Here are some excerpts about the Powel family and John Hare Powel, taken from "The Powel Family Papers, 1685-1884" held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Regards, Pat Reed
"The first Samuel Powel (Powell) to arrive in Pennsylvania was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1673 to Welsh parents, Samuel and Deborah (Powle) Powel. Orphaned at a
young age, Powel arrived in Pennsylvania accompanied by his aunt Ann Parsons and her newly-wed husband John, who was a carpenter. Looking to John as a father, Samuel followed in his trade, and became so proficient that he was later considered the leading carpenter in Philadelphia. He resided on the northeast corner of Pine and Second Streets, and owned ninety houses and a garden on the southern end of Pine. In addition to carpentry, Samuel was also a manufacturer of fire buckets and became active in public affairs as a Philadelphia common councilman. He was also prominent in the Society of Friends and upon his death he donated a plot of land between Front and Second Streets for the erection of a monthly Meeting House.
In 1700 Samuel (b. 1673) married Abigail Wilcox, daughter of Barnabas and Sarah Wilcox. The couple had five children: Ann, Samuel, Deborah, a second Ann, and Sarah. Both Anns died young as did Abigail, who passed away in 1713. Both surviving daughters married well, Deborah to Joshua Emlen and Sarah to Anthony Morris. Samuel and Abigail's son Samuel (1704-1759) entered merchant life, and like his father, became one of the leaders in his profession. He was also active in politics and in 1730, was elected a common councilman and advanced to the position of alderman, a life position, thirteen years later. This Samuel officially altered the spelling of his last name from Powell, the Welsh spelling, to Powel. Samuel, like his sister Sarah, married into the Morris family. He wed Mary Morris, sister of Anthony Morris and daughter of Anthony and Phoebe Morris, in 1732. They had three children: Abigail, Samuel, and Sarah.
The Samuel Powel (b. 1738) of this generation went on to become a two-term mayor of Philadelphia and one of the city's most distinguished citizens. Samuel graduated from
the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) in 1759 and immediately left for a tour of Europe. That same year, he inherited his grandfather's Philadelphia properties and became recognized as one of the wealthiest young men in the colonies. Samuel lived a life of leisure in England for about seven years, where he met and conversed with the Duke of York, the Pope, and Voltaire. Before returning to the colonies, Samuel converted from Quakerism, which had been practiced by his father and grandfather, to the Anglican Church.
Upon his return to the Americas, Samuel married Elizabeth Willing, daughter of Charles and Ann (Shippen) Willing. The couple chose not to reside in one of the ninety Philadelphia properties owned by Samuel, but instead purchased a home on Third Street from Charles Stedman. Samuel leased his inherited properties for personal profit. Like his father and grandfather, he also became active in the city council, and was also a justice of the common pleas and quarter sessions courts. In 1775 was appointed mayor, the last under the charter of 1701. In 1789, he was reappointed to this position under the new charter, and was ever after known as "the Patriot Mayor" for having sided with the colonies during the Revolution. He was also speaker of the Pennsylvania senate in 1792 and was active in Philadelphia organizations such as the American Philosophical Society and the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and a manager of Pennsylvania Hospital. Samuel and Elizabeth Powel were great entertainers and enjoyed the company of George and Martha Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and the Marquis de Lafayette, among many others.
Samuel died of yellow fever during the 1793 epidemic and left no heir. Elizabeth survived him by thirty-seven years and passed the Powels' large land estate to her nephew whom she adopted, John Powel Hare, son of her sister, Margaret Willing, and Robert Hare. John changed his name by an act of legislature in 1809 to John Hare Powel in order to carry on the Powel legacy. [Actually, the year was 1808: Poulson's American Daily Advertiser; Volume XXXVII; Issue 9738; p. 3; February 19, 1808, found on Genealogybank.com.] Margaret and Robert Hare's other children were Richard, Charles Willing, Martha, Robert Jr., and another Richard.
John Hare Powel began his career in the counting house of Willing and Francis. In 1806 he retired from the counting house position and was appointed a supercargo for the
same firm on a voyage to Calcutta. He returned from the voyage in 1807 with a profit of over twenty thousand dollars, and soon after traveled to Europe for leisure.
