Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

LOCATION:

Colonial lot #23, on which the tavern later known as the "King's Arms" was located, lies on the south side of the Duke of Gloucester Street between Botetourt Street and the Capitol.

HISTORY:

The first known reference to this tavern as the "King's Arms" is found in the Virginia Gazette of February 6, 1772, when Jane Vobe, tavern mistress, solicited customers, giving her location as "opposite to the Raleigh, at the Sign of The King's Arms." So far as records show, this was the first tavern called by that name in Williamsburg. However, as early as 1752, there is reference to a hostel by that name in Fairfax County, Belhaven, Virginia: "the King's Arms Tavern in Belhaven." (Virginia Gazette, Nov. 3, 1752.) Doubtless, these taverns received their names from "King's Arms" taverns in England.

The early history of the lot is scanty and confusing. Apparently, the first owner of colonial lot #23 was James Sheilds (sometimes spelled "Sheils") of York County, tailor. On May 12, 1707, Sheilds gave deed to lot #24 to William Bird, of Charles City County, for 121 pounds sterling, "with one good dwelling-house thereon built." (York County Records, Deeds, Bonds, II, 234.) On January 24, 1707/8, Sheilds conveyed lot #25 to John Marott, a tavern-keeper, noting at the time that the lot was next "to the lot formerly sold by the said James Sheils to William Byrd, Esq." (Ibid., 262.)¹ By a deed dated February 26, 1749, we see that three contiguous lots (numbers not given) "on the south side of the Main Street opposite to the Rawley Tavern" had "formerly belonged to the late Colonell William Bird of Charles City County." It is probable that Sheilds owned these contiguous lots (#23, 24, 2 and 25), though no deed has been discovered placing Sheilds on lot #23. Following is the deed of 1749 referred to above:

Crosby, James - merchant of Glasgow
to
Buchanan, Andrew [&] Arch^d, & Company Merchants in Glasgow
[consideration: not mentioned]

Three Lots of Land containing half an Acre in each Lot (upon one of which lots there is built a Dwelling House & Kitchen upon the Middle Lott is a Storehouse and upon the other Lot there is a Warehouse & Stable all lying Contiguous in the City of Williamsburgh on the South side of the Main Street opposite to the Rawley Tavern which said Lots are marked in the Plan of the said City by the No^s which formerly belonged to the late Colonell William Bird of Charles City County) To have and to hold... (York County Records, Deeds, V, 393.)

If Byrd owned three contiguous lots on the south side of the Duke of Gloucester Street - and we know that Byrd never owned lots #25 or #26¹ - then the three contiguous lots of Byrd's "opposite to the Rawley Tavern" must have been lots #22, #23, and #24. (See Tyler's adaptation of the College Map, Illustration #1 of the Appendix, for locations.) If our reasoning is correct, the "Middle Lot" (or lot #23) in 1749 had "a Storehouse" thereon.

On July 3, 1752, John Hyndman,² merchant in Williamsburg, advertised that he had owned property "opposite to the Raleigh Tavern":

To be Let, and enter'd on immediately, The Houses and Lots opposite to the Raleigh Tavern, lately possessed by the Subscriber, from whom the Terms may be known. (Virginia Gazette, Hunter, ed.)

John Hyndman and Hugh Blackburn, attornies¹ for Andrew and Archibald Buchanan & Company, merchants of Glasgow, sold one of their lots to Dr. Kenneth McKenzie on November 20, 1753. Because the deed to the lot was not outright and because of the indebtedness of Dr. McKenzie, Hyndman appeared as a witness or defendant in a lawsuit in the York County Courts in 1757-58. (Land Causes Book, York County Records.) In June 1757, a suit, Peter Scott vs. Joanna McKenzie, widow of Dr. McKenzie, defines the connection which Hyndman had with Andrew and Archibald Buchanan & Company in selling their lots in Williamsburg and also the circumstances of Dr. McKenzie's weak title to his lot (#24):

Scott v. McKenzie
June 20, 1757.

Your Orators further shew unto your Worships, that the said Kenneth McKenzie some short time before his death having purchased the House and lot in his will mentioned of Hugh Blackburn and John Hyndman, attornies in fact for Andrew & Archibald Buchanan and Company, merchants in Glasgow for the consideration of did together with one his security enter into a Bond for the payment of the said sum of money and did at the same time receive of the said Hugh Blackburn and John Hyndman a certain writing obligatory with a condition thereunder written that they should when required execute such deed or deeds as should be thought sufficient to give the said Kenneth McKenzie, a good title to the said house and lot, but the said Kenneth departed this life before the said deeds were executed.² (York County Records, Land Causes, p. 96.)

