the house was first built by james davis, jr., a master builder and an early member of the carpenters' company of the city and county of philadelphia, america's first builders’ guild. davis served as assistant warden of the organization from 1767 to 1770 and was a major contributor towards the construction of carpenters' hall in philadelphia. davis had acquired the lot on which the davis-lenox house stands in 1758 for 5 pounds yearly ground rent and completed construction of a two-story brick house and kitchen in 1759.