Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

PREFACE

A few words on the organization of this report may be of help to those using it.

Some notes on horses and roads——two subjects which had considerable bearing on the early use of wheeled-vehicles in the Virginia colony——are followed by a condensed account of wheeled vehicles in Virginia in the eighteenth century. [See pages 1-27.] This is followed by an Appendix which presents, in alphabetical order, the types of vehicles which were in use in eighteenth century Virginia, with descriptive material from the Virginia records included under each heading. [see pages i-clxxiii. )

A few of the vehicles described in this report may be too early to be considered in the present Colonial Williamsburg scene; some others may be somewhat late——although they fall within the eighteenth century. One or two have been included (the landaulet and the sociable) for reasons which are noted in the text concerning them, in spite of the fact that no Virginia reference has yet been found to these vehicles. It is of course possible that continuing search will bring additional information to light.

The information which has been found, however, will give a comprehensive picture of the usual vehicles in eighteenth century Virginia. In the first half of the century four-wheeled coaches and chariots, and four and two-wheeled chairs and chaises were common. In the second half of the century, the lighter four-wheeled vehicles——post-chaises, post-chariots and phaetons——began to outnumber the heavier coaches and chariots; and two-wheeled chairs and chaises (including the curricle and the whiskey) far outnumbered all four-wheeled vehicles. Well-to-do inhabitants often owned several types.

Wheeled-vehicles were ordered from England throughout the century, except during the period of the non-importation agreements, and the American Revolution, although there were coach and chair-makers in Virginia well before the middle of the century. A few chairs and chaises were also shipped to Virginia from Boston; and in the last half of the century vehicles were sometimes ordered from Philadelphia or New York.

TABLE OF C0NTENTS

LIST 0F ILLUSTRATI0NS

HORSES

For the first two years after the colonists arrived at Jamestown, there were only boats in which to explore the country. A few horses were brought from England in 1609, but they were eaten with the rest of the livestock in the starving time of 1609/lO.^l 3 The supply was soon replenished,¹ and by 1668, the number had so increased that an earlier act of the General Assembly prohibiting the exportation of horses from Virginia was repealed.² The following year, "the numerous increase of horses now rather growing burthensome then any way advantagious to the country," the Virginia Assembly passed an act prohibiting the importation of horses and mares.³ By 1686, the Virginians had become concerned about the breed of their horses — the "small ston'd horses, of low stature and value" that were allowed to range and feed in the woodland grounds and marshes.⁴ It was enacted that horses two years old and over, under 13-hands high, must be kept in fenced grounds — the horse's height "to be measured from the lowest part of the hoofe of the forefoot, unto the highest 4 part of the wither, " and every full hand "to contain four inches."¹ The Rev. John Clayton of Yorkshire mentioned this act, and the Virginia horses, in a letter written to the Royal society May 12, 1688, after a visit to Virginia:

"THERE were neither Horses, Bulls, Cows, Swine, in all the Country, before the coming of the English, as I have heard, and have much reason to believe. But now among the English Inhabitants there are good Store of Horses though they are very negligent and careless about the Breed: It is true that there is a law, that no Horse shall be kept stoned under a certain size, but it is not put into execution. Such as they are, they are good Store, and as cheap or cheaper than in England, worth about five Pounds apiece. They never shoe them, nor stable them in general; some few Gentlemen may be something more curious, but it is very rare; yet they ride pretty sharply, a Planter's Pace is a Proverb, which is a good sharp hand-Gallop. The Indians have not yet learnt to ride, only the King of Pomonkie had got three or four Horses for his own Saddle and an Attendant, which I think should in no wise be indulged, for I look on the allowing them Horses much more dangerous than even Guns and Powder."²

Nearly all travel by land in the seventeenth century 5 was done on horseback. As already stated, there were very few carriages in the Colony prior to the turn of the century.¹ In 1702, a Swiss traveller in Virginia wrote:

"Going to church means at some places a trip of more than thirty miles, but, as can be seen from what follows, it is not a great hardship , because people are well mounted there. Horses, which are hardly used for anything else but riding… run always in a fast gallop. When services are held on Sunday or on other days none goes to church except on horseback.
…

The horses, like the English breed, are very light-footed. They never ride them in a walk, but always in a gallop … They are very common. It must be a poor man who cannot afford one. Not many people can be seen travelling on foot, even if it is only an hour's distance. They are seldom used to draw wagons or the plow … They cost from three to eight pounds of sterling."²

About twenty years later, the Rev. Hugh Jones said much the same thing of the Virginian's love of riding:

"The common planters leading easy lives don't much admire labour, or any manly exercise, except horse-racing, …

The saddle-horses, though not very large, are hardy, strong, and fleet; and will pace naturally and pleasantly at a prodigious rate.

They are such lovers of riding, that almost every ordinary person keeps a horse; and I have known some spend the morning in ranging several miles in the woods to find and catch their horses only to ride two or three miles to church, to the court-house, or to a horse-race, where they generally appoint to meet upon 5-a [From John Hislop, The Turf (London: 1948) pages 16 & 25.] 6 business; and are more certain of finding those that they want to speak or deal with, than at their home."¹

The breed was evidently much improved by the mid-eighteenth century, for the Virginia horse was often described with enthusiasm by English and French visitors to the Colony. In 1759 the Rev. Andrew Burnaby wrote:

" … The horses are fleet and beautiful; and the gentlemen of Virginia, who are exceedingly fond of horse-racing, have spared no expence or trouble to improve the breed of them by importing great numbers from England …" ²

Lord Adam Gordon, who travelled in Virginia in 1765, observed that their breed of horses was "extremely good, and in particular those they run to their Carriages, which are mostly from thorough bred Horses and country Mares."3 An English visitor, who was in Virginia circa 1770, described the race and coach horses to be seen in and around Williamsburg, where there was a race course:

"Very capital horses are started here, such as would make no despicable figure at Newmarket; nor is their speed, bottom, or blood inferior to their appearance; the gentlemen of Virginia sparing no pains, 7 trouble, or expence in importing the best stock, ru1d improving the excellence of the breed by proper and judicious crossing.

Indeed nothing can be more elegant and beautiful than the horses bred here, either for the turf, the field, the road, or the coach; and they have always fine long, full, flowing tails; but their carriage horses seldom are possessed of that weight and power, which distinguish those of the same kind in England.¹

The Abbê Robin, in the Williamsburg area in the fall of 1781, also admired the horses:

"The meadows and marshes (around Williamsburg) subsist great numbers of excellent horses which far exceed those of the other States in point of beauty."²

Another Frenchman found the Virginia horses superior to those of other States:

"The horses of Virginia are without contradiction, the finest in the country; but they bear double the price of those in the northern States. …³

Isaac Weld, in Virginia in 1795-96, was more critical of the Virginia horses and horsemen. He wrote:

"The horses in common use in Virginia are all of a light description, chiefly adapted for the saddle; some of them are handsome, but they are for the most part spoiled by the false gaits which they are taught. The Virginians are wretched horsemen, as indeed are all the 7-a ENGLISH RACEHORSE
CROFTS' PARTNER (1718-1747) "From a print after the portrait by James Seymour (1702-1752)." [In Fairfax Harrison's The Equine F.F.Vs. (Privately printed, Richmond: 1928) page 28; illus. op. page 64.]
NOTE: Mr. Crofts' famous horse "Partner" was the best racer and stallion of his day. The dam of "Jolly Roger," a horse belonging to Ralph Wormeley of Middlesex County, Virginia, in 1750, was got by Mr. Crofts' "Partner." [See The Equine F.F.Vs., page 60.] 7-b FOXHUNTING IN ENGLAND
"Brushing into Cover" — from an engraving after the painting by James Seymour (1702-52). [From A.S. Turberville, Johnson's England (Oxford: 1933-reprinted 1952) Vol. I, opposite page 369.]
* * *
Foxhunting was also a popular sport in Virginia. When at "Mount Vernon", George Washington frequently noted in his diary that he went foxhunting, or "out with the hounds" — especially during the Christmas season — in the years 1768-1788. [J.C . Fitzpatrick, ed., The Diaries of George Washington, 1748-1799 (Washington: 1925) 4 volumes. See under "Foxhunting" in Index, Vol. IV.
In 1773, Philip Fithian (tutor to the Carter children at "Nomini Hall") noted that foxhunting was one of the activities of the neighborhood during the Christmas season. [H.D . Farish, ed., Journal & Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian, 1773-1774 (Williamsburg: 1943) page 44.] 8 Americans I ever met with, excepting some few in the neighbourhood of New York. They sit with their toes just under the horse's nose, their stirrups being left extremely long, and the saddle put about three or four inches forward on the mane. As for the management of the reins, it is what they have no conception of. A trot is odious to them, and they express the utmost astonishment at a person who can like that uneasy gait, as they call it. The favourite gaits which all their horses are taught, are a pace and a wrack. In the first, the animal moves his two feet on one side at the same time … In the wrack, the horse gallops with his forefeet, and trots with those behind. …"¹

Of race-horses he wrote:

" … Horse racing is a favourite amusement in Virginia; and it is carried on with spirit in different parts of the state. The best bred horses which they have are imported from England; but still some of those raised at home are very good. They usually run for purses made up by subscription. The only particular circumstance in their mode of carrying on their races in Virginia is that they always run to the left; the horses are commonly rode by negro boys, some of whom are really good jockeys."²

In 1688, the Rev. John Clayton stated that the Virginians never shoed their horses:

"… Providence has supplied the common Use of Stones, by making the Roads very good: So that they ride their Horses without shoeing them; which yet are more rarely beaten on the Feet, than ours are in England, the Country and Clime being dry, their Hoofs are much harder. …"³

The Rev. Hugh Jones modified this statement circa 1724, when he wrote that horseshoes were "seldom used in the lower parts of the country, where there are few stones"; but noted that shoes had to be provided for the horses that were taken on Alexander Spotswood's expedition over the mountains in 1716.¹ From advertisements which appeared subsequently in the Virginia Gazette for lost or stolen horses, it is evident that it was sometimes a custom in tidewater Virginia to partially shoe a horse. From time to time a horse was described as having "Shoes on his fore Feet," or having had "his hind Feet … lately shod."² However, it is probable that by the end of the eighteenth century it was customary to shoe them all around.³

Descriptions of missing horses in the Virginia Gazettes indicate that the Virginia horse was usually smaller than the English horse — many of them 13½ hands high, some 14 and 14½ hands.⁴ However, there were horses 15 hands high in Virginia: In 1771 "a 10 handsome BAY. STALLION six Years old, full fifteen Hands high," the property of William Lee of "Greenspring," was advertised for sale.¹ In 1775, the Gazette carried an advertisement: "WANTED, A YOUNG chestnut-sorrel Horse, not less than 15 hands high, with his mane and tai1 of the same colour with his body."² In the same year an inhabitant, intending to leave the colony, offered for sale in Williamsburg "two full-blooded mares, about 15 hands high."³ In April, 1783, William Lee of "Greenspring;" (where a horse 15 hands high had been offered for sale in 1771) wrote from Brussels to order his overseer to purchase: "… 3 or 4 good carriage horses. They shd. be fifteen hands high, or near it…If they match well it will be so much the better…"⁴

As to color, the horses described in the advertisements were white, grey, dapple grey, bright bay, dark bay, "brown bay," sorrel, black, etc.⁵

Taxes were levied on horses from time to time. During and after the Revolution, the State of Virginia taxed wheeled-carriages 11 and horses, and the number of carriages and horses owned in each county and city was recorded. Some of these records have survived. The tax on horses was much lower than that on carriages — two shillings on every mare, colt, or horse — with an additional two shillings imposed in the years 1782-1786.¹ Such tax records are extant for the City of Williamsburg for the years 1783 -1800, They show that from 17 83 to 17 86, for example , there were in Williamsburg 16 four-wheeled carriages, from 13-20 two-wheeled chairs, and from 169 to 178 horses.²

R0ADS

Bad roads (in many places the complete absence of roads) during much of the seventeenth century was doubtless the principal reason for the scarcity of wheeled vehicles in Virginia before the turn of the century.³

In 1632, the General Assembly of Virginia passed an act ordering highways to be laid out "in such convenient places as are requisite";¹ and in 1643 it was ordered, for the convenience of travellers, that each county, at its own expense, "provide and maintain ferrys and bridges" where they were needed.² In 1647 the Assembly relieved the counties of this expense, allowing them to grant licenses for "the keeping of the said ferrys … for such rates and upon such conditions and to such persons as to them shall seem good and convenient."³

In 1658 surveyors of highways were appointed by the Assembly, 13 to see that "all gennerall wayes from county to county and all churchwaies" were "laied out and cleered yeerly";¹ and in 1662 surveyors of highways were given additional instructions:

"WHEREAS through the frequent alterations of the highwayes by falling of trees over them, and many times taking them into ffenced plantations to the greate hindrance of travellers and traders: Be it enacted that the justices doe yearely in October court appoint surveyors of the highwayes who shall first lay out the most convenient wayes to the church, to the court, to James Towne, and from county to county, and make the said wayes forty foote broad, and make bridges where there is occasion, and the wayes being once thus layed out…to be kept cleere from loggs, and the bridges in good repaire … "

Additional legislation concerning roads, bridges, and ferries was passed from time to time. In 1699, when the Assembly was considering the removal of the seat of government from Jamestown to Middle Plantation — about six miles inland — and the building of the City of Williamsburg there, a student at the College described Middle Plantation as having:

"… the greatest Conveniency of easy Access for great Numbers of People both by Land and Water of any [place] in the whole Country … by Reason of two deep unfordable Creeks, which extend themselves from James and York Rivers, and almost meet at this Place … and the Roads leading to it from all Points of the Compass, are so good and level that Coaches and Waggons of the greatest Burden have an easy and delightsome Passage … "³

PLAN OF A FERRY-BOAT CA. 1763 . 19: "Interior elevation." 20: "Plan d'un passe-cheval"(Plan of a horse ferry-boat). [From Diderot, Recueil de Planches … Vol. II (Paris: 1763 ) plate XLVI .]

"MANNER OF TAKING A PRIVATE COACH ACROSS A RIVER… ca. 1830"
[From: Seymour Dunbar, A History of Travel in America (New York: 1937). Above caption page xxix; illustration opposite page 89.]
There was probably little difference between the above ferry and the early Virginia ferries — although early ferries must have been longer if six horses and a coach were taken across a river or creek on one trip. [see page 17 of this report to 1720 reference to ferry-rates for carriages and horses.]

In 1705, after Williamsburg had become the seat of government, the surveyors of highways were ordered to see that, where not already done, roads were laid out in convenient places "for passing to and from the City of Williamsburg, the court house of every county, the parish churches," to all public ferries and mills, "and from one county to another … kept well cleared from woods and bushes, and the roots well grubbed up, at least thirty foot broad."¹ The breadth was here reduced by ten feet from that required in the act of 1662.

