Occupation and Use of the 500 block of Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1680-1850:

An Historic Resource Study conducted for Independence National Historical Park

Sharon Ann Holt, Ph.D
Research Associate of the Philadelphia Center for Early American Studies
University of Pennsylvania

August, 1997

SECTION A: West along HIGH ST. from 5th to 6th, North side: Owners in Order, with Dates

 

Patent purchasers:

Patent 60 purchased by John Bezer, John Rennots, Daniel Smith, and Francis Burroughs.

Patent 63 purchased by Moses Charas.

Patent 64 purchased by William Bowman.

Back Lot patents purchased by William Hudson.

 

1741-1748: Entire block, from Market to Arch, and 5th to 6th, owned by William Hudson at his death and bequeathed in proportions to his children and grandchildren. Surveyed for them, but dimensions specified by William Hudson found to be off by one foot in each direction. Surveyeres apportioned the error among the heirs in the ratios specified in Hudson's will. Thus this block has distinctive and unusual lot sizes. Source: See copy of the surveys, in the "Other Streets and Special Topics," folder marked "Wm. Hudson." Original available as marked.

 

501/199 Patent 60

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Hudson, William, jun., <1759

Hudson, Samuel, 1785-7

Guier, William 1791-1830

(Guier and Diehl, merchants, 1801)

Newkirk, Mathew, 1831

Newkirk, Mathew, 1841

 

503/201 Patent 60

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Hudson, William, jun. 1759

Jones, Israel, 1785

Reinholdt, George, 1787-1800

Bilsland, Alexander [1795]

Bilsland, Wm. 1800-1807

Knox and Boggs, 1830

Kelly, Thomas, 1841

Fassitt, Jas. W. 1854

 

503/203 Patent 60

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Hudson, William, jun. 1759

Carson, Andrew, 1783

Dunlap, Dr. James, 1785-87

Sheaff, William, 1791

Dilworth, Joseph, 1795

Sheaff, Widow, 1805

Richardson, John, 1826

Hooper, John, 1841

Fassitt, James W. (with 201), 1854

505/205 Patent 60

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Owens, Hannah and Rachel, 1759

Stedicorn/Staticorn, Simon (papermaker), 1787, also Widow Wharton's estate

Wharton, Robert, 1791

Guier, John, 1794-1821

1795, Cline, John and Miller, Jacob, grocers

1801, Zantzinger, Henry, merchant

Read & Gray, merchants, 1826-1841

1830, Robert Wharton surveyed it

Wright, Peter and sons, 1848

Wright, Peter, no sons, 1856

 

507/207 Patent 60

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Hudson, Mary, (dau of Samuel) <1759

Yorke, Thomas, <1779

Thompson, Charles, >1779

Boush, Adam, grocer, 1787

Scattergood, Jacob, 1791-1800

Baker, Samuel, <1805

Hassinger, Jacob, 1805-1825 (est. 1826, 1831)

with #65 South Alley

1820 Welfling, Henry

Hassinger, Jacob, 1841

Hassinger, David, 1850-52, 1869

 

509/209 Patent 60

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Hudson, Mary, (dau of Samuel) <1759

Swett, Benjamin, <1764 (with 511)

Yorke, Thomas, <1779

Thompson, Charles, >1779 (See "Notables")

Stein, Jacob, grocer and part of

Chamberlain, Charles, lot, 1787

Beates, Conrad, 1791-1800

Beates and Restin, Anthony, 1795

Beates, William, 1800-1805

Beates, Conrad, heirs of, 1820

Sterling, Henry, 1831, 1841, 1857

Sterling, J. Franklin, 1874

 

511 Patent 60

[209/211] Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Hudson, Mary, (dau of Samuel) <1759

Head, John, 1762-1765

Swett, Benjamin, 1764 (with 209 and 506 & 508 Commerce)

Welfling, Henry, 1765-1779

Chamberlain, Charles (part of, and Lang, James, ropemaker, 1787

Heise, Frederick (w/out 209), 1791-1795

Beynroth, William, 1795

Pogue, Joseph, 1831

Gilbert, Frederick, 1841

resurveyed for, 1849

heirs of, 1854

 