While he was visiting London, he became secretary to the American Legation in London and also bearer of dispatches. He returned from traveling in 1811 to enter the United
States Army. He served under General Thomas Cadwalader as brigade-major in the Brigade of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and by 1814 was commissioned an inspector-general, with the full rank of colonel, in the regular army. He subsequently refused a brigadier-general's commission in the Columbian service at the request of his family.
In 1817, John married Julia De Veaux, daughter of Colonel Andrew De Veaux, and they had seven children: Samuel, De Veaux, Henry Baring, Robert Hare, Julia, John Hare Jr., and Ida. The couple and their young family lived on the Powel family farmland known as Powelton, in west Philadelphia, where John began efforts to improve American agriculture. He was instrumental in the formation of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, promoted improvements in husbandry, and imported English cattle and sheep breeds. John was also land agent for the William Bingham estate and the Amsterdam land firm Hope & Company, and maintained the Philadelphia real estate he inherited from Elizabeth Willing Powel. He also was a Pennsylvania state senator from 1827 to 1830 and continued to be active in politics until his death in 1856.
The Philadelphia branch of the Powel family was initiated by Samuel Powel (1673-1756), who immigrated to this country as a boy in the late seventeenth century and later pursued a career in carpentry. Samuel became one of the most respected craftsmen in his field and over time purchased or built more than ninety Philadelphia properties, which became the basis for the Powel financial legacy documented in this collection. The Powel land estate can be traced through financial records and land documents, which span a period from 1685 to 1884; and belong to Samuel's (1673-1756) son Samuel Powel (1704-1759), his grandson Samuel Powel (1738-1793), Samuel's (1738-1793) wife Elizabeth Willing Powel, and her nephew John Hare Powel. Financial records include receipt books, account books, ledgers, and daybooks; they document the location of these properties, the names of lessees, the collection of rent, tax payment, improvements
made on the properties, and also the acquisition of neighboring lands which increased their holdings. Records in this collection also highlight the mercantile efforts
of Samuel Powel (1704-1759), who traded goods between England, Philadelphia, and the West Indies, and also John Hare Powel's voyage to Calcutta as supercargo for Willing
& Francis and William Waln, his efforts at improving cattle and sheep husbandry, and his land agency for the William Bingham estate and Amsterdam land firm Hope & Company. Some receipts and correspondence also briefly address Samuel Powel's (1738-1793) mayoral expenses and John Hare Powel's Pennsylvania senatorial term (1827-1830).
Records in this collection have been divided into five series with the bulk of materials relating to the second Samuel Powel (Series I), mayor Samuel Powel (Series II), Elizabeth Willing Powel (Series III), and John Hare Powel (Series IVa-d). Series V additionally contains the records of individuals who are related to the Powel family or were connected to them through business. Included in this group is Clement Plumstead (who assisted the first Samuel Powel with carpentry work and also owned a portion of the second Samuel Powel's merchant ship Tryall), Robert Hare (John Hare Powel's brother), and Julia DeVeaux Foulke and Ida Morrell Johnson (John Hare Powel's daughters). Records relating to these individuals include a book of geometric drawings created by an arcograph, account statements, and receipts. Some miscellaneous materials for which the creator could not be identified, including two daguerreotypes, are also included in Series V.
"The first Samuel Powel (Powell) to arrive in Pennsylvania was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1673 to Welsh parents, Samuel and Deborah (Powle) Powel. Orphaned at a
young age, Powel arrived in Pennsylvania accompanied by his aunt Ann Parsons and her newly-wed husband John, who was a carpenter. Looking to John as a father, Samuel followed in his trade, and became so proficient that he was later considered the leading carpenter in Philadelphia. He resided on the northeast corner of Pine and Second Streets, and owned ninety houses and a garden on the southern end of Pine. In addition to carpentry, Samuel was also a manufacturer of fire buckets and became active in public affairs as a Philadelphia common councilman. He was also prominent in the Society of Friends and upon his death he donated a plot of land between Front and Second Streets for the erection of a monthly Meeting House.
