Joseph Rakestraw (c.1732-1794) was a Philadelphia carpenter. He was listed in that city's 1793 directory as a "house carpenter" at "138, Mulberry St." (James Hardie, The Philadelphia Directory and Register . . ..  [Philadelphia, 1793], 117; see also The Independent Gazetteer [Philadelphia], 14 May 1794).  While GW was attending the Constitutional Convention in 1787 he had Rakestraw make the weathervane that is atop the cupola at Mount Vernon and arranged to have it shipped for installation before his return from Philadelphia.