513 Patent 60

[211/213& Hudson, William, 1741-1748

213 1/2] Howell, Mary, <1759

Pemberton, John, 1769-1787 (Notables)

(as 213, with 512 Commerce)

Pemberton, Hannah, widow, 1795

Pemberton, John, heirs of, 1801

Leaming, Furman, 1831 (with 215 and 215 1/2)

Earp, Messrs, merchants, 1831-35 (510 Commerce)

Earp and brothers, w/ 213 and 213 1/3, and Commerce St. lot, 1841

Brown, John A. <1852

Hoskins [Francis] & Haiskell [Colton], merchants, with 510 and 512 Commerce.

515/215 Patent 60

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Hudson, Mary, daughter of William Hudson, jun., 1748-1786

Palmer, Thomas, gunsmith, >1786 [one of these

Stacks, James, innkeeper, 1787 men at 517]

Seckel, Henry, (Notables, George Seckel Pepper), 1795-1800 [one of these men

Cooper, George, 1797 at 517]

Eckstein, Frederick, 1801 [one of these men

Sheaff, William, 1806 at 517?]

Leaming, Furman, 1831, 1841 (w/ Commerce St. lot)

Baker, Alfred G., 1867 (with 517 (ON=215 1/2)

 

517, ON= Same as listings under 515. Unknown which

215 1/2 occupants were in which property.

 

 

519/217 Patent 63, Charas, Moses

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Sarah, <1759

Bell, William, merchant, 1787-1801

Craig, John, 1801

Craig, Seth, 1806-1831

Sulgers, Jacob, 1841-49

Dale, Ross, & Withers, 1856

dry goods store, 1862

 

521/219 Patent 63, Charas, Moses

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Sarah, <1759

Moore, Thomas, 1785-1806, with 521 and 516 and 518 Commerce.

Emlen, Sarah, 1806 (ground rent)

Cresson, James E. estate of, 1831

Cresson, Clement, 1831

Cresson's estate, 1839

Cresson, Sarah, 1841-49

Dickey, Dr. T. M. et al, 1856

Trucks, John, 1856

 

523, ON= Patent 63, Charas, Moses

219/221 Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Sarah, <1759

Moore, Dr. Thomas, 1788-1806

Emlen, Samuel, 1783-1822

Emlen, Samuel, the late, 1822

Rosette & Bicking, 1831, 1841

Bagaley, William, 1856

 

525/223 Patent 63, Charas, Moses

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Hudson, 1759

Foulke, Caleb, 1783

Foulke, Amos, 1787

Hine, John, 1788

Steinmetz, John, merchant, 1794-1806

Shewell, Thomas, 1822-1836, 1841

Levick, Richard R. and Robert, 1856

 

527/225 Patent 63, Charas, Moses

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Hudson, 1759

Sheaff, William, 1783-1788

Wistar, Caspar, 1795 (Notables)

Helmuth, John, 1815

Everly, Adam (or Ebberle), 1822, 1831, 1841, 1853.

Richardson, John, 1859

 

529/227 Patent 63, Charas, Moses

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Rachel, 1759

Gunkel, Michael, 1783-1822

Cresson, John H. and Joseph (backlot?), 1815

Tams, S., 1831

Cresson, James, 1836

Tam, S. & I., 1841

Davis & Co, 1848

Cope, Caleb, (Notables), 1855-56

 

531/229 Patent 64, Bowman, William

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Rachel, 1759

Redman, Dr. Joseph, 1759-1787

Humphries, Richard, 1797-1801

Vanderkemp, John Jacob, 1809-1842

Bucknell, William, jun., 1859

 

533/231 Patent 64, Bowman, William

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Rachel , 1759

Sellers, Nathan, 1783-1785

Sellers, Nathan & David, 1787-1806

Sellers, Samuel, 1829, 1839

Sellers, James, 1841

Sellars, Samuel, 1855

Pennock, Abraham Lidden and Mary Lewis, 1856

 

535\233 Patent 64, Bowman, William

Hudson, William, 1741-1748

Emlen, Rachel, 1759

Spier, Jacob's house, 1783

Donaldson, Joseph and Mary, 1785-1810

North, Stephen, 1810-1825

Clark, Michael F., 1829,1841, 1856

Clark, Michael, estate of, 1869, 1876

 

Location unknown: Kimel, Adam

Durborow, John

 

SECTION B: North along 6TH STREET from High/Market to Commerce/South, west side: Owners in Order, with Dates.

