Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

LOCATION:

The colonial lots designated as #192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 200, 201, 202, 203 and 204, on the College Map (1791?) sometimes called the "Unknown Draftsman's Map", comprises an entire square which had Ireland street as a southern boundary, England street on the east, King street on the west, and Francis street on the north. (See: Tyler's adaptation of College Map, Illustration #1, Appendix) The first courthouse for James City County after the removal of the county seat to Williamsburg from Jamestown, was erected on this block. (See: history which follows)

HISTORY:

In 1715, Williamsburg was made the county seat of James City County. Authority necessary for changing the county seat was given by the Governor¹ in answer to petitions of the inhabitants. On August 20, 1715 the House of Burgesses heard the report of the Committee of Propositions and Grievances concerning moving the courthouse from Jamestown to some other place:

"And upon Consideration of the Petition from the Justices of James City County Praying that the Capitol Square may be Added to the Said County for a Conveniency of holding their Court therein.

The House agreed to the Report of the Comittee Vizt.

Resolved That the Said Petition be Rejected

And upon Consideration of the Proposition from the County of James City Praying that the Court House of the Said County may be Continued in the place it formerly Stood or Settled at Some Convenient place as near as may be to the Centre of ye County.

The House agreed to the Report of the Committee with an Amendment, and thereupon Resolved That Williamsburgh the Place where the Court for the Said County is appointed to be held is very inconvenient to the greatest part of the Inhabitants of the Said County, therefore that an Humble Address to the Governor in behalf of ye People be prepared and brought in Praying that he would be pleased to give Leave that the Court House for the Said County may be Erected in James City or Some other Convenient Place in the Said County".

Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1712-1714, 1715, 1718, 1720-1722, 1723-1726, p. 146

On August 26, 1715 Hon. Alexander Spotswood his Majesty's Lieut-Governor of Virginia, received the following from the House of Burgesses:

"May it Please Yor Honor:
We his Majestys most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects ye Burgesses now Assembled Humbly beg Leave to Represent to your Honour that We having Considered the Grievance presented to this House from Several of the Inhabitants of the County of James City that by application of ffour of the Justices of the Said County [when the Court consisted of Six] the Court for the Said County is lately removed from James City to Williamsburgh which last mentioned place being Scituate at almost the extreme end of the Said County is very inconvenient to the greatest number of the Inhabitants thereof whose business requires their frequent Attendance at the Said Court more especially to those who Reside on the Western Side of the River Chiccohominy and divers of the Said Inhabitants having proposed to this House to Erect a Court House together with all other buildings by Law required to be built as incident thereto at their own proper cost and charge without burthening the People with a Levy for that Occasion: If your Honour will be pleased to permitt the Said Court to be held at Some other place more convenient to the Inhabitants of the Said County than the City of Williamsburgh.

We therefore in most humble manner beg Leave to Represent the Case of the Said Inhabitants to your Honour for your favour therein and intreat your Honour that you will be pleased to permit the Said Inhabitants to provide a Court House and Such other necessary Edifices as are by Law required to be Erected at their cost and charge without laying a Levy for the Same either at James City where the Court for the Said County hath been kept time out of mind or Some other place nearer the Center of the Said County And that you will be pleased to Order the Justices of the Peace for the Said County to hold the Court at Such place."

Ibid, pp. 151-152

The following day, August 27th, Mr. Clayton acquainted the House that their Address of yesteday had been presented to the Governor and that "his Honour was pleased to give this Answer":

" I know by what Malignant person that Grievance was drawn up and in what unlawful manner it was got Signed and after ffive years Residence upon the borders of James City County, I think it hard that I may not be allowed to be as good a Judge as Mr Marable's Rable of a proper Place for the Court house.

To remove a County Court upon the Application of its Justices (as I have done) is expressly according to the Law of this Colony, and I am not inclinable to do extraordinary Acts meerly to gratify the humour of Some persons who make it their greatest Meritt with the people to oppose whatever may be for the interest and Dignity of this his Majestys Government. . ."

