Introduction The Office The Dining Room

Welcome to the office of Samuel Powel. This room Welcome to the Powels’ dining room. Although the dining Welcome to the home of Samuel and Elizabeth Powel. room may look small, it was among the largest in Philadel- Samuel Powel was born October 28, 1738. By the time was where Powel conducted his public and private th business. Here, tenants as well as concerned citizens phia during the 18 century. Samuel and Elizabeth Powel he was eighteen years old, Powel had inherited a large used their house to flaunt their wealth and express civility fortune from his father and grandfather. As a young man would meet with and pay rent to Powel. During the 18th century, the average Philadelphian rented prop- when elite citizens of Colonial America, such as George Powel underwent the best education he could receive at Washington or John Adams came to visit the city. The Pow- the time. He graduated from the College of Philadelphia erty. In fact ninety percent of the land in Philadelphia was owned by ten percent of the people. However, els were famous for their lavish dinner parties. John Adams (University of Pennsylvania) in 1759, then spent seven wrote, years abroad. Powel returned to the colonies as a bright Samuel Powel was not an average Philadelphian. A and wealthy young Philadelphian. In 1769, Samuel Pow- tax assessment from 1774, showed that Powel Dined at Mr. Powel's with... many others-- a most el married Elizabeth Willing, and they purchased this amassed more than double the amount of real-estate Sinful Feast again! Everything which could delight the Eye home. Elizabeth Willing Powel was born in Philadelphia than the next wealthiest Philadelphian. Similar to or allure the Taste. Curds and Creams. Jellies. Sweet meats in 1743. The marriage was a good one as Elizabeth was today, people used vehicles as a social symbol and a of various Sorts. 20 sorts of Tarts, fools, Trifles, floating as smart as Samuel and helped him with his businesses to way to flaunt wealth. Out of 20,000 people living in islands. Whipp'd Sillabubs &c. &c.-- Parmesan Cheese. a large extent. In fact Elizabeth Powel was exceptional at Philadelphia in 1772 only eighty-four had carriages. running a business and after Samuel Powel died, Eliza- beth was willed the entire Powel fortune. That was atypical for the time as usually men did not leave their fortune to their wives, but to male heirs, relatives, or friends. The house was built in 1765 and renovated by Robert Smith in 1769. Robert Smith was a member of the Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia, and designed many buildings in Philadelphia including the home of Benjamin Franklin, Carpenters’ Hall, and St. Peters Church. St. Peters Church and Carpenters’ Hall still stand today. Although Powel was politically active during the American Revolution, he did Powel was appointed to the Common Council of not formally take a stance until the French aligned with Philadelphia in 1770, mayor twice: first in Octo- America in 1778. At that point an American victory ber 1775 immediately before the war started, and seemed likely because France allied with the colonies. again after the war in 1789. The common council Powel realized it was risky to take a stance as a patriot or was a non-elected council made up of prominent loyalist, especially in Philadelphia, where neither faction Philadelphians appointed by current councilmen. considerably outnumbered the other. Many Philadelphians, The council, mayor, and alderman were known as such as Powel or Elizabeth’s brother Thomas Willing, the Philadelphia Corporation. Powel would have Pictured above Elfreth’s Alley– more common housing for were faced with intense pressure to support independence. dealt with council affairs at a desk similar to the the time. The majority of Pennsylvania elites were separated from one in the corner. Neither the position of mayor the violence in Boston and believed that reconciliation with nor city council are comparable to the positions Note that John Adams was in Philadelphia for the First Con- the crown was optimal due to the economic and practical today. One of Powel’s main duties as mayor was tinental Congress. Congressmen were meeting in defiance to reasons. Many believed that the British army would defeat to mandate prices and the mayor had little politi- the British Crown, something Adams and Powel were well the rag-tag Continental army, which would result in a cal power compared to the Governor. For exam- aware of. Powel was one of the first Americans to designate worse situation for the colonies. Historians conclude that ple, Powel would not have had the power as a a specific room for eating. He was influenced by this inno- Pennsylvania was the last colony to favor independence. In mayor to prohibit the Continental Congress from vative practice while abroad in Europe. It is notable that the fact, Samuel Powels friend John Dickinson, and Thomas meeting in Philadelphia in 1775. In fact, when Powels, unlike most Philadelphians, had enough money to Willing originally voted against independence in 1776. some individuals were appointed mayor they fled afford multiple rooms designed for a single purpose. Regardless of the pressures to commit as a patriot or loyal- On the contrary, the average Philadelphian would This is the same bannister that George and Martha live in a house with only two rooms, usually one Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Letters between George and Martha Washington and the Powels for business and eating, and another as the bed- and Sarah Franklin Bache grasped as they retreat- show that they revered