Spruce Street

CORNER OF SPRUCE AND WATER

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:

#13 Spruce, northeastern corner.
#15 Spruce, northwestern corner.
#133 S. Water, southeastern corner.
#166 S. Water, southwestern corner.

BETWEEN WATER AND FRONT, SOUTH SIDE

BETWEEN WATER AND FRONT, NORTH SIDE

(1791) #1 Spruce St., Sweetman & Rudolph, flour merchants

(1785) #301, Few, Joseph, tobacconist
(1791) #9 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #302, Snowden & North, ship chandlers
(1791) #11 Spruce St., Snowden & North, rope makers & ship chandlers

(1791) #15 Spruce St., Champnis, James, barber

(1785) #307, Sweatman and Rudolph, merchants
(1791) #17 Spruce St., Short, Mary, schoolmistress

BETWEEN WATER AND FRONT, UNKNOWN SIDE

CORNER OF SPRUCE AND FRONT

No one is listed at #1 (#2 under the 1791 system) Spruce Street-- #6 is the first listing.

(1785) #299 Spruce Street, #566 Front Street, Shortall, Thomas
(1785) Shortall, Thomas, grocer, corner of Spruce and Front By the numbering, on the northeastern corner.

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:

#165 S. Front, northeastern corner.
No # ("Lumber Yard"), northwestern corner.
#167 S. Front, southeastern corner.
#8 Spruce, southwestern corner.

BETWEEN FRONT AND 2ND, SOUTH SIDE

(1785) #6, Barclay, John
(1791) #4 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #7, Watkins, William
(1791) #6 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #8, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #8 Spruce St., no listing
If correct this would be one of the rare instances in which a house had the same number under both numbering systems. But #8 may have been the corner property at Spruce and Front; see notes for that corner.

(1785) #9, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #10 Spruce St., Alexander, James, tavernkeeper

(1785) #10, Peron, Valentine
(1785) Pegan, Valentine, sign Hen and Chickens, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #12 Spruce St., Peaca, Valentine, tavernkeeper
(1791) #12 Spruce St., Boys, John,
(1791) #12 Spruce St., Dunwick, William, labourer
(1791) #12 Spruce St., Potts, Jasper
(1791) #12 Spruce St., Strickland, John

(1785) #11, no listing
(1791) #14 Spruce St., Fiss, Christian, fan maker

(1785) #12, Bussey, Moses, tallow chandler
(1791) #16 Spruce St., Bussy, Moses, tallow chandler

(1785) #13, Town, Benjamin
(1785) Towne, Benjamin, coppersmith, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #18 Spruce St., Carrell, Lawrence, gunsmith

(1785) #14, Gentle, James
(1785) Gentle, James, bookbinder, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #20 Spruce St., White, Peter, fann maker

(1785) #15, Green, Nehemiah
(1791) #22 Spruce St., Cousins, John, labourer

(1785) #16, Widowfield, William
(1785) Weddifield, William, windsor chair maker, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #24 Spruce St., Callaghan, Charles, labourer

(1785) #17, Walton, Samuel
(1785) #17, Murdox, _______
(1785) Walton, Samuel, cabinetmaker, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #26 Spruce St., Walton, Samuel, joiner

(1785) #18, Perkins, Joseph, gunsmith
(1785) Perkins, Joseph, gunsmith and shopkeeper, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #28 Spruce St., Green, Eleanor, shopkeeper

(1785) #19, Locksley, Benjamin
(1785) Loxley, Benjamin, major, gentleman, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #32 Spruce St., Loxley, Benjamin, carpenter

(1785) #20, Fletcher, Samuel, turner
(1791) #34 Spruce St., Nellam, Thomas, mariner

(1785) #21, Bowen, Thomas
(1785) Bowen, Thomas, cabinetmaker, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #36 Spruce St., Grubb, Michael, barber

(1785) #22, Dugan, John
(1785) Duggan, John, shopkeeper, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #38 Spruce St., League, Robert, carpenter

(1785) #23, Lewis, Nathan
(1785) Lewis, Nathaniel, flour merchant, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #40 Spruce St., Singleton, Ann
(1791) #40 Spruce St., Wilson, William, mariner

(1785) #24, Bedford & Barclay
(1785) Bedford and Barclay, grocers, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1791) #44 Spruce St., Bowen, Thomas, joiner
(1791) #44 Spruce St., Reiley, Edward,