Ibid, p. 152

In 1724 Hugh Jones in the "Present State of Virginia" (p. 30) notes that the James City Court house had been built and was near the Church and Magazine:

"Near the Middle stands the Church¹... Near this is a large Octogon Tower², which is the Magazine or Repository of Arms and Ammunition, standing far from any House except James Town Court-House; for the Town is half in James Town County and half in York County."

The lots were held and used by James City County until 1770 when the property was sold to Robert Carter Nicholas.3 Hening records the authority by Act which impowered the justices of James City County "to sell, at public auction, for the best price that can be got for the same, the land whereon their present courthouse, and prison stand (being part of a lot in the said city) together with the courthouse, and that they, the said justices, or any four of them shall and may convey the same to the purchaser or purchasers in fee simple and shall apply the money arising from such sale towards discharging their proportion of the expenses of building the new courthouse." (Hening's Statutes VIII, p. 419 ; November 1769)

When the courthouse was sold with surrounding lots, apparently, Robert Carter Nicholas was the buyer, and lived thereon from 1770 until the latter part of 1777. On October 17, 1777, Nicholas advertised in the Virginia Gazette that his property was for sale:

"FOR Sale, and may be entered upon this fall, The subscribers lots and house in the City of Williamsburg. The square, being surrounded by streets, is detached from all other buildings, and contains about eight lots, great part of which constitute a very large garden, well enclosed, and very well cropped. The dwelling-house is large and commodious, having four rooms on a floor, and is in pretty good repair. The offices are numerous and convenient, and some of them nearly as good as new. An exceeding fine spring is very convenient to the house. ALSO a very large and valuable pasture adjoining the city, and under a good enclosure. It includes several fine springs, and a valuable piece of meadow pretty well reclaimed-- Also a plantation on Powhatan swamp. . .
RO. C. NICHOLAS." (Virginia Gazette, Purdie, ed., Oct. 17, 1777)

The date for the erection of Nicholas' house is established as between 1770 and 1777. The dwelling house was "large and commodious" with "four rooms on a floor" and there were dependencies mentioned(and a good pasture land with enclosures.

By August 1778 the new owner of the lots was John Carter,¹ who, undoubtedly, had bought the property from Nicholas. Soon afterwards Carter advertised that he would sell the property "where Robert C. Nicholas, Esq; lately lived":

"For SALE,
THE lots and houses, in this city, where Robert C. Nicholas, Esq; lately lived. The square which is surrounded with streets and a fine green in front for fifty yards to the main street, contains nine lots, with a very large garden well enclosed and very well cropped, also a pasture adjoining with two very fine springs. The dwelling house is large and commodious, having four rooms and five large closets on a floor, and is in pretty good repair. There are also two large office houses on each side, in front, quite new. The purchaser may be furnished with the best furniture, and of the newest fashion...
WILLIAMSBURG, Aug. 13, 1778. JOHN CARTER." (Virginia Gazette, Purdie, ed., Aug. 21, 1778)

It looks as though John Carter bought the Nicholas property (9 lots or the entire square) at the sale in October 1777 and got possession "this Fall" as Nicholas had promised buyers. Then, Carter secured Humphrey Harwood, carpenter and brick mason of Williamsburg, to make certain repairs and building. The Harwood Accounts with Carter run from December 8, 1777 into May and September 1778. The work done (in most items) indicates that Harwood was repairing a dwelling house with dependencies. There were items such as "mending kitching Chimney, laying harth, laying Kitchn floor, laying Oven harth, plaistering Dary, Rasing kitching Chimny & Alterg do in dinin Room, fixing up Stove in parlor, plastering 11 Rooms including 4 clossets, repairing plasterg in Chamber and Closet, &c." (Ledger B, p. 12 Humphrey Harwood Ledger 5 Research Department, copy in Illustration #2) One cannot be absolutely sure that the house repaired for Carter was the house bought by Carter from Nicholas. However, there is every reason to believe that it was: The house was large with many rooms; and there were dependencies in each Virginia Gazette notice. In each description of the property, a spring was noted, and there was a feeling of elegance and easeful living about Carter's property in both accounts.

Though John Carter advertised the house and lots (formerly Nicholas' ) for sale in August 1778, evidently, a sale was not made. A Virginia Gazette item of April 9, 1779, points out that Carter was still living "near the magazine":

"LAST Saturday Morning about 11 o'Clock, a fire broke out in a house belonging to Mr. John Carter, near the Magazine, but by the timely assistance of some soldiers and negroes, the fire was extinguished, without doing any other damage than burning part of the roof." (Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Nicholson, eds.)

