Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1085
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
This gambrel roof house, located on York Street (formerly called "Woodpecker Lane") was built by Robert Nicolson, a tailor and merchant. The off-center entrance door bears evidence to two periods of construction, the right side (east) about 1752 and the left (west) before 1782.
As early as 1755 Nicolson was using his residence to take in lodgers. In 1766 he noted in the Virginia Gazette that "Gentlemen who attend the General Courts and Assembly may be accommodated with genteel LODGINGS and BREAKFAST and good STABLING for their HORSES." One frequent lodger was James Mercer, who drew up the will of Mary Washington, mother of George Washington. Mercer was a member of the General Assembly and a delegate to the Continental Congress.
In 1777 Nicolson informed those who "used to put up at his house" that he "has now entirely discontinued taking in lodgers."
Nicolson's shop was across the street from his residence where by 1767 his son William joined him in the tailoring business. In 1773 he opened a shop and store in a new location on Duke of Gloucester Street, now designated the Nicolson Shop, a better location for commercial purposes. He sold the shop in 1779 to his son William but continued on as a tailor and merchant.
Nicolson was prominent in civic affairs. In 1774 he was a member of a citizens' committee with such prominent fellow members as George Wythe, Peyton Randolph, and Robert Carter Nicholas. He was appointed in 1775 an agent for the Gun Manufactory in Fredericksburg to receive old brass that was much needed to provide arms for the Virginia troops. He also performed services as a tailor and merchant for the Publick Store located in Williamsburg. In 1783 he was listed as a tax collector for the City of Williamsburg. His son Robert became a physician and settled in Yorktown; another son George was mayor of Richmond in 1790 and 1799.
Robert Nicolson died in 1797 at the age of 72 and is buried in St. John's Churchyard in Richmond, Virginia.
Partially restored, this structure is now private occupied.
Partially restored. This gambrel roof house, located on Francis YorkStreet (oftenformerly called "Woodpecker StreetLane") was built by Robert Nicolson, a tailor and merchant. The off-center entrance door bears evidence to two periods of construction, the right side [East] about 1752 and the left side [West] prior to 1782.
As early as 1755 Nicolson was using his residence to take in lodgers. In 1766 he noted in the Virgina Gazette that "Gentlemen who attend the General Courts and Assembly may be accomodated with genteel LODGINGS and BREAKFAST and good STABLING for their HORSES." One frequent lodger was James Mercer, who drew up the will of Mary Washington, mother of George Washington. Mercer was a member of the General Assembly and a delegate to the Continental Congress.
In 1777 Nicolson informed those who "used to put up at his house" that he "has now entirely discontinued taking in lodgers."
Nicolson's shop was across the street from his residence where by 1767 his son William joined him in the tailoring business. In 1773 he opened a shop and store in a new location on the Duke of Gloucester Street, now designated as the Nicolson Shop, a more idealbetter location for commercial purposes. He sold the shop in 1779 to his son William, but continued on as a tailor and merchant.
Nicolson was prominent in civic affairs. In 1774 he was a member of a citizen committee with such prominent fellow members 2 as George Wythe, Peyton Randolph, and Robert Carter Nicholas. He was appointed in 1775 an agent for the Gun Manufactory in Fredericksburg to receive old brass much needed to provide arms for the Virginia Troops. He also performed services as a tailor and merchant for the Publick Store located in Williamsburg. In 1783 he was listed as a tax collector for the City. His son Robert became a Doctor and settled in Yorktown and another son George was Mayor of Richmond in 1790 and 1799.
Robert Nicolson died in 1797 at the age of 72 and is buried in St. John's Churchyard in Richmond.
Partially restored, this structure is now Privately occupied.
Privately occupied.