In 1700 Samuel (b. 1673) married Abigail Wilcox, daughter of Barnabas and Sarah Wilcox. The couple had five children: Ann, Samuel, Deborah, a second Ann, and Sarah. Both Anns died young as did Abigail, who passed away in 1713. Both surviving daughters married well, Deborah to Joshua Emlen and Sarah to Anthony Morris. Samuel and Abigail's son Samuel (1704-1759) entered merchant life, and like his father, became one of the leaders in his profession. He was also active in politics and in 1730, was elected a common councilman and advanced to the position of alderman, a life position, thirteen years later. This Samuel officially altered the spelling of his last name from Powell, the Welsh spelling, to Powel. Samuel, like his sister Sarah, married into the Morris family. He wed Mary Morris, sister of Anthony Morris and daughter of Anthony and Phoebe Morris, in 1732. They had three children: Abigail, Samuel, and Sarah.
The Samuel Powel (b. 1738) of this generation went on to become a two-term mayor of Philadelphia and one of the city's most distinguished citizens. Samuel graduated from
the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) in 1759 and immediately left for a tour of Europe. That same year, he inherited his grandfather's Philadelphia properties and became recognized as one of the wealthiest young men in the colonies. Samuel lived a life of leisure in England for about seven years, where he met and conversed with the Duke of York, the Pope, and Voltaire. Before returning to the colonies, Samuel converted from Quakerism, which had been practiced by his father and grandfather, to the Anglican Church.
Upon his return to the Americas, Samuel married Elizabeth Willing, daughter of Charles and Ann (Shippen) Willing. The couple chose not to reside in one of the ninety Philadelphia properties owned by Samuel, but instead purchased a home on Third Street from Charles Stedman. Samuel leased his inherited properties for personal profit. Like his father and grandfather, he also became active in the city council, and was also a justice of the common pleas and quarter sessions courts. In 1775 was appointed mayor, the last under the charter of 1701. In 1789, he was reappointed to this position under the new charter, and was ever after known as "the Patriot Mayor" for having sided with the colonies during the Revolution. He was also speaker of the Pennsylvania senate in 1792 and was active in Philadelphia organizations such as the American Philosophical Society and the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and a manager of Pennsylvania Hospital. Samuel and Elizabeth Powel were great entertainers and enjoyed the company of George and Martha Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and the Marquis de Lafayette, among many others.
Samuel died of yellow fever during the 1793 epidemic and left no heir. Elizabeth survived him by thirty-seven years and passed the Powels' large land estate to her nephew whom she adopted, John Powel Hare, son of her sister, Margaret Willing, and Robert Hare. John changed his name by an act of legislature in 1809 to John Hare Powel in order to carry on the Powel legacy. [Actually, the year was 1808: Poulson's American Daily Advertiser; Volume XXXVII; Issue 9738; p. 3; February 19, 1808, found on Genealogybank.com.] Margaret and Robert Hare's other children were Richard, Charles Willing, Martha, Robert Jr., and another Richard.
John Hare Powel began his career in the counting house of Willing and Francis. In 1806 he retired from the counting house position and was appointed a supercargo for the
same firm on a voyage to Calcutta. He returned from the voyage in 1807 with a profit of over twenty thousand dollars, and soon after traveled to Europe for leisure.
While he was visiting London, he became secretary to the American Legation in London and also bearer of dispatches. He returned from traveling in 1811 to enter the United
States Army. He served under General Thomas Cadwalader as brigade-major in the Brigade of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and by 1814 was commissioned an inspector-general, with the full rank of colonel, in the regular army. He subsequently refused a brigadier-general's commission in the Columbian service at the request of his family.
In 1817, John married Julia De Veaux, daughter of Colonel Andrew De Veaux, and they had seven children: Samuel, De Veaux, Henry Baring, Robert Hare, Julia, John Hare Jr., and Ida. The couple and their young family lived on the Powel family farmland known as Powelton, in west Philadelphia, where John began efforts to improve American agriculture. He was instrumental in the formation of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, promoted improvements in husbandry, and imported English cattle and sheep breeds. John was also land agent for the William Bingham estate and the Amsterdam land firm Hope & Company, and maintained the Philadelphia real estate he inherited from Elizabeth Willing Powel. He also was a Pennsylvania state senator from 1827 to 1830 and continued to be active in politics until his death in 1856.