MAPS:

The Frenchman's Map (1782) of Williamsburg, indicates the house and lots with dependencies. Such drawing is very similar to the description given by John Carter in the Virginia Gazette notice of August 21, 1778 (as above quoted). There is a large house set back from the street with two offices or flanking buildings on either side, and smaller buildings to the side and rear. The entire property is enclosed and runs to a back street. (See: copy of Frenchman'[s] Map, Illustration #1. See: also, drawings of foundations uncovered in archaeological excavations March 1931)

The Map of Williamsburg by Browne (1780?) ^{map date wrong 1800-03} owned by Miss Annie Galt, indicates "Carey" on lots 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 200 201, 202, 203, with "James City Court House" on lot 204. This confusion is not easy to understand in view of the fact that the land tax accounts for Williamsburg (given below), and the Virginia Gazette notices -, establish John Carter ^{or his estate} on the nine lots until 1794 6 at which time Wilson Miles Cary comes into possession.

LAND TAX ACCOUNTS:

Williamsburg Land Tax records begin in 1782. In that year "John Carter mercht" is listed with "9 lots having a valuation of £ 10". Carter's lot with valuations are given below:

In 1782, John Carter is listed as head of a family in Williamsburg of "6 whites and 5 blacks". (See: Copy of First Census of Virginia 1782-1785, Virginia State Library Archives)

In the period of Carter's ownership certain changes were made in repairing as noted. Further repairs may have been made in February, March, April, August and November 1779.¹ (See, copy from Harwood's Ledger B, p. 12- Appendix #2) In August 1784, and June 1785, Harwood made other repairs for Carter. (Ibid, p. 23) Most of the work from 1779 to 1785 was for plastering, whitewashing &c.

Carter continued to advertise the house and 9 lots for sale. On March 29, 1783, the Virginia Gazette and Weekly Advertiser carried the notice from Carter:

"FOR SALE,
FOR SPECIE OR TORACCO,
THAT well known tenement which was formerly occupied by Robert Carter Nicholas, Esq; A house two story high, with four rooms on a floor, and nine closets, some of them will hold a bed, table and two chairs, and 7 two houses in front, with six rooms, pleasantly situated on the market square, with every necessary out-house for a large family, a large garden and yard paled in, stable that will hold fifteen horses, a coach and chair house, and corn house, with nine lots of land, and ground sufficient for a pasture. Also my brick house adjoining the Raleigh tavern, with a store and counting room below, and four rooms above, a kitchen, smoke house, stable and coach house, &c.
JOHN CARTER."

On February 24, 1792, Carter advertised again in the Virginia Gazette and Weekly Advertiser that he was desirous of selling his house and lots whereon he lived:

"TO BE SOLD,
On Tuesday the 8th of May next, the Houses and Lots whereon the subscriber now lives payable the first of November, with interest from the first of June, on giving Bond and approved security. Also will be sold, at the same time, and credit given to the first of October for all sums above five pounds.

ALL my Furniture, viz. a neat mahogany bedstead on castors and sacked bottom, with crimson curtains, and two window curtains that draw up, some good feather beds, matresses and blankets, desks and book-cases, three dozen chairs, card and tea tables, dressing tables, a large sopha and couch, a cooler lined with lead and bound with brass hoops, &c. chimney and side looking glasses, a marble side board with iron brackets, and some good prints in frames, a variety of china, glass, and queen's ware, a compleat set of the best table India china, with some India ornamental china, Bath stoves; and a hearth grate, a variety of kitchen furniture, tin ware, brass and iron fenders, shovels, tongs, and pokers, a neat pair of fire dogs, and many articles of value. A valuable slave that is an excellent sempstress, can make gowns, &c. and is a good pastry cook. Likewise a servant girl that has been used to house work. If any person wishes to treat with the subscriber for the houses and lots before the day of sale, they shall have a great bargain, or for any of the furniture, which are mostly made of mahogany, I would wish to sell a bargain, in my brick store house, &c. which is very convenient for a family, adjoining the Rawleigh tavern in Williamsburg.
"JOHN CARTER."