BETWEEN FRONT AND 2ND, NORTH SIDE

(1785) #279, Robinson, Widow
(1785) Robinson, Mrs., boardinghouse, Spruce between Front and 2nd This building stands at the property next to the northeastern corner of Spruce and 2nd. Built probably in 1760 by Benjamin Paschall, after he bought the western half of the lot at the corner to "erect a Brick Tenement and [make] other improvements thereon." It went through several owners; Mrs. Robinson was left the property by her husband on condition that she never remarry. After her, it housed a confectioner. All this is known because it adjoins, and is now owned in common with, A Man Full of Trouble Tavern, built at about the same time just to the east. All this information comes from the article on the tavern and the excavations there in John Cotter's The Buried Past: An Archaeological History of Philadelphia, pp. 162-170. This is one example of the usefulness of property records to nail down ambiguities in the directories.

(1785) #280, Alexander, James
(1785) Alexander, James, innkeeper, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(modern) #125 Spruce Street
Thankfully, this inn still survives, the only pre-Revolutionary Philadelphia tavern known to have done so. A Man Full of Trouble Tavern, as it was supposedly known after its construction in about 1760 by plasterer Michael Sisk, has been saved and restored, but is not open to tours or (unfortunately) to customers. In 1769 clockmaker John Wood (d.1793), reportedly then living near the intersection of Chestnut and 4th Streets (in 1785 living at #510 Front Street, at the corner of Front and Chestnut) bought it and had it insured by the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses From Loss By Fire. The insurance survey noted that Joseph Beeks was then keeping a tavern there; he died in 1772, and in 1773 James Alexander was licensed as a "Public House Keeper." He rented it until 1789, when he was licensed to set up a tavern closer to Front Street (at #10 Spruce-- 1791 numbering-- next to the Hen and Chickens), and one Thomas Wilkins took over the operation of the tavern. The property address in Biddle's system, however, seems to have been #2 Dock Street, according to the 1791 directory, where Wilkins is, indeed, listed as a tavernkeeper. After John Wood's death in 1793 he continued to rent it, but in 1796 it was bought by the widow Martha Smallwood, and she operated it herself until she died in 1826. All this information (except as noted), and more, is from the article on the tavern and the excavations there in John Cotter's The Buried Past: An Archaeological History of Philadelphia, pp. 162-170. Note that by the numbering, the rest of the block to the east was apparently unimproved, up to and possibly including the northwestern corner of Spruce and Front.

Note, too, that because it was a fairly small lot, the kitchen was in the cellar, as it was in many such small houses in 18th century Philadelphia. This (and many other photos of the tavern) are shown in Elizabeth B. McCall's Old Philadelphia Houses on Society Hill.

BETWEEN FRONT AND 2ND, UNKNOWN SIDE

(1785) Buffy, Nicholas, tallow chandler, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1785) Fiss, Christian, fan maker, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1785) Ivory, Nicholas, rigger, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1785) Jones, Isaac, merchant, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1785) Miles, Thomas, house carpenter, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1785) Serree, Francis, staymaker, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1785) Taylor, Robert, ship rigger, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1785) Waynewright, Isaac, blockmaker, Spruce between Front and 2nd
(1785) Williamson, Mrs., shopkeeper, Spruce between Front and 2nd

CORNER OF SPRUCE AND 2ND

(1785) #278, vacant or residents would not give name Would have been at the northeastern corner; placed at this corner by implication of #279.

(1785) Boswell, William, lime trader, corner of Spruce and 2nd
(1785) Jones, John, merchant, corner of Spruce and 2nd

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:

#171 S. 2nd, northeastern corner.
#154 S. 2nd, northwestern corner.
#173 S. 2nd, southeastern corner.
#56 Spruce, southwestern corner.

BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD, SOUTH SIDE

It is not certain whether the following six listings were on this block or that between Front and 2nd (see 1830 notes in the section on the corner of Spruce and 2nd, just above):

(1785) #25, Coutly, Samuel
(1791) #46 Spruce St., Harvey, Samuel, taylor

(1785) #26, Cox, Moses & Sons
(1791) #48 Spruce St., Abington, Mrs., gentlewoman

(1785) #27, Morgan, John
(1791) #50 Spruce St., Fleming, John, sea captain
(1791) #50 Spruce St., Hauck, William
(1791) #50 Spruce St., Kitts, Charles
(1791) #50 Spruce St., St. Clair, Joseph