When Andrew and Archibald Buchanan & Company conveyed lot #23 to John Carter is not known. However, record of June 1760 makes known the fact that John Carter was owner of, or leased, the lot on the west of McKenzie (or lot #23):

McKenzie, Joanna - widow
to
Carter, James - Surgeon
Consideration: 216 pounds secured to George
Washington, Esq.
(James Carter bound with said Joanna)

All that Lott or half Acre of Land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg on the South Side of Duke of Gloucester Street bounded on the North by the said Street on the West by the Lott of M^r John Carter on the South by Francis Street and on the East by a Lott of Mr. James Sheilds¹ and all houses Buildings Yards Gardens Privileges Profits Commodities Hereditaments and Appurtenances whatsoever... (York County Records, Deeds, VI, 301.)

In 1769, John Carter announced his intention of leaving the colony. A notice in the Gazette called on his debtors to pay, and added the usual threat that he would call in a lawyer to collect if necessary. The advertisement also noted that he was "near Mr. Charlton's":

February 23, 1769.

The subscriber, intending for England immediately after the June Court, is under a necessity of desiring all those who are indebted to him to pay off their respective balances by that time, or he must put their accounts into an attorney's hands; and, as he has a large assortment of goods in his store, that he may get rid of them if possible by the last of June, he is determined to sell them very cheap, for ready money only.
JOHN CARTER.

N. B. The Shop near Mr. Charlton's² is to be rented.

(Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds.)

He apparently did not settle his business as the following advertisements in 1770 will indicate:

WILLIAMSBURG, April 5 [1770]

On Monday night Mr. John Carter's store, in the most publick part of the main street of this city, was broke open and robbed of sundry goods... (Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds.)

ONCE MORE
SHALL be obliged to those indebted to me, if they will endeavor to settle their accounts this court, as I intend for Britain next month. Mr. JOHN FERGUSON will attend in the store, whom I have impowered to act for me. I shall likewise sell on Saturday the 28th instant, sundry books, to the amount of 200£ sterling, on twelve months credit, giving bond and security to
JOHN CARTER. (Ibid., Rind, ed., April 19, 1770.)

In the latter part of 1770 he had again obtained stock for his business:

WILLIAMSBURG, November 29, 1770.

Just IMPORTED in the Two Sisters, Capt. Taylor, from London, and to be SOLD very cheap for ready money, at the subscribers store,
A LARGE assortment of GOODS for the season, viz. woolen, linens, cambricks, muslins, lawns, callicoes, damask tabel cloths, striped and plain lustrings, flowered sattins, crimson, white, and black sattin cloaks white silk hats and bonnets, India and English persians, sarcenets and modes, India dimothies, wide and narrow figured dimothy, a variety of fashionable figured and plain ribbands, millenery, and jewellery, mens, womens, girls, and boys leather gloves, womens white and black silk gloves and mits, mens, womens, and childrens sattin callimanco, and leather shoes and clogs, hyson and bohea tea, double and single sugar, best jar raisins and currants best sallad and barber's oil, French olives, capers, anchovies, mustard, hartshorn shavings, rotton stone, salt-petre, black pepper, copperas, powder and shot, playing cards, a variety of Latin books, and other books for children, also a variety of glass ware, and Queen's china, &c. &c.
JOHN CARTER. (Ibid., Purdie and Dixon, eds.)

By February 1772, Mrs. Jane Vobe, tavern keeper, announced in the Gazette that she had changed her location [from property on the York Road] to 6 the "House lately occupied by Mr. John Carter," opposite to the Raleigh:

February 6, 1772.

I BEG Leave to acquaint my former Customers, and the Publick in General, that I have just opened Tavern opposite to the Raleigh, at the Sign of The King's Arms, being the House lately occupied by Mr. John Carter, and shall be much obliged to the Gentlemen who favour me with their Company.
JANE VOBE.

I am in Want of a good COOK, and would be glad to hire or Purchase one.

(Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds.)