In 1793 Wilson Miles Cary1 bought the property. Land tax records for 1792 list "John Carter's Est... 9 lots... £ 30." The same records for 1794 list "John Carter's Est... 9 lots to Wilson Miles Cary." (Illustration #3) The exact date of the sale of John Carter's property to Wilson M. Cary is given 8 below:

"l793 Augt. 12th pursuant to the within decree I have Sold the Houses & Lotts on the decree mentioned next to the Magazine late in the occupation of the Said John Carter decd to Wilson M. Cary for the Sum of £330 . . . P. Moody" (Ms Execution Book of Philip Moody (sergeant of Williamsburg] p. 121, copy, Research Department)

At this point in the report it may be well to note that while the lots are undoubtedly the same lots in each description quoted above (Virginia Gazette October 17th 1777; August 21, 1778; March 29, 1783 and February 24, 1792) the number of lots listed is different. Nicholas on October 17, 1777 describes his property thus: "… the square… contains about eight lots"; Carter on August 21, 1778 refers to: "The square... contains nine lots"; Carter on March 29, 1783 notes details about the house with nine lots mentioned and the February 24, 1792 notice does not mention the number of lots. The College Map (1791?) places the name "Carey" on 9 lots with "James City C.H." on 1 lot. The Bucktrout-Lively Map (1803) indicates the nine lots under "carey" and one under "James City C.H."

The Land Tax Records for Williamsburg during Cary's ownership of the lots give:

When Cary conveyed the Court House lot (corner of England and Francis Streets) to Jefferson Wilson Cary,¹ is not known. However, the land tax accounts 9 for 1806 give "Jefferson Wilson Cary via C [?] Cary --- 1 lot $50." ("C" Cary² may have been an error in handwriting when "W" Cary was meant.³) Tax transfers for 1818 indicate that Wilson Jefferson Cary was the owner of the Court House lot (corner of England and Francis Streets) and that Cary sold it to William Hankins. (See: history which follows.)

During Wilson Miles Cary's ownership the dwelling house was insured with the Mutual Assurance Society of Richmond. There were two policies. The first policy of date July 22, 1801 (#490) notes "My two buildings on my lot now occupied by myself situated between the Lot of John Bracken and the Hospital for Lunatics in the county of James City. The Dwelling house marked A at $2000 and the Kitchen marked B at $100". The Dwelling is described as of wood 53 feet long by 32 feet wide. Two Stories high underpinned with brick 3 feet above the surface of the Ground. Distant 15 feet from a wood kitchen, 18 feet by 36 feet and of one story. An old house on one side of the dwelling pictured but not insured. (Illustration #5 appendix, for copy as taken from the insurance files, Department of Research)

The second policy was given under date, May 5, 1806 (#648) to Wilson Miles Cary made a revaluation policy of the buildings insured per declaration #490: "My two Buildings on the South side of the Market Square now occupied by myself situated between the Lots of James McClurg and the bac cross street leading Main West Southwardly... The Dwelling house marked A at $4000 The Kitchen marked B at $270." The Dwelling house is 58 by 28 feet of wood with 2 stories Kitchen 26 by 28 feet of wood one story high and 4 outhouses are noted. (Illustration #5, Appendix for copy)

There are two references to Colonel Wilson Miles Cary in residence in Williamsburg:

(1) St. George Tucker on March 17, 1809 to [Frances B. T. Coalter] dated Wmsburg: "Col. Carey and Mrs. Jane Carey's family will eat cakes with me today - dinner visiting is now the rage - yesterday refused Col. Carey ..." (Tucker-Coleman Collection, Mss)

(2) Mrs. Ann Blair Banister who was a sister of Colonel Cary's wife, in writing of a visit to Williamsburg, and of the people there on September 1810 said; "... Poor Mr Cary has not gone as usual up the Country this year, having been taken with a vertigo (while walking with two or three Ladies in the garden) and fell with his leg under him, which broke one of the small bones..."