(1785) #28, no listing
(1791) #52 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #29, Hugg, Jacob
(1791) #54 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #30, Griffith, Cadwallader
(1791) #56 Spruce St., Wharton, Joseph, Esq., also at 54 Shippen St. Southwark

(1785) #31, Langstroth, Hewson
(1791) #58 Spruce St., Davis, Eleanor, spinster

(1791) #60 Spruce St., no listing

(1791) #62 Spruce St., Newark, Hannah, gentlewoman

(1785) #32, Harris, Robert, doctor of physic
(1791) #64 Spruce St., Harper, Mary, gentlewoman

(1785) #33, Gerald, Joseph, attorney at law
(1791) #66 Spruce St., McPherson, William, Esq., surveyor of the port

(1791) #68 Spruce St., Blake, William, letter carrier

(1785) #34, Tackero, William
(1785) Thackarra, William, mariner, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #70 Spruce St., Thackara, William, grain measurer

(1785) #35, Cox, Margaret
(1791) #72 Spruce St., Thackara & Valance, engravers

(1785) #36, Bankson, William
(1785) Bankson, William, upholsterer, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #74 Spruce St., Snowden, Jedediah, joiner

(1785) #37, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #78 Spruce St., Farrell, Joshua, mariner

(1785) #38, Allen, Nehemiah
(1785) Allen, Nehemiah, cooper, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #80 Spruce St., Groves, Jane, gentlewoman

(1785) #39, Jenkins, William
(1791) #82 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #40, Trenchard, James
(1791) #84 Spruce St., Brown, Isaiah, cooper

(1785) #41, Corbeau, Peter
(1785) Kirbough, Peter, shopkeeper, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd

(1785) #42, Townsend, John
(1785) Townsend, John, cabinetmaker, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #86 Spruce St., Townsend, John, joiner
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania collection at the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia has a cradle reportedly made by "John Townsend of Spruce Street," c.1800 (when he was still at this address).

(1785) #43, Smith, Thomas
(1791) #88 Spruce St., Preston, James, rigger

(1785) #44, Young, John senior
(1785) Young, John, sen., gentleman, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #90 Spruce St., Allison, Francis, gentleman

(1785) #45, McCarthy, Widow
(1785) McCarthy, Mrs., Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #92 Spruce St., Griffith, Cadwallader, cordwainer

(1785) #46, Hickman, Sylvia, tailor
(1785) Hickman, Selby, taylor, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #94 Spruce St., Fenner, Anthony, painter

(1791) #96 Spruce St., Weatherby, Margaret, gentlewoman

(1785) #47, Carver, Samuel, house carpenter
(1785) Carver, Samuel, house carpenter, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) #47, Millner, Widow
(1791) #98 Spruce St., Carver, Samuel, carpenter

(1785) #48, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #100 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #49, Townsend, John (possibly at the corner of Spruce and 3rd; also see #42)
(1791) #102 Spruce St., no listing

BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD, NORTH SIDE (going east)

(1785) #259, Carney, Widow
(1791) #55 Spruce St., Currey, Jane, gentlewoman

(1785) #260, Merriott, Sarah
(1785) Merriot, Mrs., gentlewoman, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #53 Spruce St., Humphreys, Assheton, Esq., attorney at law, notary public & conveyancer

(1785) #261, Lewis, Robert & Sons, merchants
(1785) Lewis, Robert, flour merchant, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #51 Spruce St., Matlack, Josiah, carpenter

(1785) #263, Zane, Jonathan, ironmonger
(1791) #49 Spruce St., Siddons, Josiah, taylor

(1785) #264, Bowers, Widow
(1785) Bowes, Mrs., gentlewoman, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #47 Spruce St., Bowes, Charlotte, gentlewoman

(1785) #265, Govett, William
(1785) Govett, William, gentleman, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #45 Spruce St., Govett, William, city commissioner

(1785) #266, Lear, Charles
(1791) #43 Spruce St., Miller, John, merchant

(1785) #267, Gibbins, Widow
(1785) Gibbons, Mrs., gentlewoman, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #41 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #268, vacant or residents would not give name

(1785) #269 Spruce St., Young, John junior
(1785) #51 Laurel Court, Young, John
(1785) Young, John, jun., merchant, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #39 Spruce St., Young, John, gentleman

Laurel Court, or Street, was a small alley going north from a point slightly west of the center of this block, from #39 Spruce up to York Court, according to the 1805 directory. It must also, therefore, have been next to either #37 or #41 Spruce. Arbitrarily, Mrs. Rhoads (below) has been placed at what later became #37, but this may change as more information becomes available.

