Person:Joseph Rakestraw (7)

Joseph was one of the most prominent master builders of the years immediately before and after the Revolution. He was important in Carpenter's Company affairs by the 1760s, although his date of election is unknown due to loss of all Company records prior to that time. He served as a Warden from 1768 and Assistant from 1774; as senior Assistant, he automatically became President of The Company in 1779. Throughout these years, Rakestraw served on the crucial Committee Regulating the Rules of Measuring which established the prices of most carpentry work in Philadelphia. He was a Director of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire, 1777-1794, having previously held the contract for supplying and mounting Contributionship fire marks after 1758. In the 1780s Rakestraw is known to have surveyed and leveled the bed for the canal between Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers (1785), supplied a weathervane for George Washington's use at Mount Vernon (1787), undertaken extensive repairs at the State House (Independence Hall), 1788-1789, and participate in the construction of Library Hall (1789-1790) and the Presidents' House (1791). He died intestate during the yellow fever epidemic of 1794. (www.philadelphiabuildings.org)

• To JOSEPH RAKESTRAW

  July 20, 1787. 

Sir: Perceiving a Vessell advertized for Alexandria, you would oblige me much in hastening the Work you have undertaken for me, that I may send it by her.

I should like to have a bird (in place of the Vain) 75 with an olive branch in its Mouth. The bird need not be large (for I do not expect that it will traverse with the wind and therefore may receive the real shape of a bird, with spread wings), the point of the spire not to appear above the bird. If this, that is the bird thus described, is in the execution, likely to meet any difficulty, or to be attended with much expence, I should wish to be informed thereof previous to the undertaking of it. I am etc. 76 (George Washington)

!INTEREST: £685,10s,01p from the Managers of the Presidents House, "balance in full for carpenters work done"

!DEATH: age 62

!WILL: House carpenter, dated 7 Apr 1794, probated 19 May 1794 (Philadelphia Wills X:73).

!CENSUS: 1790 Census of Middle District Arch Street South, one male above, one below 16 and three females

MILITARY: Possible Joseph for the following - Pennsylvania Archives Series 6 (film #844562) Volume 1. pgs 351,754,758,761 P. 351 - A General Return of the 5th Battalion When Called Into Actuale Service July 1777 (c.) Capt. Philip Wagoner Comp. (c.) 6th Class - Joseph Rakestraw - moved to Maryland P. 754 - Philadelphia Co. Associators 4th Battalion, Philadelphia Co., 1777 6th Class - Joseph Rakestraw served P. 758 - 6th Class Joseph Rakestraw substitute Captn. Christan Shaffeur P. 761 - Return of Captain Christian Shaffer's Company Philadelphis Militia Commanded by Colonel J.N. Bayard Esq'er Oct 26 1778 (c.) Privates - Joseph Rake Straw Volume III page 1068 (possibly this Joseph's son) Muster Roll of the 7th Comp. Third Battalion Phila. Militia Commanded by Lieut. Colo. Benjn. G. Eyre. Esqr. Philadelphia 1785. Philip Alberger, Capt.

1. ↑ George E. McCracken. Rakestraw On the Delaware. (The American Genealogist)
   Vol. 51, No.1; Jan. 1975.
2.   email from Cheska Wheatley;7 May 1997. (Richland MM (Bucks Co., PA) records by Watring).

   Joseph Rakestraw
   1757,9,30 gct Richland MM, PA to m. by Philadelphia MM
   17 11m 1757 cleared to marry by Richland MM, Bucks Co., PA
   Married 17 11m 1757 Richland MM, Bucks Co., PA to Rachel Ogilby
   24 2m 1758 Rachel, w. Joseph, rocf Richland MM, dated 1758,1,19 at Philadelphia MM, PA
   Daugther of Patrick Ogilby and Rebecca
   Issue:
   Justinian Rakestraw (male) born about 1758 died 5 9m 1762, age 4 years, Philadelphia MM
   Child died 14 1m 1764 Philadelphia MM
   no record of their having a son Joseph b 1758 or 1765)
   from Watring's book
   1757,11,17 Joseph Rakestraw and Rachel Ogilby clear to marry 1757,12,15 Marriage of Joseph Rakestraw & Rachel Ogilvy [sic] orderly accomplished on the 17th of last month.
   
   No record of Joseph Rakestraw & Rachel leaving for Philadelphia although Rachel was rocf Richland MM at Phil. in 1758.

3.   Warder Henry Cadbury. Washington's Weathervane; A Postscript to Letters from the Past. ("Friends Journal", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
   February 15, 1976.

   The stamp portrays the dove of peace weathervane that has adorned the cupola of the General's home at Mount Vernon since 1787. Washington was in Philadelphia that summer, presiding over the deliberations of the Constitutional Convention. As a diversion from his duties he took the opportunity to shop around town for various things needed to put the finishing touches on his beloved country mansion on the Potomac. His letter to a Quaker carpenter named Joseph Rakestraw commissioning the work had these instructions: "I should like to have a bird (in place of the Vain) with an olive branch in its Mouth. The bird need not be large (for I do not expect that it will traverse with the wind and therefore may receive the real shape of a bird, with spread wing) the point of the spire not to appear above the bird. If this, that is, the bird thus described, is in the execution likely to meet any difficulty, or to be attended with much expense, I should wish to be informed therof previous to the undertaking of it." The bill for the bird, made of copper, iron and led, came to just over twenty-five pounds.

4.   George Washington. Letter from George Washington to Clement Biddle. (George Washington Papers Series 2 Letterbooks.)
   30 JUN 1784.

   As the price of the Hinges appear to me to be very high, and I am not in immediate want of them (having been disappointed of Workman) I will postpone for the present employing the man Mr. Rakestraw has found. If I should hereafter be under the necessity of giving such a prices I will attend to the direction in your letter, for which I am obliged, both to you and Mr. Rakestraw.

5.   prob. Abraham Colladay, son-in-law. Selected Pages from Accounts of Estate of Joseph Rakestraw; May 1794-July 1805.