Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

In the absence of Dr. Farish, at the urgent request of Mr. Thibedeau, we are sending you the report on the Waters-Coleman house and lot. Work in the York County Records may throw more light on the buildings on lots 49 and 50.

WATERS-COLEMAN HOUSE - LOT #49 and 50^{Block 18}

Although this lot is in York County, some deeds to the property were apparently recorded in the General Court. The result is the failure to have a continuous line of owners of the lot.

Henry Gill was the first grantee. On May 3, 1707, for 30 shillings the trustees of the city granted him two lots, #49 and #50, with the usual proviso that he should build within two years. [York County Records, Book II - Deeds, Bonds, p. 315]

There seems little doubt that Gill built his dwelling on these lots within six months. On February 4, 1708, he obtained a "license to keep an ordinary at his dwelling house in Williamsburg." [York County Records, Book 13, Deeds, Orders, Wills, p. 207.] He got licenses for the same purposes again on March 24, 1709, on June 8, 1711, on June 15, 1713, and on July 19, 1714. [Ibid., p. 271, and Book 14, Orders, Wills, pp. 89, 162, 349.]

Two facts indicate that Gill's dwelling-house was located on lots #49 and #50: his house was located east in a deed to lot #47 in 1719, and also again in 1729. [Samuel Hyde to Joseph Freeman, York County Records, Book III, Deeds, Bonds, p. 267, March 9, 1719; Samuel Hyde and Sarah, his wife, to Richard Packe, Book IV, Deeds, p. 8, December 15, 1729.] Secondly, Gill, in his will, in 1720 located his dwelling house on two lots. He died between 1720 and 1721. His will, made on December 16, 1720, contains the following clause:

"… I give and bequeath unto my son John Gill, and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, two lots whereon I now dwell with all edifices, buildings, etc. to be kept in good repair until he comes to , the age of 21 years, and if my son die without issue, then I give and bequeath the two lots aforesaid with all improvements to my daughter Elizabeth Gill and the 2 heirs of her body … if my daughter Elizabeth should happen to die without issue, then I give the two lots with the house aforesaid to my loving wife, Margaret Gill her heirs and assigns forever …"[York County Records, Book 16 - Orders, Wills, p. 53]

The will was probated on June 19, 1721.

The inventory of Gill's personal property is a long one of articles useful for tavern-keeping, but contains no evidence of plate, mahogany, or fine china. [see card 1202 in the York County Records, Book 16, Orders, Wills, September 18, 1721.]

It cannot be said which one of his legatees owned and lived in the house on these lots, nor how long, but it seems that one or some of the heirs still owned the house in 1729: in a deed, the owner of lot #47 still designated its eastern boundary as "the house of Henry Gill" [York County Records, Book IV — Deeds, p. 8, December 15, 1729.] This statement indicates that there was no dwelling-house on lot #48 at this time.

Whether John Gladish was the next owner of lots #49 and #50, or merely the administrator of the estate of some deceased member of the Gill family, cannot be ascertained from the available records. From a deed of 1744, it is evident that the transfer of lots #49 and #50 from John Gladish to Robert Davidson was recorded in the lost or destroyed records of the General Court. [York County Records, Book V — Deeds, p. 123, March 18, 1744]

Robert Davidson, owner of the lots before his death in 1738, was "Practitioner in Physick", one-time Mayor of the city, and in partnership for the sale of drugs with Thomas Goodwin. The two "Chymists" advertised their goods in the Virginia Gazette [William Parks] on May 20 and June 10, 1737.

Davidson's obituary came out in the Virginia Gazette [issue of January 26 - February 2, 1738, William Parks, Ed.] and reads as follows: 3

"On Wednesday Morning last, dy'd Mr. Robert Davidson, Practitioner in Physick, and Mayor of this City, after a few Days Sickness: He was a kind, good-natur'd Man, always ready to give his Advice, and Assistance to the Poor, and was endow'd with many other good Qualities; which obtain'd him the Love and Esteem of his Acquaintance, who generally lament his Death."