(1785) Rhoads, Mrs., gentlewoman, corner of Spruce and Laurel Court
(1791) #37 Spruce St., Smith, James, painter

(1785) #270, Glassock, Richard
(1791) #35 Spruce St., Hickman, Selby, taylor
(modern) #219 Spruce Street (see notes for the next house down)

(1785) #272, Shoemaker, Abraham, conveyancer
(1785) Shoemaker, Abraham, conveyancer, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1791) #33 Spruce St., Shoemaker, Abraham, notary public and scrivener
(modern) #219 Spruce Street
Elizabeth B. McCall's Old Philadelphia Houses on Society Hill includes a section on the building presently standing on this site. Apparently the Redevelopment Authority had torn down two small houses here in the mid 20th century, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Miller Watts bought the land. In 1961 they built one large house on the site in Colonial Revival style.

(1785) #273, Lenox, David, merchant
(1791) #31 Spruce St., Lenox, David, Esq.
(modern) #217 Spruce Street
Elizabeth B. McCall's Old Philadelphia Houses on Society Hill includes a section on this building, built in 1759 by Samuel Davis, according to the book. A 1781 survey by the Philadelphia Contributionship (then the only fire-insurance company in town) describes the house, though it's uncertain whether Lenox, the second owner of the house, was then the owner. According to the book, Lenox was a member of the Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia and was at one time U.S. representative (ambassador?) to the Court of St. James-- that is, to England. The Lenoxes were the ones who added the third floor and garret and built a new kitchen, according to the book. Ownership records dovetailing with directory records are precisely what nail down street addresses of the past, and make it possible to know who lived on what site, especially renters.

(1785) #275, Wharton, Thomas
(modern) #215 Spruce Street

(1785) #277, Reed, Franklin
(modern) #213 Spruce Street

BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD, UNKNOWN SIDE

(1785) Budden, Mrs., gentlewoman, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Carpenter, Thomas, gentleman, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Griffiths, Evan, cordwainer, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Harris, Robert, Dr., Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Jacobs, Thomas, schoolmaster, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Jarald, Joseph, Esq., counsellor at law, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Langsworth, Hewson, turner, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Lasky, Richard, merchant, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) McDonnougha, Thomas, shopkeeper, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Matlack, Josiah, house carpenter, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Miller, Michael, fan maker, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Nail, John, house carpenter, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Preston, Mrs., gentlewoman, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Rook, Tenoor, copperplate printer, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd
(1785) Sparks, Richard, wood-corder, Spruce between 2nd and 3rd

CORNER OF SPRUCE AND 3RD

(1785) #50, Williams, Jesse, cabinetmaker
(1785) #52, Williams, Jesse
(1785) Williamson, Jesse and Co., cabinetmakers, corner of Spruce and 3rd
(1791) #104 Spruce St., Williamson, Jesse, joiner

(1785) #656 3rd Street, #258 Spruce Street, Clark, James & Christen
(1785) #656 3rd Street, #258 Spruce Street, Jones, Clark & Christen (for some reason they were listed twice in MacPherson's directory)
(1785) Jones, Clerk & Cresson, lumber merchants, corner of Spruce and 3rd
They were on the northwestern corner, which in 1788 became part of the lot on which William Bingham's mansion was built.

(1785) #655 3rd Street, Arcuhart, Widow
(1785) #53 Spruce Street, Ocherd, Widow
By the numbering, on the southwestern corner.
(1791) #132 S. 3rd St., Gowers, John, coachman
This had a 3rd Street number in 1791.

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:

#57, northeastern corner.
#59, northwestern corner.
#104, southeastern corner.
#106, southwestern corner.

BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH, SOUTH SIDE

It is not certain whether the following listing was on this block or that between 2nd and 3rd:

(1785) #54, Graham, Archibald, Latin teacher
(1791) #108 Spruce St., McLane, Allen, gentleman
(1791) #108 Spruce St., Mifflin, Benjamin, clerk in the office of the paymaster general of the United States

(1785) #55, Gray, John
(1785) Gray, John, sign Leopard, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1791) #110 Spruce St., Vallance, John, engraver

(1785) #56, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #112 Spruce St., McMurtrie, William, merchant

(1785) #57, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #114 Spruce St., Keir, Charles, baker

(1785) #58, Winsell, John
(1785) Wenzon, John, baker, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1791) #116 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #60, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #118 Spruce St., Marshall, reverend Mr., minister of the gospel

(1785) #61, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #120 Spruce St., Clarkson, Widow
(1791) #120 Spruce St., Waddington, John, merchant

(1785) #62, Cummings, Widow
(1785) Cummings, Mrs., gentlewoman, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1791) #122 Spruce St., Wharton, Kearney, merchant

(1785) #63, Rhodes, Widow
(1791) #124 Spruce St., Stevenson, Robert, gentleman

(1785) #64, Barry, John, sea captain
(1785) Barry, John, captain, merchant, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1791) #126 Spruce St., Smyth, Frederick, Esq.

(1785) #65, McCullock, John
(1785) McCulloch, John, timber merchant, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1791) #128 Spruce St., McCulloch, John, board merchant, also at 117 S. Water St.

BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH, NORTH SIDE

The entire north side of Spruce between 3rd and 4th was owned by William Bingham, where in 1788 he built one of the finest houses in the city, facing on the intensely fashionable block of 3rd Street between Spruce and Walnut (where the Samuel Powel house was and still is). This, no doubt, was the cause of the jump in numbers from #240 to #258 (the latter number at the corner of 3rd and Spruce, evidently the northeastern one). The northwestern corner of 3rd and Spruce, including the mansion, were depicted in one of the famous Philadelphia streetscapes of William Birch, executed and published in 1798-1800. It was also drawn just after it was built, in 1789, by one Charles Bullfinch (1763-1844); the drawing is in the Library of Congress and is illustrated on p.38 of Beatrice Garvan's Federal Philadelphia: The Athens of the Western World. This work describes it as the first regency-style house in Philadelphia.

BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH, UNKNOWN SIDE

These listings are probably all on the south side, from the ownership and not-far-subsequent use of the land on the north side by William Bingham (see notes for north side), but it is possible that a prudent merchant would make money from the land until he was ready to build, by delaying demolition of any existing rent-producing properties until the last minute.

(1785) Butler, Mary, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1785) Griffith, William, house carpenter, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1785) Jones, Robert, chair maker, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1785) Jones, Robert, gentleman, Spruce between 3rd and 4th
(1785) Stevenson, Robert, merchant, Spruce between 3rd and 4th

CORNER OF SPRUCE AND 4TH

No listings.

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:

#117 Spruce or S. 4th, northeastern corner.
#126 S. 4th, northwestern corner.
#134 Spruce, southeastern corner.
#130 S. 4th, southwestern corner.

BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, SOUTH SIDE

It is not certain whether the following five listings were on this block or that between 3rd and 4th:

(1785) #69, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #130 Spruce St., Reeve, Peter, gentleman

(1785) #70, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #132 Spruce St., Rhoads, Sarah, gentlewoman

(1785) #71, Keating, George
(1791) #136 Spruce St., Caton, Mrs., gentlewoman

(1785) #72, no listing
(1791) #138 Spruce St., Ansby, George, cordwainer

(1785) #73, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #142 Spruce St., Gill, William, carter

(1785) #74, Rossbottom, James
(1791) #144 Spruce St., Fritz, Peter, baker

(1785) #75, Shaddock, William
(1785) Shedecker, William, sign Organ, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1791) #146 Spruce St., Shedaker, Sarah, shopkeeper

(1785) #76, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #148 Spruce St., Bleith, Henry
(1791) #148 Spruce St., Currey, Walter, labourer
(1791) #148 Spruce St., Kuhn, Daniel, cordwainer
(1791) #148 Spruce St., Leach, Mary

(1785) #77, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #150 Spruce St., De Hart, Francis,

(1785) #78, Johnson, James
(1791) #152 Spruce St., Morris, John, carver

(1785) #79, Leech, Duncan
(1785) Leech, Duncan, carter, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1785) Leech, John, carter, Spruce between 4th and 5th
The identical surnames, addresses and professions, per Francis White, makes it likely that they were related and lived at the same address.
(1791) #154 Spruce St., Leach, Duncan, carter
(1791) #154 Spruce St., Graff, Jacob, labourer
(1791) #154 Spruce St., Walters, Thomas, labourer

(1785) #80, Harper, Widow
(1785) Harper, Mary, shopkeeper, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1791) #156 Spruce St., Miller, John, chair maker