Jane Vobe was among the better known tavern keepers in Williamsburg. In 1765 (when she was operating at a different location), a French traveller wrote that he "got a room at mrs. vaube's tavern, where all the best people resorted."¹ ("French Traveller in the Colonies," American Historical Review, XXVI, 741-42.) Virginia gentlemen stopped at Mrs. Vobe's when in the city: among them, Colonel William Byrd and George Washington. Her establishment was cited as a place where artists held displays, where meetings were held, where rewards were made for returned articles lost by tavern guests, as well as being cited with reference to locating neighboring property. A few examples are given below:

March 4, 1773

Mr. PRATT,
PORTRAIT PAINTER
Lately from ENGLAND and IRELAND
But last from NEW YORK,
Has brought with him to Williamsburg a small but very neat Collection of PAINTINGS, which are now exhibiting at Mrs. Vobe's, near the Capitol... (Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, eds.)

May 4, 1773

LOST, in the Garden at Mrs. Vobe's, on the 3d Instant, a plain SILVER WATCH with a Steel Chain, the Impression out of the Seal, William Glover, Liverpool, No. 126. Whoever brings the said Watch to the Bar of the said Mrs. Vobe shall be handsomely rewarded. (Ibid.)

WILLIAMSBURG, Feb.3, 1778

LOST or STOLEN out of Mrs. Vobe's stable, a SADDLE and BRIDLE with plated stirrups and bit. Any persons returning the same to Mrs. Vobe, or to the subscriber at her house, shall have five pounds reward, and no questions asked.
JOHN KEARNES. (Ibid., Purdie, ed., March 6, 1778.)

May 1, 1778

A MEETING of all the Members of the OHIO COMPANY residing in Virginia and Maryland is desired on Monday the 18th day of May next, at the house of Mrs. Jane Vobe in Williamsburg, on business of the greatest importance. (Ibid., Purdie ed.)

June 26, 1779

WANTS EMPLOY
One that is well acquainted with the SLAVONIAN, RUSSIAN, FRENCH, LATIN, and some other learned languages, who is willing to act in either a publick or private capacity, and may be spoke with at Capt. Laporte's store, next door to Mrs. Vobe's in this city. (Ibid., Dixon and Nicolson, eds.)

GARNIER and HUBAC, MERCHANTS in WILLIAMSBURG, BEGS leave to inform the inhabitants that they have for sale several kinds of dry goods at their store, lately occupied by Capt. Laporte, and next door to Mrs. Vobe's tavern...
(Ibid., Clarkson and Davis, eds., Oct. 21, 1780.)

Previous to the American Revolution, Washington when in Williamsburg, frequented the tavern of Mrs. Vobe:

Nov. 4, 1772	"Dined at the Speaker's, and Supped at Mrs. Vobe's."
Nov.12, 1772	"Went to Williamsburg with Mrs. Washington, Mr. and Miss Custis. Lodged at Mrs. Ambler's; also dined there and spent the Evening at Mrs. Vobe's."

(George Washington Diaries, II, 85-86.)

June 1, 1774

"Went to Church and fasted all day... By Club at Mrs. Vobes 5/3."

(Fitzpatrick, George Washington, Colonial Traveller, 355.)

It appears from a letter of Robert Carter of Nomini Hall to the Reverend James Madison, President of the College of William and Mary, January 21, 1779, that Robert Bladen Carter, his son, patronized the King's Arms Tavern:

I send inclosed...£50...the cash to disburse his [my son's] College expences, & to pay £6.13.0 a Balance due to M^rs Jane Vobe as per inclosed account, and his Pocket. He must be restrained in every matter from hence...except in Vacation time-but must be confined to College and to College Rules... (Ms. Letter Book, Robert Carter, III, 93.)

During the Revolution Jane Vobe furnished food and drink, as well as other services, to the American troops.¹ Especially interesting is the amount paid Mrs. Vobe in March 1780:

...Paid M^rs Jane Vobe, part of Account against Col^o Legrass, Cap^t Lintott and others for their Board, Lodging, &c.: while in Williamsburg on public business relat^g to Illinois ..... 100:-:- ("Expenses incurred by the Conquest & Protection of the Northwest Territory 1777-1787," VI, 10 - Ms. Virginia State Library Archives)

In March 1781, Major General Baron Steuben had an account amounting to $288.60 with Jane Vobe for lodging, board, and various drinks. A section of this account is given below:

Charges are noted in this account for dinners, suppers and breakfasts for self and servants, varieties of liquors as, grog, drams, cider, ale, rum, wines, toddy - even tea.