The Philadelphia branch of the Powel family was initiated by Samuel Powel (1673-1756), who immigrated to this country as a boy in the late seventeenth century and later pursued a career in carpentry. Samuel became one of the most respected craftsmen in his field and over time purchased or built more than ninety Philadelphia properties, which became the basis for the Powel financial legacy documented in this collection. The Powel land estate can be traced through financial records and land documents, which span a period from 1685 to 1884; and belong to Samuel's (1673-1756) son Samuel Powel (1704-1759), his grandson Samuel Powel (1738-1793), Samuel's (1738-1793) wife Elizabeth Willing Powel, and her nephew John Hare Powel. Financial records include receipt books, account books, ledgers, and daybooks; they document the location of these properties, the names of lessees, the collection of rent, tax payment, improvements
made on the properties, and also the acquisition of neighboring lands which increased their holdings. Records in this collection also highlight the mercantile efforts
of Samuel Powel (1704-1759), who traded goods between England, Philadelphia, and the West Indies, and also John Hare Powel's voyage to Calcutta as supercargo for Willing
& Francis and William Waln, his efforts at improving cattle and sheep husbandry, and his land agency for the William Bingham estate and Amsterdam land firm Hope & Company. Some receipts and correspondence also briefly address Samuel Powel's (1738-1793) mayoral expenses and John Hare Powel's Pennsylvania senatorial term (1827-1830).
Records in this collection have been divided into five series with the bulk of materials relating to the second Samuel Powel (Series I), mayor Samuel Powel (Series II), Elizabeth Willing Powel (Series III), and John Hare Powel (Series IVa-d). Series V additionally contains the records of individuals who are related to the Powel family or were connected to them through business. Included in this group is Clement Plumstead (who assisted the first Samuel Powel with carpentry work and also owned a portion of the second Samuel Powel's merchant ship Tryall), Robert Hare (John Hare Powel's brother), and Julia DeVeaux Foulke and Ida Morrell Johnson (John Hare Powel's daughters). Records relating to these individuals include a book of geometric drawings created by an arcograph, account statements, and receipts. Some miscellaneous materials for which the creator could not be identified, including two daguerreotypes, are also included in Series V.
Here are some excerpts about the Powel family and John Hare Powel, taken from "The Powel Family Papers, 1685-1884" held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Regards, Pat Reed
"The first Samuel Powel (Powell) to arrive in Pennsylvania was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1673 to Welsh parents, Samuel and Deborah (Powle) Powel. Orphaned at a
young age, Powel arrived in Pennsylvania accompanied by his aunt Ann Parsons and her newly-wed husband John, who was a carpenter. Looking to John as a father, Samuel followed in his trade, and became so proficient that he was later considered the leading carpenter in Philadelphia. He resided on the northeast corner of Pine and Second Streets, and owned ninety houses and a garden on the southern end of Pine. In addition to carpentry, Samuel was also a manufacturer of fire buckets and became active in public affairs as a Philadelphia common councilman. He was also prominent in the Society of Friends and upon his death he donated a plot of land between Front and Second Streets for the erection of a monthly Meeting House.
In 1700 Samuel (b. 1673) married Abigail Wilcox, daughter of Barnabas and Sarah Wilcox. The couple had five children: Ann, Samuel, Deborah, a second Ann, and Sarah. Both Anns died young as did Abigail, who passed away in 1713. Both surviving daughters married well, Deborah to Joshua Emlen and Sarah to Anthony Morris. Samuel and Abigail's son Samuel (1704-1759) entered merchant life, and like his father, became one of the leaders in his profession. He was also active in politics and in 1730, was elected a common councilman and advanced to the position of alderman, a life position, thirteen years later. This Samuel officially altered the spelling of his last name from Powell, the Welsh spelling, to Powel. Samuel, like his sister Sarah, married into the Morris family. He wed Mary Morris, sister of Anthony Morris and daughter of Anthony and Phoebe Morris, in 1732. They had three children: Abigail, Samuel, and Sarah.
The Samuel Powel (b. 1738) of this generation went on to become a two-term mayor of Philadelphia and one of the city's most distinguished citizens. Samuel graduated from
the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) in 1759 and immediately left for a tour of Europe. That same year, he inherited his grandfather's Philadelphia properties and became recognized as one of the wealthiest young men in the colonies. Samuel lived a life of leisure in England for about seven years, where he met and conversed with the Duke of York, the Pope, and Voltaire. Before returning to the colonies, Samuel converted from Quakerism, which had been practiced by his father and grandfather, to the Anglican Church.
