Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Christiana (b. 1722, d. 1792) was a daughter of John Burdett, who kept a tavern on Lot 58 West.¹

John Burdett's will (dated August 30, 1745; recorded August 18, 1746) mentions daughters Christiana and Mary Virstilly and his wife Mary. Christiana was bequeathed three hundred pounds sterling and Negro slaves—Shropshire and Bell with her child and increase. Burdett is presumed to have been living on Lot 58 West when he died. No property is mentioned in the will, and no reference to Burdett's owning property in Williamsburg has been located.²

Christiana Burdett qualified as administratrix of her father's estate with Ebenezer Campbell and William Nimmo as securities. She advertised a sale of the personal estate of John Burdett on September 19, 1746, "next door to Mr. Prentis's, in Williamsburg" (probably the Russell House, Lot 52). At this time Lot 52 was owned by Harmer and King who had offered the property for sale on April 23, 1746. Walter King purchased the property from John Harmer in November 1746.³

Where Christiana lived immediately after her father's death is unknown. Little is also known about Ebenezer Campbell. The earliest reference to him which has been located is January 14, 1744, when "Dr. Ebenezer Campbell" purchased "1 Table Cloth old Naps. &c." from Carter Burwell for £1..l..6. Sometime after 2 September 19, 1746, Christiana married Ebenezer Campbell. They had two daughters: Mary who married William Russell of Williamsburg, and Ebenezer (b. about 1753) who married Benjamin Day of Fredericksburg. Dr. Ebenezer Campbell, an apothecary, died before August 14, 1752, when a notice of the sale of his personal estate—including medicines, surgical instruments and books at his shop in Blandford as well as liquors, household furniture and horses—appeared in the Virginia Gazette⁴. Since no eighteenth century court records of Blandford survive, further information about the settlement of his estate is unknown.

By 1753 the "Widow Campbell" had returned to Williamsburg and had slaves baptized at Bruton Parish Church. Several large orders for produce in 1755 suggest that she may have been operating a tavern or boarding house: "To 25 Bushels of Wheat @ 4/ £5" from Carter Burwell and on May 6th "To 111 lb. Beef @ 3d. £1..7..9" from William Lightfoot.⁵

We do not know where Christiana Campbell lived in Williamsburg until 1760. A deed (dated November 18, 1760) for Lot 18, where the James Anderson House has been reconstructed, mentions that the property is "now in the Tenure and Occupation of Christianna Campbell." She may have kept a tavern before this but was definitely operating a tavern by April 13, 1761, when George Washington made payments to Williamsburg tavernkeepers, including a payment to Mrs. Campbell of £2 5s. Presumably Mrs. Campbell operated a tavern at the house where she lived. No evidence to the contrary has been located, and this was the case when she owned and operated the tavern on Lot 21. Washington frequented Mrs. Campbell's tavern, at her various locations through 1774.⁶

An advertisement in the Virginia Gazette of April 27, 1769, 3 indicates that Catherine Rathell probably occupied the house on Lot 18 since Freer Armston, chandler and soap boiler, gave notice that he had "opened a shop between Mr. Carter's great brick house and Mrs. Rathell's⁷." This presumes that Freer's shop was in a separate building between the two houses or that the shop was located in an east wing of the house on Lot 18. It is not possible to determine how long Mrs. Rathell had occupied Lot 18 or when Mrs. Campbell moved from the property, except that it was sometime before April 27, 1769.

Surviving court records show that three suits for debt against Christiana Campbell were entered in the York County Court between 1766 and 1768. No cases of her suing to collect debts appear in the court records before 1771. In 1769, 1770, and 1772, Mrs. Campbell purchased hogs and wheat from Carter's Grove.⁸

By May 1771 Mrs. Campbell was living at "the Coffee House in the main Street, next the Capitol" (Walthoe Storehouse, Lot 58 East) which was owned by the estate of Nathaniel Walthoe. This coffeehouse was next to another building (Burdett's Ordinary, Lot 58 West) which was referred to as a coffeehouse at times during the 1770's. It is probably the coffeehouse on Lot 58 East which Benjamin Bucktrout referred to when he advertised in February 1769 that he would arrange "The lease of the large and commodious BRICKHOUSE, opposite to the Coffee House and nigh the Capitol." John Minson Galt evidently took up Bucktrout's lease since he advertised in September 1769 that he "intends opening shop at the brick house opposite the coffee house as soon as he gets his utensils fixed…"⁹

By the fall of 1771 Christiana Campbell gave notice that she had moved to Lot 21: 4