It is evident that the sandy, level land around the Williamsburg area provided naturally good roads. The Rev. Hugh Jones (in Williamsburg ca. 1717-1721) described the main roads in the area as being "in a pleasant, dry, sandy soil, free from stones and dirt, and shaded and sheltered chiefly by trees; in some places being not unlike the walks in Greenwich Park."² He added:

"The worst inconveniency in travelling across the country is, the circuit that must be taken to head creeks, etc., for the main roads wind along the rising ground between the rivers, though now they much shorten their passage by mending the swamps and building of bridges in several places; and there are established ferries at convenient places, over the great rivers; but in them is often much danger from sudden storms, bad boats, or unskilful or wilful ferrymen; …"³

About twelve years later, an English traveller, who had little 15 good to say for the City of Williamsburg, had only praise for the roads in the Williamsburg-Yorktown-Hampton portion of the Colony: "…the Avenues leading to Williamsburgh, Norfolk, &c. are prodigiously agreeable. The Roads are, as I said before, some of the best I ever saw, and infinitely superior to most in England. The Country surrounding is thickly overspread with Plantations, and the Planters live, in a Manner, equal to Men of the best Fortune; some of them being possess'd of 500 or 1000£. a Year, Sterling."¹

Despite such glowing descriptions, there were still roads that were all but impassable in bad weather. In 1785, a young English merchant, riding from Alexandria to Tappahannock, mentioned the roads as "delightful":

"…all the way from Alexandria they have been very fine—I think better than any other part of America that I have yet traveled through (not a stone on them.)" ²

WHEELED-CARRIAGES

As already noted, there were very few wheeled-carriages in Virginia in the seventeenth century. The governor, Sir William Berkeley, had a coach in the Colony prior to 1677.³ In 1690, William Fitzhugh, a wealthy Stafford County planter (who may have owned a coach already) weighed the merits of "a coach or callash for this country," and finally, in 1692, ordered a calash.⁴ The 16-a SEVENTEENTH CENTURY COACHES
[From illustration in Ralph Straus, Carriages & Coaches (London: 1912) opp. page 112.] 16-b COACH AND CHARIOTS DURING QUEEN ANNE'S REIGN (1702-12)
[From illustration in Ralph Straus, Carriages & Coaches (London: 1912) opposite page 158.] 17 British customs records listed goods of "English Manufacture" exported from London to Virginia and Maryland, and noted that only two coacl1es and one chariot were shipped from London in 1697-98, and two chariots were shipped in 1698-99.¹ In 1698-99, 577 great saddles (valued at 35 to 45 shillings) and 2995 small saddles (at 14 to 20 shillings) were exported to Virginia and Maryland.

However, in the first quarter of the eighteenth century, wheeled carriages became more common in Virginia, their numbers increasing rapidly as the century progressed. For the first half of the century, coaches, chariots, chaises, and chairs were the vehicles most usually mentioned in letters, invoices, and advertisements.² Early acts of the Virginia Assembly regulating ferries (from 1647 through 1705) made no mention at all of wheeled-carriages; but an act of 1720 set the ferriage for "every coach, chariot, or chaise with four wheels, or waggon," at the rate charged at each ferry for six horses, and for "every two-wheel chaise, or cart," at the rate charged for four horses.³ Rates for horses varied according to the distances involved.⁴

The Rev. Hugh Jones, wrote that "several very good families" lived in Williamsburg and others came there "at publick times," mentioning their carriages:

"They live in the same neat manner, dress after the same modes, and behave themselves exactly as the gentry in London; most families of any note having a coach, chariot, berlin, or chaise."¹

Another English visitor to Williamsburg in 1736, who found the town "a most wretched contriv'd Affair for the Capital of a Country," noted the "prodigious Number of Coaches that croud the deep, sandy Streets of this little City."² This gentleman, on visiting Yorktown, wrote of its houses and horses:

Lord Adam Gordon, who travelled in Virginia in 1765, preferred 18-a COACHES IN A LONDON STREET. From a print of 1750.
[From A.S. Turberville, Johnson's England (Oxford: 1933 - reprint, 1952) Vol. I, opposite page 168.]
The above print is dated 1750, the coaches appear to be the leather-covered, with nails or beading, type which supplanted elaborately gilded coaches of the early 17th century, and were, in turn, supplanted by the coaches with glass quarters (often elaborately painted) during the last half of the 18th century. [see Ralph Straus, Carriages & Coaches (London: 1912) page 120.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were a number of hackney coaches (or coaches for hire) in London — often old disused coaches once belonging to the quality. In 1662 there were "nearly 2500 hackneys in London alone"; and of course there were a number of privately owned coaches on the streets also. [Ibid., pages 89, 121.] 18-b LONDON Hyde Park Corner Turnpike, with a view of St. George's Hospital, 1798. [Note the two-wheeled chair, horseback rider, covered wagon, and stage coach on the street, which is not paved.]
[From A.S. Turberville, Johnson's England (Oxford: 1933 -reprinted 1952), Vol. I, opposite page 136.] 19 that Colony, and the manner of living there, to any he had seen:

"Upon the whole, was [it] the case to live in America, this Province, in point of Company and Climate, would be my choice in preference to any, I have yet seen…their Breed of Horses extremely good, and in particular those they run in their Carriages, which are mostly from thorough bred Horses and country Mares — they all drive Six horses, and travel generally from 8 to 9 Miles an hour — going frequently Sixty Miles to dinner — you may conclude from this their Roads are extremely good—"¹

J. F. D. Smyth, whom we have already quoted on the elegance and beauty of the Virginia horses "either for the turf, the field, the road, or the coach,"² added:

"…they always have fine long, full, flowing tails; but carriage horses seldom are possessed of that weight and power, which distinguish those of the same kind in England.

…
The gentlemen of fortune expend great sums on their studs, generally keeping handsome carriages, and several elegant sets of horses, as well as others for the race and road:… "³

"As we advance towards the South, we observe a sensible difference in the manners and customs of the people … The furniture here is constructed out of the most costly kind of wood … Their riding machines are light and handsome 20 and drawn by the fleetest coursers managed by slaves richly dressed."¹

[Blandfield. Sunday, December 4, 1785] "Most of the company went away this morning, soon after breakfast, in their phaeton[s], chariots, and coaches in four, with two or three footmen behind. They live in as high a style here, I believe, as any part of the world." ²

Although there was a coachmaker in Williamsburg before 1738,³ most wheeled carriages in the Colony were purchased in England prior to the 1770's. Even though there were several able coach and chairmakers in Williamsburg in the 1761-1775 period,⁴ 21 many gentlemen of means still sent to London for their carriages.¹

The fact that some of the carriages were very ornate is attested by the travellers to Virginia who have been quoted in this report, and by the descriptions and orders which are quoted in the Appendix. Coachmakers in Williamsburg could produce a finished carriage, properly painted and trimmed. However, there were also craftsmen in Williamsburg in the 1770's who specialized in this decorative work. The firm of Kidd and Kendall gave notice in 1769 that they had brought over a person from England who was skilled in "Gilding, and Cyphers";² and in 1770, J. Durand, portrait painter (who did a good deal of work in the Colony), gave notice that he would also "paint, gild, and varnish, wheel carriages; and put coats of arms, or ciphers upon them, in a neater lasting manner than was ever done in this country."³

It would appear from the records,¹ that although the Virginians usually drove six horses to their coach s, they some times drove four; and although they usually drove four horses to their chariots (the lighter of the vehicles) they often drove six. Four-wheeled chaises were occasionally driven with six horses, but four or two horses were more usual.² Two wheeled chaises or chairs were often driven with two horses, but sometimes (the shaft chair) with one.³ In and after the 1760's the phaeton and post-chariot and post-chaise became very popular in the Colony. Phaetons were usually drawn by two (though sometimes by four) horses; and post chariots and post chaises usually had harness for four horses.⁴

Although the two-wheeled chair was in use in the Colony prior to the 1720's,⁵ it was not until the last half of the century 22-a PHAETON AND PAIR by George Stubbs (1724-1806).
[From photograph in Architectural Records Office, C.W.I., where there is also a colored postcard of the Stubbs painting, from the National Gallery, London, entitled "Phaeton and Pair." The body of the phaeton is green, the wheels are yellow or tan, and the horses are dark brown. This painting is also reproduced in A. S. Turberville, Johnson's England (opposite page 137, with the title "A Gentleman Driving a Phaeton." This phaeton is much like the pony phaeton shown in this report, page cxxix-e. ] 22-b THE PRINCE OF WALES (LATER GEORGE IV) DRIVING HIS HIGH PERCH PHAETON — ca. 1790. (From photograph in Architectural Records Office, C.W.I.] THE PRINCE OF WALES WITH A LADY OF QUALITY AT THE ASCOT RACES — driving a high phaeton. [From A.S. Turberville Johnson's England (Oxford: 1933, reprinted 1952) Vol. I, opposite page 296.] 23 that this much less expensive vehicle began to far outnumber the four-wheeled carriages. This was doubtless brought about by a tax on wheels, which was first assessed by the Virginia Assembly in 1754, to provide funds to protect settlers on the Mississippi. This act laid a tax of twenty shillings on every "coach, chariot, and other four-wheeled carriage (waggons excepted) and ten shillings for every chair and two wheeled chaise."¹ The act, to be in effect for three years, was continued for three more;² and a tax on wheeled vehicles was levied, for one reason or another, throughout the remainder of the century. It continued at the above rate until 1775, when it was doubled — forty shillings for "every coach, chariot, or four-wheel carriage" and twenty for "every chair or two-wheel chaise."³ During the Revolution it was decided that "since taxation alone" could "obviate that embarrassment in finance, which is now the last hope of the enemy," an additional tax should be laid on wheeled carriages. "For all coaches and chariots, the sum of forty pounds each" was levied; for "all phaetons, four wheeled 24 chaises, and stage waggons, used as riding carriages, thirty pounds each" ; for "all two wheeled riding chairs" ten pounds.¹

With such taxes on carriages, it is small wonder that, as time went on, the two-wheeled chair gained in popularity, although a well-to-do inhabitant often owned several types of carriage. Tax records have survived for the County of James City in 1768, 1769. These records list seven chariots, three coaches, and sixty-one two-wheeled chairs in that county in 1769.² Among the 1768-1769 James City County taxpayers, Robert Carter Nicholas owned a coach, chariot, and chair; Edward Ambler's estate was taxed for a coach, chariot, and chair; John Randolph owned a coach and a chariot; and Benjamin Waller owned a chariot and chair.³ All the governors who occupied the Palace in Williamsburg owned several types of carriages — always including a coach, and usually a chariot.

Col. Paul Downing has stated that "the naming of carriages is an imperfect science at best," and that even the authorities differed on them.⁴ The eighteenth century Virginians, many of whom were obviously proud of their carriages, often gave detailed 25 descriptions when ordering vehicles or offering them for sale. Referred to in the Virginia records which we have examined to date were the following four-wheeled carriages:

Among the many two-wheeled "chairs" in Virginia in the last half of the eighteenth century were included the curricle, the whiskey, and — late in the century — the gig:

A nineteenth century authority on "English Pleasure Carriages" wrote ca. 1837:

"Not many years back, the varieties of carriages were very limited in number, and there was little room for the exhibition of taste in form. But this fault has of late been corrected, and the varieties of shape and make have become so numerous that it is difficult even for practised observers to be familiar with them all."¹

A CART ca. 1734
[From Jacob Rowe, ALL SORTS OF WHEEL-CARRIAGE, IMPROVED^* (London: 1734) Plate IV, figure i, opposite page 25.]

A WAGON ca. 1734.
[From Jacob Rowe, ALL SORTS OF WHEEL-CARRIAGE, IMPROVED^* (London: 1734) Plate V, figure i, opposite page 33 .}

Nor does this report, being concerned with riding-carriages, on eighteenth century work-carts and wagons,¹ except when mentioned with other vehicles owned by an inhabitant of Virginia.

Notes from the Virginia sources follow.

BERLINS

The "berlin," mentioned by the Rev. Hugh Jones, with the coach, chariot, and chaise as being in Virginia in the first quarter of the eighteenth century,¹ has been variously defined in eighteenth century sources. In Chambers' encyclopaedia (the first edition of which was published in 1728), the berlin was described as a chariot-type vehicle — a vehicle having one seat and a driver's box — as follows:

"…sort of vehicle, of the chariot kind…taking its name from the city of Berlin, in Germany;…
The berlin is a very convenient machine to travel in, being lighter, and less apt to be overturned, than a chariot.— The body of it is hung high, on shafts, by leathern braces; there being a kind of stirrup, or foot-stool, for the conveniency of getting into it: instead of side-windows, some have screens to let down in bad weather, and draw up in good weather."²

In Bailey's dictionary (1730), a "Berlin" was defined as "a sort of travelling carriage, chair, chariot &c. such as is used in Berlin in Prussia."³

The plan of the earliest berlin (the first of the lesser German carriages to enjoy more than local success) was developed by Philip de Chiesa, in the service of the Duke of Prussia, ca. 1660; and differed from previous carriages, being built on an entirely new principle. The berlin had: ii

"…two perches instead of the single pole, 'and between these two perches, from the front transom to the hind axle-bed, two strong leather braces were placed, with jacks or small windlasses, to wind them up tighter' if they stretched. 'The bottom of the coach was no longer flat, and these braces of leather allowed the body to play up and down instead of swinging from side to side as before. …''The first berlin was made as a small vis-à-vis coach — small because it was to be used as a light travelling carriage, and narrow because it was to hang between the two perches, and was only needed to carry two persons inside. It was such an improvement in lightness and appearance upon the cumbersome coaches that carried eight persons, that it at once found favour, and was imitated in Paris and still more in London.' …

In mentioning berlins as well as coaches, chariots, and chaises, as being in Virginia ca. 1724, the Rev. Hugh Jones probably had reference to the small coach-like vehicle or vis-à-vis described above. The berlin-type carriage or chassis, when used with other types of bodies in Virginia, was probably referred to by the body-name. This may explain why there are no later references to "berlins" as such in the Virginia records we have searched.²

A coach-type vehicle, with details as to its carriage or chassis, was depicted as a "Berline" in Garsauli's Traite des Voitures (Paris: 1755) — see following page.