Upon his return to the Americas, Samuel married Elizabeth Willing, daughter of Charles and Ann (Shippen) Willing. The couple chose not to reside in one of the ninety Philadelphia properties owned by Samuel, but instead purchased a home on Third Street from Charles Stedman. Samuel leased his inherited properties for personal profit. Like his father and grandfather, he also became active in the city council, and was also a justice of the common pleas and quarter sessions courts. In 1775 was appointed mayor, the last under the charter of 1701. In 1789, he was reappointed to this position under the new charter, and was ever after known as "the Patriot Mayor" for having sided with the colonies during the Revolution. He was also speaker of the Pennsylvania senate in 1792 and was active in Philadelphia organizations such as the American Philosophical Society and the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and a manager of Pennsylvania Hospital. Samuel and Elizabeth Powel were great entertainers and enjoyed the company of George and Martha Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and the Marquis de Lafayette, among many others.
Samuel died of yellow fever during the 1793 epidemic and left no heir. Elizabeth survived him by thirty-seven years and passed the Powels' large land estate to her nephew whom she adopted, John Powel Hare, son of her sister, Margaret Willing, and Robert Hare. John changed his name by an act of legislature in 1809 to John Hare Powel in order to carry on the Powel legacy. [Actually, the year was 1808: Poulson's American Daily Advertiser; Volume XXXVII; Issue 9738; p. 3; February 19, 1808, found on Genealogybank.com.] Margaret and Robert Hare's other children were Richard, Charles Willing, Martha, Robert Jr., and another Richard.
John Hare Powel began his career in the counting house of Willing and Francis. In 1806 he retired from the counting house position and was appointed a supercargo for the
same firm on a voyage to Calcutta. He returned from the voyage in 1807 with a profit of over twenty thousand dollars, and soon after traveled to Europe for leisure.
While he was visiting London, he became secretary to the American Legation in London and also bearer of dispatches. He returned from traveling in 1811 to enter the United
States Army. He served under General Thomas Cadwalader as brigade-major in the Brigade of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and by 1814 was commissioned an inspector-general, with the full rank of colonel, in the regular army. He subsequently refused a brigadier-general's commission in the Columbian service at the request of his family.
In 1817, John married Julia De Veaux, daughter of Colonel Andrew De Veaux, and they had seven children: Samuel, De Veaux, Henry Baring, Robert Hare, Julia, John Hare Jr., and Ida. The couple and their young family lived on the Powel family farmland known as Powelton, in west Philadelphia, where John began efforts to improve American agriculture. He was instrumental in the formation of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, promoted improvements in husbandry, and imported English cattle and sheep breeds. John was also land agent for the William Bingham estate and the Amsterdam land firm Hope & Company, and maintained the Philadelphia real estate he inherited from Elizabeth Willing Powel. He also was a Pennsylvania state senator from 1827 to 1830 and continued to be active in politics until his death in 1856.
The Philadelphia branch of the Powel family was initiated by Samuel Powel (1673-1756), who immigrated to this country as a boy in the late seventeenth century and later pursued a career in carpentry. Samuel became one of the most respected craftsmen in his field and over time purchased or built more than ninety Philadelphia properties, which became the basis for the Powel financial legacy documented in this collection. The Powel land estate can be traced through financial records and land documents, which span a period from 1685 to 1884; and belong to Samuel's (1673-1756) son Samuel Powel (1704-1759), his grandson Samuel Powel (1738-1793), Samuel's (1738-1793) wife Elizabeth Willing Powel, and her nephew John Hare Powel. Financial records include receipt books, account books, ledgers, and daybooks; they document the location of these properties, the names of lessees, the collection of rent, tax payment, improvements
made on the properties, and also the acquisition of neighboring lands which increased their holdings. Records in this collection also highlight the mercantile efforts
of Samuel Powel (1704-1759), who traded goods between England, Philadelphia, and the West Indies, and also John Hare Powel's voyage to Calcutta as supercargo for Willing
& Francis and William Waln, his efforts at improving cattle and sheep husbandry, and his land agency for the William Bingham estate and Amsterdam land firm Hope & Company. Some receipts and correspondence also briefly address Samuel Powel's (1738-1793) mayoral expenses and John Hare Powel's Pennsylvania senatorial term (1827-1830).