During the Revolution Jane Vobe furnished board to General Nelson:

Resolved: That it is the opinion of this Committee That the petition of Jane Vobe, praying that she may receive payment of a liquidated claim against the public amounting to £91:5s:9d. being the balance of General Nelson's expenses incurred by him whilst he boarded at the petitioner's house in the city of Williamsburg during his command of the militia of this state, in the year 1781, is reasonable... (Journal of the House of Delegates, Session of October 1784, p. 51.)

We know (from an advertisement of November 10, 1785, to be quoted in detail later) that the house of Jane Vobe was a "two story house...opposite the Rawleigh tavern," that it had "every convenient out house," and that it would "either suit a private family or as a tavern."

During Jane Vobe's ownership and occupancy of the property (from 1772 to 1787) many repairs were made and some new building was done. Humphrey Harwood, Williamsburg carpenter and brick mason, had accounts for Mrs. Jane Vobe running over a period of eight years. Such accounts give the number of rooms, passages, porches, bars, storehouses, stairways, etc., in this house, as well as other buildings on the lot. (See Illustration #2 for full accounts.) A study of these accounts will reveal that Mrs. Vobe's house had as many as 14 rooms, four passages, two porches, and in addition there was a kitchen, cellar, laundry, storehouse, store, shop and a well.

In 1782 Williamsburg Land Tax Accounts indicate that Jane Vobe paid tax on one lot valued at £45. The estate of Jane Vobe paid the same tax from 1788 until 1795 when the record shows one lot, valued at £45, from Jane Vobe to James Ruffin. (See Illustration #3.) Ruffin evidently transferred the property to Philip Moody as the latter is charged, in 1796, with one lot valued at £45. (Later records indicate that Moody owned this lot for some years.) The Personal Property Tax for Williamsburg in 1783 shows that Jane Vobe paid tax on 2 males, 6 slaves, 3 horses, 2 cattle & 1 ordinary license. (Copy from Virginia State Archives in Research Department.)

On November 10, 1785, Jane Vobe advertised her property in the city for sale or rent:

For Sale, or to be Rented.
And possession given the 1st day of January next. A genteel two story house, pleasantly situated on the main street, opposite the Rawleigh tavern, it has every convenient out house, and will either suit a private family or as a tavern. Any person inclinable to purchase, or rent, may know the terms by applying to the subscriber in Williamsburg.
Jane Vobe.

N. B. I have also some neat furniture which I will dispose of for cash.

(Virginia Gazette and Weekly Advertiser, Nicolson, ed.)

During the period 1783-86, Jane Vobe's property is mentioned as a boundary line to an adjoining lot, the first example of which follows:

October 18, 1783.

...Cartwright's¹ LOT and HOUSES in Williamsburg, viz. a large commodious dwelling-house, with four rooms on a floor, a kitchen, stable, and other convenient outhouses, situate on the main street, between Mrs. Vobe's and the capitol...
ALLEN JONES. (Virginia Gazette, or the American Advertiser, James Hayes, ed.)

Cartwright's property was conveyed to Sheldon Moss and so described:

December 1, 1783.

All those houses, tenements and lot of land lying... in the city of Williamsburg, denoted in the Plan of the said city by the figures 24, bounded as follows: On the 11 East by the lot of William Goodson, dec'd, on the North by the Duke of Gloucester Street, on the West by the lot of Jane Vobe and on the South by Francis Street... (York County Records, Deeds, VI, 330.)

The above was the same piece of ground and house sold by Allen Jones, under power of attorney from Thomas Cartwright, to Sheldon Moss. Jane Vobe's property is again mentioned as a boundary line:

April 10, 1784.

Allen Jones-Attorney for
Thomas Cartwright of Kingdom of Great Britain
to Sheldon Moss
Consideration: 400 Pounds

All those lots of land and houses situate...in the city of Williamsburg on Main Street...and bounded as follows: On the South by Francis Street, on the West by the lot and houses belonging to Jane Vobe, on the North by the said Street called Duke of Gloucester, and on the East by the Store house and lotts belonging to the estate of William Goodson, dec'd, which said lots and houses were purchased by the said Thomas Cartwright of the executors of Alexander Purdie.