TRAITE DES VOITURES [by Francois A. de Garsault] (Paris: 1756) page 70 & Plate XIII. [See other side]
"DES BERLINES,…
Les Berlines ont succêdê, comme il est dit au Cahpitre prêcêdent, aux Carosses. Une des principales raisons, est que quand une soûpente manquoit à un Carosse, il falloit qu' il versât sur le cõtê: mais si pareille chose arrive à une Berline, elle ne fait que se pencher sur le brancard, qui la soutient. Lenombre assez grand de ceux qui ont peur en Voiture, à êtê suffisant pour procrrire les Carosses & adopter les Berlines, où on est sans doute plus en sûerê.
La Planche XIII fait voir une Berline montêe sur son train, Fig. 1. La Fig. 2, est le plan à vûe d'oiseau. La Fig. 3 & 4, est le cric, & la Fig. 5, 1'analyse d'un Store. Anciennement le Berlines êtoient taillêes comme les Carosses avec frises & aïlerones: maintenant on a simplifiê cette forme, & les clouds corês sont quasi abolis. …

CALASHES

The only Virginia references to calashes which we have found to date are of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The early calash was described in E. Chambers' Cyclopaedia as follows:

"CALASH, or Calesh, a small light kind of chariot, or chair, with very low wheels, used chiefly for taking the air in parks and gardens.
The word is French, caleche, …
The calash is for the most part richly decorated, and open on all sides, for the conveniency of the air, and prospect; or at most inclosed with light mantlets of waxed cloth, to be opened and shut at pleasure."

An illustration of this open, chariot-type vehicle (from Garsault's Trait des Voitures-1756) may be seen on page vi of this report.

As the calash was not mentioned in William Felton's late eighteenth century Treatise on Carriages (London: 1794-96), it is iv probable that it had been supplanted by other types of vehicles, some years earlier.

At least two seventeenth or early eighteenth century Virginians owned calashes: In 1688, William Fitzhugh, of Stafford County, wrote Nicholas Hayward in London:

"Pray if Mr. Darrell be come to you yet, Remember me kindly to him and if a callash would not cost above £ six or seven pounds I mean an ordinary one but strong and well geared that may be drawn with one horse and Mr. Darrell could bring it in freight free I could be very well contented, provided my money be paid, to be at the charge of one,…"

Fitzhugh again wrote Hayward on May 6, 1689:

"… [I] have been informed by Mr. Darrell that you esteemed me a jealous pated fool and gave these two instances the one … [re purchase of land] and the other for the set price of the Callash, …the purchase of the Callash, it was only a recreative project, and if for that sum proposed, it could be procured, I could willingly have spared it for the fancy of my present Recreation, but did not think it reasonable to give my fancy an unlimited allowance." ²

Fitzhugh did not get his calash until 1693. He wrote Hayward on July 10, 1690, that he had discussed "the conveniency of a coach or callash for this country" with his son's French tutor, who had persuaded him —

"… to send for a chaise 'Roulant' as he calls it which I can no other way English than by calling it a Running chair, which he told me was altogether v as convenient & commodious as either of them, and would be a cheap thing for an Essay. …"¹

However, on July 23, 1692 he ordered a still and a calash from Hayward:

" … also to send me in one of the lightest and cheapest Calashes, you can meet with, to be drawn with one horse, for so it will be oftenest used, though I would have furniture for two at the least."²

On December 19, 1693, Fitzhugh wrote Nicholas Hayward acknowledging receipt of the "Callash and still"³ and on May 30, 1695, he ordered from Hayward "new Gears for my Callash, the old ones being almost rotten,…"⁴

By will, dated November 18, 1710, William Churchill, of Middlesex County, Virginia, left his wife, Elizabeth, the "new calash I expect out of England."⁵

The "Chaise" was defined in Chambers' eighteenth century encyclopaedia as "a sort of light open chariot, or calash."⁶ It may be that some of the chaises or chairs mentioned in the records vi that follow were actually calashes. However, it is evident that the calash described in Chambers' encyclopaedia as "a small light kind of chariot,"¹ as the type of hard-topped calash depicted in Garsult's work on carriages (Paris: 1756) — see illustration below — and possibly the type purchased by Fitzhugh in the seventeenth century.² It is probable that the "calash," described in the Oxford English Dictionary as having a folding top,³ was, in Virginia, the four-wheeled "Chair," or "Chaise," with top. In any event, the calash was not mentioned, as such, after 1710 in the Virginia records we have found to date.

The following illustration of the early type of calash may be of interest here: From: TRAITE DES VOITURES [Franèois A. de Garsault] Paris: 1756. Planche XIV, Fig. 3.
[Page 79:] "Dans la Figure 3. on voit la forme de corps d'une Calache. Cette voiture est assez commune, & ancienne."

CHAIRS
See also CHAISES, CURRICLES, GIGS, SULKIES, WHISKIES, &c.

From the definitions of the words "Chair" and "Chaise" in the Oxford English Dictionary,¹ and from descriptions in William Felton's A Treatise on Carriages,² it is obvious that the words were used interchangeably. However, we are here listing them separately as given in the sources cited in this report.

It is evident from the notes which follow that the "chairs" and "chaises" mentioned in the Virginia records included a variety of one-seated vehicles having both two wheels and four wheels. The two-wheeled chairs and chaises doubtless included curricles and whiskies (popular forms of eighteenth century chairs), and — possibly late in the century — gigs. The four-wheeled chairs and chaises listed may have included some phaetons, postchaises, and sulkies, although these vehicles were also mentioned by their proper names.³ Among the "chairs" mentioned were "a travelling vii-aTHE RIB CHAIR, OR YARMOUTH CART"
"FOR lawns or parks these sort of chaises have been mostly used, and, for that reason, do not require to have springs, or to be liend, as they are frequently left out, exposed to the weather; they are sometimes made to go on four wheels, and are made very low and light, with the rim of the wheels broad, and rimmed with a thin plate of sheet iron… they are of a variety of shapes, but the most general is the one described, which now seems to be a prevalent fashion among the gentry as a substitute for the whiskey, and, for that use, are obliged to be built stronger than what would be sufficient for a Garden Chair;…
THE Carriage is built in the form of a whiskey, but without springs, axletree by short blocks, or raisers, and strengthened by short iron stays; the wheels are straked tyre, with ten spokes; common axletrees and boxes. The Body is made on a solid board, which is the seat, round the back of which the ribs are fixed, and also in the top rail, which is of a semicircular form. This seat is fixed on with two light iron props behind, and two broad wooden props before, made in the shape of the bottom part of a sham door; a cloth cushion for the seat, and a heel-leather to shelter the legs behind."
Price, including painting, £ 15:14:0.
[William Felton, A Treatise on Carriages, Vol. II (London: 1796) pages 121-123.] vii-b"THE GRASSHOPPER, OR THREE-QUARTER PANNEL CHAISE, OR WHISKEY."
"THIS is a very ancient pattern of a chaise, but an exceeding good one, … it is exactly on the same principle as the whiskey, which was built from them, having the springs, in the same way, fixed to the axle tree, and the body united with the carriage, but only different in its shape; the framings of the body, being much wider, shews more pannel, which extends to the shafts at the corners, and are arched up, in an agreeable form, between the bearings: they have a more solid appearance than the whiskey, and are, on that account, preferred by some persons … "
The price (ca. 1796), lined, trimmed with lace, a Wilton carpet, inside seat-box, pair of small wings, plating of silver, painting of body and carriage picked out in one color, with three middle-sized crests on pannels £ 32:13:0. [William Felton, A Treatise on Carriages, Vol. II (London: 1796) viii Chair, with a Top" (1745); a "handsom two Wheel'd Chair," lined and decorated with arms and crest, to carry one person (1750); a "Park Chair" with four wheels, to be drawn by one horse and to carry two persons (1771); numerous single chairs (for one person), and double chairs (for two); pole chairs (for two horses), and shaft chairs (for one); and also Italian chairs.¹

Two-wheeled and four-wheeled chairs were ordered from London; an occasional "chaise" came from Boston; and there were several chairmakers in Williamsburg after the middle of the eighteenth century. These advertised chairs, chaises, and curricles;² or "a great variety of chairs, double and single, of different forms and prices," or "single and double CHAIRS of several sorts";³ and this viii-a From TRAITÉ DES VOITURES [by Franèois A. de Garsault] Paris: 1756 Planche XIV, fig. 4 opposite page 80.
[Page 80: "La Figure 4, reprêsente le provil d'un Soufflet, invention venue d'Italie, qui est encore trés communêment employêe dans ce Pays-ci, parcequ'elle est lêgere, de peu de frais, & qu'elle supplêe assez bien à la Chaise de Paste. On la met ordinairement sur deux roues. Celle-ci est faite en Sabot." … ]
Col. Paul Downing ("Report on Carriages for Colonial Williamsburg", 1952, page 11) suggests that as Garsault included no other Chaises in his volume, "all Chaises of that day with folding tops might have been called Italian Chaises."
Despite the Rev. Andrew Burnaby's statement (1759-60) that "Italian chaises" were the "fashionable carriage" in New York and "most parts of America, Virginia excepted," Italian chairs were frequently mentioned in the Virginia records. (See page viii, and notes that follow under dates 1751, 1752, 1761, 1766, 1770, etc.) ix chair category doubtless included the two-wheeled curricle, gig, and whiskey, and the four-wheeled chaise, sulkey, and, possibly, sometimes, the post chaise and phaeton.¹ as noted on page vii.

It is certain that the two-wheeled chairs or chaises (whether curricles, gigs, or whiskeys) far outnumbered the four-wheeled vehicles in Virginia in the last half of the eighteenth century, after the Virginia Assembly began to tax wheeled vehicles in 1754. In that year a tax of twenty shillings for every four-wheeled carriage, and ten-shillings for every two-wheeled chair or chaise was assessed. This tax was continued by the Assembly for one reason or another until 1775, when it was doubled; and in 1779 an additional tax of £40 for each coach and chariot, £30 for each phaeton and four-wheeled chaise, and £10 for "all two wheeled riding chairs" was imposed to help raise a "supply of money for the service of the United States."²

Scattered county tax records which have survived indicate the increasing popularity of the two-wheeled chair: for example, in 1768, there were twelve four-wheeled carriages in James City x County, and sixty two-wheeled chairs.¹ In the City of Williamsburg, in 1783 there were thirteen four-wheeled carriages, and twenty-three two-wheeled chairs.² As already stated, it is more than probable that these tax references to two-wheeled chairs included the various types then in common use.³

Aside from taxes, chairs were, of course, less expensive than the heavier carriages. In 1750 one handsome two-wheeled chair from London, with harness complete, cost £21:15: 0; in 1751 an "Italian Chair" plus shipping charges cost £20:8:0. A new "Riding Chair" in the estate of a York County, Virginia, chairmaker was valued at £22 in 1763. In 1771, a Virginian wrote to London for a light, open, four-wheeled park chair, to cost, with harness for one horse, "twelve pounds [sterling] or Guineas."⁴ A coach and chairmaker who moved to Williamsburg from New York in 1771, had advertised in New York in 1767, that he made chairs "with Steel Springs, and Iron Axletree, finished in the best Manner" for £45, xi and plain chairs for £35.¹ Allowing for a variation in currency, there seems to have been considerable variation in the price of "chairs" in the eighteenth century, which is explained by the various types of vehicles included in the "chair" category.² Chairs mentioned in the inventories quoted in the following notes were valued at from £2 to £22, doubtless depending on type, age, and condition of the chair.

The following references to "chairs" will be of interest in determining the Virginians' varied interpretation of the word.

CHAISES
(See also CHAIRS, GIGS, WHISKEYS, SULKEYS, POST-CHAISES, &c .)

Under "CHAIRS," we have already mentioned the fact that the words chair and chaise were used interchangeably in the Virginia records.¹ The Oxford English Dictionary gives the word "Chaise" as a "phonetic alteration of chaire":

"1. A term applied to various pleasure or travelling carriages, the exact application having varied from time to time:
a. A light open carriage for one or two persons, often having a top or calash; those with four wheels resembling the phaeton, those with two the curricle; also loosely used for pleasure carts and light carriages generally." ²

E. Chambers' eighteenth-century encyclopaedia does not define the word "Chair" as a vehicle; but defines "Chaise" as "a sort of light open chariot, or calash."³ William Felton, in his late-eighteenth-century Treatise on Carriages, defines "Chair" as a "light chaise without pannels…a name commonly applied to all CHAISE ca. 1774
[From I. Taylor, CURRUS CIVILIS (London: 1774). In Metropolitan Museum of Art.]xxxiv light chaises,"¹ but does not include "Chaise" in his "Glossary and Index."

As already noted, both four-wheeled and two-wheeled chairs and chaises are mentioned in the Virginia references quoted in the Appendix which follows. Chaises were ordered from London; in 1739 a London coachmaker advertised that he had settled in Williamsburg, where he made and repaired "Coaches, Chariots, Shaises and Chairs"; and after the middle of the century, there were several able coach and chairmakers in Williamsburg.² A few chaises came to Virginia from Boston.³

In 1720, the Virginia Assembly set rates of ferriage for four-wheeled carriages, and for the "two wheel chaise or cart" the four-wheeled vehicles at the rate established at each ferry for six horses, the two-wheeled chaise at the rate established for four horses.⁴

The references which follow mention chaises drawn by two horses, by four horses, and by one horse (the one-horse chaise was more often called a "chair" or "shaft chair,"). They also include one reference (1742) to a "New Chaise & Harness for Six Horses" — possibly actually a post-chaise.

As already explained under "CHAIRS." two-wheeled "chaises" mentioned in the following notes doubtless included the curricle, gig, and whiskey;¹ and the sulkey and, possibly, the post-chaise and the phaeton²—although the two latter carriages were often mentioned by their proper names in the Virginia records. Two-wheeled vehicles increased in popularity after the first tax was laid on wheeled-carriages in 1754.³

CHARI0TS
(See also Post-Chariots )

The chariot , described in Chambers' eighteenth century encyclopaedia as a "Half--coach,"¹ was a four-wheeled carriage having one seat behind a coachman's box. Lighter than the coach it was almost as popular in Virginia in the first half of the eighteenth century; wealthier inhabitants often owning both coaches and chariots.² After the middle of the 18th century, post-chaises and post-chariots became popular in Virginia.³

The notes on Chariots which follow show that they were usually driven with four horses or with six horses. They also indicate that some were very handsome. In 1753, a merchant in Yorktown wrote a merchant in London concerning the Virginians' taste for elegant carriages:

"…our Gentry have such proud spirits that nothing will go down, but equipages of the nicest and newest fashions. You'll hardly xliii believe it when I tell you that there are sundry chariots now in the country which cost 200 guineas, and one that cost 260…"¹

Ferry-rates for coaches, chariots, and other four-wheeled carriages (the same rate charged for six horses) were established in 1720.²

In 1754, when the Virginia Assembly first laid a tax on wheeled carriages, and until 1779, all four-wheeled vehicles were taxed equally.³ In 1779, a special tax was imposed by the General Assembly to raise "money for the service of the United States." By this tax an additional £40 was levied on "all coaches and charriots," £30 on all "phaetons, four wheeled chaises, and stage waggons, used as riding carriages," and £10 on all two-wheeled riding chairs.⁴

CHARIOT - ca. 1750. [From a Collection of prints in the Metropolitan Museum of Art by C. Crace, dated 1750. Negative supplied by Mr. Paul Downing.]