 

 

Starting approx. 120 north of High street:

 

Donaldson, Mary, 1810-1825

10 Foot Court

Crilly, Thomas, 1832

Syng, Charles, 60 x 68, 1783

Howell, Miss [Mary], 1848

Moore, Thomas, 40 X 68, 1783

Walton, Henry, (3 lots consolidated, Commerce St. to the 10 foot court), 1857 (SURVEY)

 

SECTION C: East along Commerce St. from 6th toward 5th, South side: Owners in Order, with Dates.

 

Starting 50 feet east of 6th Street

 

Gunkel, Michael, 1783-1832

Cresson, Joseph and John H., 1815, then

25ft east to

 

Sheaf, William, 1783-88

Branton (or Brinton), J. H., stables, 1806

Helmuth, John, 1815, then

24 ft. east to

 

Foulke, Caleb, 1783

etc., see Market St. list above

also Pemberton stables (?), 48 ft deep, then

25 feet east to

 

Emlen, Samuel's home, 1783-1822

Moore, Thomas, 1788-1806 (?)

Middleton, Joseph, 1831, then

20 feet east to

 

Moore, Thomas, 1788-1806

Emlen, Sarah, 1806

Cresson's J. E. est, 1831

Cresson, Clement 1831

Cresson est, 1839, then

21 feet east to

 

Bell, William, 1787-1801

Craig, John, 1801

Craig, Seth, 1806-1831

Dale, Ross and Wither, 1856, then

 

ALL THE ABOVE LOTS ON COMMERCE STREET GO THROUGH TO HIGH STREET UNTIL 1831.

 

18 feet east from Dale, Ross, & Wither to

 

Fritz, Jacob, cabinet maker, 14 South alley, 1825, on a 16

 

foot wide tract that does go through to High street. 83 feet south of Commerce, the through lot widens to 32 feet and continues this width all the way to High street. Through lot owned successively by Mary Hudson, Thomas Palmer, Henry Seckel. See High street list.

 

Section of lot running 16 feet east from through lot line along Commerce street, and 83 feet south toward High, owned by

Fite, George, 1767

Pemberton, John, 1768 (stables?)

Pemberton, John, heirs of, 1801

Hoskins and Ha[i]skell, 1852, then

on eastern edge of the 16 X 83 section, there is another through lot, 16 x 83, then widening to 32 x 117 continuing to High street. A second 16 x 83 section abuts that through lot, just as on the neighboring lot to the west, and was owned by

 

Swett, Benjamin, 1765, then

 

at eastern edge of the above described 16 x 83 section begins property of

 

Welfling, Henry, 1762-1765

Peter, Abraham, 1765-1800 (SURVEY)

Keighler, Christopher, 1800 (SURVEY)

Wetherill, Samuel, 8 Commerce St.

Seal, Joseph H., 1838, then

18 feet east to

 

Klein, George, 1765

Yorke, Thomas (?), < 1779

Hassinger, Jacob and son, 6 South alley, 1820

Hassinger, Jonathan K., 6 South alley

Hassinger, David, 1871, then

 

THE ABOVE LOTS ON COMMERCE STREET ARE 70 OR 83 FEET DEEP ONLY. THEY DO NOT GO THROUGH TO HIGH STREET. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN UNITED IN ONE PARCEL SOLD BY BENJAMIN SWETT IN 1764.

 

18 feet east to

 

Baker, Samuel, 1805

Welfling, Henry, 1820, then

 

18 feet east to

 

Guier, John, 1794-1821

and others, see Market street list.

