Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

I am sending herewith the report on the "Chiswell-Bucktrout House" (Block 2-2) which we have prepared at your request. Miss McWilliams has prepared the report with the question in mind you raised regarding the possibility of there being another "Bucktrout" house between the "Chiswell-Bucktrout House" and the "Semple House". You will notice that she has given careful consideration to this question on pages 12-14, and it would appear that Miss Annie Galt is correct in stating to you that a second "Bucktrout House" stood in this vicinity.

CHISWELL-BUCKTROUT HOUSE
Block 2-2

The recording of deeds and wills connected with this lot in the James City Court or the General Court, the records of which have been lost or scattered, precludes any chance of giving a detailed or satisfactory history of this house and lot. Available facts point to Colonel John Chiswell as the first owner of whom there is any record. Just when or how he came into possession cannot be said, but certainly at some time before 1766 [the date of his death.]

Chiswell was living in Williamsburg as early as 1752 and apparently began to invest in property. On August 17, 1752, Alexander Finnie and Sarah, his wife, sold the Raleigh Tavern and lot to John Chiswell and George Gilmer. [York County Records - Deeds - Book V, p. 493] A deed of 1761 shows that William Carter's lots [329-331] had been formerly owned by John Chiswell, gentleman. [Ibid., Book VI, pp. 364-65]

John Chiswell was a member of the House of Burgesses for Hanover county from 1742 to 1756. [Journals of the House of Burgesses, 1742-47, 1748-49, 1752-55, 1756-58] He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Randolph of "Turkey Island". No property transfer to Elizabeth Randolph Chiswell is found in the will of her father; only the statement "I give Two Hundred Pounds Sterling which is owing to me from my Son in Law John Chiswell unto his Daughter Elizabeth & Susannah to be put out to interest by my Executors for their use." [Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. III, pp. 263-4]

The importance of the Chiswells in the community may be guessed at from the fact that in Dr. Kenneth McKenzie's mind, Mrs. Chiswell ranked with Mrs. Dinwiddie and "Mrs. Attorney". He requested "Mrs. Dinwiddie, Mrs. Attorney, Mrs. Chiswell or one of them to take her [his young daughter] 2 under their care for a year or two in order to her further improvement." [Ibid., Wills, Inventories, Book XX, p. 353] John Chiswell's daughters married into the best of Virginia families: Susanna married John Robinson, speaker of the House and treasurer of the colony; Mary married Warner Lewis of Warner Hall; Elizabeth, Charles Carter of Ludlow, Stafford county and Lucy, Colonel William Nelson of Caroline. [William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. II (1), pp. 235-6]

In addition to his investments in property in Williamsburg, Chiswell also invested in a lead mine which he discovered in 1757, and which became known as Chiswell's Mines. [Ibid., p. 236; Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. IX, p. 87] These mines were in what is now known as Wythe county. [Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. XIII, p. 21] Chiswell also had accounts with Francis Jerdone in Yorktown, who, as early as 1751, shipped tobacco for him. [See Francis Jerdone Ledger B in the Department of Research and Record]

In 1766, while in a tavern in Cumberland county, John Chiswell quarrelled with a Scotch merchant, Robert Routledge, and called him "a fugitive rebel, a villain who came to Virginia to cheat and defraud men of their property, and a Presbyterian fellow …", according to one witness. [Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, July 18, 1766] Chiswell killed Routledge, was arrested, and was let out of jail on bail by three friends [John Blair, Presley Thornton and William Byrd] who were judges of the General Court. [Ibid.] The prominence of Chiswell explained to one of his contemporaries, Rev. John Camm, professor at the College of William and Mary, the reason for his ability to secure bail. This favored treatment, Camm thought, was "like to put the whole country into a ferment." His prophecy was well founded as the newspaper controversy that 3 followed shows. [Ibid., Purdie and Dixon, 1766]

Chiswell's death on October 15, 1766, before the time set for the trial, was explained by John Randolph:

On Wednesday last (15th) about 2 P. M. died at his House in this city Col. John Chiswell, after a short illness. The causes of his death by the Judge't of his physicians upon oath, were nervous fits owing to constant uneasiness of the mind. [The editor adds, "Notwithstanding this he is believed to have committed suicide." Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. XVI, p. 207]

Not until 1779, is there anything like definite proof of Chiswell owning a house on Francis Street. Advertisements in various issues of the Virginia Gazette, however, indicate the probability that Mrs. Chiswell continued to live on in the home she and John Chiswell had occupied before his death. The first notice appeared in the Virginia Gazette, Rind, for June 16, 1768, as an advertisement of Peter Pelham's:

To be Sold by the subscriber, next door to Mrs. CHISWELL'S, A NEAT assortment of cutlery, consisting of knives, rasors, scissars, &c . . . . .