CHARIOT--with Crane-neck carriage. From I. Taylor, Currus Civilis (London: 1774) [Negative supplied by Mr. Paul Downing.]

Although chariots continued in use in Virginia throughout the eighteenth century, their numbers decreased after the 1760's, when the post-chaise, post-chariot, and the phaeton increased in popularity.¹ As already noted under "Chairs" and "Chaises," by the last quarter of the century, the two-wheeled carriages far out-numbered the four-wheeled vehicles, although many owned both kinds.²

The price of a chariot was usually somewhat lower than that of a coach; although the price depended on the ornateness of the vehicle. In 1773, Thomas Nelson, Jr., of Yorktown wrote to London for a chariot for his mother: "… a genteel chariot with six Harness…and the coat of arms of our family, the whole to cost about £100 sterling."³ Several years earlier (1768) George Washington had ordered "a handsome chariot, made of the best materials," elaborately ornamented, with a removable coach-box, which could be xlv driven as a chariot or post-chaise. The vehicle cost £315:13:6, including the shipping charges.¹ In the same year (1768), Nathaniel Lyttleton Savage wrote from York, Virginia, to London for a plain, "Neat Chariot with harness for only four horses," to be made like Secretary Nelson's except that it was to be lighter, and not to have a coach-box, but was "to drive with postillions." This vehicle, which he hoped to get for about £70, was actually a post-chaise rather than a chariot.²

In 1796, William Felton, London coachmaker, made "neat town" chariots, with coachboxes and all necessary "extras" £192:13:0, and made "elegant" chariots for £285:12:6.³

References to "Chariots" from Virginia sources quoted in the following pages:

"A NEAT TOWN CHARIOT"
"THE carriage is a perch, of the bent or crooked form, with iron-plated sides; a whole wheel front; an iron coach-box on a square trunk-boot, raised on neat, carved blocks; a raised hind end, with neat snort blocks; a footman cushion, with plated mouldings to the frames, and carved hind standards; hooped tyre wheels, with moulded fellies, and common axletrees and boxes.
"The Body with round sides, a sword-case back, contracted door-lights, lined with second cloth, trimmed with a 3½ inch lace, swinging holders, a pair of silk squabs [cushions for shoulders and head], plate glasses, with laced glass-frames, and silk spring curtains; Venetian blinds; sliding seat-boxes; a Wilton carpet; double folding steps. The Plating with silver, a small 3/8th moulding, or quill-bead, in double rows round the side pannels, and in single rows round the front and door-lights; a 4/8th moulding all round the middle and roof, up the corner pillars, and sides of the doors, and along the bottom sides; 4 silver scroll ornaments; … five Italian full-plated Lamps. The Hammercloth of livery, trimmed with a top row of 2½ inch, a bottom row of one inch, and a middle row of four-inch lace, one bottom row of seven-inch ornamented fringe; 4 3½ inch double lace footman-holders; the Painting picked out two colours; the pannels polished; the arms on the doors and crests, on the quarters and stiles; the main and check Braces with whole buckles; a set of worm springs, with French pole-pieces."
PRICE, with all the extras noted above, £192;13:0.
[From William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796) pages 53-56.]

"AN ELEGANT CHARIOT"
"THE Carriage is a crane neck, with double-bowed cranes, and long sweeped fore ends, on which the iron coach-box is fixed; a raised hind end, on handsome short blocks, with footman--cushion plated at the top and bottom edge, and extra handsome carved hind standards; patent wheels, with moulded fellies, new pattern cylinder, axletrees and boxes. The Body with side lights, and a divided back light, with plate glasses, and venetian blinds; lined with Morocco, trimmed with silk crest lace; handsome festoon curtains, with side drapery to all the lights; a sliding seat-box; a Wilton carpet; and treble folding steps.
"The Hammercloth of a second cloth, trimmed with a top and bottom row, or thirteen yards, of narrow, and one row, or nine yards, of broad four-inch lace; with silk-embroidered arms in the middle: a top and bottom row, or thirteen yards, of seven-inch fringe, over which silk drapery, in festoons, is placed; double footman-holders, of lace, 3½ inches wide, with handsome tassels. The Plating with silver, a broad 5/8th moulding round the pannels, the corners, pillars, and sides of the doors; a 3/8th moulding all round the door, the front and back lights; a pair of handsome ornamented head-plates; … The Painting has the mouldings gilt or silvered, and picked out three colours; the Body is ornamented with a border all round the framing on the pannels, of the middling kind, five inches wide, with a large rich mantle on the sides and ends, having the arms and crests within; a high-varnished body; an oil-varnished carriage. The main and check Braces with whole buckles, and a pair of worm springs plated; a set of point-straps; French pole-pieces, with plated buckles."
PRICE, with all the extras noted above, £285:12:6.
[From William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796) pages 63-66.]

COACHEES

As we have found several references to coachees in Virginia in the late eighteenth century, and know that there was a coachee in Williamsburg in 1791-1797, we include this vehicle in these notes, although it does not appear to belong to the colonial period.

In his "Report on Carriages for Colonial Williamsburg,"¹ Colonel Downing included an illustration of a "Coachee," described as a light coach, taken from Ezra Stratton's The World on Wheels (New York: 1878). A light coach may have been referred to as a coachee at one time; but we believe that the coachees which were in Virginia in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were the American vehicle described briefly in Webster's Dictionary, and in detail by Isaac Weld in 1796.

Chambers' eighteenth century encyclopaedia² does not mention the "Coachee"; nor does William Felton in his Treatise on Carriages.³ The Oxford English Dictionary vaguely defines the Coachee as "1. An early non-naturalized form of Coach. Obs.," and lxxii as "2. Some kind of carriage, Obs."; and cites a few nineteenth century examples of the word.¹ However, Webster's Dictionary defines the word as follows:

"Coachee. 1. An obsolete American carriage, shaped like a coach, but longer and open in front. "²

Webster's definition seems to agree with the description by Isaac Weld of the coachees seen in Philadelphia ca. 1795. Weld wrote that in Philadelphia the carriages made use of were "coaches, chariots, chaises, coachees, and light waggons, the greater part of which are built in Philadelphia," and further stated:

"…The coachee is a carriage peculiar, I believe, to America; the body of it is rather longer than that of a coach, but of the same shape. In the front it is left quite open down to the bottom, and the driver sits on a bench under the roof of the carriage. There are two seats in it for the passengers, who sit with their faces towards the horses. The roof is supported by small props, which are placed at the corners. On each side of the doors, above the pannels, it is quite open, and to guard against bad weather there are curtains, which are made to let down from the roof, and fasten to buttons placed for the purpose on the outside. There is also a leathern curtain to hang occasionally between the driver and passengers.

The light waggons are on the same construction, and are calculated to accommodate from four to twelve people. The only difference between a small waggon and a coachee is, that the latter is better finished, has varnished pannels, and doors at the side. The former has no doors, but the passengers scramble in the best lxxiii way they can, the seat of the driver. …"¹

From Weld's description, an American coachee was longer than a coach, the two seats for passengers faced the horses, rather than each other, and the driver's seat was beneath the roof, rather than outside. He added that the coachee was much like a small wagon, except that it was better finished, with varnished panels and doors; so Weld's illustration of a stage wagon may be of interest here.²

References to coachees in the Virginia records follow, showing that Mr. Lewis, husband of Courtnay Norton, returned to Virginia in a Philadelphia-made coachee in 1792; and that there was a coachee in Williamsburg in 1791-1797.³ Specifications for a lxxiv coachee made for St. George Tucker of Williamsburg in 1818 are also included, from which it would appear that Tucker's coachee had glass windows and Venetian blinds as well as "upper Curtains for Winter."

The references from Virginia sources follow:

A COACH OF CIRCA 1734
[From Jacob Rowe, ALL SORTS OF WHEEL-CARRIAGE, IMPROVED (London: 1734) Plate V, Figure ii--opposite page 33.]

COACHES

The coach, a four-wheeled, closed vehicle with two seats facing each other inside, and a coachman's seat or box in front, was considered "for families… the most convenient of any in use," as it could carry from four to six passengers, and was usually more sturdily built than other vehicles.¹

According to an eighteenth century encyclopaedia, the coach was invented by the French, and first introduced into England circa 1580, where it was gradually developed to a state of perfection at which "it seemed to want nothing, either with regard to ease or magnificence."²

Although, as has been noted, there were very few wheeled vehicles in Virginia in the seventeenth century,³ the coach was probably the first type of carriage to be brought to the colony;⁴ and in the first several decades of the eighteenth century, it was the most usual one to be seen there. An English clergyman and lxxvii-a COACH OF CA; 1750-MOUNTED ON PERCH CARRIAGE
From prints by C. Crace, dated 1750, at Metropolitan Museum of Art. lxxvii-b COACH MOUNTED ON BERLIN CARRIAGE, ca. 1750
From print by C. Crace dated 1750 in Metropolitan Museum of Art.
[Note that the pieces or shafts connecting the wheels rise upward and over the front wheels--like the crane-neck carriages depicted later.] lxxviii teacher, who was in Williamsburg circa 1717-1721, wrote that by then most "families of any note" had a "coach, chariot, berlin, or chaise."¹ Another English visitor to Williamsburg, circa. 1736, commented on the "prodigious Number of Coaches that croud the deep, sandy Streets" of that "little City";² and an English clergyman, in Virginia in 1759, stated that the Virginians made "use only of coaches, and these commonly drawn by six horses."³ As is indicated by the data quoted in the following notes, this last statement was not entirely accurate; but it is apparent that the gentleman's impression came from the number of coaches-and-six he saw while in the Virginia Colony.

From the notes on coaches which follow, it is evident that they were often drawn by six horse, especially when travelling any distance; that four horses were also used; and that, on occasion, when driving in town, only two horses might be used.

In 1720, when ferry-rates were established by the General Assembly for wheeled carriages, the rate for "every coach, chariot, or chaise with four wheels" was the same as that charged at each ferry for six horses--two-wheeled chaises or carts being charged lxxix at the rate set for four horses.¹

In 1754 the General Assembly laid a tax on wheeled-vehicles, "the duty of twenty shillings for every coach, chariot, and other four wheeled carriage (waggons excepted) and ten shillings for every chair and two wheeled chaise," being imposed on the owners thereof.² A tax on vehicles was continued, to raise money for various reasons, throughout the remainder of the century--the rates being doubled in 1775, and a substantial additional tax being imposed in 1779.³

Such taxes, as well as the lower cost of lighter vehicles, caused the number of lighter four-wheeled carriages (the post-chariot, post-chaise, and phaeton) to increase in Virginia after the middle of the eighteenth century, and the two-wheeled vehicles (chairs, chaises, curricles, whiskeys, gigs) to far outnumber the four-wheeled ones.⁴ However, as already noted, wealthy Virginians often owned lxxix-a COACH-MOUNTED ON PERCH CARRIAGE, ca. 1774.
From: I. Taylor, CURRUS CIVILIS (London: 1714) Metropolitan Museum of Art. lxxix-b COACH WITH GLASS QUARTERS, MOUNTED ON CRANE-NECK CARRIAGE-ca. 1774.
From: I. Taylor, CURRUS CIVILIS (London: 1774) Metropolitan Museum of Art. lxxx several types of vehicles,¹ and coaches continued to be popular when a large, closed carriage was needed.

Before the Revolution many coaches were ordered from London, although a London coachmaker had established himself in Williamsburg in 1739, and there were several in the town in the last half of the century.²

The coach was usually more expensive than other carriages, but its price, of course, depended on its size and its ornateness. A Dublin coachmaker, who worked in New York before coming to Williamsburg, advertised in New York (1767) that he made plain coaches for £165 and coaches "richly painted and finished" for £200.³ William Felton, a late eighteenth century London coachmaker, offered a plain perch coach for £133:9:0, an ornamented town coach for £188:19:0, a travelling crane-neck coach for £201:1:6, and "an elegant crane-neck lxxx-a "A PLAIN COACH"
"THE a perch, with a common coach-box, a square trunk boot, and raised hind end, with plain plough handles, straked wheels of the necessary height, common axletrees and springs.
The part is also plain; the lining with second cloth, and trimmed with two-inch binding lace, and holders two inches and a half wide, double folding steps, seat-boxes, a Wilton carpet, plate glasses, with cloth-covered frames, mahogany shutters, and silk spring curtains.
The Hammercloth is of livery, trimmed with three rows of lace two inches and a half wide, a pair of webb footman-holders two inches and a half wide, the with Silver, an octagon frame for the back light, mouldings all round the middle, up the sides, and over the doors, and at the top of the back and fore parts, in all about thirty-four feet.
The Braces and common, with half buckles, the painting of any colour, but plain and common varnished, the mouldings picked out one colour."
PRICE, with the extras noted above -----£133:9:0.
(From William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London : 1796) pages 33-34. ] lxxx-b "A NEAT ORNAMENTED, OR TOWN COACH:"
"THE Carriage a perch, plated on the sides with iron, a raised hind end, on neat, shot blocks, a footman's cushion plated on the top frame, with carved hind standards, a raised fore end with neat fore budget blocks, a half-wheel fore end, a Salisbury coach-box; hooped tyre wheels, with moulded fellies, common axletrees and boxes.
The Body with round sides; a sword case back; lined with second cloth; trimmed with 2 inch lace, and swinging holders; quilted sides; double folding steps; a Wilton carpet; with two sliding seat-boxes; Venetian blinds, and a set of silk spring curtains. The plating with silver, a half-inch moulding round the side pannels, on the bottom sides, all round the middle and roof, up the corner pillars, and sides of the door lights; a 3/8th moulding all round the door and front lights; four silver scroll ornaments; a set of flat, pierced, crest head-plates; a set of light sham joints; and a pair of oval lamps plated.
The Hammercloth of livery, trimmed with one top, and two middle rows, or 22 yards, of 2½, and one bottom row, or 9 yards, of one-inch lace, a top and bottom row, or 13 yads, of ornamented fringe, 5 inches deep, two pair of lace footman's holders, 2 inches wide.
The Painting of the carriage picked out two colours; the body polished; a pair of arms painted on the doors in foliage mantles; four crests on the quarters, and two on the stiles. The Braces common, and French pole-pieces."
PRICE, with the extras noted above -----£188:19:0.
[William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796)[illegible] lxxx-c "TRAVELLING COACH"
"STRENGTH and conveniences are the most essential properties of this carriage, it being principally intended for continental journies, …
THE Carriage a crane neck; strong straked wheels; patent anti-attrition axletrees and boxes; a raised hind end, with short, plain blocks; a common coach box, with a travelling seat, a platform budget before, with a large trunk within it, and inside straps and laths to ditto; a trunk behind with ditto, and two leather-belts; a chain-belt for security, and an oil-cover for the trunk; the springs corded; a drag-staff; a chain; and a tool-budget for the coachman's conveniences.
The Body plain, with a sword-case; lined with second cloth, and trimmed with a two-inch lace; and two and a half ditto for the holders; squabs, or sleeping cushions, faced with silk; Venetian blinds; seat-boxes; Wilton carpet; double folding steps; the plating with composition metal a 5/8th of an inch moulding all round the middle and roof, up the cornerpillars, and side of the doors; a set of circles for head-plates; a pair of sword-case frames; a well at the bottom; two imperials for the roof; the painting, varnishing, &c. plain; mantles, with cyphers, on the door pannels: crests on the stiles; the main and check Braces, with whole buckles; French pole-pieces."
THE PRICE with all extras -------£201: 1: 6. [Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796) pages 41-43.] lxxx-d"AN ELEGANT CRANE-NECK COACH"
"The Carriage, a crane neck: double bow cranes; raised hind end, with handsome, carved, pump-handles, and a footman-cushion …; an iron coach-box, raised on handsome carved blocks: patent wheels, with moulded fellies, new-pattern cylinder axletrees and boxes.
The Body, with carved ends to the bottom; sides to case the body-loops; round sides; octagon side-lights, and one large back-light for glasses and shutters to slide in; lined with Morocco leather; and trimmed with handsome worsted and cotton lace, four inches wide, with the arms worked therein: treble folding-steps: Wilton carpet; sliding seat-boxes; one set and a pair of festoon curtains, with side drapery for the door, front, and back lights: one set of ditto, with top drapery only, for side lights: two set and one large venetian blind; laced glass-frames: one set of glasses for the side lights, and a large one for the back light extra… The plating with Silver: the mouldings 6/8ths of an inch wide, which goes round the pannels, sides, back, and front, all round the middle and roof, up the corner pillars and sides of the doors… a 3/8th of an inch moulding round all the lights… four silver scroll ornaments; four handsome, large head-plates… four silver plated nave-hoops; a plated pole-hook, a handsome cornice for the roof,…
The Hammercloth superfine, trimmed with 13 yards of 2½ inch lace, 9 yards of eight-inch ornamented fringe, 13 yards of four-inch velvet… silk crests within silk mantles, embroidered on the ends;a double pair of arms-lace footman-holders. The Painting high varnished; a rich border, 5 inches wide, round the middle,…with handsome swags of flowers on each side, of about the same value with the border; the mouldings of the carriage are gilt, and picked out in an ornamented manner; and amounts to about double the price of picking out with three colours. The main and check Braces with whole buckles; French pole-pieces, with plated buckles."
PRICE, with all extras -------£337:0:2. (From Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London:l796) pages 45-48.] lxxxi coach" for £337:0:2.¹