John Blair, Davidson's administrator, advertised the physician's effects for sale on April 6, 1739:

"A Considerable Parcel of Medicines, of the late Doctor Davidson's, with a Still, and some Mortars, &c. and his Books, to be sold in the Time of the General Court, either in Wholesale or in Parcels, at reasonable Rates. Also, at his late Dwelling-House, will be sold, by way of Out-cry, all Sorts of Household Goods, Negroes, Horses, Cart, and Harness, &c. at Twelve Months Credit, the Buyer giving Security as usual. … and any Person desiring to buy the House and Lots of the said Doctor Davidson's, may treat with the Subscriber in Williamsburg.
John Blair. "[Virginia Gazette, William Parks, Ed.]

Davidson's inventory,throws some light on the arrangement of rooms in his dwelling on lots 49 and 50.

Davidson, Robert - Inventory March 17, 1739.
Williamsburgh, Va.

In the Hall.
1 Fineer'd desk, L 3-10, 1 oval walnut table	4/5/0
1 do. larger, 1 round mahogany do.	2/15/0
1 round walnut card table, 1 Japan'd tea table	1/15/0
12 rushia leather chairs, 1 elbow cain chair	4/7/6
6 chocolate cups, 4 tea cups and saucers, 1 milk pan, 1 sugar dish, tea cannister, slop bason, 1 boat, 2 plates and stand, 1 white stone tea pott	0/18/0
1 pr. iron doggs, 1 shovel and tongs	1/0/0
In the chamber.
10 rush bottom chairs, 1 small walnut oval table	1/15/0
1 small square do., 1 walnut dressing table and glass	2/10/0
1 small walnut box, 1 feather bed, bolster, 2 pillows, 3 blankets, 1 quilt, blue curtains, bedstead and cord	7/12/6
1 book press, 1 floor cloth, 1 pr. iron doggs, 1 pr. tongs	2/13/0
2 pr. window curtains and rods, 1 warming pan, 1 fender	0/17/6
4
1 small old trunk, 1 wash bason, 1 flute	0/9/3
3 pr. holland sheets, 1 pr. linnen do. 1 pr. do	2/6/6
6 pillow cases, 2 do., 1 huckaback table cloth	1/1/0
1 diaper do., 2 small old do., 1 damask do.	0/10/0
9 old napkins, 6 coarse towels, 2 fine do.	0/8/9
1 pr. Ozn. sheets, 1 pr. old sheets, 4 necks, 7 caps	0/15/0
List of wearing apparel
Upstairs.
6 rushia leather chairs, 1 saddle with buckskin seat and bridle	3/4/0
1 dressing glass, 1 grid iron, 1 square table inlaid	2/1/6
2 dry rubbing brushes, 1 new pail, 3 meal bags	0/15/0
1 feather bed, bolster, 1 pillow, 1 blanket, 1 rug, 1 bedstead and cord	3/15/0
1 bed, bolster, 2 pillows, 1 rug, bedstead and cord	2/10/0
1 bed, 2 blankets, 1 rug, and bedstead	4/10/0
1 small Ozn. bed, 1 blanket, 1 rug	0/15/0
1 pr. iron doggs square heads, 1 pr. do round heads	0/16/0
13 stone butter potts, 4 stone jugs, 8 milk pans, 2 cullinders	2/0/0
1 tin kettle, 1 cannister, 1 churn and tray	0/7/0
1 pr. bellows, 1 old tea kettle, 1 old cain chair, 1 leather do.	0/8/0
1 spinning wheel, 2 pr. cards, 3 chests	1/2/6
85 lbs. old iron	0/7/1
List of suits., shoes, etc.
2 iron window rods, 1 clothes brush, 1 wo. saddle and furniture	4/3/0
1 silver watch	3/0/0

In the kitchen.
[There follows a list of utensils] …
Closet.
[List of chinaware contained]

