widow
(1785) #365, vacant or residents would not give name
(1790 and 1791) #33, Fisher, John, hatter
(1790 and 1791) #33, Hartley, James, iron merchant (also owned property at #18, according
to the 1791 directory)
(1785) #366, Gibbs, Benjamin
(1785) Gibbs, Benjamin, merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #31, Gibbs, Benjamin, merchant
(1785) #367, Bayard, John, Speaker of the General Assembly
(1785) Bayard, John, Esq., speaker, late house of assembly, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #29, Ingersoll, Jared, Esq., attorney at law
(1785) #368, Gillingham, John
(1785) Gillingham, John, cabinetmaker, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #27, Gillingham, John, joiner
(1785) #369, Newport, James, merchant
(1790 and 1791) #25, Benezet, Philip, merchant
(1785) #370, Lawrence, Benjamin
(1790 and 1791) #23 [census only] Bustil, Silas, negro
(1785) #371, Fisher, William
(1785) Fisher, William, Esq., merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #21, Fisher, Sarah, widow
(1785) #372, Fisher, C. James, merchant
(1785) Fisher, James C., merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #19, Compton, William, merchant
(1785) #373, Bonum, Widow
(1785) Bonham, Mrs., gentlewoman, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #17, Hartley, James, iron merchant (also owned property at #33 Arch,
according to the 1791 directory)
(1785) #374, Moore, Widow
(1785) Moore, Elizabeth, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #15, French, Jonathan, bricklayer
(1785) #375, Fillar, Widow
(1785) Fidler, Elizabeth, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1790 and 1791) #13, Fisher, James C. & Samuel W., merchants
BETWEEN FRONT AND 2ND, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) Bartz, John, taylor, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Clambury, Philip, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Clark, John, grocer, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Deselver, Mary, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Hopkins, James, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Mayer, Jacob, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Nicklin, Philip, merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Oliver, Griffith, clock and watch maker, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Paxton, James, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Reinboth, Frederick, cordwainer, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Smith, John, baker, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Sullivan, Jeremiah, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) White, Christopher, cordwainer, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Williams, Hezekiah, merchant, Arch between Front and 2nd
(1785) Wright, Anthony, shopkeeper, Arch between Front and 2nd
CORNER OF ARCH AND 2ND
(1785) #28 Arch Street, #542 2nd Street, Hollingshead, William
(1785) Hollingshead, William, goldsmith, corner of Arch and 2nd
By the numbering, on the southeastern corner. Hollingshead is quite a well-known
silversmith; quite a few examples of his work survive.
A view of this corner in 1833 by William L. Breton can be viewed
here.
(1790 and 1791) #44, West, Mary, widow
It's not clear what was going on here in 1791. The tavern on the
southwestern corner and the addresses following line up, but this makes there be one more
address on the preceding block in 1791 than there was in 1785. MacPherson usually allotted
addresses for vacant lots. Hopefully further information will clear the situation up.
(1785) #355 Arch Street, #541 2nd Street, Pratt, Henry
(1785) Pratt, Henry, shopkeeper, corner of Arch and 2nd
By the numbering, on the northeastern corner.
(1785) #30 2nd Street, Dennison or Donnison, Michael, tavernkeeper
(1785) Dennison, Michael, sign St. George, corner of Arch and 2nd
By the numbering, on the southwestern corner.
(1790 and 1791) #46, Inskeep, John, innkeeper and stage office
According to Rum Punch and Revolution by Peter Thompson, this was generally
called the George Tavern, and was one of the city's oldest; see that book's account of the
unrest surrounding the assembly elections in 1742 for a mention of it when it was run by
Reese Meredith. (p.130) In the late 18th century, anyway, it was particularly associated
with stagecoach business. (p.145)
(1785) Stokes, James, shopkeeper, corner of Arch and 2nd
No James Stokes is listed anywhere near this corner in MacPherson, but he might have been
in partnership or otherwise associated with Andrew Bingham, listed at #31 2nd Street.
Though it's tempting to automatically assume Stokes must have been on the northwestern corner,
by process of elimination,
this is not necessarily so; sometimes White listed more than one person at the same corner
property. A period advertisement by Stokes would help, if any exist.
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#53 Arch, northeastern corner.
#55 Arch, northwestern corner.
#71 N. 2nd, southeastern corner.
#54 Arch, southwestern corner.
BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD, SOUTH SIDE
(1785) #34, Drinker, Joseph
(1785) Drinker, Joseph, cooper, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1790 and 1791) #48, Drinker, Joseph, merchant
(1785) #35, Davis, Benjamin
(1785) Davis, Benjamin, shopkeeper, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1790 and 1791) #50, Matthews, Lucy, widow
(1785) #36, McIlheny, William, taylor
(1785) McHenry, William, taylor, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1790 and 1791) #52, McIlhenny, William, merchant taylor
(1785) #37, Vorell, Jonathan
(1790 and 1791) #54, Hammer, Ludwig, hairdresser
(1785) #38, Cummins, Robert
(1785) Cummings, Robert, merchant, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1790 and 1791) #56, Jones, Joab, taylor
(1785) #39, Dowurs, John
(1785) Dowers, John, sailmaker, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1790 and 1791) #58, Sansom, William, merchant
(1785) #40, Williams, Ezekiah
(1790 and 1791) #60, Williams, Hezekiah, merchant
(1785) #41, Lindley, John
(1790 and 1791) #62, no listing
(1785) #42, Smart, Elizabeth
(1790 and 1791) #64, Perry, Elizabeth, widow
(1785) #43, Benezet, Philip
(1785) Benezet, Philip, merchant, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1790 and 1791) #66, Smith, John, merchant
(1785) #44, Goodman, David
(1790 and 1791) #68, Goodman, George, baker
(1785) #45, Bell, John
(1791) #70, Fenton, David, tutor [at the] college
(1790) The census lists him as a shoemaker; he could easily have been both.