 

THE ABOVE LOTS GO THROUGH TO HIGH STREET. MAY HAVE BEEN PART OF A TRACT SOLD BY THOMAS WHARTON IN 1747.

 

then a further 52 feet east along the side of a 5th street frontage lot, to 5th street.

 

 

SECTION D: South along 5TH STREET between Commerce and High, west side: Owners in order, with dates.

 

corner property,

Jager, Caspar, 1774 (PA GAZETTE)

Richle [Richt], [John] Si[e]gmund, 1802

Richle [Richt], William, 1840, then 20 feet south to

 

Hudson, William, 1759

Rabsom, Jacob and Wife Cleophia, <1782 (PA GAZETTE)

Hudson, Mary, dau of Samuel, g. d. of Wm Hudson, 1785

Rosenbruch, Theophilus, 1853, then 20 feet south to

 

surveyed 1801, no owner,

Shepperd, Thomas, 1821, then 19 feet south to

 

Barker, Peter, 1764, then 20 feet south to

 

4 FOOT ALLEY, then 96 feet south to High Street.

 

 

 

SECTION E: East along Commerce St. from 6th to 5th, North side: Owners in Order, with dates.

 

62.6 feet east from 6th (frontage faces 6th) begins the lot of

 

Erwin, John, 1793 (2 frame houses with kitchen behind)

Johns, Agnes, 1801

Fritz, Jacob (or John), 1830-31

Croft, Samuel, 1845-1859, then east 33.8 feet to

 

an alley, 36 feet deep, heading north from Commerce 1831), width unknown, but probably about 4 feet.

 

then begins property of

 

 

Joncy, Rachel, <1793

Esler, John, 25 South alley, [1800]

Simons, John, 1801

Kemble, Charles, 1831

Douradore, Bernard, 1839

Seal, Joseph H., 1856

 

then east 16.8 feet to the property of

 

Wetherill, Mordecai, 1831

Beck, Paul, 1839

Reinboth (or Reinholdt), J. D., 1849

Beck, William Henry, 1856

 

then east 16.8 feet to an untenanted property,

then east 16.8 feet to the property of

 

Dore, Jacob, 1838

Kemble, Charles, 1856

 

then east 16.8 feet to the property of

 

Wetherill, M[ordecai?], 1838

 

then east 33.4 feet to the property of

 

Metcalf, Susan (late), 1838 (rec'd land in Wm. Hudson's will, 1803)

 

then east 33 feet (approx) to the property of

 

Winder, William H., 1838 (In 1850 this property was setback perhaps 2 feet)

 

then 23.7 feet east to

 

an alley or court (from 1814 to 1853, approx), reaching at least 16 feet north from Commerce, ten feet across, to the property of

 

Wetherill, Samuel, 1762 (#8 Commerce St) (SURVEY)

Brookes, John, 1836

Brown, John A., 1853

 

then 16.8 feet (approx) east to

 

an alley (1842-1896), no width given, depth 76 feet.

 

then the property of

 

Bryan, Dr., 1842,

 

then 78 feet east to 5th Street.

 

 

SECTION F: North along 5th Street, west side, from Commerce St. to North alley (Cuthbert)

 

Dixon, John, 1838

 

18 feet north to

 

DeSaa, Peter Arnould, 1797 (16 N. 5th)

Clark, William W., 1846

Justice, Philip, 1853

 

17 feet north to

 

Justice, Philip, 1853

 

17 feet north to

 

Ritter, Charles, 1840

Savery, Thomas

Gerker, Henry, 1856

 

15 feet north to

 

Ritter, Henry, 1774 (SURVEY) (Notables)

heirs of, 1800

 

15 feet north to

 

Betton, Joseph, 1783

Bitting, Lewis, 1785

Erwin, Henry, [1800]

Parke, Samuel, 1800 (SURVEY)

Haviland, John, 1831 (Notables)

Bailey, Lydia R., 1831

 

20 feet north to

 

Owen, Evan, 1783

Meyer, Benjamin, 1785

Sellers, Coleman, 1821

Bailey, Lydia (?), 1870

 

20 feet north to

 

Eckfeldt, Jacob, 1772-1785 (this property has a notable wall along the south side in 1821. See diagram.)

