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MASTER BUILDER
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Born: c. 1769, Died: 1840 The master builder Joseph Worrell was the son of Ezekiel and Ann (King) Worrell. Following her husband's death, Ann Worrell petitioned The Carpenters' Company for help in "placing one of her sons Apprentice to a House Carpenter." Company records strongly suggest that that son was Joseph Worrell and that he was taken as an apprentice by James Pearson. On 21 January 1788, "James Pearson proposed Joseph Worrel (sic.) Son of ye Late Ezekial Worral (sic.)" as a member of The Company. As this birthright builder matured, he took an ever greater role in Company affairs; he was elected Company Secretary 1801-1803, Vice President 1818-1820, and President 1821-1823, 1827-1829.Nothing is known of Worrell's building practice except that he briefly appears to have been in partnership with the carpenter Isaac Forsyth (7 Little George Street) for which bills marked Worrell & Forsyth survive for the period 1809-1811. When The Carpenters' Company established an architecture school in 1833, Worrell was appointed chairman of the school committee. Worrell was on the Select Council of the City of Philadelphia and was appointed as one of the committee members to oversee the design and construction of Girard College by Thomas Ustick Walter. A portrait (c.1815) of Worrell attributed to Jacob Eichholtz survives in the possession of the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia.
Written by Roger W. Moss. Clubs and Membership Organizations
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