(1785) #46, Wallace, James
(1790 and 1791) #72, Wallace, Thomas, merchant
(1785) #47, Head, Samuel
(1790 and 1791) #74, Head, Mary, widow
The alignment of the following listings is uncertain, since there are no matchups and the numbers don't line up. Some of the 1790 addresses are probably on the west side of 3rd Street. More information will clear this up.
(1785) #48, Boyer, Frederick
(1785) #49, Niles, William
(1785) #50, Dowell, John
(1785) #51, Shoff, George
(1790 and 1791) #76, Walraven, John, cordwainer
(1790 and 1791) #78, Vanhorn and Marriott, taylors
(1790 and 1791) #80, Samms, Thomas, taylor
(1791) #82, Howell, Joshua, gentleman (1790 census says Flack, William, baker)
(1791) #84, no listing (1790 census says Savory, Jacob, hatter)
BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD, NORTH SIDE
(1785) #331, Gardin, John
(1785) Gardner, John, merchant, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #97 Mulberry St., Wilson, James, merchant, also at 16 N. 2nd St.
(1785) #332, Buckard, Andrew
(1785) Burckhard, Andrew, shopkeeper, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #95 Mulberry St., Niles, William, cordwainer
(1785) #333, Cummins, Neil
(1791) #93 Mulberry St., Worrell, Jonathan, cordwainer
(1785) #334, Germon, John
(1785) Germon, John, goldsmith, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #91 Mulberry St., Meredith, Evan, flour merchant
(1791) #91 Mulberry St., Wing, Frederick, baker
(1785) #335, Claypoole, John, upholsterer
(1785) Claypoole, John, upholsterer, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
Claypoole (d.1817) is known for having had a famous wife: Elizabeth Griscom Ross Claypoole
(1752-1836),
best known as Betsy Ross. The house now at #239 Arch Street (modern numbering) has been
preserved as the Betsy Ross house, but the jury's still out on whether it was actually where
she lived. Click here to go to a
webpage about this site with many pictures; most of it is restored as it might have looked
in the 18th century. For those who want to go to a partisan site about whether it
was her house or not, using much the same methods as this website does, click
here. Or go here
for my arrangement of this block and my analysis of the problems involved.
The real question is, why does anyone care? Even if she did sew the first American flag as
we know it, she did not do anything more than any woman back then competent with a needle and
thread could have done. It's not as if she designed the flag. Lydia Darragh, who went out on
a cold blustery night to travel quite some distance to warn General Washington of an impending
attack, is a much better choice of heroine for the American Revolution.
(1791) #89 Mulberry St., Carmalt, Thomas, taylor
(1785) #336, Ford, Widow
(1785) Ford, Mrs., boardinghouse, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #87 Mulberry St., Smith, Mary, widow
(1785) #338, Harvey, Sampson
(1785) Hervey, Sampson, captain, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #85 Mulberry St., Montgomery, William, grocer
(1785) #339, Sellers, William
(1785) Sellers, William, printer, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #83 Mulberry St., Sellers, William, printer
(1785) #341, Rowles, William, attorney at law
(1785) Rawles, William, Esq., counsellor, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #81 Mulberry St., Howell, Joshua, gentleman
(1785) #342, Benton, Widow
(1791) #79 Mulberry St., Vaux, Ann, widow
(1785) #343, White, Christopher, shopkeeper
(1791) #77 Mulberry St., McKean, Joseph B., Esq., attorney at law
(1785) #344, Owen, George
(1791) #75 Mulberry St., Lewis, James, taylor
(1785) #345, Crysler, Jacob
(1791) #71 Mulberry St., Christler, Jacob, shopkeeper
(1785) #346, Clenberg, Philip
(1791) #69 Mulberry St., Clumberg, Philip, surgeon barber
(1785) #347, Black, John
(1785) Black, John, shopkeeper, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #67 Mulberry St., Page, Stephen, deputy sheriff & owner of stage coaches
(1785) #348, Devenport, Widow
(1785) Davenport, Ann, schoolmistress, Arch between 3rd and 4th (block is probably an error)
(1791) #65 Mulberry St., Webb, Sarah, widow
(1785) #349, Dissilver, Robert
(1791) #63 Mulberry St., Craig, Margaret, widow
(1791) #63 Mulberry St., Owen, Griffith, clock & watch maker
(1785) #350, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #61 Mulberry St., Meyer, Jacob, shopkeeper
(1785) #351, Reinboth, Frederick
(1791) #59 Mulberry St., Alberti, George, doctor of physic
(1785) #352, Baish, Martin
(1785) Bish, Martin, cordwainer, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #57 Mulberry St., Baush, Martin, cordwainer
(1785) #353, Paxton, James
(1791) #55 Mulberry St., Carver, Jacob, watch maker
(1785) #354, Bingham, Archibald, shopkeeper (may have been at corner of Arch and 2nd)
(1791) #53 Mulberry St., Redman, John, grocer
BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) Baynton, John, merchant, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Commegs, Thomas, merchant, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Dice, Charles, hairdresser, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Smarle, Jane, shopkeeper, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Spong, James, taylor, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Wing, Frederick, baker, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Worril, Jonathan, shopkeeper, Arch between 2nd and 3rd
CORNER OF ARCH AND 3RD
(1785) #329 Arch Street, #407 3rd Street, Dorsey, Leonard
(1785) Dorsey, Leonard, grocer, corner of Arch and 3rd
By the numbering, on the northeastern corner.