(Blair Banister, Braxton... Families, p. 114)

The next owner of the property was William Hankins of James City County. The period of Hankins' ownership was short. In 1818 Hankins had acquired the "9 lots with valuation $160---- 8 Via Wilson M Cary, that square of lots numbered in the plan of the said city by the figures, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 200, 201, 202, 203 and 204, and is the same on which he formerly resided--- also 1 via Wilson J. Cary, the house and lot called and known by the name of the old Court house". (Land Tax accounts, Illustration #3 for copy)

In 1819 Hankins conveyed the property to William M. White: "9 lots $160 Via William Hankins-- all those houses and lots conveyed by Wilson M Cary and Wilson J Cary to William Hankins in the year 1817". (Ibid) White held the property only a few months. By 1820 Roscow Cole had become the owner: "1 lot $2500 added for buildings $1500 purchased of Wm White, formerly charged to Wilson M Cary and subsequently to Wm Hankins".¹ (Ibid) An insurance policy of Cole's for 1819 (#2640) indicates that he held this property then: "(A-) The dwelling of wood 2 stories high 56 x 28 feet" faces on the "Publick Square" with "Mrs. Tyler's Brickhouse" to the east and the "Lunatic Hospital" to the west. "The land of Mrs. Jane B. Cary" is south. "A is contiguous within thirty feet of two wooden buildings covered with wood". (Illustration #5 for copy)

Other insurance policies of Cole's #2766 (1820), #5016 (1823) and #7580 (1830) are described below:

• (1.)Policy #2766 (1820) gives the property as "... my buildings on the Court House Square in Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between Stree[ts] on every side... total valuation $7250.00 A Dwelling of wood... two stories high 30 x 60... one story Laundry 16 x 36, office 20 x 30 one story, kitchen 24 x 24 one story, dairy 12 x 12, smokehouse 20 x 20 and stable 20 x 32". (Illustration #5 copy)
• (2.)Policy #5016 (1823) gives the property as "... my buildings on my own lots situated between the public streets and the Court house square... total valuation $3690... Dwelling marked A at $2000, of wood two stories, office wood, laundry wood, dairy wood, smokehouse wood and stable wood". (Illustration #5, copy)
• (3.)Policy #7580 (1830) "... my buildings on the Court House Square in Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between the streets on every side. total valuation $3852.50 , Dwelling A of wood two stories high, office wood 20 x 30, laundry wood, kitchen wood, smokehouse wood, dairy wood, and stable wood". (Illustration #5, copy)

In 1835 Cole began negotiating for the property with Judge Beverly Tucker of Williamsburg. A letter dated, "January 19, 1835" from Judge Tucker to Roscow Cole proposes "to take real property with the rest of the furniture in the house at $4000, paying in hand about $2000 and giving bond for the residue with interest". Tucker names the rooms in the house separately with a list of articles an[d] prices he is willing to give Cole:

The articles of agreement to the sale were signed on January 30, 1835 whereby final settlement would be made in May 1835. (Ms. Department of Research, Tucker-Coleman Collection) On May 11, 1835, an itemized statement of the sale between Judge Beverley Tucker and Roscow Cole was executed. The amount agreed upon for the house, lots and furniture &c. was $4849.75. Tucker made cash payment of $2000 leaving a balance due on May 1, 1835 of $2829.75 (Ibid)

On the thirty first of January 1838 the property was sold by Tucker to John Tyler.¹

"This Indenture made and enterd into this thirty first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred-and Thirty eight between Nathaniel Beverley Tucker and Lucy Ann Tucker his wife of the one part and John Tyler all of the City of Williamsburg of the other part... in consideration of the sum of Three thousand six hundred Dollars to them in hand paid by the said John Tyler... the Houses and lots described in the plan of the City of Williamsburg by the figures 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 200, 201, 202, 203 and 204 and bounded as follows viz. on the East by England Street on the South by Ireland Street on the West by King street and on the North by Frances Street.. being the same houses and lots purchasd by the said Nathaniel Beverley Tucker of Roscow Cole and wife and conveyd by this deed bearing date the 9th day of May in the year 1835 and of record in the Clerks office of the Hustings court of Williamsburg under date of the 4th May 1837 -..." Ack. Feb. 6,th; 1838 Deed recorded March 15, 1838. (Photostat, Research Department)