Notes on coaches in Virginia follow:

1768-1781: The State Coach brought to Virginia by Lord Botetourt

1768:	[The Gazeteer and New Daily Advertiser, London, October 1, 1768.]
	"TO the PRINTER.
	PASSING through Great Queen-street yesterday, I saw at a coach-maker's a most pompous state-coach; which, upon enquiry, I find is to be sent after Lord B-t-t----t to Virginia. It has this remarkable motto, En dat Virginia Quartam, of which I could wish some of your correspondents would give us a translation. … One of the People."

1768:	[Ibid., London, October 10, 1768.]
	"TO the PRINTER.
	IN vain does the thief think to enjoy the fruit of his villany, justice will pursue, overtake, and bring him to a shameful end. So, in vain, does your correspondent, One of the People, think to offend, and steal away in a croud; I will pursue, and bring him to the just tribunal of an impartial public. His question concerning the motto on Lord Botetourt's state Coach, would have been more worthy of a Briton if the requisition had been made without a tendency to prejudice his Excellency. … [correspondent writes enthusiastically concerning Lord Botetourt's character, but fails to translate the motto, which neither correspondent seemed to realize was the motto from the Virginia arms, and not personal to Botetourt. This letter signed "One of the Community."]

xcvi

1769:	[The New-York Gazette: or, The Weekly Post-Boy, New York, June 19, 1769.]
	"Philadelphia, June 8.
	Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Edenton, North Carolina, to his Friend in Philadelphia, dated 26th of May, 1769.
	"Our Assembly is dissolved, new writs are issued, and the election will be on the 18th of July. — Don't you think the Virginians have behaved like men? I fancy Lord B-------t is greatly mistaken, and must by this time know, that titles, burgundy and a gilt coach will not be sufficient inducements to bribe men out of their liberties… "

1770:	[Inventory of the Personal Estate of His Excellency Lord Botetourt taken the 24 October, 1770, at the Palace in Williamsburg. MS Virginia State Library Archives. Photostat CW Archives.]
	"The out-Houses.
	1 State Coach, & Harness for a pair of Horses.
	1 Post Chaise, with Harness compleat for four Horses & a Leather Trunk in the Store Room.
	1 Post Coach with Harness compleat for Six Horses & two draw Boxes (in the Store Room).
	1 Green park Chair
	…
	5 Grey Coach Horses, & 1 Mare
	…
	2 Grey Saddle Horses, & 1 Mare, 1 Bay Filly …"

1770:

[Ibid. Lord Botetourt's Inventory. the inventory includes articles in the "Coachman's Room & Closet Adjoyning" and in the "Groom's Room & Closet Adjoyning." In the latter are listed saddles, saddle cloths, livery-saddles, bridles, bits, etc.; also "1 New Red Saddle Cloth with white Binding, 1 white Do with Green Binding, …" From this and from Lord Botetourt's account with a Williamsburg tailor, cited below, it might be gathered that his livery colors were green and red.]

1769-70:

[Robert Carter Nicholas Accounts. MS Library of Congress. C. W. Microfilm M-22-3. Account against Lord Botetourt's estate for sum due Robert Nicolson, Williamsburg tailor, includes:]

xcvi-a STATE COACH IN PARADE IN ST. JAMES'S PARK — from engraving of 1754 [Made from photograph in Architectural Records Office, C.W.I.] THE SPEAKER'S COACH
"The oldest of the State Coaches to take part in the coronation Pagentry [coronation of Queen Elizabeth II]: The Speaker's Coach which was originally a royal coach, but probably transferred to the Speaker in George III's time." Also—"The rear view of the Speaker's State Coach, showing the elaborate, late renaissance carving and rich gilding."
[From Coronation Number, ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS (1953), page 27. Photograph of above in Architectural Records Office, C.W.I.] xcvi-b NEW STATE COACH OF GEORGE III — DELIVERED TO THE ROYAL MEWS IN NOV. 1762. [From photograph of engraving for the London Magazine, in Architectural Records Office, C.W.I.] xcvii

	"… Altering green Coat & Crimson Waistcoat for Michill	[£] -: 2:-
	… To Making 2 Suit Liveres for John Rodgers, & Will	[£] 2; 3:-
	… 2 crimson velvet capes 7/ …
	… To 4 Crimson Velvet capes	-:16:-
	… To Mending 2 Stript Waistcoats for T. Gale & King	-: 3:-
	… To Making 2 Lappeld postilion coats & Waistcoats	1: 12:-
	… To Making 4 Newmarket coats	2:10:-
	[inc. 18 yds Shalloon, buckram, canvas, "basket coat" & breast buttons, 4 velvet collars &c.]
	…To 4 velvet colars	-: 6:-
	…To Making 4 pr Crimson Shag Breeches	-:16 :-
	… To 4 Crimson Velvet capes	-:16:-
	… To Making Green Newmarket coat for W. Knight	0:14:-
	… To Making 4 pr Crimson Shag Breeches.	-: 16:-
	…"

1770:

[Botetourt MSS. Virginia State Library Archives (Photostat CW Archives.) Letter from William Nelson, John Randolph, Robert Carter Nicholas, George Wythe, and John Blair, October 30, 1770, notifying the Duke of Beaufort, Lord Botetourt's heir and executor, of his death on October 15th, and enclosing "an exact and perfect Inventory of his Lordsp's effects."] "… It occurs to us, as probable, that some of the Articles, which you may not chuse to have sent over to England, may suit his Lordship's Successor. … The Slaves are reckon'd orderly & valuable, &, perhaps, may be convenient to our next Governor. His Lordsp brought over with him a good many white Servants, and, after a short trial, found it convenient and necessary to purchase and hire Negroes to assist in the business of his family, and do the Drudgery without Doors. We presume your Grace will have no inclination to transport the Horses to England; and, …till your pleasure can be known…we have thought it advisable to accept an offer made by a Gentleman, by which he agrees to take them all at the same prices they cost his Lordship, and keep them at his own expence Risque, till a new Governor arrives, and, if he chuses it, to let him have them at the same Rates…as that the Governor may be accommodated with a Sett of horses immediately on his arrival if he should incline to take these. … "

xcviii

1770:

[William Nelson Letterbook, 1766-1775. MS Virginia State Library Archives. Microfilm CW M-60. William Nelson of Yorktown, President of the Council, to Samuel Athawes, merchant in London, Decr 6th, 1770.]

" … I have bought Lord Botetourt's fine Set of Horses with the Sole view of offering them to him [Botetourt's successor as governor] at the same Price; as he could not get such another Set under a long time if at all in this Country. In the meantime I use them to run between York and Wmsburgh; and give my own Blacks a Winter's Run in Hanover. I have also kept in my Service the Coachman, an excellent Servant to take Care of the Horses, & in hopes that he may be employ'd by the next Governor. …"

1771:	[Letter from the Duke of Beaufort, Botetourt's heir and executor, to William Nelson, President of the Virginia Council, written from Badminton, Jan. 2, 1771, concerning Lord Botetourt's effects. Botetourt MS Virginia State Library Archives. (Photostat CW Archives)]
	" …
	As I wish as early as possible to fullfil Lord Botetourt's intentions, and as I know it was one of them to present at his departure the Pictures of the King and the Queen, and the State Coach with the furniture thereto belonging, to the Colony for the use of the succeeding Governors, I must trouble You therefore, Gentlemen, to desire the Council on behalf of the Colony to accept of them, and to receive them of me as a small return for the many distinguish'd marks of honor and esteem they shew'd my Dear Friend when alive …Beaufort."

1771:	[William Nelson Letterbook 1766-1775. MS Virginia State Library. CW Microfilm M-60. William Nelson to Samuel Athawes, Merchant in London, May 16th, 1771]
	"… Lord Botetourt's Horses I have sold, as I bought them, except two, wch I keep for my own Use; and by the Duke of Beaufords order,… The State Coach, the King & Queen's Pictures are Presented to the Council for the succeeding Governour."

1771:	[Letter from Robert Carter Nicholas of the Virginia Council to the Duke of Beaufort, "Virginia 27th May l771" MS Virginia State Library Archives. Photostat CW Archives.]
	"We have communicated to his Majesty's Council that xcix very polite & generous Paragraph of yr Grace's Letter, in which you are pleased to desire their acceptance of the Kings' and Queen's Pictures & the State Coach for the Use of the Colony; they have desired Mr President Nelson to offer their grateful Acknowledgements to your Grace for this obliging Favour…"

1781:

[Octavius Pickering, The Life of Timothy Pickering, (Boston: 1867) Vol. I, pages 297-9. Sept. 9-16, 1781. Williamsburg.]

"In a building near the palace are to be seen the remains of the richly ornamented state coach, which was brought over with Lord Botetourt, and once used by him to carry him from the palace to the Capitol. 'Tis a clumsy machine, and enormously heavy,—perhaps equal to two common wagons. It is gilded in every part, even the edges of the tires of the wheels. The arms of Virginia are painted on every side. The motto of the arms led me to remark how peculiarly disposed the Virginians have been to adopt ideas of royalty and magnificence… The motto is, En dat Virginia quartam, — that is, 'Virginia gives a fourth quarter to the world.'"1

1805-1860:	[Note: Several nineteenth century accounts of this state-coach, one of them erroneously referring to it as a chariot, follow. All note that the coach was drawn by six milk-white horses—although, from Botetourt's inventory, we know that the horses were grey (see under 1770). Several accounts say that the coach was given Botetourt by King George III, to impress his Virginia subjects; one states that it was given Botetourt by William, Duke of Cumberland, uncle to George III. We do not know which statement is correct. As Lord of the King's Bedchamber, Botetourt might have been favored by either the king or his uncle.]
	[John Burke, The History of Virginia, from its First Settlement to the Present Day (Petersburg: 1805) Vol. II, page 363.]
	"Botetourt began his administration with great parade; c he met the assembly in a state coach which had been presented to him by the king, and in imitation of his sovereign this equipage was drawn by six white horses, which slowly drew him from the palace to the capitol. As well as I can recollect, his lordship laid aside this pompous ceremony when he found it produced none of the desired effects."1
	[William and Mary College Quarterly, 1st series, Vol. XIII (1904), page 87. "Autobiography of David Meade," born in 1744—who writing his autobiography many years later2 recalled the Assembly of 1769.]
	"Lord Botetourt opened his first and only Assembly by the delivery of a pretty long speech… From the palace in Williamsburg to the Capitol was about three quarters of a mile. When his Lordship went down to meet the Assembly it was in much greater state than any Governor of Virginia had ever before displayed. The chariot he rode in was a superbly finished one, presented to him by William, Duke of Cumberland, uncle to George Third, and was intended for his state carriage, the Virginia arms being substituted for the royal English."
	[Charles Campbell, History of the Colony & Ancient Dominion of Virginia (Philadelphia: 1860) page 556.]
	"On the 11th day of May, 1769, when the assembly was convened, the governor rode from the palace to the capitol in a state-coach drawn by six milk-white horses, a present from George the Third, and the insignia of royalty were displayed with unusual pomp. …"

1769:	[Mason, John Norton & Sons (Richmond: 1937) page 86. William Nelson of Yorktown to John Norton in London. Virginia, March ci 11, 1769.]
	"…
	I have to thank you for the Trouble you have taken about my old Coach & particularly for the offer of a Passage for it in one of your Ships Freight free; but I have dropped the thoughts of sending it indeed I have given it to my sister Berkeley… & I shall make my Chariot serve Me until the great Men with you shall put me into a better Humour than I have been for some time past."

1769:	[Virginia Gazette, Rind (ed.), May 25, 1769.]
	"THE subscribers having engaged a person from England, well acquainted with the usual branches of PLUMBING, GLAZING, and PAINTING… KIDD & KENDALL.
	N.B. GILDING, and CIPHERS put on coaches, by the same hand."

1770:	[Ibid., Purdie & Dixon (eds.), June 21, 1770]
	"PORTRAIT PAINTING … J. DURAND.
	He will also paint, gild, and varnish wheel carriages; and put coats of arms, or ciphers, upon them, in a neater and more lasting manner than was ever done in this country. WILLIAMSBURG, June 21, 1770."