See the notes for the church, just below, for the logic as to why this property was the
one renumbered #99 Arch Street by Clement Biddle for the 1791 directory.
(1791) #99 Mulberry St., Ashby, William, taylor
(1785) #409, vacant or residents would not give name (not certain which corner this was part of, though the southeastern seems more likely by proximity of number)
(1785) #410 3rd Street, #52 Arch Street, Payne, John
By the numbering, on the southeastern corner.
(1785) #27 3rd Street, Rose, Widow
(1785) #53 Arch Street, Rose, James
This alignment is somewhat conjectural, but both listings are in the right place to have
been on the southwestern corner, and of course, a Rose by any other name...
At the northwestern corner of Arch and 3rd Streets, the Second Presbyterian Church existed from 1750 until its demolition in 1837-38, according to the additions made by Willis Hazard to John Fanning Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, Vol. III p.309. According to him it occupied 98 1/2 feet on Arch Street and 80 feet on N. 3rd St, and in Birch's view of c.1800 (viewable here) it does appear to occupy most of the block. The church is not mentioned or given a street number by John MacPherson or Clement Biddle, but does appear in the 1790 census, with the joinery partnership of Lesley & Esbourn (see #327) immediately to the west of it and one William Ashley or Ashby (the census and 1791 directory differ as to the man's name, though agreeing he was a tailor) to the east, where in 1790 he evidently occupied the northeastern corner property where Leonard Dorsey had been in 1785.
(1785) Carman, James, hatter, corner of Arch and 3rd
(1785) Gardner, Joseph, physician, corner of Arch and 3rd
(1785) Pearson, William, grocer, corner of Arch and 3rd
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#101 Arch, northeastern corner.
No # ("Second Presbyterian Ch[urch]"), northwestern corner.
#57 N. 3rd, southeastern corner.
#52 N. 3rd, southwestern corner.
BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH, SOUTH SIDE
(1785) #54, Morgan, John
Most of this block was and is taken up by the Quaker burying ground and (since 1804) the Arch Street Meeting. It bespeaks a faith that that land would never be built upon for MacPherson Biddle to not leave a gap in numbering for this property, but apparently such a faith would have been justified. The numbers continue in more or less a straight run from the last matchup at #43 to John Ewing's house at #56, on the southwestern corner of Arch and 4th Streets.
BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH, NORTH SIDE
On this side of this block [at the end of the following run of numbers-- remember the numbering on the north side of the street ran west to east] stood the Second Presbyterian Church, which was depicted by William Birch in one of his series of engravings of Philadelphia street scenes in 1798-1800; Click here to view the engraving. The view is as if you are standing on the south side between 4th and 5th Streets and looking to the east; the cross street in the middle ground is 4th Street, with the Second Presbyterian Church on the north side of Arch between 3rd and 4th.
(1785) #313, Cist, Charles
(1785) Cist, Charles, printer, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1790 and 1791) #127, Kepple, Catharine, gentlewoman? Francis White established Catharine
Kepple at the corner of Arch and 4th. John
Macpherson, for some reason, gave her only a number on 4th Street, not Arch, and gave his
next-following number, #313, to this Charles Cist. It's possible the two occupied
different parts of the corner property, one with a 4th Street door and one with an Arch
Street door. Clement Biddle treated this address and #314 below as if they didn't
exist, but Kepple, Kesler (of #315) and Locksley (of #319) were all here in both years,
creating a real if hopefully temporary mystery.
(1785) #314, Lecke, C.W. & Melbeck, merchants
(1785) Lecke and Melbeck, tobacco manufacturers, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1785) #315, Kesler, Leonard
(1790 and 1791) Kessler, Leonard (Ludwig in 1790 census), joiner
(1790 and 1791) Kessler, Michael, joiner
(1785) #316, Collins, Thomas
(1785) Collins, Thomas, schoolmaster, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1790 and 1791) #123, Abell, Conrad, hat dyer
(1790 and 1791) #123, Hull, Jacob, tax collector (no people listed for him, suggesting
this might have been his office).
(1785) #317, Watkin, James
(1785) Watkins, James, cabinetmaker, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1790 and 1791) #121, Lewis, Isaac, taylor
(1785) #318, Beckley, Widow
(1790 and 1791) #119, Erwin, Elizabeth, widow
(1785) #319, Locksley, Benjamin
(1785) Loxely, Benjamin, captain, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1790 and 1791) #117, Loxley, Benjamin, gentleman
(1785) #320, Evans, David, joiner
(1785) Evans, David, cabinetmaker, Arch between 3rd and 4th
A card table made by Evans for Edward Burd, the prothonotary of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania, (#414 3rd Street, just around the corner between Market and Arch) is in the
Philadelphia Museum of Art, and is illustrated and discussed in Beatrice Garvan's
Federal Philadelphia: The Athens of the Western World, pp.20-21.