On January 5th, 1838, just a few days before the above deed was written, Tucker insured his property with the Mutual Assurance Society. This policy (#10,734) shows the total valuation of the property was $5050. Changes had been made such as "an addition to dwelling house - 16 by 16" and to be used as a kitchen in place of the old kitchen, old smoke house to be removed and new one in place of it. (Illustration #5 for copy)

An interesting description of Tyler's home in Williamsburg in 1839 is given in a letter of Mrs. Robert Tyler, a daughter-in-law and a new bride in the family. The shape of the house, listing of the rooms and use, furnishing &c. are given. (Illustration #7, for copy)

According to John S. Wise's Recollections of Thirteen Presidents (pp. 12-13), Tyler resided in Williamsburg and was there when notified that President Harrison had died on April 4th, 1841. (See: Illustration #7 for Wise's narrative as told him by William S. Peachy, a resident of Williamsburg.)¹

In 1841 according to the land tax accounts, Tyler had transferred the property to Scervant Jones.

There had been some talk of Tyler's leaving Williamsburg in 1840 as he had sold his house. Evidently he did not move away until he was called to Washington to assume his responsibilities as President, April 5, 1841:

"Governor Tyler is going away. Whither I know not, nor does he. But he [torn] house, and as he has no doubt of being Vice President he perhaps [torn] keep himself unsettled until his term is out...Steward Jones (Scervant Jones ?] has bought the house, but means to sell it again, and there is no knowing who will live there..." (Bryan MSS - Letter from B. T. [Beverley Tucker) to Mrs. Elizabeth Bryan, April 4, 1840, dated "Williamsburg". Tucker-Coleman Collection)

In 1843 Scervant Jones is charged with "l lot value $2400 added for buildings $2000 via John Tyler in 1841. Fee simple now in Jesse Cole, but deed not rec in due time". (Land Tax Records, Illustration #3)

In 1844 the tax transfers for Williamsburg indicate that Jesse Cole had come into "1 lot via Scervant Jones". (copy, Research Department)

Jesse Cole must have allowed Beverley Tucker to have part ownership or possibly a mortgage on the property as an insurance policy dated October, 1846 (#14,381) a revaluation of policy #10,734 shows that "Beverley Tucker and Jesse Cole" were former owners, and "that the ... Buildings are at present owned by Jesse Cole's representatives and are occupied [by] Elizabeth Cole his widow .... That they are situated on a square of lots, fronting the Court House Square, and bounded by streets in Williamsburg in the County of James City..." (Illustration #5, copy)

In 1848 the property was under the control of Samuel F. Bright who had married, the widow of Jesse Cole. The property is cited as "valued at $2400 with $200 added for buildings... formerly charged to Jesse Cole and now E. B. Bright. E. B. Cole widow of Jesse Cole and now E. B. Bright". (See: Illustration #3)

The Brights were holding the property in 1860. An insurance policy (#21,317 revaluation of #17,624) is dated December 1860 on which "Samuel F. Bright and Elizabeth his wife who was widow of Jesse Cole" appear as owners. The property is described as "situated on the South side of Court House Square and Streets otherwise, in the said city of Williamsburg and in the County of James City... The Dwelling & Kitchen $2000 The Laundry & dwelling $500 The Office dwelling $500 the Diary and Wash house $200 The Stable $300" The dwelling is two stories high of wood with wooden wing for kitchen, office of wood 1½ stories and laundry of wood 1½ stories. (Illustration #5 for copy)

Elizabeth Bright's will is recorded August 11, 1873. (Williamsburg and James City County Court Records, Will Book I, p. 243) In this year the old hous[e] was destroyed by fire. One of the buildings was used as an office by various 15 owners. Finally, it was razed. Only the chimney was allowed to stand. (See: picture, Illustration #6)

Mr. John S. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" (1861-65) describes the block east of the Hospital on which the Bright house was located thus:

" On the plot of ground east of the Hospital premises and bounded on three sides by Francis, England, and Ireland Streets, and known as the 'Bright lot', there was near its N.E. Corner, up to 1870, a large frame two story building of colonial style of architecture, with porch, having round wooden columns opening out on a spacious grass lawn.