NICOLSON HOUSE York Road — Block 7. Privately owned — Mr. Cogar Col. Lot #26
[see brief note on house in MG file, 1950. No research report or house history prepared on this]
Y C R
Deeds 5 (1741-1754)[1751 May 17th]
[James Speirs, Wmsburg, cabinet maker,
to
Robert Nicholson, Wmsburg, tailor,
£10 Consideration]"…All that Piece Parcel or Lot of Land lying and being on the North side of the Main Road leading from the said City towards York Town in the Parish of Bruton in the County of York and bounded as followeth to wit Beginning on the said Main Road at the South East Corner of the Lott of Alexander Craig--Thence down the Road South Eighty Degrees East five Poles to the Lott of Samuel Spurr Thence along his Lot North half a Degree East fourteen Poles to his Corner thence North eighty five Degrees West five Poles to the said Craigs Lot thence along his Lot South half a Degree West fourteen Poles to the first station which said Lot is denoted in the Plan thereof by the figures 26. and is the Lot of Land the said James Spiers purchased of Benjamin Waller Esqr & Martha his Wife And the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Rents Issues and Profits thereof and all the Estate Right, Title and Interest of him the said James Spiers of in and to the same with the Appurtenances To have and to hold
… forever…
Jas Speirs (L. S.)Sealed and Delivered
in Presence of
Hum BrookeMay the 17th 1751 Received of Robert Nicholson Ten Pounds Current Money being the Consideration within mentioned
Jas Speirs[Rec Y. C. C. May 20, 1751]
COPY
House privately owned by James Cogar--and restored by him. No house history has been prepared on property.
In 1750 James Spiers, cabinet-maker, purchased lot No. 26, on York Road, from Benjamin Waller and his wife Martha for £10. The building clause appeared in the deed--allowing three years to erect "one good dwelling house containing 16 feet in width and 20 feet in length with a brick chimney thereto."(York Co. Records, Deeds V, p. 362. Card #514) .
In 1751, James Spiers sold lot No. 26 on York Road to Robert Nicolson, Taylor, for £10 — so apparently no building had been erected on the lot. (Ibid., Deeds V p. 426. Card #525.)
In 1801, a lot on the York Road (unidentified) is described as being bound on S. by York Road, E. by piece of land belonging to Benj. Waller, W. by lot of Robert Nicolson, deceased. (Ibid., VII Deeds, 388. Card 884). The various plats of the town show and name "Nicholson" on Lot #27--and also on lot #54 opposite #27 on the S. side of York Road. Further study should be done on this house--if it seems desirable to have a research report on property outside the restored area, which does not belong to the Restoration.
See also report on the Nicolson Shop] Block 17- Lot 56 east.
MG copy-ebr
Robert Nicolson (sometimes spelled Nicholson) owned several lots on the York Road. It is not known just when he moved into the house which now bears his name; he was living in it in 1796 when he insured the house and kitchen with he Mutual Assurance Society. He may have occupied it at a much earlier date.
Nicolson, a merchant and tailor, advertised in he Virginia Gazette in 1766 that "Gentlemen who attended the General Courts and Assembly" could be accommodated by him "with genteel LODGINGS, have BREAKFAST, and good STABLING." He gave notice in 1777 that he had "discontinued taking in Lodgers."
During the years 1767-1773, Nicolson frequently advertised for journey-men tailors. Apparently he had a store "a little below the Capitol" prior to1773 when he purchased his store and shops on Duke of Gloucester Street, next to the Pasteur-Galt Apothecary Shop.
Nicolson was elected a member of a citizens committee of Williamsburg in 1774, together with Peyton Randolph, Robert Carter Nicholas, George Wythe, William Pasteur, John Minson Galt, and others. He was a member of the Williamsburg Lodge of Masons. In the Williamsburg personal property tax records for 1783, Nicolson was taxed for 12 slaves, 2 horses, 2 cows, and 2 wheels (a riding chair).
Robert Nicolson married Mary Waters, and the following of their children were baptized at Bruton: William (1749); John (1751); Robert (1753) who became a physician; George (1757); Andrew (1763); and Rebecca (1766) who married Charles Copeland.
The house, which is privately owned, has been restored.
[MG October 1959 for Mrs. Southworth for 1951 Garden Week [illegible]]