Elizabeth’s judgement and Samuel’s knack room. Also, the common Philadelphia could only for business and agriculture. In fact, after the war Washington cheer- afford soup, maybe a meat and one vegetable for ed to the ballroom to dance. George and Martha fully agreed to be placed on the Philadelphia Society for Promoting dinner. The wealth of Samuel Powel was one of the Washinton silhouettes pictured below, can you Agriculture where Samuel Powel was the president. George Wash- reasons he was appointed mayor twice. It was not find Georges’ in the Powel House? ington wished to go back to his farm after his first term as president. until 1760 that the mayor received a salary, yet he If it wasn’t for Elizabeth Powel, Washington may have retired four was required to host the Corporation for a dinner at years earlier. Elizabeth Powel astutely realized that the infant Colo- the end of each year. The dinner was a costly ven- nies were in a fragile state and that Washington’s leadership was ture as it was expected to be extravagant, therefore needed for another four years. In a letter to Washington she subtly the mayor could keep his reputation as an elite and hinted that he needed to run again. It was risky for Elizabeth Powel cultured gentleman intact. By the time Powel was to express political influence on the president because at that time mayor many chose to donate money into the Corpo- women were not allowed to actively participate in politics. However, ration coffer instead of a dinner. However, as she astutely realized she was a cherished friend of George Washing- mayor Powel may have hosted a Corporation dinner ton, and was therefore in a unique position to influence him. Soon in this room with upwards of thirty people. For afterwards Washington decided to run for president again. larger dinner parties the less prominent individuals may have dined in the drawing room upstairs. The quantity and cost of the silverware, porcelain and *Feel free to pass through the Drawing room on your way back down food required for a party of that size and elegance Samuel and Elizabeth Powel were famous for the small stairs and straight into the Servants room. In the Drawing was extravagant. Porcelain and silverware were their parties, and the elegant Rococo ballroom room, try and locate the lock of hair that belonged to George Wash- expensive and often imported from China or shows why. Although Samuel Powel was born a ington. Also note the portrait of Elizabeth Powel on top of the fire- France. Silverware and porcelain were often used to Quaker, he converted to Anglican while in Lon- place, painted by Matthew Pratt after the death of the Powels infant denote the amount of wealth in a particular house- don. Powel had a desire for a luxurious lifestyle children. * and knew that as a Quaker he would not be able hold. The Powels thought about the smallest details for a successful party, even the green wall color to own lavish items in good faith. Many Quakers was fashionable for the time and reputed to pro- of the time did not share the same sentiments Head Servant’s Bedroom mote smooth digestion. Look through the windows and would continue to practice as a Quaker, and out into the garden. When Samuel and Eliza- even though they violated some of the ideolo- Unfortunately, due to modern fire codes the third floor (where the beth Powel lived in the house, the garden stretched gies. In this room the Powels danced and en- Powels’ original bedroom was located) is off-limits to the public, an additional sixty feet south, and all the way west joyed music, such as a harp or piano, with guests thus this room has been designed to display what the Powels’ bed- to Fourth Street. Feel free to walk out into the gar- such as the Marquise de Lafayette or the daugh- room may have looked like. However, it was used as the Head Serv- den, try and find the Franklin Tree which is now ter of Benjamin Franklin, Sarah Franklin Bache. ant’s Bedroom while the Powels lived in the house. Before you enter extinct in the wild, but don’t forget to check out the Check out the letter that Sarah Franklin Bache note the low ceiling and the petite staircase off to the right. In addi- rooms upstairs first. wrote to her father as well as the piano and harp tion to servants, Elizabeth and Samuel Powel owned slaves. The in the room. Visitors to the Powel House en- slaves and servants were required to take the back-staircase so they joyed the experience and often became dear did not interrupt parties. During the occupation of Philadelphia in Note the portrait on the wall directly before the friends of the Powels. 1778 the British Minister the Earl of Carlisle took over the Powel main staircase. It is Samuel Powel! The Washingtons were so charmed that House. The Earl forced the Powels to temporarily move into the head *To get to the Ballroom go up the main staircase, they developed an intimate friendship with the servant’s bedroom. After his stay in the Powel House the Earl re- turn left and up a small staircase, then go straight Samuel and Elizabeth Powel that continued for marked, ahead into the large Ballroom* the rest of their lives. Letters between George I make him and his wife a visit every day [he wrote], talking and Martha Washington and the Powels show The Ballroom politics with them, and we are the best friends in the world. They are very agreeable, sensible people, and you would As you make your way up to the ballroom do not be Unlike many of his patriot contemporaries, Powel remained Outside the Powel House/ Conclusion in Philadelphia during the occupation. By staying in Phila- During his time in the city government, Powel