The death of Chiswell's son-in-law, John Robinson, in 1766, [Virginia Gazette, Rind, May 16] involved Chiswell's estate in a sale, because the Treasurer was so heavily indebted to the colony. In November, 1769, by an act of the Assembly, Robinson's executors were empowered to offer Robinson's entire estate — "lands slaves, goods, chattels and other estate . ." — for sale upon twelve months' credit, with the following provision for the dowers of Chiswell's and Robinson's widows:

I. . . . it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same [Assembly], That Edmund Pendleton and Peter Lyons, gentlemen, surviving administrators of the said John Robinson, or the survivor of them, shall, within six months from the passing of this act, fairly sell and dispose of all the lands, slaves, goods and chattels, and other estate of which the said John Robinson died 4 seized and possessed, for all the interest which the said John Robinson had therein, or which he might lawfully part with, except the dower, of Susanna Robinson, his widow, upon twelve months credit, . . .

III. . . . "And whereas part of the said John Robinson's lands are subject to the dower of Mrs. Elizabeth Chiswell; and if that dower should be laid off, and if the dower of the said Susanna Robinson should be assigned in each particular tract of land, it might prejudice the sales thereof, and it would be beneficial to the public, and enhance the sale if the said Edmund Pendleton and Peter Lyons, were allowed to compound for the said dowers:

IV. Be it therefore further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the said Edmund Pendleton and Peter Lyons shall have full power and authority to make any contract or contracts with the said Elizabeth Chiswell and Susanna Robinson, or either of them, for procuring their respective releases of dower in any of the lands of the said John Robinson, in which they are severally intitled to such dower, either by allotting them, and either of them, certain tracts of land in lieu of dower in the whole, or by allowing them the usual proportion of the money for which the lands shall sell, as to them shall appear just and equitable . . . .

[Hening's Statutes, Vol. VIII, pp. 349-51]

The provision of the act calling for a sale was carried out on December 28, 1769, in a long announcement by Edmund Pendleton and Peter Lyons in the Virginia Gazette (Rind) of the approaching sale of Robinson's plantations, to which was added:

On Monday the 30th day of April will be sold on the premises, at Williamsburg, the houses and lots in the Back street, where Mrs. Chiswell now lives, which are conveniently and pleasantly situated, and so well known that it is useless to describe them. At the same time and place will be sold, the household and kitchen furniture, and several fine SLAVES, chiefly house-servants; also a chariot and horses, some milch cows, &c . . .

Just before the impending sale, an announcement called the public's attention to the sale. It is evident that the house was still being occupied by Mrs. Chiswell: 5

April 5, 1770

On Monday the30^th of Aprilwill be SOLD at Williamsburg, on the premises,
THE HOUSES and LOTS in the back street, belonging to Mr. Robinson's estate, now in the occupation of Mrs. Chiswell, which are pleasantly and conveniently situated; also the Household and Kitchen Furniture in and belonging to them, several valuable Slaves, being the servants usually employed in and about the house and kitchen, a Chariot and Horses, a good Coachman, some Milch Cows, &c . . . [Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon]

One slight evidence that the property must have been sold is furnished by the obituary notice of Mrs. John Chiswell. This showed that at the time of her death, she lived with her daughter, Lucy, who had married Col. William Nelson. [William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. II (1), pp. 235-6] The notice reads:

March 8, 1776

Death.] Mrs. ELIZABETH CHISWELL, relect of the late Col. John Chiswell, at William Nelson esqr's, in Caroline . . . . . [Virginia Gazette, Purdie]

Although no proof appears before 1779, it seems, from the evidence available, that the purchaser of the Chiswell property in 1774 was Benjamin Bucktrout. During the year 1774, he carried on both cabinetmaking and shopkeeping, but the location of these trades cannot be established at the Chiswell house, as he owned other property, at least c. 1803. His advertisements read:

October 20, 1774

Just Imported, and to be SOLD cheap for ready Money, by the Subscriber in Francis Street, Williamsburg, Fine Bottled Porter, Taunton Beer, Gloucester Cheese, Negro Plains, Kendal Cottons, Plain and Striped Blankets, Fine Lustrings of different Patterns, Yorkshire Cloths, Patterns for Mens Surtout Coats, with Trimmings to each, Mens fine and coarse Hats, Velvet 6 bound Hats with Roses, Mens Boots, Womens and Childrens Leather Shoes, Mens Gloves, Womens fine French Kid Gloves, Guns, Silver mounted and plain Pistols, Saddles complete, Whips, Hair Brooms and Brushes, Wool and Playing Cards, Horn Lanthorns, Plaistering Trowels, Sets of Types for marking of Linen, Checks and Striped Holland, Pepper, Allspice, Ginger, Paper Hangings for Rooms, Best Durham Mustard, Blue and White Water Jugs, Chamber Pots, Quart and Pint Mugs, Milk Pans, Sage and Balm Tea Pots, Coffin Furniture, Hair Seating for Chairs, Matrasses, Glass Salts, Vinegar Cruits, Salt, &c &c.
BENJAMIN BUCKTROUT [Ibid., Purdie and Dixon]

February 3, 1775.

BENJAMIN BUCKTROUT
Cabinetmaker, in Francis Street, WILLIAMSBURG,
STILL carries on that business in all its branches, where Ladies and Gentlemen may be supplied with any sort of Cabinet work, in the best and neatest manner. I return my most grateful thanks to those Ladies and Gentlemen who were pleased to favour me with their commands, and hope for a continuance of their favour, which to merit, shall always be the study of their most humble servant.

? I should be glad to take one or two apprentices, of bright genuises and a good disposition, and whose friends are willing to find them clothes.

Five per cent discount for ready money.

[Ibid., Alexander Purdie]

Bucktrout offered a house, his personal property and tools for sale in 1779, and described the house as the one "formerly belonging to Colonel Chiswell." The notice reads:

August 28, 1779.

To be sold betwixt this and the 27th of September, at private sale; the houses and lots where the subscriber lives, formerly belonging to Colonel Chiswell, it is very well calculated for a tavern as there is every necessary requisite, with a very good pasture joining. Also will be sold for ready money, on Wednesday the 22d of September, a variety of household and kitchen furniture, consisting of beds, bedding, mohogany 7 chairs, tables, and chest of drawers, handsome looking-glasses, Queen's china plates and dishes, ivory handled knives and forks, and an easy chair. Likewise two riding chairs and harness, two carts with harness for four horses, three very good milch cows, three good chair horses, two mare colts, one about 3 years old, the other 16 months, a negro woman, who is an exceeding good washer and ironer; likewise will be sold a chest of cabinet makers and house joiners tools, with a quantity of very fine broad one, two, and three inch mahogany plank, which has been cut this five years, a parcel of shingles, pine and oak plank and scantling, nails of different sizes, window glass 8 by 10, and many other articles.-[UNK] All persons indebted to the subscriber are desired to settle their accounts by the last of September; and those who have accounts are desired to apply for payment. I likewise give notice to John Stoney and Joseph Doody, who have each a bond of mine, to send or bring them in, or any one that has got them, as I am ready to settle them, and as I offered the money above 12 months ago. I do not look upon myself liable for any interest after this date; the reason I call upon these people on this publick manner is that I intend leaving this state in October next.
BENJAMIN BUCKTROUT.

If the house is not sold by the time mentioned, it will be rented by the last of September, for which bond and security will be required by
B. B.

[Ibid., Dixon and Nicolson]

The purchaser or leaseholder was William Davenport, inn-keeper, who announced that he had taken over Bucktrout's house, and

October 2, 1779

BEGS leave to inform the publick in general, and his friends in particular, that he has opened TAVERN in the house formerly occupied by Col. Chiswell, and lately by Benjamin Bucktrout, situate on the back street; and assures all those who please to favour him with their custom, that nothing in his power shall be lacking to give universal satisfaction. He has got good pasturage, but will not be answerable for horses that may stray or be stolen. [Ibid.]