(Ibid., 248.)

In the deed recorded February 17, 1786, conveying the property above described (lot #24) to James Davis, Jane Vobe is noted as owner of lot on the west. (York County Records, Deeds, VI, 301. See also house history of lot #24, Research Department.)

On June 24, 1789, the personal property of Jane Vobe was advertised by her executor, David Miller:

TO BE SOLD,
TO the HIGHEST BIDDER, on Friday the 17th day of July next, all the PERSONAL ESTATE of Mrs. JANE VOBE, deceased Consisting of two FELLOWS, and a BOY about 17 years old. Also sundry HOUSEHOLD and KITCHEN FURNITURE, Six months credit will be allowed on all sums not exceeding five pounds. Bond with approved security will be required. (Virginia Independent Chronicle, and General Advertiser, Aug. Davis, ed.)

Reference to the Vobe estate is made in the Execution Book of Philip Moody (p. 111): "James City Court, Apl. 11^th 1792-Benj. Bucktrout vs David Miller Exio^r Jane Vobe fi.fa. no property to be found of June-October, 12 but the Exicn was settled by the parties as I was informed by the plaintiff. Phil Moody Serg^t." This evidently referred to the personal property, as Jane Vobe's estate paid a land tax as late as 1795.

MAPS:

The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a large house flush with the street. The other buildings on the lot are two small buildings immediately south, and a building at the extreme rear and apparently flush to the Back Street (Francis). (See Illustration #1 for drawing.) The College Map shows the name "Moody" on lots 23 and 24. The Bucktrout-Lively Map (1865), an adaptation of the Bucktrout Map of 1803, also shows the name "Moody" on the lot and on the adjoining lot to the east, though no numbers are given.

HISTORY (cont.):

Insurance policies as early as 1796 in the Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia indicate that Philip Moody¹ insured the property under policy #125 and that the establishment was then called "Eagle Tavern." Moody stated that his property was "my Wooden Buildings on the main Street at Williamsburg now occupied by John Power situated between the Lott of James Davis² and that of William Russel³ in the county of York." He estimated the value of the buildings as follows:

The Eagle Tavern	Marked	A	at	1120	Dollars
The Barber Shop	Marked	B	at	120	Dollars
The Kitchen	Marked	C	at	140	Dollars
The Stable	Marked	D	at	120	Dollars
				$1500

The next record of Philip Moody's property is taken from a land tax transfer of Williamsburg property and from the usual land tax records of Williamsburg for the year 1803:

1803—Philip Moody

via Goodson1 [#25]	¾ lot	$40
eagle [#23]	1 lot	$80
via Davis [#24]	1-¼ lot	$70
via Plater	1 lot	$10

In 1806, Philip Moody insured his property on the south side of the Main Street "now occupied by myself situated between the Lott of John Coke² on the East and the Lott of William Russell on the West in the county of York..." The dwelling was valued at $3000; the barber shop at $200; the kitchen at $250; and the stable at $250. The description was for a house of wood with dutch roof, 57 by 24 feet, with wooden wing 57 by 30 feet; barber shop of wood, one story high with dutch roof, 19 by 16 feet, distanced 12 feet to the east. (Policy #667, a revaluation of #125 written for Moody in 1796 - Illustration #4.) It should be noted that either the draftsman who made the plat apparently confused the easterly and westerly directions in indicating the cross streets between which these buildings stood, or, what seems more likely, the plat, as copied on the policy was traced from an original copy in such a way as to confuse the directions.

On December 5, 1805, Robert Anderson in writing to Joseph Prentis said: "Moody has retired to the Eagle and John Coke has leased the Rawleigh, old Phill intends to build on Jockeys neck and will probably retire when that 14 is accomplished." (Letter Book, Research Department.)

In 1809, Moody's¹ property was noted as a boundary line of the property of John Coke when the latter's property is described as "...occupied by Samuel Shield jr...situated south of the main street East of Moodys lot west of Powells lot and north of Francis street." (Policy #968, Research Dept.)

There seems to be a gap in the chain of title to the property until 1817 at which date Henry P. Guthrie, apparently, had acquired two lots valued at $80 "via Thomas Sands: lots bounded on the north by the duke of Gloucester street, on the east by Peter Powell & Also the small house and lot 16 feet front, purchased by John Coke of Philip Moody, adjoining thereto." (Land tax records, Illustration #3.) This 16-foot front lot was, doubtless, the barber shop at the east side of the lot.