(1790 and 1791) #115, Evans, David, joiner (also at #21 Cherry Street, according to the
1791 directory). The fact that this property appears as David Evans' place in the
1790 census, yet no one is listed as living here, strongly suggests that it was a workplace
and/or showroom for his furniture.
Apparently there was a small alley at Evans' place at #115, since the 1791 directory lists four men as living at that address, "in Small Alley." Of course it's possible that that was the name of the alley. These are the men:
(1785) Keyser or Keiser, John, cordwainer
(1785) Nichols, William, wheelwright
(1785) Shoemaker, Joseph, hatter
(1785) Wittz, Daniel, taylor
Each of these men had at least one female living with them, and some had kids, so these were obviously not "bachelor pads" of a room apiece, but real homes.
(1785) #321, Sergeant, Jonathan D.
(1785) Serjeant, Jonathan, Esq., counsellor at law, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1790 and 1791) #113, Sergeant, Jonathan Dickinson, Esq., attorney at law
(1785) #322, vacant or residents would not give name
(1790 and 1791) #111, no listing in directory, but the 1790 census lists it as
"Kersley's Hospital" whose residents were 11 free white females.
(1785) #323, Clarkson, Mathew
Matthew Clarkson (1733-1800) was quite a prominent Philadelphian of the 18th century.
Born in New York, he was brought to Philadelphia by his stepfather, the
Reverend Gilbert Tennent, who became pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in 1743,
and his mother, Cornelia (De Peyster) Clarkson Tennent. He married one Mary Boude in
1758, and they had seven children. By the time the Directories were
published he had already been Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, Quarter Sessions,
and Orphans Court, Quartermaster of the First Battalion of Associators, Marshall of
the Admiralty for Pennsylvania, Clerk of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the
Insurance of Houses from Loss By Fire, and, the year previous to the Directories, one of
the founding members of the Mutual Assurance Company, the insurance company best known as
the Green Tree after its symbol. Later he was Alderman of Philadelphia and Mayor,
between 1792 and 1795. A Matthew Clarkson, Esq. was at #22 3rd Street, just around the
corner from this property, where the State Lottery Office was run; it is not clear whether
this was Clarkson, Clarkson's son Matthew, or the Lottery Office run by one or the other.
This property was insured by Clarkson through the Mutual Assurance Company. According to Policies Numbered 56 and 57, the structure was 20' by 36' and "3 stories" though they used that term to describe those we would now call two-and-a-half-story houses. It was fairly plainly finished inside and had a street tree in front of the door. The backbuildings were 55' by 13' and "2 stories."
Anthony Garvan's The Mutual Assurance Company Papers, Vol. 1: The Architectural Surveys,
1784-1794, the source of all this information, states that the insured house was numbered
#109 under the 1791 Biddle system of numbering. This is true:
(1790 and 1791) #109, Clarkson, Matthew, Esq.
(1785) #324, Heysham, William
(1785) #324, Hysham, William
(1785) Heysham, William, captain, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1790 and 1791) #107, Heysham, William, gentleman
(1785) #325, Wilcox, Alexander
(1785) Wilcocks, Alexander, Esq., counsellor at law, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1790 and 1791) #105, Wilcocks, Alexander, Esq., recorder of the city
(1785) #326, Bushell, John
(1790 and 1791) #103, Gibbons, John, doctor of physic
(1785) #327, Ashburn, Lesley
(1790 and 1791) #101, Lesley & Esbourn, joiners
BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) Davis, Samuel, hatter, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1785) Irvine, James, Esq., member of assembly, Arch between 3rd and 4th
(1785) Lesler, Peter, cabinetmaker, Arch between 3rd and 4th
CORNER OF ARCH AND 4TH
Two early views of this intersection exist. A photograph of the 1850s in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and most commonly available in the book Historic Philadelphia From the Founding Until the Early Nineteenth Century (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1953).
Click here to view the engraving of Arch Street made by William Birch in 1798-1800; the view is as if you are standing on the south side between 4th and 5th Streets and looking to the east; the cross street in the middle ground is 4th Street, with the Second Presbyterian Church on the northwest corner of Arch and 3rd. The large building at the left on the corner is evidently (1791) #127 Arch, Catharine Kepley or Kepple's home.
(1785) #56, Ewing, John, President of the University
(1785) Ewing, John, Reverend, minister, corner of Arch and 4th
On the southwestern corner, by the numbering
and by the historical record of the house, built in
1771 for William Smith, Provost of the Academy of Philadelphia (later the University of
Pennsylvania). Part of the Arch Street side can be seen at the far right in the Birch view,
mentioned above, and part of the 4th Street side can be seen in the photograph mentioned above.
(1790 and 1791) #86, Smith, William, D.D., Provost of the colledge [sic]. Did Smith return
as provost, or was Biddle's information simply out-of-date?
(1785) #312, Boinod, David, merchant
(1785) Boinod, Daniel, bookseller, corner of Arch and 4th
Certainly on a northern corner; possibly the northwestern, which is the main subject of
the photograph referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(1790 and 1791) #129 Bradford, William, Esq., attorney general of the state
This is one of the few 18th-century Philadelphia buildings of which both an early
engraved view and an early photograph exist (both noted just above). It was a small
two-and-a-half story house with a full gambrel roof on both sides of a peak, probably a
frame structure.