At the north east corner of this lawn, which was not enclosed, there was a story and a half frame house with stone steps at the western end, and one similar in size and construction at the north west corner with door opening on the yard, with side to Francis Street. A fence extended from each of these houses to the main dwelling, with gates to the yard, and to the garden and barn, in the rear. The windows of the two outhouses had 'shutters' made with panels in them, and each had the customary dormer windows. The dwelling was destroyed by fire about 1870, the western outbuilding was burned not many years ago; the other was pulled down a few years later".

(Charles, "Recollections", P. 57)

In February 1876, the heirs of Jesse Cole and Elizabeth Cole Bright - (Their grandchildren, John W. Cocke & Catherine C. Cocke of the City and State of New York and Joseph V. Bidgood & Sarah M., his wife, of the City of Richmond Samuel J. Maupin, Jesse C. Maupin & Florence, his wife, and Catherine N. Maupin of the Cy. of Wmsbg.) deeded to the Eastern Lunatic Asylum the following real estate: "All that certain lot of land lying and being in the Town of Williamsburg, Va., 495' on Francis St. and running back 481' to Ireland St., being bounded on the N. by Francis St. On S. by Ireland St. On the E. by England St. and on the W. by the grounds of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum Being the same lot of land formerly occupied as a residence by the late Jesse Cole, by him devised to his grandchildren, the will containing the said devise having been duly probated and admitted to record in the Clerk's Office of the said Court." (Deed Book 1, p. 420, City of Williamsburg & James City County Court Records)

In 1931 Mr. J. T. Williams¹ of Richmond in a letter to Mr. Herbert S. Ragland, Williamsburg, described the old house known as the "Bright House" thus:

"... I very well remember the old house you refer to as I lived there about fourteen years. My parents moved in it in 1879 when I was only four years of age. The house was a two story affair with four rooms two on each floor. And gable ends, with dormer windows on the North and South sides.. to be exact, there three dormer windows on the South side " and two on the North the central windows on the South was at the head of the stair way. The house had two out side doors, which were situated exactly central on the North and South side of the house. The door on the South side opened on a small hallway about six feet square and was a single door, while the one on the North side was a double door and opened on the stair way. The hall on the South side also had two other doors one leading to the room on the East and the other to the room to the west. The stairway which started at the North side of the house opposite the front door had a landing on the South side right over this hall and with doors leading to the second floor rooms. This stair way was also arranged so it could be reached either from the front door or the room on the West end of the house. But it was an open and arched portal from that entrance instead of a door.

At one time there was a porch on the North side of the house to enter the front door, and this door was about six or seven feet above the street level, but that porch had fallen in to decay when we moved in the house and my father had it torn down. Under the stair way was a large closet the same width of the hall.. that I spoke of with a partition separating it from same and a door leading into said closet from the East room. Each of the rooms on the first floor had two windows located about central, one on the North side and one on the South side of the house, while the two on the second floor had dormer windows with approximately the same location. Doors on both floors also had about the same location, that is as well as I can remember the doors on the second floor were directly above those on the first floor.

The chimneys were very huge, but built on the inside, but the ends were not weather boarded over. That is the face brick were flush with the weather boarding. While on the inside of the house there was a projection of about three by six feet where the fire place was in fact those fire places would take a three foot stick of wood. For I remember my father would saw off one block for the stove and save the long piece for the fire place. Both chimneys had an open fire place on both floors and on the ground floor they had an iron bar built in the masonry for the pot hooks to hang on. This house must have been very old for all of the hardware in it was hand 17 forged. Such as hinges, window fastening, blind stops locks, and nails also all of the timbers were hand hewed and very heavy, the sills for instance were at least 12" square. I have tried to make a rough sketch of the lay out of the ground floor with no figures as I do not know any dimensions but if it is desirable to replace this old land mark as it was fifty years ago this will give you a very accurate idea."