In 1820, a different system for assessing land tax was carried into effect in Williamsburg. Guthrie's property - noted as two lots valued at $80 in 1817 - is now assessed as one lot with "value of lot" being $900, and "sum added to lot on account of buildings" being $800. This property was held by Guthrie until 1828 when Roscow Cole came into possession "via Leon^d Henley trustee for H. P. Guthrie." The assessment was in effect the same. (See Illustration #3.)

In 1831, the tax records note Moses Sweeney as owner of one lot on which the "value of lot including buildings" was $900, with "value of buildings" being $800, acquired "via Roscow Cole."²

Sweeney, in 1831 (the year that he purchased the property of Roscow Cole), had certain changes and repairs made to his property. From June to 15 November he had an account in the amount of $82.04, less $21.84 credit, with Richard T. Booker, carpenter. It is itemized below:

1831 June To puting up partition & doors to inside of house	$ 8.00
To cuting, making Casing, fixing, & hanging, and door	3.00
To mending plastering, & white washing 5 rooms at $1 each	5.00
To making 3 pair of steps with 12 treads	6.00
To 22 feet of scantling at 2 cts per foot	44
To building Kitchen as per bargain	12.00
To 8 posts at 20 Cts each $1.60 cts & 200 feet of scantling	5.60
To 700 feet of Inch & fetheredge plank at 2 Cts per foot	14.00
To 1 bushel of whitewash	1.00
To 1000 feet of Inch & ¼ plank at $25	25.00
Nov. To hire of horse & gig to go to Dr Martins	1.50
To Balance due for wide poplar plank	50
	$82.04

(Southall Papers-Legal Cases and Estates, Folder 194, William and Mary College Archives)

From this point (1835) in the history of lot #23, it seems logical to give the history of the western part in one chain and the history of the eastern part in another chain.

WESTERN SECTION OF LOT #23:

It looks as though Sweeney's estate disposed of the section of the property on the west in 1835. At that date, the land tax records charge Moses Sweeney Estate with one lot, "value of buildings" being $700 and "value of lot including buildings" being $700; and "That part of this lot sold to Bucktrout valued to $100, lot including building $200." (See Illustration #1 - "Foundations uncovered by archaeological excavation" - for this foundation.) The latter valuation is apparently on the same property as charged against Richard M. Bucktrout¹ in the same year (1835) when the records assess him with one lot, "value of buildings" being $100 and "value of lot including buildings" being $200, acquired "via Geo. & Joseph Gresham who purchased of 16 Moses Sweeney's trustee & assessed by the commissioner of the revenue." (Williamsburg Land Tax Records, Illustration #3.) From the above changes, lot #23 was divided thus:

Until the 1880's or thereabouts, it is almost impossible to trace lots and property in Williamsburg, as the James City County records prior to 1860 were destroyed during the Civil War.

EASTERN SECTION OF LOT #23 (the location of the "King's Arms Tavern"):

A study of the Williamsburg Land Tax records (Illustration #3) divulges the fact that Moses Sweeney or his estate held this section of the lot until 1856. At that date the lot including buildings was valued at $750 and the buildings at $600. After that year the Moses Sweeney name disappears from the land tax books. Who the next owner was the records fail to show. Such gaps are usual for lots in Williamsburg during the Civil War because practically all of the record books were destroyed by fire or the destruction of war.

LOT #23:

It appears, however, from a deed and the recollections of an old citizen of Williamsburg that Bucktrout¹ had come into possession of the Sweeney part of the lot after 1856:

On the site now of the small stucco house just east of the Henley house, now owned by Miss Servant, stood, in 1861, a one story building used as a drug store and owned by Dr. Henley. This attractive little store-house was removed to Fort Magruder during the War.

The big dwelling known then as the Bucktrout house, now called the Macon house, was just as it is on the exterior today, but the front porch was a little differently constructed.

On the lot adjoining the Macon house, on the site of the present home of Mrs. Tilledge, there stood a very old story-and-a-half frame house, with dormer windows. This old house was built on a brick foundation about four feet high and had a small porch on the front.

(Recollections of Mr. John S. Charles, "Williamsburg During the Civil War Period," p. 54.)