[York County Records, Book 18 — Wills, Inventories, p. 587]

Davidson's property was so heavily involved in debt that four of his creditors brought suit against the administrator, John Blair, and the heirs of Davidson. This forced the sale of the lots to one John Holt. These facts are contained in the preface to the deed of the lots: 5

March 18, 1744

"Reade, Samuel — High Sheriff
Blair, John - Admr. Robert Davidson
to
Holt, John — Merchant

Consideration: Suit in chancery by William Prentis, Alexander Spalding, John Lidderdale and Sarah Packe vs. John Blair and heirs at law of Robert Davidson.

Whereas the said Robert Davidson died siez'd of two messuages and lots of land in the county of York afore-said purchased of John Gladish and recorded in the General Court of this Colony in his Demesne as of Fee Simple very much indebted and whereas after the death of the said Robert, a suit in chancery was commenced and prosecuted in the said County of York by William Prentis, Alexander Spalding, John Lidderdale and Sarah Packe against the said John Blair, heir at law of the said Robert Davidson, who died intestate.

All those two messuages, houses and lots of land lying in the city of Williamsburg on the north side of Duke of Gloucester Street denoted in the plan of the city by the figures 49 and 50 whereon the said Robert lately dwelt."

[York County Records, Book V - Deeds, p. 123]

In 1746, two years after John Holt got these lots, he built a store on lot #49 or #50 and^he began to advertise merchandise:

"Just Imported in the Ship Rebecca and Mary, Capt. Wilkie,
A Cargo of goods from London, consisting of a Variety of Linens, India Goods, Woolens, Mercery, Haberdashery, Cutlery, Hats, Hose, Gloves, Grocery, Iron, Brass, Earthen, Glass, and China Wares, Etc. To be Sold, Wholesale or Retail, by the Subscriber in Williamsburg."[Virginia Gazette, William Parks, Sept. 11-18, 1746]

In September of that year James Craig, jeweler from London, advertised his "Jeweller's work, in the Best Manner, at his shop in Francis Street (facing the Main Street) opposite to Mr. Holt's new Store"[Ibid., September 25, 1746.] As the other property of Holt's — four lots that he had leased from William Nelson - was on Nicholson Street [York County Records, Book V — Deeds, p. 146, November 18, 1745], it appears that his store must have been located on lot #49 or #50.

6

Holt announced in the Virginia Gazette his intention of going to England [William Hunter, Ed., August 29, 1751]. Perhaps as a result of his visit to England — he warned his customers on his return not to mix stem and leaf tobacco, as it rendered "both sorts unsaleable in England; the Reason of which is, that those two Sorts of Tobacco suit each a different Market."[Ibid., May 22, 1752.]

He was elected mayor for at least one year on November 30, 1752. [see Virginia Gazette, William Hunter, Ed.]

In 1753, Holt mortgaged his two lots to Peyton Randolph as security for 800 pounds owed John Hunter. This mortgage reads:

December 31, 1753

"Holt, John
to
Randolph, Peyton
Consideration: 800 Pounds
Secured to John Hunter by John Holt

All those two lots of land and all houses and appurtenances thereunto belonging lying and being on the north side of the Main Street in the possession and occupation of John Holt. … also the remainder of the term of a Lease from the Honble William Nelson Esq. for 4 lotts of land and the houses and appurtenances thereunto belonging where the said John Holt now lives in the City of Williamsburg."

[York County Records, Book V - Deeds, p. 617]

Evidently Holt was unable to "lift" the mortgage, for on December 13, 1754, the lots went to William Waters. [York County Records, Book VI - Deeds, p. 260, July 19, 1760.] Since F. Holt had to sign it, it appears that she was heir to John Holt.

William Waters, gentleman, retained lots #49 and #50, except the southwest corner of lot #49 (24 feet along Duke of Gloucester Street and 87 feet back into the lot) which he sold or leased to William Holt merchant in 1760. [Ibid.]