(1785) #235 4th Street, Kepley, Catharine
(1785) Keppelle, Mrs., gentlewoman, corner of Arch and 4th
By the numbering, on one of the eastern corners, and because the southeastern is occupied
by the Quaker property, she must have been on the northeastern corner.
(1790 and 1791) #127 Arch St., Kepple, Catharine, gentlewoman
(1785) Riffitts, Tilbiet, innkeeper, corner of Arch and 4th
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#129 Arch, northeastern corner.
#131 Arch, northwestern corner.
No # ("Quaker Meeting House"), southeastern corner.
#84 Arch, southwestern corner.
BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, SOUTH SIDE
(1790 and 1791) #88, no listing
(1785) #59, Way & Hunter's Coachmakers Store
(1785) Way and Hunter, coachmakers, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #96, Bringhurst, George, coach maker
According to the 1790 census, the graveyard (see below) was immediately to the west of
Bringhurst.
Part of this block, including the western corner, was and is taken up by the burying ground for St. Peter's Church on 2nd between Market and Arch. Benjamin Franklin's grave is the biggest attraction for this cemetery. Much of the eastern part of this block was owned by the Quaker Charity School and Academy, of which John Ewing (at that corner) was the President.
BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, NORTH SIDE
(1785) #288, Reese, William
(1785) Rees, William, gardener, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #173, Stahl or Stall, Frederick, rope maker (also at #213 Race St., according
to the 1791 directory)
(1785) #289, Peters, Widow
(1785) Peters, Mary, schoolmistress, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #171, Poor, John, schoolmaster (also at #78 N. Front St., according
to the 1791 directory)
(1785) #290, Smith, Charles
(1785) Smith, Charles, shopkeeper, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #169, Gitz, Michael, stay maker
(1785) #291, Chambers, David
(1785) Cambers, David, stonecutter, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #167, Chambers, David, stone cutter
David Chambers was a famous stonecutter, who was specifically requested by Benjamin
Franklin to carve his and his wife Deborah's tombstone (coincidentally, located in the cemetery
at the corner of Arch and 5th, only half a block from the site of Chambers' building). No
people are listed for this property, possibly meaning it was Chambers' workshop.
(1785) #292, Miller, Charles
(1785) Miller, Charles, merchant, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #165, Kelsey, Samuel, scrivener
(1785) #293, Bennet, Barnabas
(1785) Binney, B., Dr., physician, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #163, Hills, John, surveyor and draftsman
John Hills' large 1796 map of Philadelphia is a classic, and one of the most detailed early
maps of the city.
(1785) #294, vacant or residents would not give name
(1790 and 1791) #161, Carmack, Ann, widow
(1785) #295, Weiss, Lewis, scrivener
(1785) Weiss, Lewis, scriviner, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #159, Weiss, Lewis, Esq.
(1790 and 1791) #159, Trenchard, James, engraver
(1785) #296, Craiff, Jacob
(1785) Graff, Jacob, brickmaker, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #157, Graff, Jacob, breeches maker
(1785) #297, Cowpland, Jonathan
(1785) Copeland, Jonathan, capt., gentleman, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #155, Conkel, George, taylor
(1785) #298, Miller, Henry
(1785) Miller, Henry, printer, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #153, Miller, Henry, printer
(1785) #299, Lorth, Widow
(1785) Lorte, Mrs., gentlewoman, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #151, Crozier, Margaret, widow
(1785) #300, Wilcox, Samuel
(1785) Wilcock, Samuel, lumber merchant, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #149, Johnson, Mary, widow
(1785) #301, Sashwood, James
(1785) Scharfwood, James, lumber merchant, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #147, Fike, John, mariner
(1785) #302, Flake, Jacob
(1790 and 1791) #145, Gideon, Jacob, ink powder and black ball manufacturer (though
the 1790 census says he's a "Br. maker," possibly meaning a brickmaker.)
(1785) #303, Parker, Allmore
(1790 and 1791) #143, Stiles, Samuel, cordwainer
(1785) #304, Way, Andrew
(1785) Way, Andrew, taylor, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #141, Mullock, Edward, labourer
(1785) #305, Collins, Widow
(1785) Collins, Mrs., boardinghouse, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #139, Marker, Andrew, taylor
(1785) #307, Parker, Samuel
(1785) Parker, Samuel, brass founder, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #137, Parker, Samuel
(1785) #308, Bates, Christian
(1785) Bates, Christian, baker, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #135, Bell, Christian, baker
(1785) #309, Kennard, Jacob
(1790 and 1791) #133, Chapman, James, whip maker
(1785) #310, Knight, John
(1790 and 1791) #131, Knight, John, hatter
(1785) #311, Clemmens, Jacob
This is anyone's guess. John Knight of #310 and Samuel Parker of #307 line up perfectly,
as does Catharine Kepple at the corner of Arch and 4th, which leaves this number kind of
in limbo (i.e., there's no gap in the 1791 numbering for this property). The 1790 census
shows Knight living next to William Bradford at the corner. Still, this is
almost undoubtedly the house visible next to the bookseller's place at the corner, a small
two-and-a-half story gambrel-roofed house which obviously still existed at least into the
1850s. It's also visible from the west in the Birch view. One possibility is that in 1785
this building was divided into two apartments (though that word was not in use in America at
that time) which had ceased to be separately rented-out by 1790.
BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) Attmore, Thomas, hatter, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1785) Shee, John, merchant, Arch between 4th and 5th
(1785) Welker, Frederick, brickmaker, Arch between 4th and 5th
CORNER OF ARCH AND 5TH
(1790 and 1791) #177, Hagenau, John Nicholas, merchant
(1790 and 1791) #177, Hazelground, Susannah, widow
Though the exact corner is uncertain, this street address is by association at the
corner of Arch and 5th. Only Susannah Hazelground (or Hazleground) appears in the
census; perhaps Hagenau didn't arrive until 1791.
(1785) #286, Mercier, Anthony. The association of Anthony Mercier with (Frantz)
Anton Metzger is a slight stretch at this point, but he's in the correct place for it, and
the middle name does provide an arguable anglicization.
(1785) Metzger, Francis, merchant, corner of Arch and 5th
(1790 and 1791) #179, Metzger, Frantz Anton, wine merchant
(1785) Sadler, Mathew, captain, corner of Arch and 5th
(1785) Sadler, Matthias, house carpenter, corner of Arch and 5th
(1790) Sadler, Mathew, carpenter. For no obvious reason the 1791 directory does not
contain a #175, which would be this property based on the census progression, and lists
Mathew Sadler at #46 N. 5th (an
address on the west side of the street, immediately to the south of the Free Quaker Meeting
House on the southwestern corner of this intersection) which given that he's listed in the
1790 census as being about at the corner on the north side of the street, leaves us
wondering. (Biddle's 1791 directory also has a listing for him well to the west, at #253 Arch,
probably the same location MacPherson listed (as Matthias Sadler) at what MacPherson
numbered #237 Arch, two blocks to the west, possibly at the corner of Arch and 7th.
The southwestern corner of this intersection was occupied from 1783 onward by the Free Quaker Meeting House, built by those Quakers who had been disowned by the mainstream Quaker Meetings for having too actively supported independence in the Revolution. Washington and Franklin were among the subscribers for its construction. When Independence Mall was created in the 1950s and 1960s by widespread demolition, this building was one of the few spared; it still stands, though it was moved back a few feet (toward 6th Street) when 5th Street was widened. Click here to go to a page about this building.
The southeastern corner was and is taken up by the burying ground for St. Peter's Church (itself located several blocks away on 2nd Street between Market and Arch). Benjamin Franklin's grave is at the corner.
(1785) Grace, John, blacksmith, corner of Arch and 5th
According to Rum Punch and Revolution by Peter Thompson, former mariner William Watkin took over an "accustomed house" (a tavern) on this corner, though Thompson does not specify when this took place or what the tavern's name was. (p.38)
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#175 Arch, northeastern corner.
#177 Arch, northwestern corner.
No # ("Christ Church B[urying] G[round]"), southeastern corner.
No # ("Seminary"), southwestern corner.
BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH, SOUTH SIDE
(1785) #71, vacant or residents would not give name
(1785) #72, Briggs, Samuel
(1785) Briggs, Samuel, rope maker, Arch between 5th and 6th
(1790 and 1791) #108, Briggs, Samuel, pump maker. The proximity of #108 to #114, where
the gentleman Samuel Emlen lived in both 1785 and 1790-91, suggests that these two houses
were close to 6th Street.
BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH, NORTH SIDE
The problem with the listings below is that they don't line up. More information is needed.
(1785) #263, Fearis, William
(1785) #265, Brown, William
(1785) #266, Hudsel, William
(1785) #267, Cress, John
(1785) #270, Walter, Frederick
(1785) #271, Gee, R.M.
(1785) #272, Suist, Widow
(1785) #273, Hugg, John
(1785) #274, Hunt, Joseph
(1785) #275, Tippany, Godfrey
(1790 and 1791) #205, no listing
(1790 and 1791) #203, Willis, Thomas, turner
(1790 and 1791) #201, Duncan, James, mariner
(1790 and 1791) #199, Schreiner, Christopher, blacksmith
(1790 and 1791) #197, no listing
(1790 and 1791) #195, Zeppernick, Godfrey, tallow chandler
(1790 and 1791) #193, no listing
(1790 and 1791) #191, no listing
(1790 and 1791) #189, no listing
(1785) #276, Clawges, John, painter
(1785) Clauges, John, painter, Arch between 5th and 6th
(1790 and 1791) #187, Clawges, John, painter
(1785) #281, Catherill, Benjamin
(1790 and 1791) #185, Catherill or Cathrall, Benjamin, schoolmaster
(1785) #282 and #283, no listing. The 1790 census clears this up: "Presbeterian Funeral Ground."
(1785) #284, Hunter, William
(1785) Hunter, William, coachmaker, Arch between 5th and 6th
(1790 and 1791) #183, no listing. This could refer to the Presbyterian funeral
ground (just above) but Biddle was not noted for assigning numbers to such landscape
phenomena. He didn't assign a number to the Second Presbyterian Church just to the east,
for example, whose cemetery this probably was.