Davenport was successful in attracting two foreigners as lodgers, as the following announcements indicate: 8

MONSIEUR JEAN CADOU, takes this publick method of acquainting the Gentlemen and Ladies, that he intend opening a DANCING SCHOOL in this city. Those who choose to encourage him will please send or write to him at Mr William Davenports where he lodges. He likewise propose teaching Gentlemen to FENCE in all its different branches, and will wait upon them by inquiring as above. [Virginia Gazette, Dixon and Nicolson, November 13, 1779]

MONSIEUR DE CHEF DE BIEN, LIMNER IN MINIATURE, BEGS leave to inform the Ladies and Gentlemen, who are desirous of having their pictures drawn in miniature, that they will be waited upon, by addressing a line to him at Mr. William Davenports. [Ibid., November 20, 1779]

MONSIEUR JEAN CADOU intends opening a DANCING SCHOOL, on Monday next, at the house of Mr. Cornelius De Forest, and will teach on Mondays and Tuesdays, for 50 dollars per month. He will also teach Ladies the FRENCH LANGUAGE, either at their own houses, or at the house of Mr. De Forest: Price the same as for dancing. Gentlemen may make application to him at Captain William Davenport's, in the back street. [Ibid., November 20, 1779]

Fanny Davenport's name appears as a proprietor of a lot or lots in Williamsburg in 1783. [William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XI (1), p. 114] Her relationship with William Davenport is not known.

From Davenport's occupation of the Chiswell house until 1840, the history of the house and lot is shadowy indeed, in fact well-nigh non-existent so far as conclusive proof is concerned. The Frenchman's map shows several houses on the lots between the house thought to be Chiswell's and the Semple house. The plats of the city made c. 1800 by Benjamin Bucktrout himself and the Unknown Draftsman only add to the confusion. In spite of the fact that Bucktrout owned the Chiswell house and apparently had the right to sell it and the lots on which it stood in 1779, both he and the Unknown Draftsman put the name "Chiswell" on seveⁿ adjoining lots in this 9 vicinity, three of which are on Francis Street and four lots back of these three. The name "Chiswell" and "Robinson" in lot #9 in the illustration below seems to verify the connection between Chiswell's and Robinson's property in the public mind if not in actuality. No explanation can be found in the records for designating these lots "Chiswell".

It appears that sometime prior to 1815, the Chiswell house and property had been acquired by Rev. John Bracken. [Bracken died in 1818. See Bracken House report, p. 4.] Around the year 1840, Susan Byrd bought the property from J. C. Avery, probably the executor of the Bracken estate or a tax commissioner of Williamsburg. In that year Lemuel Bowden purchased the property from Susan Byrd who deeded to him for $2000

. . . . all that piece, parcel or lot of land lying, being and situate in the City of Williamsburg, on 10 Francis Street, purchased by her of J. C. Avery which piece of land contains by estimation five acres, more or less, together with the dwelling house and other buildings, stables, yards, gardens . . . [Manuscript. See Miscellaneous cards under Name Data]

Lemuel Bowden lived in and retained this property until the decade 1850-1860. Mr. Charles and Mrs. Lee, two independent sources, each remembered that Lemuel Bowden occupied the present "Chiswell" house, or a house on this lot at the beginning of the Civil War. Mr. Charles, in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" has these comments on the house in question:

The long frame house now owned and occupied by Major Freeman, was standing in 1861, and although made longer, and otherwise improved, looks much as it did at that time. This house was the home of Lemuel J. Bowden, before he built the house now owned by Judge Frank Armistead. [Page 57]

Next to the Graves house was the old Bowden house, a large frame building, with Dutch colonial dormers. This house was much larger than it is today. At a later date a Mr. Slater bought this property and cut the house in two parts. The gardens around this house were very beautiful. Lem Bowden, at that time, had just built the large, brick house now owned by Judge Armistead . . . [Page 70]

The present Armistead house, then a new building, had just been occupied by its owner, a Virginia Yankee named Bowden . . . [Page 80]

The tax records for the period, 1815-1861, yielding what appears to be pertinent information regarding the values of this property, are as follows: 11

From these records it seems that in the five years between 1854 and 1859, Lemuel J. Bowden moved from Francis Street to the present Armistead House on the northern side of Duke of Gloucester. This statement is based on the increasing valuation placed on his lot and houses in 1859 and 1861. The reference to the "New House" in 1859 on the tax records for Williamsburg would seem to favor the earlier date for Bowden's change of 12 location. The "New House" was probably the small one where his mother lived in the rear of the present Armistead House. [See Charles, Lee, Vandergrift recollections, pp. 57, 70] Mrs. Lee mentions a Mr. Slater as a later owner after Lemuel Bowden. According to another secondary source, the family of the late Dr. Richard A. Wise owned the Chiswell house in 1900-1901. [William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. I (1), p. 265]

As to the question of the mistake made in attaching the name Bucktrout to the Chiswell house, it must be borne in mind that both the Unknown Draftsman and Bucktrout put Bucktrout's name in the two lots just west of Semple; also in another lot south of Capitol Square and across Francis Street from James Semple. With the scarcity of the James City County records, this makes a very complicated problem. It certainly appears that Bucktrout lived no longer than five years (1774-1779) in the Chiswell house, but that he lived there cannot be doubted from Davenport's statement. Perhaps he moved into a house nearer the Semple house after he left the Chiswell house.