1770:	[Virginia Gazette, Wm..Rind (ed.), July 12, 1770.]
	"A VERY genteel COACH, never much used, with a set of town harness for two horses, to be sold for less than first cost. Enquire of the printer."

1770:	[Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon (eds.), September 6, 1770.]
	"LAST Sunday arrived at York, from Annapolis in Maryland, his Excellency ROBERT EDEN, Esq; Governour of that province, with his Lady, the Hon. WILLIAM FITZHUGH, Esq; one of the Council there, and Miss DARBY. Upon notice of their arrival Lord BOTETOURT sent his coach for them, which brought them to the palace that evening."

1771:	[Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon (eds.), May 9, 1771.]
	"THE wet Weather last November having stopped the Sale of the personal Estate of the late John Mercer, Esquire, the Remainder…a genteel COACH, with HARNESS for six Horses, a CHARIOT, a great Collection of well chosen Books, &C. &C. will be sold at Marlborough, on Monday the 27th of this Month…The very beautiful Horse RANTER is yet unsold…"

cii

1771:	[Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon (eds.), August 29, 1771 — Estate of John Mercer]
	"…A neat COACH, almost new, with Harness for six Horses.
	…
	The beautiful Horse RANTER, or his Colt full blooded, rising three Years and better than fifteen Hands high…"

1771:	[Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon (eds.), October 24, 1771. (Offered again November 5, 1772)]
	"To be SOLD to the highest Bidders, some Time next Week, before the Raleigh Tavern…
	The Beautiful Horse RANTER, a genteel FAMILY COACH, with Harness for six Horses, also several pieces of FASHIONABLE PLATE, yet remaining of the Estate of the late John Mercer Esquire…"

1771:	[Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. XXXIII (1925) page 190. Will of William Nelson of Yorktown, (October 6, 1772).]
	"… I also give my well beloved wife…Coach, Chariot and Cart with all their Harness, my Town horses…"

1772:

[Letter of Robert Carter Nicholas to John Norton of London from Williamsburg, January 22, 1772. Norton MSS CW Archives.]

"…I have an old Coach with a very strong substantial outside, but it wants a new Lining & fresh painting. I should be much obliged if you'd send me by the first Opportunity as much coarse light colour'd Cloth with proper Lace & Trimmings as will answer my Purpose; the Body of the Coach is large. I should also be glad of as much Colour ground in Oil as will paint the outside; green of different Shades will be as durable & do as well as any other. I also want front Glasses for my Chariot, the Maker knows the Size…Ro. C. Nicholas. The size of the Glass is 19½ by 18 Inches."

1772:

[Virginia Gazette, Wm. Rind, (ed.), May 21, 1772 (also in Purdie & Dixon (eds.), June 18, 1772).]

"THE subscriber, having served a regular apprenticeship to the noted Mr. JOSEPH CARNCROSS, of the city of Dublin, coachmaker, and for many years past carried on the coachmaking trade, in all its different branches, in Ireland, and in New York, where he has had the honour of making a coach, phaeton, and chaise, for his Excellency the Right Honourable Earl of DUNMORE, is now removed, with his family, from New York to Palace street, in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he proposes to make and repair all sorts of coaches, landaus, chariots, postchaises, phaetons, curricles, chaises, and chairs with harness of every ciii sort. Also steel springs, and iron work of every kind, relative to the coachmaking trade. Likewise painting, gilding, and japanning… ELKANAH DEANE."1

1773:	[Virginia Gazette, Wm. Rind (ed.), April 29, 1773.]
	"PETER HARDY BEGS leave to inform the public that he has opened shop in the BRICK HOUSE commonly called CUSTIS'S, near the HOSPITAL, Williamsburg, where he proposes to repair COACHES, LANDEAUS, CHARIOTS, and all other sorts of CARRIAGES, in the neatest manner; also PAINTING, GILDING, JAPANING, and CARVING, done with the greatest elegance…"
	[Note: Hardy—who had previously worked for Elkanah Deane—and Deane began a brief paper-war in the Virginia Gazettes (see issues of Rind's paper for October 28, November 11, November 18, November 25, 1773), after Hardy advertised himself as a "Coach and Chair Maker."]

1773:

[Ibid., Purdie & Dixon (eds.), August 19, 1773. "PETER HARDY, Coach and Chair Maker. BEGS Leave to inform the Publick he has opened Shop at the Brick House belonging to Colonel Custis's Estate, near the Mad House, where he intends to carry on his Business in its various Branches, in the most elegant and best finished Taste…" Hardy moved from Williamsburg to Botetourt Town in Gloucester County in 1774. See Miss Stephenson's report on Coachmakers, 1956.]

civ

1773:

[Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. XVII (1909) page 373. Will of John Tayloe of Mt. Airy, Richmond Co., dated 1773, proved 1779, mentioned his "coach and chariot and their drivers, six geldings…"]

1774:	[Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, eds., April 14, 1774.]
	"CAMPBELL THOMSON, HERALD and COACH PAINTER, TAKES this Method to inform the Ladies and Gentlemen that he has opened Shop opposite the new Hospital in Williamsburg, where he carries on the Painting Business; he likewise paints all Kinds of Landscapes with Accuracy,…"

1774:	[Farish, (ed. Journal and Letters of Vickers Fithian, 1773-1774, (Williamsburg: 1943) page 200. Tuesday, August 2, 1774.]
	"… The Colonel [Tayloe], his Lady, Miss Polly, Miss Kitty, Miss Sally, rode in their Great Coach to the Ferry—Distance about 4 miles—Ben & I on Horseback… "

1774:	[Ibid., page 248. September 12, 1774.]
	"…From the Ship lying at Leeds arrived this afternoon our new Coach—It is a plain carriage, upper part black, lower Sage or Pea-Green— The Harness is neat strong, & suitable for the Country. Price 120£ Sterling
	…
	Friday 16 [Sept. 1774] Mrs Carter, this morning with Prissy, Nancy, & Bob went in the New-coach to the Dance at Stratford… "

1774:	[Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon (eds.), December 8, 1774—also Feb. 11, 1775.]
	"To be SOLD … Likewise an exceeding good Coach and Phaeton almost new, a one Horse Chair, and the Coach and Saddle Horses, with two very fine Brood Mares… JONATHAN WATSON."

1775:	[John Harrower Diary, 1773-1776. MS on deposit CW Archives. Harrower was tutor to the Dangerfield children at "Belvidera."]
	"Tuesday 14th March 177 5. This forenoon came Mr Man Page's Coach wt 4 or 5 Gentlemen in it and after dinner they in Compy with the Col his Lady and ye daughter of the deceased went to the grave & heard ye Service of the dead read by one Mr Wilson after which the grave was fully closed up."

cv

1775:

[Public Record Office, London, Audit Office 13, Bundle 28. Schedule of Losses sustained by the Earl of Dunmore, His Majesty's late Governor of the Colony of Virginia. (February, 1784. Dunmore left the Palace in Williamsburg in 1775). Photostat. CW Archives.]

" …
32.	2 Coaches, one quite new	[£] 160 :--:--
33.	A Chariot	40 :--: --
34.	A Phaeton, and Two One Horse Chaises	80 :-:--
35.	Carts, Waggons, &c. at the Palace	40 :--:--
	…
	13 Coach and Saddle Horses @ £32	416:--: --
	A 3 year old Colt for which £120 had been offered	80 : --: --
	3 Valuable Colts @ £24	72:--:--"

1775:	[Virginia Gazette, Purdie (ed.), December 15, 1775.]
	"WILLIAMSBURG, Dec. 13, 1775.
	THE subscriber still continues to carry on the PAINTING business of COACHES, CHARIOTS, &c. at the late mr. Elkanah Deane's shop, near Palace street. JOHN HOWARD."

1777:	[Virginia Gazette, Alex. Purdie (ed.), July 25, 1777.]
	"Philadelphia, July 10.
	…The Assembly of this state have presented a very elegant coach to the Hon. Mrs. WASHINGTON, the worthy lady of his excellency general Washington, as a small testimonial of the sense they have of his great and important services to the American states, which she very politely accepted."

1777:

[Photostat sent by Mr. Paul Downing, CW Archives. This MS signed by a member of the "Committee for Purchasing a Coach for Mrs Washington." "Philadelphia 14th June 1777. The STATE of Pennsylvania to the Honble Richd Penn Esqr. Dr." Original MS in Pennsylvania Historical Society.]

"For a very handsome round Bottom Crane Neck Coach made of the very best materials, the Bottom Sides Corner Door Pillars, and Rails & Cornice Rails neatly run with raised Beads and fluted, Carved Anticks & raised Carved Pieces to the tops of the Corner Pillars, and jointed into the Cornice raised Pieces on the tops of the Door Pillars, neatly Carved & ornamented with festoons of Carved Husks, the Beading of the Frame work Carved with Husks, the hollows fluted across and pearld[?], Panneld all the way cvi up back and Sides, groved and cased all round for Glasses and Shutters, large Sweeps to the backs and Sides, handsome festoons to the back & door rails and Doors neatly carved, fluted across and pearld[?], and a frett work richly carved all the top of the Cornice. A Rutland Roof covered with the best neats Leather and neat Vases on the Corner and Door Pillars, lined [torn] -----------------------------------------best white belladine Silk Laces, Glasses Rings French Strings, Holders check Strings, the Seat Cloth with two Rows of white Gimph headed Fringe and Ornamented with green Silk Buttons Hangers, the fore and hind Falls drawn up in Festoons and green Silk Footmans holders, the Tassell Ornamented with white Silk Button hangers. The Painting a pleasant Stone Colour with four Seasons in Stone Colour upon a green gro[und] Copper within, neat ornamented brass ovals on the large Pannels, Val[?] and grotesque figures within ovals on the Side pannels, the beading of the frame Work Mouldings and Festoons and ovals the Spri[ng ill.] Shackles and Body Loops all Gilt. The Roof Japand and [ill.] ------best polish'd plate Glasses all round. Mohagany Shutters [ill.]------covered with Neats Leather and lined with Cloth to the [ill.] ----------and Sides, and green Silk Shutters to the Doors, the Steps within the [ill.] and a Carpet to the Bottom. A handsome Strong Carriage and Wheels with wrought brass boxes and Strong bow'd moulding Cranes Suitable to the Body, the whole of the Carriage neatly run with Beads & hollows, the beds pannel'd cut through and Carved, the fore Standards made in imitation of an Orange Tree. A Gretian Shield foot board, with a Shield raised in the middle run and c-----fixed under the foot board Stay. The hind standards and Wings run [ill.]-------and Carved Scroles at the Bottoms and vases Carved upon the Tops [ill.]----------up against the [ill.] -----------------------carriage carved with Husks and the hollows [ill.]--------------------------Iron axletrees, with the best German steel Springs, Arms within the Shields painted under the footboards, and the Carriage and Wheels painted Stone Colour [ill.] ---------and Moulding of the Cranes and Iron Work Gilt and the [fluting] of the Hollows, pick'd out green and Varnished. The Body hung on the best green Neats Leather Main Cross and Collar Braces, Sewed white in [ill.] ---------. Welted with white Leather Sewed green, the whole finished in the most Elegant and Workmanlike [manner?] with an handsome Embroidered seat Cloth, the Ends forming Orange Trees, the Leaves in green Silk [ill.] -----------------back and front of Superfine cloth [ill.] ------with a cvii handsome white Silk Lace and fringe, two [ill.] --------

	£362 :--: --
Seat Cloth....	21: --: --
Two large Silk Squabbs to the fore End and hand, & Squabbs to the Sides, the backs Superfine green [ill.] bound with white Silk Laces [ill.]
with Silk Tuffs	6:14: --
A [ill.] --------------Strings with green Silk Curtains [ill.] -----------Doors.	1:12:--
The Polishing and Varnishing of the [ill.]	15 :15:--
A handsome pair of Town made Harness made of the best Neats Leather, round Housings and [ill.] -------with a [ill.] ----------pierced Work of [ill.] ------------
Brought over	£407 : 1: --
pieces upon the Cruppers, and all the Straps Ornamented with Wrought pieces, Bridles, polishd steel Bitts and Silk Runs Compleat, and two green Cloth pad Cloths [ill.--with white Cloth and Lined with Flannel	43:--:--
A New Cover of the best green Baize	2:12: 6
packing up the Body in a strong Deal Case & packing the Carriage and Wheels in fine paper green Baize [ill.] -------in Matts & Hay Bands	5: 5:--
Sterling	£457:18:[ill.]
One half	£228:19: 3

Mr. David Rittenhouse
Sir
Plan to Pay William Ball Nine hundred and fifteen pounds Seventeen Shillings Currency on his Delivering you a Bill or Bills of Exchange on France or London to the Amount of £228:19:3 Sterling
w-----[ill.]
Committee for Purchasing a Coach for Mrs Washington
Lancester December 27, 1777"

1777:	[Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Hunter, (eds.), September 19, 1777.]
	"To be SOLD at Westover, the Seat of the late Hon. WILLIAM BYRD, Esq; … on the first Monday of November next, if fair… PART of the Estate of the said cviii Deceased, … the Whole of the Stocks of Horses, Cattle, and Sheep, the Set of Coach Horses, together with the Coach and Chariot, several breeding Mares… THE EXECUTRIX."
	[Also in ibid., Purdie, (ed.), October 17, 1777.]

1777:	[Ibid., Alex. Purdie, (ed.), November 21, 1777.]
	"Richmond Nov. 20, 1777
	I HAVE for sale a good COACH, with harness for four horses… RICHARD ADAMS."

1779:	[Ibid., Dixon & Nicolson (eds.), April 9, 1779.]
	"To be SOLD… at the late dwellinghouse of Lewis Burwell, Esq; deceased, of Gloucester county … a number of HORSES, one of which is the noted horse ECLIPSE… and a genteel COACH and HARNESS…"

1780:	[Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. XXXIII (1925) pages 413-415. Will of Benjamin Harrison of "Berkeley," recorded in Charles City Co. dated January 8, 1780.]
	"…I give to my dear and affectionate Wife Elizabeth Harrison…my Coach and harness, and six of the horses belonging to it to be chosen by her to her and her heirs forever."