 

40 feet north to

 

Eckfeldt, Jacob, <1785

Zantzinger, Adam, 1785 (SURVEY)

Fire Association, 1866

 

 

 

SECTION G: West along North Alley (Cuthbert), south side, from 5th to 6th

 

96 feet west to a four foot alley, extending 100 feet south in 1783, and 80 feet south from 1785 to 1866, then to the property of

 

Larkey, Edward, 1783

Biddle, Messrs and Co., 1867

 

then 34 feet west to the property of

 

Elsegood, Mathew, 1835

Brown, John A., 1853,

 

then 16.8 feet west to the property of

 

Suplee and Myers, 1856

 

then 16.8 feet west to an untenanted property,

then 44 feet west to the property of

 

Drummond, Josiah, 1826

Masters & Tomlinson, 1856

Graham, John H. 1871,

 

then 16.8 feet west to the property of

 

Gano, John, 1826-28

Hopper, William, 1853

 

then 16.8 feet west to

 

an alley (1828), three feet wide, and 16-20 feet deep, south from North alley, then to the property of

 

Tilagher, Mrs., 1828

Livezey, Samuel, 1848

Reinholdt, J. D. 1849

Moore & Jessup, 1852-3

Jessup, Augustus, 1856

 

then 16.8 feet west to the property of

 

Snyder, >1791

Herbert, Michael, <1791

 

then 16.8 feet west to

 

an alley, four feet wide (1791),

 

then 92 feet west to 6th street.

 

 

SECTION H: South along 6th street, east side, from North Alley (Cuthbert) to South Alley (Commerce)

 

se corner, 6th and North/Cuthbert,

 

Howells, Christian, 1791, by division of Wm Hudson's estate

Eicholtz, Jacob, 1828 (Notables)

Clark, Michael F. 1831, (SURVEY)

 

15 feet south to

 

Howells, Christian, 1791

Clopp, John, 1828

Clark, Michael F., 1831

 

15 feet south to

 

Cross, Peter, 1791-1806, with alley privilege

Graff, ??, 1828

Clark, Michael F., 1831

 

15 feet south to

 

Cross, Peter, 1791-1806, with alley privilege

Clark, Michael F., 1831

 

15 feet south to

 

Etter, Philip, heirs of, c. 1771

Haverstick, William, 1829

Clark, Michael F., 1834

 

20 feet south to

 

Emerick, George, 1829-34

Jessup, A. E., 1856

 

20 feet south to

 

Wood, Thomas, c. 1791

Abbott, John, 1829

Bruder, George, 1856

 

16 feet south to

 

Rushac, heirs, c. 1791

Emerick, William, 1829-1834

Bucknell, William, Jr., 1859

 

15.6 feet south to

 

Parris, c. 1791-c. 1798

Sphon, William, 1819

Douradore, Bernard, 1840, 1843

Kern, Horatio, 1856

 

16 feet south to

 

an alley (1840-1843), dimensions unknown, probably about 4 feet wide, and perhaps 15 feet deep.

 

then the property of

 

Hudson, Susannah, <1775

Marley, Richard Jackson, 1775-c.1791 (built a brick building on the eastern portion of the lot, 1801)

Marley, William, 1819

Marley, Rosanna (widow?), 1842

Kern, Horatio, 1856

 

16 feet south to

 

Hudson, Susannah

Brand, Jacob

Erwin, Robert

Brand, Martha Gardner, 1793-1801 (house on the property in 1793)

Sellars, Samuel, 1830

 

17.4 feet south to

 

Hudson, Susannah, <1793

Empsons, Elizabeth, 1793

Ebberle, Charles, 1801

Garriques, William, 1814?

Manufacturers and Mechanics Savings and Loan Co, 1858

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