A deed dated August 6, 1886, indicates that Celestia Bucktrout Morris and Horatio N. Bucktrout conveyed to L. Tyler Davis property described thus:

All their right, title and interest...to a certain lot of land in the City of Williamsburg, with the buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging, known as the Bucktrout house bounded north by Main or Gloucester Street, east by old Sweeney lot, south by Francis Street and west the Henley lot, the interest hereby conveyed being the share of 18 the said Horatio N. Bucktrout assigned him in the real estate of his father the late R. M. Bucktrout, assigned and set off to the said Celestia Morris, who was Celestia Bucktrout, widow of said R. M. Bucktrout. (James City and Williamsburg Court Records, Deed Book 2, p. 197.)

Here we see that the property described by Mr. Charles above and the property noted in the above deed are the same. During the period from 1886 to 1927 there were many changes in parts of the lot sold to different parties, and suits pending for some years. (Such changes to title can be seen in #28 Block 9, Macon lot; and #29 Bozarth Stucco in the Accounting Department.)¹ Unfortunately, no sources extant give the date when architectural changes, repairs, etc., were made to the buildings of eighteenth century origin on the lot.

In 1927, Randolph H. Macon is charged as the owner in fee simple of this property. (Current Land Book, James City County and Williamsburg Court Records, copy in Accounting Department.) In August 1927, Randolph H. Macon (widower) of St. Louis, Missouri, grantor, conveyed to William A. R. Goodwin of Williamsburg, as grantee, the property once owned by Richard M. Bucktrout and above described. (Deed Book 7, pp. 446-448.) In June 1929, W. A. R. Goodwin and wife conveyed the property to Williamsburg Holding Corporation. (Deed Book 12, p. 60.)

IN SUMMARY:

The early history of this lot is scanty and confusing. Apparently, the first owner of colonial lot #23 was James Sheilds. If such reasoning is correct, Sheilds must have conveyed the lot along with two others to William Byrd. 19 In 1749 James Cosby, merchant of Glasgow conveyed three lots to Andrew and Archibald Buchanan & Company. On the middle lot [#23] at that date was a storehouse. In 1752 John Hyndman, merchant in Williamsburg and attorney for Andrew and Archibald Buchanan & Company, appears to have been the owner, and he sold in 1753 the property to the east [lot #24] to Dr. Kenneth McKenzie. A suit was brought in 1757 showing that McKenzie never had fee simple rights to the lot. In 1760 James Carter came into the McKenzie lot. The deed indicates that McKenzie's lot was bounded on the west by the lot of John Carter [#23]. In 1769 John Carter advertised a shop on the lot for rent. It was located on the western part of the lot. Carter also noted a store on the lot. In 1772, Mrs. Jane Vobe, tavern-keeper in Williamsburg, announced in the Gazette that she had changed her location from the York Road to the "House lately occupied by Mr. John Carter," opposite to the Raleigh. Mrs. Vobe during her ownership had certain building and repair work done to her property by Humphrey Harwood, Williamsburg carpenter and brick mason. Such accounts ran for about eight years. The number of rooms, passages, porches, bars, stairways, as well as laundry, cellar, shop, storehouse, and other buildings on the lot were noted. The Williamsburg Land Tax Records indicate that Jane Vobe paid tax on one lot from 1782 to 1795. The Personal Property Tax Records for 1783 give Jane Vobe as paying on 2 males, 6 slaves, 3 horses, 2 cattle & 1 ordinary license. The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a large house flush with the street. The other buildings on the lot are two small buildings immediately south, and a building at the extreme rear and apparently flush to the Back Street. The College Map shows the name "Moody" on lots #23 and #24. The Bucktrout-Lively Map (1865), an adaptation of the Bucktrout Map (1803), shows "Moody" on the lot and also on the adjoining lot to the east though there are no numbers given. In 1796, insurance policy #125 with the Mutual Assurance Society indicates that Philip Moody was the owner of this property. It was designated as "The Eagle Tavern" 20 and valued at $1120, with a barber shop at $120, kitchen at $140, and stable at $120. The Eagle Tavern was of wood, 57 by 24 feet, with a wing to the south, and the barber shop was of wood, 20 by 16 feet. In 1806, Moody insured the property "on the south side of the Main Street now occupied by myself situated between the Lott of John Coke [then owner of lot #24] on the East and the Lott of William Russell on the West." The description called for a dutch roof house, 57 by 24 feet, with wooden wing 57 by 30 feet; barber shop of one story with dutch roof, 19 by 16 feet, distanced 12 feet to the east. In 1817, it seems that Henry P. Guthrie had acquired the property. Guthrie held the lot until 1828 when Roscow Cole became the owner. In 1831, Moses Sweeney came into possession "via Roscow Cole." Sweeney made some changes and repairs in 1831, and he held the property until 1835 when he conveyed the western portion of the lot to Richard M. Bucktrout. The part sold was valued at $100 for the lot and $200 for lot and building. The Sweeney heirs held the eastern part of the lot until 1856. From subsequent court records and the personal recollections of John S. Charles (1861 period) it seems that Bucktrout - sometime after 1856 and before 1867 - had come into the entire lot via the Sweeney heirs. However, the court records are vague as to these changes and their dates are not given in every instance. The Bucktrout heirs held the lot until 1886 when it was conveyed to L. Tyler Davis. In 1888, Davis gave deed to the rear portion to John M. Dawson. In 1889, Davis conveyed to Angelica Cary Bacon "2/3 interest in the lot known as the Bucktrout lot bounded on the north by Duke of Gloucester Street, west by the Henley lot, south by John M. Dawson lot and east by the old Sweeney lot." In 1906, Angelica Bacon and husband conveyed the property to Abram L. Squires, who in 1911 sold to Mary Galt Macon, wife of W. H. Macon, the property known as "the Bucktrout lot." In 1916, the heirs of Mrs. Macon gave deed to her son, Randolph H. Macon. 21 In 1927, Randolph H. Macon gave deed to William A. R. Goodwin of Williamsburg on the property once owned by Richard M. Bucktrout and above described. Dr. Goodwin conveyed the property in June 1929 to Williamsburg Holding Corporation.