WILLIAMSBURG, October 2, 1771

I BEG LEAVE to acquaint the Publick that I have opened TAVERN in the House, behind the Capitol, lately occupied by Mrs. Vobe; where those Gentlemen who please to favour me with their Custom may depend upon genteel Accommodations, and the very best Entertainment. — *** I shall reserve Rooms for the Gentlemen who formerly lodged with me.
CHRISTIANNA CAMPBELL.¹⁰

The building on Lot 58 East, which was referred to as a coffeehouse from about 1769-1771 while Christiana Campbell lived there, appears to have been used by a subsequent tenant as a millinery shop. In April 1772 Mary Dickinson announced that "she had moved to the Store above the Coffeehouse, near the Capitol." In October 1773 she described the location of her shop as "next Door above the Coffee House."¹¹

This information leaves questions unanswered, raises others, brings into doubt statements in several house histories, and causes the usual frustrations when trying to fill in the gaps about who lived where and when in Williamsburg during the colonial period. None of this offers a solution as to why you are finding so few evidences of tavern occupation at the Anderson site for the period about 1760-1769 when Christiana Campbell lived there. Do I dare suggest the possibility that she might have been neat or that most trash was disposed of in a repository not yet excavated? Washington's accounts, combined with references in his diaries, indicate that she was obviously keeping a tavern. If she was like other tavernkeepers, she kept a tavern even when it was referred to as a coffeehouse. Coffeehouses and taverns were separate establishments in England at this time, but the references we have to coffeehouses in Williamsburg indicate that food, drink 5 and lodging were available as well as coffee.¹²

[REFERENCES TO CHRISTIANA CAMPBELL OF WILLIAMSBURG begin on f. 141. During 1761 and 1762 the cash accounts are divided into categories such as merchants, doctors, tavernkeepers, etc.]

I have asked Mr. Knight for drawing of Frenchman's Map and archaeological drawings.

This will be Illustration #1 when he sends it up.

Notes re Mrs. Christiana Campbell of Williamsburg:

Mrs. Christiana Campbell owner of lots 21 & 22 (1774-1792).
Estate owned lots 21 & 22 (1792-1798)

Her property in Williamsburg advertised for sale in 1793 by Benjamin Day and William Russell.

From an account of Alexander Macauly in 1783 he refers to a daughter of Mrs. Campbell as "her elder daughter Molly, a Maiden lady of about 45."

In 1782-1785 Lot 20 to the north of Mrs. Campbell was owned by Benjamin Day.

In Minor Sketches of major Folk by Dora Jett (Richmond 1928) pp. 24-25 is a copy of Mrs. Campbell's tombstone in the Masonic Cemetery in Fredericksburg. From this we learn that she was born in 1722 and died in 1792 in Fredericksburg and that her husband was Dr. Ebenezar Campbell of Petersburg. [Dr. Campbell died in 1752]

On pages 32-35 appear the copy of Benjamin Day's tombstone in the same cemetery with extracts from his will. From this we learn that Day was born in 1752; died in Fredericksburg in 1821. He mentions his three daughters: Sarah Nelson, Christiana Yates Benson and Maria Russell Day. Also notes his sons-in-law, Thomas Cary Nelson and John B. Benson with John Mundell, John Scott, William I. Roberts and John Metcalfe as witnesses or executors.

On page 35 there is a copy of the tombstone inscription of Ebenezer Day, wife of Benjamin who died in 1804, age 51.

As Mrs. Campbell lies by the side of Mrs. Day and Benjamin Day in the cemetery, as Mrs. Day's name was Ebenezer which was Mrs. Campbell's husbands name, as Mrs. Day had a daughter whose name was Christiana, and as Benjamin Day was living next door to Mrs. Campbell in Williamsburg (1782-1785) and advertised her property for sale in 1793-, it seems more than likely that Mrs. Ebenezer Day was the daughter of Dr. Ebenezer Campbell and Christiana Burdett Campbell. If this is correct reasoning, the chart would be something like this:

LOCATION:

Colonial Lot 21 lies behind the Capitol on Waller Street. See: Tyler's adaptation of the College Map (1791?) on opposite page.