1781:	[Ibid., Vol. IX (1902) page 68. Letter from Theodorick Bland of "Causons," Prince George Co., to Theodorick Bland, Jr., March 21, 178l.]
	"…I have at last got the Coach compleated which (including my people's works) stands me in fourteen thousand and odd pounds of the present money. …"

1786:	[Quebec to Carolina in 1785-1786, Wright & Tinling (eds.), (San Marino: 1943) pages 195-196. Diary of Robert Hunter, Jr. At "Mount Vernon," November 17, 1786.]
	"…When the General [Washington] takes his coach out he always drives six horses; to his Chariot he only puts four…"

1786:	[Ibid., page 209. At "Blandfield" for wedding Dec. 1-4, 1786.]
	"Sunday, December 4. Most of the company went away soon after breakfast, in their phaeton, and coaches in four, with two or three footmen They live in as high a style here, I believe, as any part of the world."

cix

1793:	[Letterbook of Robert Carter of Nomini Hall. Vol. 18, 1793, page 31. MSS Duke University Library. Microfilm CW M-36-3. Memo concerning estimates of James Walker, painter, and Charles Blood, Coachmaker, for work on Carter's coach:]
	"Painting Mr Carter's Coach-Polished with Cyphers finished in the best Manner	55 Dollars
	3 double-flint Glasses for Ditto	5 Dollars
		60 Dollars
	…
	An Estimate of Repairs &ca- A Coach belonging to Mr Carter- to 4 new Pannels, in the Quarters- Three new Glass Frames, a New Carpet, and covering the Roof Back & Quarters with Russia Sheeting	£16:10:0
	Foot-mans Holders	1:10:0
	4 Glass Strings, & Holders	2: 5: 0
		20: 5: 0
	This Work to be finished on or before the 30th day of June [1793]" [Work done "at R. C.'s house"]

1798:	[Tucker-coleman MSS. On deposit Colonial Williamsburg. Dr. Philip Barraud of Williamsburg to St. George Tucker at "Bizarre," Sunday, Oct. 28, 1798.]
	"…Sunday last… having provided Tazewell with a new Soul… I thought we might as well try to take care of it… accordingly the Bishop promising to provide a warm cordial potion for the occasion, I took him (us three & Byrd) in a Coach to James-Town-Church--whare our estimable Prelate proved to us…that there was nothing new in this World…"

1788-1799:

See pages xxxi-xxxii. (under "Chairs") of this report for the number of Coaches, Chairs, etc. in Williamsburg in 1788-99.

CURRICLES
SEE ALSO Chairs, Chaises, Gigs, &c.

Although there are comparatively few references to curricles as such in the Virginia records which have been searched for material on wheeled vehicles, this type of carriage was doubtless included in the large number of two-wheeled vehicles loosely listed as "chairs" in the Virginia tax records.¹

The word "curricle" was not included in the early eighteenth century dictionaries which we have seen.² However, the Oxford English Dictionary, which defines "Curricle" as "2. A light two-wheeled carriage, usually drawn by two horses abreast," cites examples of the word from 1756/7 on.³

According to William Felton, a late-eighteenth-century London coachmaker, there were two "descriptions" of two-wheeled carriages: the "curricle" which was "used with two horses," and cxi the "chaise," which was "used with one horse only."¹ However, Felton described and depicted a curricle ("A Changeable Curricle, or curricle Gig") which could be driven with either, having both a pole and a shaft. He didn't, it seems, especially recommend this type of curricle, explaining that the curricle, being "much stronger and heavier" than the "one-horse chaise," really required two horses.²

Evidently George Washington owned a curricle which was taxed as a "chair,"³ for the Rev. Andrew Burnaby wrote that in 1760 he had borrowed Washington's "curricle and servant."⁴

"A FIXED OR PROPER CURRICLE" Plate XLI.
"THE proprietors of this sort of carriage are in general persons of high repute for fashion…To hanging the body of a curricle with ease, every attention should be paid, and it is mostly with high, light springs, and long braces, that this is effected, with the body in between the framings of the carriage, which is built long and strong;…
"THE Carriage a Curricle, for two horses only; a dashing-leather in front; a small-sized platform-budget behind; the cylinder axletree and boxes, the axletree cranked or bent to admit the body hanging low; patent wheels, with moulded fellies; a long rope, united with a double brace and buckle at the fore end of the pole and a single brace at the other end, which is fixed to a jack on the axletree, and, by means of the brace and jack, the rope is drawn very tight; near the bearing, a piece is buckled close between the pole and the rope, and keeps it at a proper distance, by this contrivance the pole is released from the weight; and, by the elasticity of the rope, the rider has more ease; and, by the pressure of the weight on the rope which is fixed on the axletree, it is of some advantage to the draught.
THE Body a chair back, with sham doors, and a sword-case; long springs fixed underneath, and hung to the inner fore bar by a loop; lined with a second cloth, and trimmed with a three-inch lace; quilted sides; and an extra; deep cushion; a driving-box [a portable box, on which a cushion is placed, to raise the driver]; a round or waggon head, with curtains; and on the knee-boot [the leather which covers the knees] of a middle size. The Plating with silver, a small-sized quill, or 2/8th size moulding, in double rows, round the sides of the pannels and doors; a 4/8th moulding on the bottom edge of the bottom sides, round the head, and on the knee-boot; a pair of sword-case frames; four silver scroll ornaments; a pair of plated check-brace rings; a pair of plated worm-springs, and a pole-hook; the joints of the head plated. The Painting of the carriage picked out three colours; the pannels high varnished; the doors and sword-case japanned; arms, crests, and mantles, on the three pannels; and a pair of cross check braces."
PRICE: "First charge for a curricle" ---£37:10:6. With all the extras noted above £103:5:0. [From William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796) pages 98-1O1.]

"A CHANGEABLE CURRICLE, OR CURRICLE GIG." Plate XL.
"THIS is a kind of carriage which may be used alternately as curricle or gig, being lighter than a common curricle, and so may be used with only one horse, and being longer in the carriage than a common gig, makes the appearance more uniform with that of a curricle, when used as such. If this carriage is properly constructed, it need not be too heavy for one horse,… Heads, trunks, and dashing-leathers, look best for curricles when drawn by two horses, but as they add to the weight, they may be so made, as to be easily removed when drawn by one.
THE Carriage made with shafts and a pole, for alternate use: a light dashing leather in front; a small platform-boot behind: straked wheels: common axletrees and boxes. The a Body step-piece, with sham doors, and sword case: lined with second cloth: trimmed with two-inch lace; a pair of wings, with plated frames: and a middle-sized knee-boot. The Plating with silver a 4/8th moulding round the sham doors, on the footboard, and at the top of the sword-case back. The Painting of the body and carriage picked out one colour, and crests on the side pannels. The Braces in front placed round the fore springs, with jacks fixed on the bottom of the body: common pole-pieces."
PRICE: "First charge for a curricle made a gig"---£39:13:9. With all extras above-described £58:9:3. (From William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796), pages 96-98.)

Elkanah Deane, a Dublin coachmaker who moved to Williamsburg from New York in 1772, advertised on several occasions in the Virginia Gazettes (1772-1774) that he made, among other carriages, "…Curricles, Chaises, and Chairs."¹

As already noted, two-wheeled carriages became very popular in Virginia after the first tax was laid on wheeled vehicles by the General Assembly of that Colony in 1754; and they far outnumbered the four-wheeled vehicles in the last half of the century.² They were popular in England also, William Felton (London coachmaker) stating that although they were not as safe as the four-wheeled carriages, they were preferred by many because of their "lightness and simplicity…the smallness of their price, and the difference of expence in the imposed duty."³ Illustrations from Felton of a "Fixed or Proper Curricle," and of a "Changeable Curricle"--having both pole and shaft--are included in this report, with descriptions and prices.⁴

References to curricles from the Virginia sources follow:

GIGS
SEE ALSO Chairs, Chaises, Curricles.

The word "Gig" does not appear to have been in common use as the name of a two-wheeled vehicle until about the last decade of the eighteenth century.¹ A "Gig" was then defined as a light, two-wheeled chaise or chair drawn by one horse.² William Felton, late-eighteenth-century London coachmaker, described a gig as a "one horse chaise built in a fanciful style,"³ and included in his Treatise on Carriages details as to the gig body, carriage or chassis, springs, "extras," harness, prices, etc.,⁴ with illustrations of "A cxv Chair-Back Gig" and "The Gig Curricle."¹ He offered the following general description of a gig:

"GIGS are one-horse chaises of various patterns, devised according to the fancy of the occupier; but, more generally, means those that hang by braces from the springs; the mode of hanging is what principally constitutes the name of Gig, which is only a one-horse chaise of the most fashionable make; Curricles being now the most fashionable sort of two-wheeled carriages, it is usual, in building a Gig, to imitate them, particularly in the mode of hanging. The Gig mostly hangs from the middle of the hind pillars, and is built as light and easy as possible; all one-horse chaises, that neat and fancifully constructed, are named Gigs, and called by the name that the body is distinguished by; such step-piece, tub-bottom, or a chair-back Gig, &c."²

No eighteenth century references to "gigs" appear in the Virginia records which we have searched for eighteenth century wheeled-vehicles; but as the "gig" chaise at the end of the century, two-wheeled vehicles taxed as "chairs" in the last decade of the eighteenth century were actually gigs.³

"A CHAIR-BACK GIG."
"INDEPENDENT of fashion, this is the neatest sort of one-horse chaise in use, and affords much more room for luggage, both in the body and on the carriage. To burthen a one-horse chaise with superfluous weight is very improper; but as it is only on necessary occasions that luggage may be wanted, the conveniences for carrying them may always remain, without being of much incumbrance, and the carriage has a more genteel appearance thereby. Fixing the body to the fore springs prevents its being so easy to ride in, as if it were hung by braces, or by springs fixed under the body; but that difference may be understood is the reason of its being thus represented, as they are frequently so built.
"THE Carriage with a pair of hind spring-blocks; a small platform-budget behind; straked wheels; common axletrees and boxes.
The Body a chair back, with sham doors, and sword-case; lined with second cloth; trimmed with 2 inch lace; a sliding seat-box, and a carpet; a round fixed head, and a knee-boot of a small size; a small platform-budget. The Plating with silver, a 4/8th moulding round the sham doors, the head and knee-boot; a pair of sword-case frames. The Painting of the body and carriage picked out one colour; the arms on the back, and the crests on the two side pannels. The Braces common."
PRICE: First charge for a Gig -----£31:14:6
With all extras as above described £57:5 :6.
[William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796), pp. 108-109.]

"THE GIG CURRICLE"
"THE two-wheeled carriage, which is intended to be principally used with one horse, and only as by chance with two, should not be built more heavy than the common Gig, and the shafts so contrived, as when placed together, they may form a pole, which will save incumbrance and be always ready, on any emergency, for the carriage to be converted to either purpose. As the pole requires to be of much greater length than the shafts, it has been, common to have an additional socket-end, to fix on the shafts; but as that is an incumbrance to travel with, it is best to have the shafts of a length sufficient to answer the purpose of a pole, which is done by having three sockets on the carriage, A.B.C. instead of two, for the shafts to be fixed in to a greater length, and the two middle sockets for the pole should be made to receive the shafts at those parts which fit to the two hind sockets, B. and C.; and the pole- fix on the points of the shafts, when united as a pole,… These Curricles are very convenient where the rods will not admit horses abreast, as all the apparatus may be easily reversed, for the horses to draw in team.
The Carriage a gig curricle, with a small trunk-boot behind, raised on small plain blocks; a light dashing-leather in front, with a pocket; C-formed plain springs behind, French-horn springs before, with jacks to both; and a long single main brace, which goes round each spring, along the bottom of the body, and fixed only to the jacks, by which the body is raised or lowered, and removed either backward or forward at pleasure, which makes the riding very easy; double steps; common axletrees and boxes.
The Body a long-tail, tub-bottom, half-panneled Gig, lined with leather, and plain trimmings; a drop seat-box; a Wilton carpet; small wings; and knee-boot. The Plating with brass, a 3/8th moulding all round the framing, and for the knee-boot; a pair of wing-frames; four check-rings; and a pair of nave wheel-hoops plated. The Painting ornamented with 1½ inch plain border; a small mantle on the three pannels, with the crests in each; the painting picked out one colour. The Braces twelve feet additional length."
PRICE: First charge for a Gig Curricle ---£36:3:0
With all extras as described above -£54:1:6.
[From William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: l796) pages ll0-ll2.]

A few early nineteenth century references to "gigs" from Virginia sources follow:

LANDAU

The landau, which got its name from the town in Germany where it was first made, was in use in England prior to the middle of the eighteenth century, but was not to be compared in popularity with the coach, or with smaller vehicles, such as the chariot, phaeton, and various types of chaises and chairs. Except for its top, the landau had the body of a coach — with two seats facing each other, and the coachman's seat or box in front. Its top, instead of being fixed, was made of oiled leather, and opened in the middle, to be folded back when desired, making an open carriage.¹ It was driven with from two to six horses, depending upon its use.

William Felton, late-eighteenth-century London coachmaker, defined the landau as a "carriage built in the manner of a coach, but with the upper part of the body to open at pleasure."² He cxviii added that this vehicle might be considered "the most convenient carriage of any, as so many persons" could be "accommodated with the pleasure of an open and close carriage in one," but explained why it was not "more generally used."¹ Among his reasons for lack of popularity were the following:

• (1) Strength and Weight: "These bodies not being assisted it becomes lower parts of stronger materials, and even to be assisted with strong iron-work, which so increases their weight as to make them objectionable; and this, together with their expence, has almost annihilated the use of them!"²
• (2) Cost: In a table of prices for a coach, landau, post-chaise, and demi-landau, the prices of the coach and

  landau (carriages of the same size) were listed as:
  Coach-with perch carriage ---	£ 105: 9: 0
  Coach-with crane-neck carriage---	121: 14: 0
  Landau with perch carriage---	120:11: 0
  Landau with crane -neck carriage -----	136:16: 0

  ³
• (3)Appearance: "The upper parts of these bodies lose much of their appearance, in comparison with those of fixed roofs, as they are covered with loose oiled leather that cannot be japanned, and, by being exposed to the weather, contract, and are offensive to the eye, after being a little time in use."⁴ cxviii-a LANDAU ON PERCH CARRIAGE,-ca. 1750.
  [From a collection of prints by C. Crace, dated 1750, in Metropolitan Museum of Art.] cxviii-b LANDAU
  "THE Carriage a perch, of the compass, or crooked form, plated on the sides with iron; a half-wheel foreend; a raised hind end, with short, plain blocks; a footman's cushion, with carved hind standards; a pair of double-returned springs, for carrying a square trunk-boot, which makes into a coach-box occasionally; hooped tyre wheels, with common axletrees and boxes.
  The Body, a Landau, with round sides; lined with second cloth; trimmed with a three-inch lace, and swinging holders; the sides quilted; double folding steps; a Wilton carpet; sliding seat-boxes; Venetian blinds; a set of web footman's holders. The mountings of Brass; a 4/8th moulding all round the middle, at the top of the back and front part, and round the doors; a small 2/8th moulding all round the door and front lights; a set of fancy device head plates; the joints, the check-brace rings, the wheel-hoops, and body loops, on the whole surface plated; and a plated pole-hook.
  The Painting of the body and carriage picked out two colours; the arms and crests painted on the doors, the fore and back pannels. The Main Braces with worm springs plated; French pole-pieces; a set of braces to carry the boot, two inches wide; and four short check-braces underneath the boot."
  PRICE: First charge for a Landau, with perch carriage ----------£120 11:0
  With extras as described ----185:16:6
  [From William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London:1796) pages 39-40.]
• cxix
• (4) Popularity of other open carriages, when an open carriage, rather than a coach or chariot, was preferred: "The amusement many gentleman may have in driving for themselves in light, open carriages has prevented the Landau being more generally used than what they otherwise would have been, and what, from their utility, might have been expected. The upper parts are covered with a black grain leather, which cannot be japanned, and of course, does not look so well as fixed roofs; they are also heavier, and more expensive than the common coaches, which are the principal objections to them…" ¹

As some people were "yet partial to those carriages," Felton included in his work "an exact representation" of the landau.²

Two coachmakers who came to Williamsburg from the north (1772) included the "landau" among the list of vehicles they could make or repair. However, they evidently found little demand for this type of carriage, for both of them dropped the "landau" from their listings after their initial announcement, although coaches, chariots, postchaises, phaetons, curricles, chairs and chaises continued to be listed.³ We have found no order for purchase nor advertisement for sale, of a landau in any of the Virginia sources which we have searched; and no references to landaus appear in the Williamsburg and York County tax records and inventories.⁴ However, recently, cxx reference to a landau at "Stratford," in Westmoreland County, was called to Col. Downing's attention, and we have added it to this report.¹ This does not change our opinion (based on the numerous records which we have examined) that the landau was rare in Virginia. We have yet found no record of a landau in Williamsburg or the adjacent counties.