The best argument in favor of this is the statement of James Semple in policy No. 486 [Insurance Book, p. 48] that his "four buildings [were] on a Back Street South of the old Capitol at Williamsburg now occupied by myself—situated between the House of Robert H: Waller—and that of Benj: Bucktrout." [July 20, 1801. In this policy, Semple apparently disregarded the presence of "Bassett Hall".]

In a policy dated June 11, 1806, Semple locates his property ". . . between the Lott of Benjamin Bucktrout W—- and the Lott of Burwell Bassett East . . ." [Ibid. p. 49. The outbuildings are not shown on this drawing. See page 49]

If the phrase "This Building is distanced 14 feet from one wooden Building" on the illustration refers to the house on the west of the wooden office, it is possible that some of the Bucktrout property was located at that distance from the Semple office. This view of the proximity of the Bucktrout property to the Semple property is further strengthened by the fact that Dick Bucktrout, son of Benjamin and Mary Bucktrout, [See Marriage Bond of Benjamin Bucktrout in the Dept. of Research and Record under Name Data] lived on the property west of the Semple house at a later date.

Mr. Charles remembered that c. 1860, Dick Bucktrout occupied property between the Bowden house [Chiswell] and the "Peyton Randolph" [Semple].

About on the site of the present home of Mr. Peebles, there stood a long tall frame building used, for some years before the War as a coffin shop, by the then well-known Dick Bucktrout. This house was once a Methodist Church, and used by the followers of John Wesley as their house of worship, until the house now used as a post office was built. Not far to the east of this old church, there was a story and a half frame house with dormer windows. The front door was close to the ground and opened out on Francis street; and was used as a residence by Mr. Bucktrout until the Macon house was built. There were then no other houses between the house just described and the "Peyton Randolph" house, which in 1861 presented much the same appearance as at present. [Charles, Lee, Vandegrift, "Recollections", p. 57]

The tax records show that from 1783 to 1815, Benjamin Bucktrout owned lots in Williamsburg. In 1815, the taxes on these lots—the lots increased in 1810 to 8¼—were charged to Mary Bucktrout. She continued to own them until 1835, when they were listed in the names of Benjamin and Richard M. Bucktrout. The tax figures for Richard M. Bucktrout are as follows:

Date	Name	Estate	No. Lots	Value Bldgs.	Lots & Bldgs.	Year Rent	Taxes	CO. Taxes
1830	Bucktrout, Mary	Life	1	$ 400	[Folded]	$ 48	$ .98
	Bucktrout, Mary	Life	1	600	—	130	2.64
1835	Bucktrout, Richard M.	In fee	1	600	$975	100	2.00
	Bucktrout, Richard M.	In fee	1	400	430	60	1.20	- Via
			John D. Travis & wife
	Bucktrout, Richard M.	In fee	1	100	200	15	.30	- Via
			Geo. & Joseph Gresham
14
1838	Bucktrout, Richard M.	In fee	1	$ 875	$1250	$125	[Folded]
	In fee	1	100	200	20	[Folded]
1840	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	1500	1500	125	$ 3.13
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	350	350	20	.50
1843	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	1100	1500	125	[Folded]
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	100	350	20	[Folded]
1847	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	1100	1500	125	3.00
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	100	350	20	.48
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	150	200	30	.72
1850	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	1100	1500	125	3.00
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	[Scratched out]
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	180[?]	2000	150	3.60
1854	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	3000	3200		6.40	$10.67
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	1200	2000		4.00	6.67
1859	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	3200	3500		14.00	19.68 ¾
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	1200	2000		8.00	11.25
1861	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	3200	3500		14.00
	Bucktrout, Richard M. In fee	1	1200	2000		8.00

[James City County Tax Records]

The transfers of lots for 1834 show that Richard M. Bucktrout was credited with 1 lot "via Robert McCandlish commissioner, heretofore charged to Mary Bucktrout." Since Mary Bucktrout's other lot went to Littleton Tazewell, [See Williamsburg Land Tax Transfers, etc.] it seems more probable that the $1200 house in 1861 was the one Dick Bucktrout lived in if the facts furnished by Mr. Charles are to be reconciled with these figures.