participated in the less extravagant processes that were necessary delphia, the Samuel and Elizabeth Powel risked imprison- to govern a city. During the 18th century, Philadelphia was one of the largest English speaking cities in the world. ment and maltreatment by the British as American sympa- Within Philadelphia, Third Street was perhaps the most fashionable neighborhood because many prominent citi- thizers, or were likely to face the same as a loyalist by the zens resided on it. Nearby, Thomas Paine printed the pamphlet Common Sense, Governor John Penn conducted patriots when they retook the city. However, because Samuel state affairs, and Peggy Shippen (cousin of Elizabeth Powel) waited to court and marry the loyalist celebrity and Powel was not active in the military and was influential turn-cloak Benedict Arnold. A few of the most frequented locations of the city were right around the corner from among both patriots and loyalists, the British did not impris- Third Street and were influenced in some sense by the Powels. on him. During the occupation, Elizabeth Powel wrote to her sister that “[your home has been] torn down and the Town- North of the Powel House on High Street (Market Street) was the city market, south was St. Peters Church side has undergone that same Fate. Mr. Powel bears it like a (where Powel and Elizabeth got married), and northwest was Old City Hall. When Powel was elected into the Philosopher.” In Colonial America Greek and Roman philos- common council of Philadelphia he helped Philadelphia along the transition from a colonial town into a thriving ophers were widely-read and quite fashionable, therefore city. One of the biggest problems that the Philadelphia Corporation faced was a lack of funding. However, Powel comparison to one would be a sincere compliment. Acting as was not deterred in his effort to undertake public works and even fronted his own money. During his tenure in the a philosopher implied that he did not let his emotions cloud Corporation Powel served on committees designed to pave streets and plan for the construction of Old City Hall his judgement. Powel often acted as a philosopher, therefore (which still stands today next to Independence Hall). In hopes of saving money and lessening a criminal’s time in he would not have committed to being a loyalist or patriot if jail, Powel minimized the holding time at the Walnut Street Jail prior to a criminal’s trial. A key role of the Phila- it was against the best interest of his city, family, and his delphia Corporation was to listen and attempt to solve problems that citizens voiced at common council meet- business interests. Perhaps Powel used his neutral status to ings. After citizens complained that city fairs congested and damaged streets and buildings while leaving litter in try and win favor with the occupying General William Howe their wake, Powel served on a committee to ban fairs from the city. After farmers from Maryland complained that to secure more food and medical supplies for the needy. they received different volumes of goods from Philadelphia, Powel regulated the size of bushels (pictured below) While the country worried about the fate of the Continental for transportation and storage of various goods. When citizens complained that another public scale was needed Army and America, the Powels, waiting for the war to end, to weigh hay, Powel funded and organized the placement of an additional scale. Powel also hired carpenters who focused on poor relief, education, and religion to relieve the repaired damaged city market stalls and erected additional stalls when needed. Samuel Powel skillfully avoided distresses throughout Philadelphia. The French officer declaring a faction in the midst of an atmosphere that demanded one to identify as a patriot or loyalist, instead he François Jean Chastellux agreed that Elizabeth “only waits focused on making sure that his city continued to operate as smoothly as possible. Samuel Powel was neither the for the termination of this little revolution, to effect a still “Patriot Mayor” nor was he a loyalist sym- greater one in the manners of her country.” Later that year pathizer, he was the mayor of Philadelphia when France joined the war as an American ally, Powel took committed to governing his city while the his oath of allegiance to the patriot cause and donated 5,000 rest of the nation fell into the chaos of the pounds. Powel waited till the last minute to declare a faction. A year had gone by since the Pennsylvania Assembly passed an order that all citizens declare allegiance to the independ- ent colonies or face imprisonment for treason. The donation of 5,000 pounds by Powel was perhaps the largest sum do- nated, other than a 10,000 pound donation from the friend of Samuel Powel, Robert Morris, who is known as the financer of the revolution. Powel was able to maintain friendly rela- tions with the British, loyalist, and patriots because he was wealthy, lived in a moderate colony, waited to choose a fac- tion, and only publicly advocated the role of moderate politi- cians. Such as John Dickinson (pictured to the right) Picture Sources- Spanish Coin- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Philip_V_Coin.jpg Elfreth’s Alley- http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/elfreths-alley/ George and Martha silhouettes- http://natedsanders.com/rare_1796_miniature_portraits_of_president_george_-lot13625.aspx John Dickinson- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/John_Dickinson_portrait.jpg Bushel- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Queensland_Government_Imperial_Bushel_AD1875.jpg