(1785) #285, Dilhorn, George
(1785) Dilhorne, George, taylor, Arch between 5th and 6th
(1790 and 1791) #181, Frazier, Ann, widow
BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) Andrews, John, Reverend, minister, Arch between 5th and 6th
(1785) Hare, Patrick, shopkeeper, Arch between 5th and 6th
(1785) McGee, Robert, lumber merchant, Arch between 5th and 6th
(1785) Sappernock, Godfrey, tallow chandler, Arch between 5th and 6th
(see this listing: (1791) #195, Zeppernick, Godfrey, tallow chandler)
CORNER OF ARCH AND 6TH
(1785) #77, Emlin, Samuel
(1785) Emlen, Samuel, corner of Arch and 6th
(1790 and 1791) #114, Emlen, Samuel, gentleman
(1785) Asmos, John, blacksmith, corner of Arch and 6th
(1785) Autmos, John, blacksmith, corner of Arch and 6th
Probably the same man.
(1790 and 1791) #207, Astmar, John, blacksmith
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#207 Arch, northeastern corner.
#209 Arch, northwestern corner.
#120 Arch, southeastern corner.
#122 Arch, southwestern corner.
BETWEEN 6TH AND 7TH, SOUTH SIDE
NOTE-- the southwest corner of 6th and Arch and the two buildings next to it-- #140-144 Arch in 1791 numbering-- became 600-604 Arch in 1858.
(1785) #91, vacant or residents would not give name
(1785) #94, Stern, Samuel
(1785) #95, Rakestriff, Joseph
(1790 and 1791) #138, Rakestraw, Joseph, sen., house carpenter
Uncertain, since the following listings don't line up:
(1785) #100, vacant or residents would not give name
(1785) #105, Phizz, John
(1785) #106, Palliot, Stephen
(1785) #107, Forrest, Thomas
(1790 and 1791) #146, Rice, Israel, porter
(1790 and 1791) #152, Baker, Henry, grocer
(1790 and 1791) #154, Hodgson, Hannah, widow
(1790 and 1791) #156, Vanderpool, Sarah, widow
BETWEEN 6TH AND 7TH, NORTH SIDE
(1785) #255, Fisher, Thomas
(1785) #256, Chevalier, Widow
(1785) Chevalier, Mrs., gentlewoman, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) #257, Nicholson, John, Comptroller Gen.
(1785) Nicholson, John, Esq., comptroller-general for the state of Pennsylvania (office in the east
wing of the state house), Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) #258, vacant or residents would not give name
BETWEEN 6TH AND 7TH, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) Brown, Mrs., innkeeper, sign Leopard, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) Chrysler, Philip, blacksmith, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) Fisher, George, leather breeches maker, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) Gray, Joseph, brewer, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) Lee, John, mariner, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) Mitchell, John, house carpenter, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) Stewart, Mrs., shopkeeper, Arch between 6th and 7th
CORNER OF ARCH AND 7TH
(1785) #108, Phipps, Isaac
(1785) Philips, Isaac, house carpenter, corner of Arch and 7th
Also see #250.
(1785) #109, Rittenhouse, David
(1785) Rittenhouse, David, Esq., state treasurer, corner of Arch and 7th
(1790 and 1791) #245, Rittenhouse, David, Esq. But this number says he was on the north
side of the street, which MacPherson's number belies (saying he was on the southwestern
corner).
(1791 only) #245, Waters, Nicholas B., doctor of physic. Either Waters came here between
1790 and 1791, or he was listed in the census as being in Rittenhouse's household. The
former seems more likely, since in 1790 only one free white male of over 16 years of age is
listed in the household, which would have been Rittenhouse himself.
(1785) #246, Allardice, Joseph
(1785) Allerdice, Joseph, dyer, corner of Arch and 7th
(1785) #247, vacant or residents would not give name
(1785) #248, vacant or residents would not give name
(1785) #250, Phipps, Isaac
Also see #108; Did the same man own both or were there two at the same corner? It seems
clear that #108 was at the corner, across from the well-known David Rittenhouse, but the
presence of #246 at one of the northern corners means there's a possibility that #250 was
also at the corner. This is a very confusing intersection, directory-wise; White listed more
people at this intersection (eight) than he did any other.
(1785) Dick, Godfrey, labourer, corner of Arch and 7th
(1785) Garrigues, Conrade, soap boiler, corner of Arch and 7th
(1785) Huelling, Jonathan, house carpenter, corner of Arch and 7th
(1785) Sickle, William, Esq., corner of Arch and 7th
(1785) Stow, Mrs., corner of Arch and 7th
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#243 Arch, northeastern corner.
#245 Arch, northwestern corner.
#158 Arch, southeastern corner.
#160 Arch, southwestern corner.
BETWEEN 7TH AND 8TH, SOUTH SIDE
Given the numbering (#108 and #109 at the corner of Arch and 7th), the following eight listings must have been between 7th and 8th, not 6th and 7th as White stated. With no streets signs, it must have been especially difficult for compilers not from this outlying area of the city not to lose track of which numbered street was which.
(1785) #117, Ogleby, Joseph
(1785) Ogilby, Joseph, house carpenter, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) #118, Sutton, Widow
(1785) Sutton, Mrs., Arch between 6th and 7th
(1785) #119, Lee, Widow
(1785) #120, Speakman, Townsend
(1785) #122, Dardas, Michael
(1785) Dardis, Michael, labourer, Arch between 6th and 7th
(1790 and 1791) #182, Dardis, Michael, labourer
(1785) #126, Garrick, Conrad
(1790 and 1791) #184, Savory, Jacob, hatter
(1785) #129, Clark, Thomas
(1785) Clark, Thomas, bricklayer, Arch between 7th and 8th
(1790 and 1791) #186, no listing
(1785) #132, Garrick, Isaac
(1790 and 1791) #188, Garrick, Elizabeth, widow
BETWEEN 7TH AND 8TH, NORTH SIDE
(1790 and 1791) #251, Ogleby, Joseph, house carpenter
This listing doesn't line up with anything yet, but is between Rittenhouse at (1791) #245 and
Sadler at #253. The 1790 census lists it only as
"Ogelby" with no people listed there at all, making it likely to have been a workplace.