Waters seems to have had no other occupation than that of gentleman 7 farmer. His father left him two plantations and slaves [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. X, pp. 411-412]. His inventory indicates wealth and good taste. Included are 15 walnut leather bottom chairs, 2 looking glasses with walnut frames, 1 square mahogany table, 6 colored prints in frames, and a great many other items. [See York County Records, Book 21 - Wills & Inventories, pp. 463-466. Entered August 21, 1769.]

William Waters died in 1767. In the issue of the Virginia Gazette [Purdie and Dixon] for June 4, 1767. a brief obituary appeared:

"Last Saturday evening died at his house in this city, Mr. William Waters; he was a Gentleman universally respected for his amiable disposition which makes his death justly regretted."

In his will, probated June 15, 1767, Waters named his wife, Sarah, and his friends, John Boudoin and John Tazewell, as executors. He made the following disposal of his property:

"Item. I give, devise and bequeath unto my loving wife Sarah Waters the houses and lots where I now live during her life, and after her death to my daughter Sarah Waters and to her heirs forever.

I likewise devise to my said wife all my slaves which now are at my said house and lots in Williamsburg and which are usually employed at the same with all the household and kitchen furniture. … except my plate which I give to my said wife for her life only.

I devise to my loving wife the profits of my daughter Sally's estate till she come of age. Appoint his wife Sarah Waters and his friends John Boudoin and John Tazewell, executors."

[York County Records, Book 21 - Wills, Inventories, p. 350]

On March 3, 1768, John Tazewell, executor, advertised Waters's 11 slaves and his personal estate for sale [Virginia Gazette, William Rind]. On October 13 of the same year, Tazewell advertised:

"To be Sold at publick auction, on Friday the 4th of November next The Lots and Houses of the late Mr. William Waters, deceased, in the City of Williamsburg, on the Main Street, and opposite Dr. Carter's large brick house. 8 Credit will be allowed the purchaser until April next, on giving bond and security to John Tazewell, Executor.
Mrs. Waters is entitled to dower in the above."[Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon. The same notice appeared in William Rind's edition of October 27.]

Robert Hyland was the auctioneer, for on November 9, 1768, the administrators of Water's estate paid him £1 for "crying lots"[York County Records, Book 21 - Wills, Inventories, p. 473.]

[It appears that a store had been built on lot #50, for in the same account, £72.10.7½ was received "from Jerman Baker for store rent." As indicated in the deed of 1760 (see p. 6 of this report) and the mortgage of 1771 (quoted below), that part of the lot belonged to someone else; it is reasonable to assume that the store on lot #50 was already built and was rented by the owner of the lot to Jerman Baker.]

In spite of "the crying" of Waters's property, Sarah Waters, widow, retained the northern and eastern portions of lot #49 and all of lot #50. She evidently needed money, for she mortgaged these lots on May 8, 1771, for £500 to William Prentis. The mortgage [abstract] reads:

"May 8, 1771

All those two lots or part of two lots lying and being in the city of Williamsburg denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 49 and 50 lying on the Duke of Gloucester Street, of which William Waters died siezed and possessed."

[York County Records, Book 8 - Deeds, p. 165]

It appears that on June 25, 1771, she was able to pay Prentis the £500, for he returned the property to her. [Ibid., p. 143.] Sarah Waters evidently owned the lot into the nineteenth century. A deed to lots #47 and #48 on July 20, 1782, gave as the eastern boundary of #48 "the lots of Sarah Waters, widow." [Ibid., Book VI, p. 121]. In the Williamsburg Land Tax Records, she was taxed in the years 1785, 1791, and 1797, for 9 2 lots, the annual value of which was £40. Sarah Waters was a proprietor of a lot or lots in Williamsburg in 1782, according to a list in the William and Mary Quarterly [Vol. XI, p. 115.] In the enumeration of heads of families in Williamsburg in 1782, she is shown as being responsible for 1 white and 3 slaves [Census of 1790]. In 1792 she still owned 3 slaves of tithable age [File B-100, York County Clerk's Office]. Although Sarah Waters died sometime between 1797 and 1801, the Bucktrout map of 1803 and the unknown draftsman's map show the name Waters for both lots under discussion. The Frenchman's Map shows three rectangular buildings with 4 or 5 outhouses in the area which should be lots 49 and 50.

