Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen
Member jure Jeremiah Cloud (cordwainer) and Christopher Taylor (author); member no. 535
Member jure Jeremiah Cloud (cordwainer) and Christopher Taylor (author); member no. 535
The Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen 1607-1783 (GCAT) honors individuals descended from ancestors who practiced a craft, art, or trade in the American Colonies from the founding of Jamestown in 1607 through the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This lineage society celebrates the role of skilled artisans who contributed to the economic and cultural development of the colonies and recognizes descendants who continue to preserve this heritage.
Jeremiah Cloud (c. 1665-1717), born in Calne, Wiltshire, England, was an early American cordwainer–an artisan who specialized in crafting shoes from high-quality leather. He traveled to the colonies with his father, William Cloud, and brothers aboard the Unicorn in 1682 as part of William Penn’s migration initiative, arriving in Pennsylvania. Their settlement helped lay the groundwork for early colonial society in the Delaware Valley, contributing to the establishment of both Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Once settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Jeremiah took up the trade of cordwainer and became a respected member of the community. As a skilled artisan, he provided essential goods, crafting durable, high-quality shoes that met the needs of early settlers. Beyond his trade, Jeremiah was also a foundational figure in the region’s Quaker community, participating actively in the Concord Monthly Meeting. His and his family’s presence in the Delaware Valley underscored the intertwined relationship between skilled labor and community development that was critical in early American settlements.
The Clouds were among the earliest settlers to venture into what is now Delaware, where Jeremiah contributed to establishing stable settlements that would support both Pennsylvania and Delaware’s growth. His role in this expansion effort included maintaining trade networks and supporting local governance as the area developed from a sparsely populated frontier to a structured colonial society.
Cordwainers in the colonial era were highly skilled tradespeople responsible for producing shoes and boots from newly tanned leather. Distinct from cobblers, who typically repaired shoes, cordwainers were makers of new footwear and required extensive training to master the craft. Jeremiah’s work as a cordwainer involved selecting the finest leathers and using specialized techniques to construct footwear that would withstand the rigorous demands of colonial life.
Shoemaking required both physical strength and precision, with artisans spending hours cutting, shaping, and stitching leather to form shoes that were not only practical but also reflective of colonial fashion and status. Jeremiah’s expertise as a cordwainer meant he was an integral part of the local economy, as reliable footwear was a necessity for travel, labor, and daily life. His craft would have been indispensable for the settlers in Pennsylvania and Delaware, providing comfort and durability in a challenging new environment.
Jeremiah Cloud’s life as a cordwainer and early settler in Pennsylvania and Delaware embodies the resilience and skill of colonial artisans who supported the development of thriving communities in the American colonies. His journey from England to the New World, his role in establishing Delaware settlements, and his mastery of cordwaining are central to my family’s legacy. Through my membership in the Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen, I honor Jeremiah’s contributions to the colonial economy and the lasting impact of his skilled craft on American history.
Christopher Taylor (c. 1620–1686), born in Skipton, Yorkshire, England, was a Quaker intellectual, schoolmaster, and civic leader whose influence helped shape the early development of Pennsylvania. Renowned for his classical education and deep commitment to Quaker ideals, Taylor emigrated to the colony in 1682 and settled on Tinicum Island, just south of present-day Philadelphia. His life reflects the essential role that education, faith, and public service played in the foundation of William Penn’s “Holy Experiment.”
A linguist and teacher fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, Taylor was repeatedly jailed in England for his religious beliefs. As a devout member of the Society of Friends, he aligned himself with William Penn’s vision for a Quaker-led colony in America. In 1682, he sailed to Pennsylvania with his sons, acquiring land and quickly becoming one of the most respected figures in the colony.
His landholdings included a substantial tract on Tinicum Island, formerly the seat of New Sweden’s government, where he established a home, a school, and a base for civic life. In 1683, he was appointed to the Provincial Council and served in the first Pennsylvania Assembly, helping to shape the colony’s early legal and educational institutions.
Taylor’s most enduring legacy may lie in his role as a teacher. He offered classical instruction to the children of settlers, including Latin, Greek, and moral philosophy, training a generation of leaders in the Quaker tradition. At a time when formal education was scarce, Taylor’s school on Tinicum Island was one of the earliest organized learning environments in the region.
He was known to conduct school in both his home and a separate structure built for the purpose. His students included future civic leaders and fellow Friends, and he emphasized literacy, scriptural understanding, and ethical conduct.
In addition to his teaching, Taylor authored several works that reflect his scholarly pursuits and religious convictions:
In addition to teaching, Taylor played a critical role in Pennsylvania’s governance. He helped interpret land titles, resolve disputes, and shape early laws. William Penn personally respected him as “a man of great parts and civility,” often relying on his judgment in both legal and religious matters.
Taylor’s home became a center for local Friends’ meetings and community activity, underscoring the dual importance of education and faith in early Quaker settlements. His sons, Israel and Joseph Taylor, continued his legacy, both becoming involved in Pennsylvania’s civic and landowning affairs.
Nathaniel Bonnell (c. 1630–c. 1696) was a carpenter and early settler of Elizabethtown, New Jersey. Originally from the New Haven Colony, he was among the signers of the Elizabethtown Associates’ agreement and established one of the first homes in the area. His house, located on East Jersey Street, is believed to be the oldest surviving structure in Elizabeth.
Bonnell practiced carpentry during a period when wood-frame construction was central to settlement building in the mid-Atlantic colonies. His work likely included the construction and maintenance of homes and other wooden structures typical of early New England–influenced settlements. The survival of his house offers one of the few material links to Elizabethtown’s founding generation.
Elizabethtown, established in 1664, was the first permanent English settlement in what would become the Province of New Jersey. Located on the western shore of Newark Bay, it was founded by settlers from the New Haven Colony following the English seizure of New Netherland from the Dutch. The town was named in honor of Elizabeth Carteret, wife of Sir George Carteret, one of the two original proprietors of New Jersey under the grant from the Duke of York.
The settlement began with the purchase of land from the Lenape, formalized by the so-called Elizabethtown Purchase, though the legitimacy and fairness of such transactions were often disputed by both Native inhabitants and later colonial authorities. The signers of the Elizabethtown Associates’ agreement laid out plots, established common lands, and adopted a town-based model of governance influenced by New England traditions.
Elizabethtown served as the de facto capital of East Jersey until the unification of East and West Jersey in 1702. It was an administrative and legal center, home to colonial courts and the provincial governor’s residence for a time. The town’s early buildings were typically timber-framed, and its economy was rooted in small-scale agriculture, trade, and artisanal labor.
Due to its strategic location, Elizabethtown also played a role in later military conflicts, including the Revolutionary War, during which it saw repeated skirmishes and occupations. The legacy of its founding generation, landowners, craftsmen, and civic leadersm remains visible in the surviving architectural and documentary record.
The Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen was founded on May 6, 2004, to celebrate and preserve the memory of colonial artisans. Membership is open to individuals who can demonstrate lineal descent from an ancestor who practiced an art, craft, or trade in the American Colonies during this formative period. The Guild defines qualifying trades as those practiced by skilled workers who created goods and services essential to colonial society, including blacksmiths, coopers, weavers, and other artisans. z The Guild’s mission includes promoting historical research on colonial artisans and fostering camaraderie among descendants. Members are encouraged to share their lineages and contribute to the collective understanding of colonial trades, helping to preserve the heritage of skilled laborers who played a foundational role in the establishment of American communities.
Additional memberships will be added as they are approved.
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