Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Letter from Samuel Griffin (dated New York, April 4, 1802) to John Ambler in Williamsburg, Virginia. Griffin states that Ambler can continue in the house for the same rent as the previous year and may make any improvements he feels are necessary. Griffin writes that it will be acceptable to have Bowden (probably John Bowden who was a carpenter in Williamsburg) rebuild the front porch and that the necessary materials are available at the plantation or on the lot. Griffin thanks Ambler for the trouble he will be under to plant the poplars and asks if they can be extended around the stable lot. Griffin mentions the pears on the property and states that L. Tazewell can tell Ambler which pears are best.

Samuel Griffin bought the property from the estate of William Byrd III in 1778. The house still stands on Francis Street in Williamsburg and is called the William Byrd III House.

Samuel Griffin (1746-1810) was a lawyer, soldier and politician originally from Richmond County, Virginia. He served as a colonel in the Revolution and was wounded at the battle at Harlem Heights on October 12, 1776. He was married in 1778 to Elizabeth Braxton, daughter of Carter Braxton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Griffin served as mayor of Williamsburg, 1779-1780 and as a member of the House of Delegates from 1787-1788. He served in Congress from 1789 to 1795.

John Ambler was the son of Edward Ambler of Jamestown, Virginia. In 1782 he inherited Jamestown Island and many other estates of his wealthy parents. He served in both the Revolution and the War of 1812.

From particular circumstances,
it has not been in my power to give
you a positive answer, to your letter of the
22^d of February untill now, and I have deter
-mined to accept of your offer, that is to keep
the house one year longer at the same
rent, and I have no objection to your making
any improvements you may think ne
-cessary provided you will leave the
houses & inclosures, in as good order as
they shall be when completed. I should
have no objection to the front porch being
rebuilt by Bowden provided he will not be
too extravagant, the pillars shingles & I
believe all the necessary timbers & scantling
are ready, either at the plantation or
on the lott—in regard to the wood land,
I was to M^r Harris, very explicit, I told
him that I would allow you to use 8
or ten of the largest pine trees on the land
equal to from 20 to [30] Cart load, and what
poles &tc that you might want to use in
the garden, or on the lot, on condition
that you would not suffer any other person to cut a stick off the land. I think it would
be but just & equitable that one Moiety of
the sum you may expend on the lotts should
be taken from the cut of the first year, and
the other Moiety from that of the second—
that is if it should amount to 100 dollars or
upwards—however I shall be governed by
your Opinion on this Subject. I am much ob[liged]
for your trouble in plant^g out the po^plars,
and if you could extend them around the
stable lott, I should be highly gratifyd,
there are in the garden some very delicious
pears of three kinds, and I left a plenty of
Scions, if a number of them could be
graftd as a Joint Stock, we should both
reap the advantage of it.

P.S. our mutual friend
Mr. L. Tazewell can
tell you which are the
best pears—S.G.—

I shall be happy to hear from
you when convenient
S.G.—

I expressly forbid [Abrams] from cutting
a stick off the land, he has already pillaged it enough.

[Postmark:] Newark
APR
[6]

20

To
John Ambler Esqr.
Williamsburg
Virginia

Col. Sam Griff[in]
Letter