The next owner of the Waters house was William Coleman, who, according to a secondary source of information, married Elizabeth Holt, daughter of William Holt. This William Coleman, according to this source, was the great-grandfather of George P. Coleman [William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. V (1), p. 22]. William Coleman was the third mayor of Williamsburg to locate at these lots. [William Holt, who owned the Teterel shop location, was also mayor of Williamsburg — Ibid.]

In revaluing his dwelling-house and kitchen, in a policy dated May 30, 1806, Coleman located his two buildings

"on the north side of the Main street now occupied by … [himself] and situated between the Lott of Henry Cowan East and the Lott of Francis Teterel west in the county of York …"

He valued the "Dwelling House A" at $4,500 and the "Kitchen B" at $400. [Insurance Book, p. 65; Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia, Policy #663].

Three years later, Coleman's neighbor on the east, William Cowan, in insuring his storehouse and kitchen which had been declared and 10 insured earlier in declaration #117 and policy #117 by Sarah Waters, located these two buildings as "east of ^{William Coleman's lot, south of}William Coleman's lot and west of Rachel Anderson's lot." [For a plat of Cowan's insured buildings, which throws some light on Coleman's property, see policy #990,p.62 of insurance book. Date of policy is November 16, 1809].

The tax history of this property is as follows: From 1785 to 1801, Sarah Waters was taxed £2 for 2 lots, the annual value of which was £40. By 1801 she had died, for in that year "Sarah Waters's estate" was taxed $1.56 for 1 ¾ lots, the annual value of which was $100. In 1806 Sarah Waters's name disappears from the tax records, but the name of William Coleman appears. He had 1 lot, annual value $170, tax $1.10. By 1812, Coleman had 5 lots. In 1817 the number was increased to 8. In 1819, Coleman sold to James Hay 3 lots lying on the street leading to the Capitol Landing. In 1820, the first building listed on Coleman's three lots was estimated at $1200; the other two lots had buildings valued at $350 and $550. Coleman died sometime between 1820 and 1825, as the taxes were charged in the latter year to "William Coleman's estate." Two lots, including the one with the building valued at $1,200, later $1,400, continued to be charged to the estate until 1854, when only one lot, that with the $550 building, was charged to the estate. In 1859 and 1861, Frances C. Coleman (his relation to William Coleman is unknown to this compiler) had 1 lot with a building worth $2,000 on it.

In describing this area of Williamsburg — the square bounded by Gloucester, Nicholson, Colonial, and Botetourt Streets - after describing what is believed to be the old printing shop, Mr. Charles, who remembered the appearance of the city in the 1860's, says: ^{See: Insurance policy #5021 Thos. Coleman (April 1823) revaluation of William Coleman per declaration #1519 (1815) and policy #663 (1806) & #7584 (1830). This data was not available when report was prepared.} 11

"When the 'dogs of war began to howl' there was only one other house on this square fronting on the Duke of Gloucester Street and that was a very long two-story frame building just east of the depression referred to. This house had a store in the front part and the rooms in the rear and upstairs were used as a dwelling. On the S. E. corner of the Duke of Gloucester and Botetourt streets there were the towering brick gables of a big building with two sets of semi-circular stone steps. Those walls are distinctly remembered by the writer. They were pulled down about 1870 and a big frame house was erected on the site. The only dwelling that stood on this square, facing on Nicholson Street, was a two-story wooden dwelling that stood down in the valley. This along with every other house on this square, was burned in the big fire which occurred about thirty years ago, known as the 'Harris' fire."[pp. 43-46]