The two coachmakers' single references to landaus, and the reference from the Westmoreland County inventory follow:

LANDAULET

As described by William Felton, late eighteenth-century London coachmaker, the body of the landau was of the coach form, that of the "landaulet the chariot form," with the exception of the tops, which, on both the landau and landaulet, let down to give "the advantage of air and view to the passengers."¹ In other words, the landaulet, or half-landau, had one seat for passengers, with a folding top of "loose oiled leather," and with a coachman's box or seat in front. The landaulet top differed from that of the landau in that, having but one seat to cover, it opened "all from the fore part; whereas the other," the landau, had two seats, and opened "nearly in the middle of the roof."²

Apparently the same objections which were made to the landau by Felton, applied to the landaulet: its weight in comparison to other vehicles of the same size, its cost, and its appearance, all of which "almost annihilated the use of them."³ As compared with a post-chariot or post-chaise, for example, the landaulet was more expensive. A post-chaise was priced by Felton cxxv at from £93:1:6 to £107:14:6, depending on the "extras" which were added and on whether it had a perch or crane-neck carriage. The landaulet was priced at from £107:2:6 to £121:15:6, or even more with all "extras."¹

We have found no references to a "landaulet" or to a "demi-landau" in any of the Virginia records which we have searched for material on wheeled vehicles. This vehicle was not mentioned in coachmakers' advertisements in the Virginia Gazettes, nor was it mentioned or described in the various orders, advertisements for sale, inventories, tax records, etc. which we have seen. It would appear that when a vehicle with only one seat for passengers was wanted, the Virginians preferred the more popular chariots, post-chariots and post-chaises (which could be driven with or without the coachman's box), or the lighter phaetons and chaises, with tops which could let down, when driving four-wheeled vehicles. As before noted, the two-wheeled chaises and chairs of various types far outnumbered all other vehicles in Virginia after the middle of the eighteenth century.²

However, as of possible interest, we include Felton's illustration and description of the landaulet.³

LANDAULET, or DEMI-LANDAU
"THE Carriage is a perch of the bent, or compassed form, plated with iron on the sides; a half-wheel fore end; a raised hind end, with plain plough handles, and a footman-cushion; a square trunk -boot; a light chair, or chaise body for the coachman, fixed on the boot at the fore end, and hung on an iron bar which crosses the fore springs by short braces; straked wheels, common axletree and boxes. The Body a landaulet, with round sides, lined with second cloth, and trimmed with a three-inch lace; quilted sides; a sliding seat-box; Wilton carpet; double folding steps; plate glasses, the frames covered with a two-inch lace; Venetian blinds. The Plating with brass, a 4/8th moulding round the pannels, the middle, sides, and over the doors, along the back and front; two scroll ornaments, and two tip ditto; the body-loops plated on the four bolt heads; six fancy device head-plates; the joints, check-rings, pole-hook, and wheel-hoops plated; a pair of Italian lamps plated. The Braces common French pole-pieces; a set of double web footman-holders. The Painting picked out one colour; a plain fillet round the pannels 1 inch wide; the arms on the doors; cyphers with crests on the quarters, and crests on the stiles."
PRICE: First charge for a demi-landau -----£107:2:6
With all extras described above ----£156:10:3. [From: William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London:l796) pages 57 -59.]

PHAETONS

The four-wheeled vehicle known as a "Phaeton," usually having only one seat, became popular in England prior to the middle of the eighteenth century, and was also popular in Virginia in the last half of the century. The Oxford English Dictionary, which cites examples of the word from 1735 on, defines the "Phaeton" as "2. A species of four-wheeled open carriage, of light construction; usually drawn by a pair of horses, and with one or (now generally) two seats facing forward."¹ Noah Webster apparently considered the "Phaeton" a one-seated carriage, as he described it as an "open carriage like a chaise, on four wheels, and drawn by two horses."²

William Felton, London coachmaker of the late eighteenth century, wrote of phaetons as follows:

"PHAETONS, for some years, have deservedly been regarded as the most pleasant sort of carriage in use, as they contribute, more than any other, to health, amusement, and fashion, with the superior advantage of lightness, over every other sort of four-wheeled carriages, and are much safer, and more easy to ride in, than those of two wheels.

The sizes and constructions of Phaetons are more various than any other description of carriages, which gives fancy a greater scope; but the sizes are mostly proportioned to the sizes of the horses for draught, whether by ponies, or one or two horses;…".¹

In further describing high and low hung phaetons, Felton said that there were "no established rules for the size of phaetons," except that the size of the horses to be used must be considered, "whether fifteen, fourteen, or thirteen hands high."² He described and depicted the "Perch High Phaeton" and the "Large Crane-Neck Phaeton," usually drawn by two large-sized (coach) horses; the "Middle-Sized Perch Phaeton" and the "Crane-neck Middle-sized Phaeton," usually drawn by two medium-sized horses; also the "Light one-Horse, or Poney Berlin Phaeton" and "One-Horse, or Poney Perch Phaeton," drawn by one horse or two ponies "from twelve to thirteen hands high," -noting that the latter phaetons should cxxix not be made too low for the horse or too high for the ponies.¹ All the phaetons depicted by Felton were one-seated, with the exception of the "Crane-neck Middle-sized Phaeton," which had one seat and a light coachman's seat, for "those who are partial to phaetons, and cannot drive."²

In 1761, in ordering a post-chariot from London, Robert Beverley of "Blandfield" mentioned a phaeton he already owned as "painted…a light green upon silver" with his arms on it.³ Phaetons were advertised for sale in the Virginia Gazettes, made by Williamsburg coachmakers, and were owned by Williamsburg inhabitants. According to the tax records, there were four phaetons in Williamsburg in 1788.⁴

The notes from the Virginia sources follow {with a few items, giving interesting descriptions of phaetons, from Maryland and Philadelphia sources included) From the cxxix-a "A PERCH HIGH PHAETON"
"A PHAETON with a perch carriage may be built on a larger scale than if with a crane-neck, and not be so heavy; the advantage of turning is not so great, yet the safety is greater…
THE Carriage is a perch, with the sides plated with iron; a whole-wheel front; a square trunk-boot; hind and fore spring-blocks; a hind platform, raised with blocks; straked wheels; common axletrees and boxes.
The Body, a long-tail chair back, with sham doors and sword case; lined with second cloth, and trimmed with two-inch lace; a square, fixed head, lined with second cloth; a large, fixed knee-boot; a sliding seat-box; and a treble folding-step for occasional use. The Plating with silver, a half-inch moulding round the sham doors, the front and back of the head, and on the knee-boot at bottom, and round the sides of the trunk-boot; a pair of sword-case half frames; and fancy device head-plates. The Painting picked out two colours, with a rich fillet round the pannels; the arms on the back, and crests on the side pannels and foot-board, painted small; the main and check Braces common; a pair of cross check braces; and English pole-pieces."
THE PRICE: First charge for the large perch phaeton — £47:19:6
With all extras, as described above----£92:19:0.
[William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796) pages 70-72.] cxxix-b "A LARGE CRANE-NECK PHAETON"
"THIS being more weighty than a perch phaeton, is more solid on its bearings, but as the body is hung over the fore bearings, or axletree, great care should be observed in turning short, lest…it should overset, which is the only danger to be apprehended from them … They are peculiarly convenient for gentlemen to travel with, who are fond of driving; and as many conveniences for carrying luggage may be added, as would be necessary for a long journey, almost as many as to a travelling post-chaise. …
THE Carriage is a crane neck, with a square trunk-boot, raised on neat carved blocks; a large plat form budget behind, raised with blocks; large hind and fore spring-blocks, neatly carved; patent wheels with moulded fellies; patent cylinder axletrees and boxes.
The Body a step-piece with springs at the fore end; real doors; and a sword case; a round head, made on a frame to take off, with a pair of wings to put on occasionally; a knee-boot to take off, lined with superfine cloth, and trimmed with 2½ inch lace; a Wilton carpet; a double step to hang on occasionally. The Plating with silver, with small 2/8th moulding, in double rows, all round the pannels, the door, and sword-case ends. A large 5/8th moulding round the front of the head, the top and bottom behind, and round the sides of the boot; six silver scroll ornaments; the check-brace rings; the collars, and star bolt-heads of the body-loops; the outside wheel-hoops; pole-hook and worm-springs, plated.
The Painting ornamented with rich striping; mantles, with small arms and crest, on the pannels, which are highly varnished; the mouldings of the carriage picked out three colours; the sword-case and doors japanned; the carriage varnished; the Braces common, with whole buckles; the pole-pieces French; a set of splinter-bars mounted with plated iron-work."
THE PRICE: First charge for a large crane-neck phaeton — £61:9:6.
With extras as described ------£174:10:0. [William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London:1796) pages 73-76.] cxxix-c "MIDDLE-SIZED PERCH PHAETON"
"ALTHOUGH there are no established rules for the size of phaetons, yet a proportion should be observed according to the size of the horses, whether fifteen, fourteen, or thirteen hands high…many persons are very partial to this size of equipage, being less formidable in the appearance than the high, and more elegant than the low, phaeton; …they are, in general, called ladie's phaetons, and are best adapted for their amusement. …
THE Carriage a perch, with fore spring-blocks; a middle-sized platform budget; straked wheels; common axletrees and boxes. The Body a chair back, half panneled, with sham doors and sword-case; lined with second cloth, and a two-inch lace; a Wilton carpet; a drop seat-box; a pair of wings; and a fixed knee-boot. The Plating with silver, a half-inch moulding round the doors, and on the foot-board for the knee-boot; a pair of half sword-case frames. The Painting plain, with a small crest and cypher on the pannels; the mouldings of the carriage picked out one colour; common Braces, and English pole-pieces."
THE PRICE: First charge for middle-sized perch phaeton -------£42:8:0.
With extras as described--------£58:19:6.
[William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London:1796) pages 76-78.] cxxix-d "A CRANE-NECK MIDDLE-SIZED PHAETON." "TO unite safety with the other properties of a crane-neck carriage, is to suspend the body behind the bow of the cranes, so that the weight may be between the bearings; this can only be effected by a longer carriage, whereby the command over the horses is not so great…yet it is otherwise preferable on account of its ease and safety, and those who are partial to phaetons, and cannot drive, may have a fixed, or temporary, seat for the coachman, concealed in a budget, or as described in the plate;…
THE Carriage a crane-neck, with double-bow cranes; a raised hind end, on neat short blocks, and a footman's cushion with a plated top edge; a trunk-boot, and large fore spring-blocks; light chaise coach-box; double steps; hooped tyre wheels; common axletrees and boxes. The Body a tub-bottom shape, with sham doors; lined with second cloth, trimmed with a three-inch lace; a round, or waggon, fixed head and knee-boot; a Wilton carpet; a sliding seat-box; a driving-box; and a deep cushion, with plaited or puckered fall, trimmed with lace. The Plating with silver, a 3/8th moulding all round the sham doors, the head, and footboard for the knee-boot; the check-rings, pole-hook, and wheel-hoops, plated. The Braces common, with an additional pair of cross check ditto."
THE PRICE: First charge for a crane-neck middle-sized phaeton ---------£54:6:0.
With extras as noted -----------£101:12:6.
[William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796) pages 79-81.] cxxix-e "A LIGHT ONE-HORSE, OR PONEY BERLIN PHAETON."
"A PAIR of ponies from twelve to thirteen hands high are about equal for draught with a horse of fifteen, and a phaeton of the same weight is equally adapted for either; excepting only, that each should be built of a proportioned height, for the advantage of both horse and driver. … Those phaetons are frequently designed for one horse, or a pair of ponies…a medium should then be observed in the building that it be neither too high for the ponies, nor too heavy for one horse; a pole and shafts are then necessary,…
THE Carriage a Berlin, with wooden cranes supported on grasshopper springs; two bars framed at the hind end; a whole wheel front; a pair of single steps, and one-horse shafts; straked wheels; common axletrees and boxes. The Body a half-panneled whiskey, or chaise; lined with second cloth: trimmed with two-inch lace; an oil-cloth at the bottom; and a pair of wings. The Painting picked out one colour."
THE PRICE; First charge the same as small perch phaeton --------£37:8:0
With extras as noted --------£40:0:6.
[William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London: 1796) pages 82-85.] cxxix-f "A ONE-HORSE, or PONEY PERCH PHAETON"
"CARRIAGES built with iron cranes are mostly too heavy for one horse, or ponies, and perch carriages, on that account, are preferable; iron cranes being also more expensive, become likewise an objection;… THE Carriage a perch, with shafts for one horse, and pole, with "pole-pieces, for a pair of ponies; the fore and hind springs of the scroll form, raised on neat blocks; a whole-wheel fore-end; straked wheels, ten and twelves; common axletrees and boxes.
The Body a half pannel, tub-bottom shape; with sham doors; a sword-case; and a drop seat-box; lined with second cloth and trimmed with 2 inch lace; a Wilton carpet; a round, or waggon, fixed head, and knee-boot. The Plating with silver, a 3/8th moulding all round the sham doors, the front and back of the head; and a pair of sword-case frames. The Painting of the body picked out two colours; crests painted on the side pannels."
THE PRICE: First charge for a small-sized perch phaeton ---------£37 :8:0
With extras as noted -------£67: 0:0.
[William Felton, A TREATISE ON CARRIAGES, Vol. II (London :1796) pages 83-87.] cxxx descriptions, most of the phaetons were driven with two horses, although there are two references to four being used.