IN SUMMARY:

On the block bounded by Ireland street on the south, England street on the east, Palace street on the west and Francis street on the north, the first courthouse for James City County at Williamsburg was erected. Such buildings appeared after August 27, 1715 at which date the Governor gave authority to make Williamsburg the county seat of James City County. Hugh Jones notes in The Present State of Virginia (1724) that the "James Town Court-House" was "near the Magazine or Repository of Arms and Amunition". James City County held the lots until 1770 when the property was conveyed to Robert Carter Nicholas. The ownership of Nicholas covered the years 1770-1777 (possibly 1778). John Carter, merchant of Williamsburg, was the next owner. Apparently, Carter made repairs in 1778, 1779, 1784 and 1785 to the property but it is not altogether certain that all of the repair work was on this property as Carter had other houses in town. The Land Tax Records for Williamsburg indicate that Carter was owner of said property of nine lots from 1782 (earliest date of Land Tax Records) to 1794 when the property was transferred to Wilson Miles Cary. The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a house on said lots with dependencies flanking. The College Map (1791?) shows lots 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 200, 201, 202, 203 with "Carey" and "James City Court House" on 204. The Virginia Gazette (of August 1778, March 1783, and February 1792) carried notices from Carter advertising his lots in Williamsburg for sale. Tax records indicate that Cary owned the nine lots from 1794 to 1818 when the property was conveyed to William Hankins. Insurance policies with the Mutual Assurance Society of Richmond in 1801 and 1806 bear out the ownership of Cary of the nine lots above described. In 1819 Hankins 18 sold to William M. White who held the property only one year. Roscow Cole following White's ownership in 1820 paying tax on "1 lot valued at $2500 with buildings added $1500." The property was insured by Cole in 1819, 1820, 1823 and 1830. In 1835 Judge Beverley Tucker came into the property and carried insurance upon it in 1838. John Tyler was the owner in 1840. In 1841 Tyler transferred the house and lots to Scervant Jones. Jones in 1843 transferred his right to Jesse Cole who insured it in 1846. At the death of Cole the property was devised by will to Elizabeth Cole.. widow of Jesse Cole. By marria[ge] with Samuel F. Bright the property of Elizabeth Cole was legally the property of her husband. Tax accounts for 1848 list the lots under Samuel F. Bright "formerly charged to Jesse Cole and now E. B. Bright. E. B. Cole widow of Jess[e] Cole and now E. B. Bright". The Brights were in possession of the property many years. In 1860 it was insured under the policy bearing their names. One of the buildings used for many years by various owners as an office was finally razed but the chimney stood for some time afterwards. The old dwelling house once the home of Robert Carter Nicholas, Wilson Miles Cary, Beverley Tucker, John Tyler, Roscow and Jesse Cole and Samuel Bright, was destroyed by fire in 1873. Mr. John S. Charles in "Recollections of Williamsburg" 1861-1865 period and Mr. J. T. Williams in a letter (1931) both give detailed descriptions of the house as they remembered it. The lots are now used as the court house block for Williamsburg and James City County. In 1931 a new court house of colonial design with its northern end modelled after the King William County court house was erected on this site. The old foundations and ancient chimney which were all that was left of the original buildings were incorporated into the group.

[Illustration #1]

Appendix #1
Lots 192-6,200-4

James City C. H. Site
From Frenchman's Map

[Illustration #2 ]

Appendix #2
Ledger of Humphrey Harwood
B. p. 12
"John Carter - "

(Carried to Folio 23)

(Carried to folio 83)

Illustration #3
Land Tax Records

Illustration #4
A Short Biography of Wilson Miles Cary

Wilson Miles Cary (1734-1817) was a student at William and Mary College. (William and Mary Quarterly, VI, P. 188) He married Sarah Blair in 1759. (Virginia Historical Magazine, IX, p. 108) In 1775 Cary was one of the county committee of safety for Elizabeth City County. (William and Mary Quarterly, V, p. 253) In 1770 Cary had been appointed a member of the Association "to promote welfare and commercial interests of merchants". (Virginia Historical Register, III, p. 23) Cary was a member of the Virginia Convention of 1776. (William and Mary Quarterly, XVI, p. 176) In 1783 Cary was taxed under the Revenue Act as being a citizen of Williamsburg and owner of "l slave". (Ibid, XXIII, p. 35)

In March 1799 Mrs. Sarah Blair Cary, wife of Wilson Miles Cary, died. A copy of her obituary is found in The Blair, Banister, Braxton and Horner Families, p. 104.