HISTORY:

Before 1744 the area behind the Capitol belonged to Mann Page in entail. In 1749 a survey was made by William Waller and Benjamin Waller became owner of that section which included Lot 21. In 1756 these lots were added to the city of Williamsburg. Prior to the incorporation of this area into the city Waller had sold Lots 21 and 22 to Alexander Finnie, tavern-keeper, provided Finnie should build within three years "2 good dwelling Houses 16 ft x 20 ft or one good dwelling house 50 ft long 20 ft. broad at least with brick chimneys thereto, the said Houses to front in a line with the row of lots in which they stand at the distance of 6 ft. from the extreme Western bounds of said lots." By August, 1752 Finnie had built a Play House thereon and not 2 dwelling houses, and had conveyed to Lewis Hallam, comedian. Almost immediately Hallam "with great Expence, entirely altered the Play-House, at Williamsburg to a regular Theatre." In 1754 Waller regained possession of the lots claiming a breech of contract on Finnie's part because he had not built dwellings as agreed. Waller immediately conveyed the property to John Stretch printer stipulating that if Stretch "shall not within the space of three Years next… build and finish one good Dwelling House containing Twenty feet in width and fifty feet in length at the least… that the deed shall be utterly void" In 1757 Stretch conveyed to Finnie and the same year Finnie sold to Nathaniel Walthoe, for 450 pounds current money of Virginia. Undoubtedly Stretch built the dwelling house at least fifty feet by twenty feet within his ownership. Walthoe rented the property until his death in 1770 and his heirs continued to rent until 1774 when it was conveyed to Christianna Campbell, tavern-keeper. In 1783 Humphrey Harwood, builder and mason of Williamsburg, made certain repairs to 8 rooms, 2 porches, a bar and 3 passages at Mrs. Campbell's tavern. The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a long house flush to the street, facing west, with two dependencies. The Williamsburg Land Tax records for 1782 indicate that Mrs. Campbell held "2 lots valued at £12." Undoubtedly, Lot 22 (the Theatre lot) had been sold and Mrs. Campbell held Lot 21 and another lot elsewhere. However, the Land Tax records are vague and do not clear this point. In 1793 the property was advertised for sale following the death of Mrs. Campbell. Apparently, it was not sold until ca. 1798. In 1801 Thomas Sands had become the owner. An insurance policy of 1801 describes the property as "my Two buildings facing the Main Street back of the Capitol at Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between the Lot of Thomas Dawson and that of John Houston." The College Map (1791?) puts "Dawson" on Lot 20, "Campbell" on Lot 21 and "Rowsay" on Lot 22. According to insurance policy of 1809, the dwelling was 60 by 24 underpinned, with cellar. In 1815 Edmund Christian was the owner. By 1822 Benjamin Waller possessed the property. The dwelling and lot were valued at $1000. The house was burned in 1859, was rebuilt and held until 1886 by Waller or his heirs. Owners from 1886 to the present time are listed on the next page of this report.

INDEX follows:

LOCATION:

Lot 21 is located on the east side of Waller Street behind the Capitol. See: Tyler's adaptation of the College Map (1791?) page opposite summary of report.

HISTORY:

In 1744 an Act of the Assembly of Virginia gave Mann Page the right to sell and dispose of certain entailed lands to settle the estate of his father. Among the property listed was "seven hundred acres of land, or thereabouts, adjoining the city of Williamsburg, in the county of York."¹

In April, 1749, a survey of the York Road and Capitol Landing sections was made by William Waller. At this date, Benjamin Waller was the owner by way of Mann Page. Waller divided the area into lots and numbered the lots for development and sale. A plat of the lots is recorded in the court records of York County.²

In 1756 by Act of Assembly these lots of Benjamin Waller were added to the city of Williamsburg:

I. WHEREAS it hath been represented to this General Assembly, That Benjamin Waller, gentleman, hath laid out a certain parcel of his lands, in the counties of York and James-City, contiguous to the city of Williamsburg, at the east end thereof, into lots, and the purchasers of the said lots have petitioned that they may be taken into the limits of the said city and enjoy all the privileges of the freeholders and inhabitants thereof: Be it enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same That the lands laid out, as aforesaid, by the said Benjamin Waller, into lots adjoining the said city, so soon as the same shall be built upon and saved according to the condition of the deeds of conveyance, shall be added to, and made part of the said city of Williamsburg; and the freeholders and inhabitants thereof shall then be entitled thereto, and have, 2. and enjoy all the rights, privileges, and immunities granted to, or enjoyed by, the freeholders and inhabitants of the said city; and shall be subject to the same jurisdiction, rules, and government with the other inhabitants of the said city.¹

Waller — prior to the above Act which added his lots to the city — had sold off some of the lots. In September, 1751, Waller conveyed lots 21 & 22 to Alexander Finnie, tavern-keeper of Williamsburg:

[September 2, 1751]