(1785) #81, Millar, Alexander
(1791) #158 Spruce St., Miller, Alexander, carter
(1791) #158 Spruce St., Rump, Jacob

(1785) #84, Beatty, Alexander
(1791) #164 Spruce St., Waldrick, Andrew, harness maker

(1785) #85, Harden, Robert
(1785) Hardy, Robert, captain, shopkeeper, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1791) #166 Spruce St., Hardy, Robert, sea captain

(1785) #86, Heggen, Parker
(1791) #168 Spruce St., Stroop, Daniel, weaver

(1785) #87, Head, Joseph
(1791) #170 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #88, vacant or residents would not give name
(1791) #172 Spruce St., Spangler, George, blacksmith

(1785) #89, Millar, Mr.
(1791) #174 Spruce St., Ratler, John, labourer

(1785) #90, Welsh, Neil
(1791) #176 Spruce St., Hinton, George, cutler

(1785) #91, Peatton, William
(1785) #95, vacant or residents would not give name

(1785) #97, Cope, John
(1785) Cop, John, butcher, Spruce between 4th and 5th

BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, NORTH SIDE

(1785) #223, Ford, Henry
(1785) Ford, Henry, fan maker, Spruce between 4th and 5th

(1785) #225, Mitchell, Widow

(1785) #226, Lear, William
(1791) #121 Spruce St., Lare, Adam, blacksmith

(1791) #119 Spruce St., Scott, John, taylor

(1785) #227, Basier, Robert
(1791) #117 Spruce St., Cox, John, carpenter
(1791) #117 Spruce St., Shafely, Mary, huckster

(1785) #228, Roberts, Widow
(1785) Roberts, Catharine, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1791) #115 Spruce St., Stride, Joseph, painter

(1785) #231, no listing
(1799) #109 Spruce St., no listing, Wharton, Moore
(modern) #425 Spruce Street
Elizabeth B. McCall's Old Philadelphia Houses on Society Hill includes a section on this building, which it calls the Latta house after the then (1960s) owners. It recites that it was built in 1792 by William Williams, "builder of a number of houses in the Society Hill area" (despite the fact that no William Williams in the building trades could be found in the 1793 directory) and that it was then occupied by Chalmers Moore Wharton. It was, the book continues, remodeled in 1834 and bought by the Lattas for restoration in 1963.

(1785) #232, Douglass, Cuff
(1785) Douglass, Caff, taylor, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1791) #107 Spruce St., no listing

(1785) #233, Dorney, Michael
(1785) Dearney, Michael, baker, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1791) #105 Spruce St., Miller, John, Esq.,

(1785) #234, Baxter, James
(1785) Baxter, James, house carpenter, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1791) #103 Spruce St., Baxter, Mrs.

(1785) #235, Leary, Cornelius
(1785) Leary, Cornelius, taylor, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1791) #101 Spruce St., McFarlan, Canady, grocer

(1785) #238, Tinsel, George (by implication of numbers)
(1791) #99 Spruce St., Rogers, John, labourer

(1785) #240, Smith, Frederick (by implication of numbers; see notes for block between 3rd and 4th, north side).
(1791) #91 Spruce St., Fitzsimmons, Thomas, Esq.

BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, UNKNOWN SIDE

(1785) Faccunda, George, cordwainer, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1785) Lawrence, Matthew, shopkeeper, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1785) Libeau, Philip, horse ferrier, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1785) Rossbottom, James, bricklayer, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1785) Staines, Robert, horse farrier, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1785) Waterman, John, grain dealer, Spruce between 4th and 5th

(1785) Welsh, James, taylor, Spruce between 4th and 5th
(1785) Welsh, William, porter, Spruce between 4th and 5th
These Welshes may have been relatives of Neil Welsh of #90 Spruce Street.

CORNER OF SPRUCE AND 5TH

(1785) Fisher, Henry, fan maker, corner of Spruce and 5th
(1785) Nelson, Alexander, carter, corner of Spruce and 5th
(1785) Nesbit, Robert, grocer, corner of Spruce and 5th

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:

#147 S. 5th, northeastern corner.
#123 Spruce, northwestern corner.
#176 Spruce, southeastern corner.
#178 Spruce, southwestern corner.

BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH, SOUTH SIDE

For some unknown reason the numbers jump abruptly here, but higher numbers make it clear that the crossing of the street has not yet happened. The printing of Benjamin Langle's number may have been a typo. Alternatively, he may have actually been between 5th and 6th; White has been known to make that kind of error. If that's so, it would probably mean that these three listings are on the south side of Spruce between 5th and 6th, and beginning with #210 the numbers are on the north side. Numerically and logically, this seems like the best theory, which is why these listings are placed here.

(1785) #187, Talbort, Samuel
(1785) #188, Wells, John

(1785) #209, Langle, Benjamin
(1785) Langley, Benjamin, tanner, Spruce between 4th and 5th

BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH, NORTH SIDE

See notes for the same block, south side (above).

(1785) #210, Donald, John (he could have been on the south side)

(1785) #211, Grace, Widow
(1785) Grace, Mary, Spruce between 5th and 6th

(1785) #214, Lother, John (by implication)
(1785) #217, Feild, Peter (by implication)
(1785) #218, Sims, James (by implication)
(1785) #219, Ceak, Widow (by implication)

(1785) #220, Fullton, James
(1785) Fulton, James, drayman, Spruce between 5th and 6th

BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH, UNKNOWN SIDE

(1785) Hart, Daniel, labourer, Spruce between 5th and 6th
(1785) Miles, John, goldsmith, Spruce between 5th and 6th
(1785) White, Mrs., Spruce between 5th and 6th
(1785) Wilson, Philip, gentleman, Spruce between 5th and 6th
(1785) Wilson, Susannah, Spruce between 5th and 6th

(1791) Spruce St., Linton, George, between 5th and 6th St.
(1791) Spruce St., Lort, John, carpenter, between 5th and 6th
(1791) Spruce St., North, Daniel, porter, between 5th & 6th St.
(1791) Spruce St., Snyder, Henry, between 5th & 6th St.
(1791) Spruce St., Warner, Margaret, between 5th & 6th St.
(1791) Spruce St., Welch, James, between 5th and 6th St.
(1791) Spruce St., Welch, Joseph, between 5th and 6th St.
(1791) Spruce St., Weltzer, Joseph, between 5th and 6th St.

CORNER OF SPRUCE AND 6TH

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church was built on the northwestern corner of this intersection a few years later, in 1789.

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:

#178, northeastern corner. Clearly a mistake; northeastern corners cannot have even numbers.
No # ("Trinity Church"), northwestern corner.
#214 Spruce, southeastern corner.
#146 S. 6th, southwestern corner.

BETWEEN 6TH AND 7TH, UNKNOWN SIDE

(1785) Tolbetrson[sic], John, house carpenter, Spruce between 6th and 7th

(1791) Spruce St., Reinbach, Charles, between 6th & 7th St.

White's directory listings for Spruce Street end at the block between 6th and 7th.

CORNER OF SPRUCE 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:

#203 Spruce, northeastern corner.
#205 Spruce, northwestern corner.
#253 S. 7th, southeastern corner.
No # ("Hosp[ital] Sq[uare]"), southwestern corner.

CORNER OF SPRUCE 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:

#244, northeastern corner. Obviously a mistake; northeastern corners cannot have even numbers.
#241 Spruce, northwestern corner.
No # ("Hospital Square"), southeastern corner.
No # ("Hosp[ital] Wall"), southwestern corner.

CORNER OF SPRUCE 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:

No # ("Waste Lots"), northeastern corner.
#164 S. 9th, northwestern corner.
No # ("Hospital"), southeastern corner.
No # ("Hosp[ital] Lots"), southwestern corner.

CORNER OF SPRUCE 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:

#349 Spruce, northeastern corner.
No # ("Waste Lots"), northwestern corner.
No # ("Bettering H[ouse] lots"), southeastern corner.
No # ("Better[in]g H[ouse]"), southwestern corner.

CORNER OF SPRUCE 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:

No # ("Waste Ground"), northeastern corner.
No # ("Garden"), northwestern corner.
No # ("Bettering H[ouse] Wall"), southeastern corner.
No # ("Lumb[er] Y[ar]d"), southwestern corner.

CORNER OF SPRUCE 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 # ("Confectioner"), northeastern corner.
No # ("Grocery"), northwestern corner.
No # ("Lumb[er] Y[ar]d"), southeastern corner.
No #, no listing, southwestern corner.

CORNER OF SPRUCE AND 13TH

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 # ("New buildings"), northeastern corner.
No # ("Waste Ground"), northwestern corner.
No # ("Waste Lots"), southeastern corner.
No # ("Waste G[roun]d"), southwestern corner.