(1785) #210, vacant or residents would not give name
(1785) #229, Waggoner, John
(1785) Waggoner, John, stocking weaver, Arch between 7th and 8th
(1785) #230, Ambruster, Matthias
(1785) #231, Wheeler, Widow
(1785) Wheeler, Mrs., Arch between 7th and 8th
(1785) #232, Wheeler, Thomas, grocer
(1785) #237, Sadler, Matthias
(1790 and 1791) #253, Sadler, Matthew, carpenter
See notes for corner of Arch and 5th Streets. The 1790 census lists it only as
"Saddler" with no people listed there at all, making it likely to have been a workplace.
BETWEEN 7TH AND 8TH, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) Ambruster, Joseph, shoemaker, Arch between 7th and 8th
(1785) Forrest, Thomas, Arch near 7th
(1785) Watkins, William, joiner and carpenter, Arch between 7th and 8th
CORNER OF ARCH AND 8TH
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#297 Arch, northeastern corner.
#299 Arch, northwestern corner.
#196 Arch, southeastern corner.
#198 Arch, southwestern corner.
BETWEEN 8TH AND 9TH, SOUTH SIDE
The 1790 census ends the south-side-of-Arch listings, which end at 9th Street, with Samuel M. Fox, which is why the following listings have been placed on this block:
(1790 and 1791), #190, Betsham, Catharine, widow
(1790 and 1791), #192, Smith, John, blacksmith
(1790 and 1791), #198, Berret, Mary, widow
(1790 and 1791), #200, Beckley, John, Esq., clerk to the House of Representatives of the United States
(1790 and 1791), #202, Montgomery, Robert, gentleman
(1790 and 1791) #204, Fox, Samuel M., merchant
The census ends at 9th street. Despite the fact that the directory didn't end there, its
listings for the south side of Arch ended there.
BETWEEN 8TH AND 9TH, NORTH SIDE
The location on the north side of this block of the following listings is conjectural:
(1785) #192, Stiller, John
(1785) #193, Boyer, James
(1785) #196, Shreffel, Henry
(1785) #197, Evans, Mark
(1785) #198, Martin, Robert
The following listings are from the 1790 census listings which stop at 9th Street, so those after the first two are almost certainly on the north side of the block between 8th and 9th.
(1790 and 1791) #269, Lawrence, Jacob, labourer
(1790 and 1791) #271, Wagner, John, labourer
(1790 and 1791) #287, Ozeas, Peter, officer of the customs
(1790 only, undoubtedly at #287) Ozeas, John, carpenter
(1790 and 1791) #395, Stiemer, Margaret, widow
Given Stiemer's (or Steimer) presence in this position in the midst of these listings
in the 1790 census,
which was methodical, she was undoubtedly at #295, with the number as given being a typo.
(1790 and 1791) #299, Brown, Elizabeth, widow
(1790 and 1791) #301, Wynn, William, coach maker
BETWEEN 8TH AND 9TH, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) Ammerick, Baltzer, labourer, Arch between 8th and 9th
CORNER OF ARCH AND 9TH
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#333 Arch, northeastern corner.
#335 Arch, northwestern corner.
#228 Arch, southeastern corner.
#230 Arch, southwestern corner.
BETWEEN 9TH AND 10TH, SOUTH SIDE
BETWEEN 9TH AND 10TH, NORTH SIDE
BETWEEN 9TH AND 10TH, UNKNOWN SIDE
(1785) #161, Negroe Woman
(1785) #165, Lucas, Martin Thomas and William
(1785) #175, Rheinick, Lewis
(1785) #178, Nonaker, Jacob
(1785) #180, Prupert, William
(1785) #183, Shepherd, John
(1785) #184, Moore, John
(1785) Bowyers, James, clerk, Arch between 9th and 10th
(1785) Strible, John, wheelwright, Arch between 9th and 10th
(1785) Thomas, Martin, lumber merchant, Arch between 9th and 10th
CORNER OF ARCH AND 10TH
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#377 Arch, northeastern corner.
#379 Arch, northwestern corner.
#276 Arch, southeastern corner.
#278 Arch, southwestern corner.
CORNER OF ARCH AND 11TH
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
#305 Arch, northeastern corner. Obviously an error, given that #379 was at Arch and 10th. Probably #405.
#307 Arch, northwestern corner. Obviously an error, given that #379 was at Arch and 10th. Probably #407.
#312 Arch, southeastern corner.
#314 Arch, southwestern corner.
CORNER OF ARCH AND 12TH
The 1830 directory, in which the same numbering system theoretically was in place, contained a key to the numbering of corner properties and gives the following numbers for this corner:
No # ("Waste"), northeastern corner.
No # ("Grocery"), northwestern corner.
#348 Arch, southeastern corner.
# ("Waste"), southwestern corner.
White's directory listings for Arch Street end at the block between 9th and 10th Streets.
Well to the west in the 1791 directory there are these listings:
(no #), Jackson, James, taylor
(no # but "Mulberry St. near Schuylkill") Kling, John