Records in this collection have been divided into five series with the bulk of materials relating to the second Samuel Powel (Series I), mayor Samuel Powel (Series II), Elizabeth Willing Powel (Series III), and John Hare Powel (Series IVa-d). Series V additionally contains the records of individuals who are related to the Powel family or were connected to them through business. Included in this group is Clement Plumstead (who assisted the first Samuel Powel with carpentry work and also owned a portion of the second Samuel Powel's merchant ship Tryall), Robert Hare (John Hare Powel's brother), and Julia DeVeaux Foulke and Ida Morrell Johnson (John Hare Powel's daughters). Records relating to these individuals include a book of geometric drawings created by an arcograph, account statements, and receipts. Some miscellaneous materials for which the creator could not be identified, including two daguerreotypes, are also included in Series V.
"The first Samuel Powel (Powell) to arrive in Pennsylvania was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1673 to Welsh parents, Samuel and Deborah (Powle) Powel. Orphaned at a
young age, Powel arrived in Pennsylvania accompanied by his aunt Ann Parsons and her newly-wed husband John, who was a carpenter. Looking to John as a father, Samuel followed in his trade, and became so proficient that he was later considered the leading carpenter in Philadelphia. He resided on the northeast corner of Pine and Second Streets, and owned ninety houses and a garden on the southern end of Pine. In addition to carpentry, Samuel was also a manufacturer of fire buckets and became active in public affairs as a Philadelphia common councilman. He was also prominent in the Society of Friends and upon his death he donated a plot of land between Front and Second Streets for the erection of a monthly Meeting House.
In 1700 Samuel (b. 1673) married Abigail Wilcox, daughter of Barnabas and Sarah Wilcox. The couple had five children: Ann, Samuel, Deborah, a second Ann, and Sarah. Both Anns died young as did Abigail, who passed away in 1713. Both surviving daughters married well, Deborah to Joshua Emlen and Sarah to Anthony Morris. Samuel and Abigail's son Samuel (1704-1759) entered merchant life, and like his father, became one of the leaders in his profession. He was also active in politics and in 1730, was elected a common councilman and advanced to the position of alderman, a life position, thirteen years later. This Samuel officially altered the spelling of his last name from Powell, the Welsh spelling, to Powel. Samuel, like his sister Sarah, married into the Morris family. He wed Mary Morris, sister of Anthony Morris and daughter of Anthony and Phoebe Morris, in 1732. They had three children: Abigail, Samuel, and Sarah.
The Samuel Powel (b. 1738) of this generation went on to become a two-term mayor of Philadelphia and one of the city's most distinguished citizens. Samuel graduated from
the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) in 1759 and immediately left for a tour of Europe. That same year, he inherited his grandfather's Philadelphia properties and became recognized as one of the wealthiest young men in the colonies. Samuel lived a life of leisure in England for about seven years, where he met and conversed with the Duke of York, the Pope, and Voltaire. Before returning to the colonies, Samuel converted from Quakerism, which had been practiced by his father and grandfather, to the Anglican Church.
Upon his return to the Americas, Samuel married Elizabeth Willing, daughter of Charles and Ann (Shippen) Willing. The couple chose not to reside in one of the ninety Philadelphia properties owned by Samuel, but instead purchased a home on Third Street from Charles Stedman. Samuel leased his inherited properties for personal profit. Like his father and grandfather, he also became active in the city council, and was also a justice of the common pleas and quarter sessions courts. In 1775 was appointed mayor, the last under the charter of 1701. In 1789, he was reappointed to this position under the new charter, and was ever after known as "the Patriot Mayor" for having sided with the colonies during the Revolution. He was also speaker of the Pennsylvania senate in 1792 and was active in Philadelphia organizations such as the American Philosophical Society and the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and a manager of Pennsylvania Hospital. Samuel and Elizabeth Powel were great entertainers and enjoyed the company of George and Martha Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and the Marquis de Lafayette, among many others.