Illustration #1
King's Arms Lot

PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE WILLIAMSBURG PLAT IN "WILLIAMSBURG, THE OLD COLONIAL CAPITOL" BY LYON G. TYLER

FROM FRENCHMAN'S MAP 1782?

Illustration #2

Illustration #3

Illustration #4
King's Arms Lot

1806, May 27th.,

Mutual Assurance Society Policy #667 Revaluation of the Buildings insured per declaration #125

I the underwritten Philip Moody in the county of York do hereby declare for assurance... My four Buildings on the South side of the Main Street now occupied by myself and situated between the Lott of John Coke on the East and the Lott of William Russell on the West in the county of York...

1796, April 19th

Mutual Assurance Society Policy #125 of the Buildings insured by Philip Moody

I the underwritten Philip Moody in the county of York do hereby declare for assurance my Wooden Buildings on Main street occupied by John Power between the Lott of James Davis and William Russel...

SITE OF THE MACON HOUSE
BLOCK 9,#28.
November 21, 1930.

A tavern, called the "King's Arms" probably was situated on the lot on which the so-called Macon house stood. This tavern, on colonial lot #24 was one of the finest in Williamsburg - sharing the honors with Henry Wetherburn's, The Raleigh, and the Coffee House.

George Washington was a frequent lodger in the King's Arms or Mrs. Vobe's as it was known by the proprietress name. Some description of the famous old tavern may be found in Washington's Papers.

The lots in this colonial block on Duke of Gloucester street were sub-divided at an early date as most of them were sites of several buildings and the history of the portion of lot #24 containing the King's Arms is merged with the other history of the lot. The blue print with this report has been compiled from the York records and Frenchman's Map and give approximately the location and size shown for the buildings in this section.

The following items from the Virginia Gazette about the Tavern are of interest although not very significant architecturally:

February 22, 1772 - Jane Vobe has just opened Tavern opposite the Raleigh Tavern, at the Sign of the King's Arms, the house was lately occupied by Mr. John Carter.
March 4, 1773 - Mr. Pratt, portrait painter, has brought with him to Williamsburg from New York and London, a small but very neat collection of paintings which are now on exhibition at Mrs. Vobe's, near the Capitol among which are …

A French traveller wrote in his diary of Mrs. Vobe's Tavern:

"..got lodgings at Mrs. Jane Vobe's tavern where all the best people resort......." There is not a public house in Virginia but have their tables all battered with the (dice) boxes". (Manuscript from the Congressional Library)

Harold R. Shurtleff, Director
Department of Research & Records
Report by:
Helen Bullock