Samuel died of yellow fever during the 1793 epidemic and left no heir. Elizabeth survived him by thirty-seven years and passed the Powels' large land estate to her nephew whom she adopted, John Powel Hare, son of her sister, Margaret Willing, and Robert Hare. John changed his name by an act of legislature in 1809 to John Hare Powel in order to carry on the Powel legacy. [Actually, the year was 1808: Poulson's American Daily Advertiser; Volume XXXVII; Issue 9738; p. 3; February 19, 1808, found on Genealogybank.com.] Margaret and Robert Hare's other children were Richard, Charles Willing, Martha, Robert Jr., and another Richard.
John Hare Powel began his career in the counting house of Willing and Francis. In 1806 he retired from the counting house position and was appointed a supercargo for the
same firm on a voyage to Calcutta. He returned from the voyage in 1807 with a profit of over twenty thousand dollars, and soon after traveled to Europe for leisure.
While he was visiting London, he became secretary to the American Legation in London and also bearer of dispatches. He returned from traveling in 1811 to enter the United
States Army. He served under General Thomas Cadwalader as brigade-major in the Brigade of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and by 1814 was commissioned an inspector-general, with the full rank of colonel, in the regular army. He subsequently refused a brigadier-general's commission in the Columbian service at the request of his family.
In 1817, John married Julia De Veaux, daughter of Colonel Andrew De Veaux, and they had seven children: Samuel, De Veaux, Henry Baring, Robert Hare, Julia, John Hare Jr., and Ida. The couple and their young family lived on the Powel family farmland known as Powelton, in west Philadelphia, where John began efforts to improve American agriculture. He was instrumental in the formation of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society, promoted improvements in husbandry, and imported English cattle and sheep breeds. John was also land agent for the William Bingham estate and the Amsterdam land firm Hope & Company, and maintained the Philadelphia real estate he inherited from Elizabeth Willing Powel. He also was a Pennsylvania state senator from 1827 to 1830 and continued to be active in politics until his death in 1856.
The Philadelphia branch of the Powel family was initiated by Samuel Powel (1673-1756), who immigrated to this country as a boy in the late seventeenth century and later pursued a career in carpentry. Samuel became one of the most respected craftsmen in his field and over time purchased or built more than ninety Philadelphia properties, which became the basis for the Powel financial legacy documented in this collection. The Powel land estate can be traced through financial records and land documents, which span a period from 1685 to 1884; and belong to Samuel's (1673-1756) son Samuel Powel (1704-1759), his grandson Samuel Powel (1738-1793), Samuel's (1738-1793) wife Elizabeth Willing Powel, and her nephew John Hare Powel. Financial records include receipt books, account books, ledgers, and daybooks; they document the location of these properties, the names of lessees, the collection of rent, tax payment, improvements
made on the properties, and also the acquisition of neighboring lands which increased their holdings. Records in this collection also highlight the mercantile efforts
of Samuel Powel (1704-1759), who traded goods between England, Philadelphia, and the West Indies, and also John Hare Powel's voyage to Calcutta as supercargo for Willing
& Francis and William Waln, his efforts at improving cattle and sheep husbandry, and his land agency for the William Bingham estate and Amsterdam land firm Hope & Company. Some receipts and correspondence also briefly address Samuel Powel's (1738-1793) mayoral expenses and John Hare Powel's Pennsylvania senatorial term (1827-1830).
Records in this collection have been divided into five series with the bulk of materials relating to the second Samuel Powel (Series I), mayor Samuel Powel (Series II), Elizabeth Willing Powel (Series III), and John Hare Powel (Series IVa-d). Series V additionally contains the records of individuals who are related to the Powel family or were connected to them through business. Included in this group is Clement Plumstead (who assisted the first Samuel Powel with carpentry work and also owned a portion of the second Samuel Powel's merchant ship Tryall), Robert Hare (John Hare Powel's brother), and Julia DeVeaux Foulke and Ida Morrell Johnson (John Hare Powel's daughters). Records relating to these individuals include a book of geometric drawings created by an arcograph, account statements, and receipts. Some miscellaneous materials for which the creator could not be identified, including two daguerreotypes, are also included in Series V.
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