Waller, Benjamin of the City of Williamsburgh Esqr
Martha, his wife
to
Finnie, Alexander - Tavern Keeper of the same City
Consideration: 40 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

… Have Granted Bargained... All those two Pieces Parcels or Lots of Land lying and being on the East side of the Eastern Street of the City of Williamsburgh in the Parish of Bruton, in the County of York, and bounded as followeth:

Beginning at the lot no. 23, Thence along the said Street North ½ degree East 10 poles to the Lot No. 20 thence along the Lot No. 20 South 89 ½ degrees East 15 Poles to the end of the said Lot in the Line of the Lot No. 42, Thence along the Line of the said Lot and the Lot No. 25 South ½ degree West 10 poles to the corner of the Lot No. 24 in the Line of the Lot No. 25, Thence along the Lines of the Lots 24 & 23 North 89 ½ Degrees West 15 Poles to the beginning, which said Lots are denoted in the Plan thereof annexed to the Deed recorded in the said Court from the said 'Waller to Stephen Brown by the Figures 21, 22 and is part of a Tract of Land purchased by the said Benjamin Waller of Mann Page Esqr.. Provided he build within the space of 3 Years … 2 good Dwelling Houses 16 ft x 20 ft. or one good Dwelling House 50 ft long 20 ft. broad at least with Brick Chimneys thereto, the said Houses to front in a Line with the row of Lots in which they stand at the distance of 6 ft. from the Extreme Western bounds of said lots …
Ben: Waller S
Martha Waller S

Recorded September 16, 1751.

²

This deed was a fee simple subject to a condition subsequent.

According to the above deed Finnie was granted the two lots "Provided he build 2 good dwellings 16 ft x 20 ft. or one good dwelling house 50 ft long 20 ft. broad at least … within the space of 3 Years."

By August, 1752, Finnie had built upon the property. He had not built two dwelling houses or one dwelling but a "Play House" and later this breaking of the contract threw the lots back into the hands of Waller:¹

August 8. 1752

Finnie, Alexander - Tavern Keeper of the City of Williamsburgh
Sarah, his wife
to-
Hallam, Lewis - Comedian, of the said City
Consideration: 150 Pounds 10 Shillings Current Money

THIS INDENTURE made the eight day of August in the Year of our Lord Christ One thousand seven hundred and fifty two … Between Alexander Finnie of the City of Williamsburg Tavern Keeper and Sarah his Wife of the one part and Lewis Hallam of the City Comedian of the other part WITNESSETH that for and in consideration of the sum of One hundred and fifty Pounds ten shillings… Have Granted Bargained Sold The Play House together with all those two Peices Parcels or Lotts of Land Scituate lying and being on the East side of the Eastern Street of the City of Williamsburgh in the Parish of Bruton in the County of York according to the known and reputed bounds thereof and as the same is described and bounded in a certain Indenture of Bargain & Sale between Benjamin Waller… & Martha his Wife… and the said Alexander Finnie,…
September 2. 1751. …
Alexr Finnie
Sarah Finnie

Memorandum that it is the true Intent and meaning of the within Written Indenture notwithstanding any Clause or Covenant of Warranty within Contained That the said Alexander Finnie his Heirs Executors or Administrators shall not be liable to the said Lewis Hallam his Exors Admors or Assigns or any way indemnifie them or any of them If the said Lewis Hallam or his Assigns do not perform and Strictly Comply with the Proviso and Condition contained in the Within mentioned Indenture from the said Benjamin Waller and Martha his Wife to the said Alexander Finnie Witness my hand the day and year within mentioned. Lewis Hallam.

Signed in the Presence of
John Hyndman
Wm Hunter
John Prentis
J Power

Recorded August 17, 1752.

²

The same day a bond was given:¹

KNOW ALL MEN by these Presents that we Alexander Finnie of the City of Williamsburgh Tavern keeper and John Hyndman Merchant are held and firmly bound unto Lewis Hallam of the said City Comedian in the Sum of Three hundred One Pounds Current Money of Virginia To the Payment where of will. And truly to be made to the said Lewis Hallam his exors Admors or Assigns we bind ourselves and each of us our and each of our Heirs Exors and Administrators Jointly and severally firmly by these Presents Sealed with our Seals and Dated this VIIIth day of August in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand Seven hundred and fifty two and in the twenty sixth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George Second.

THE CONDITION of this Obligation is such that if the above bound Alexander Finnie his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns and every of them do and shall will and truly observe perform fulfill accomplish and keep all and every the Covenants Grants Articles Clauses Conditions and Agreements Whatsoever mentioned and Comprised in one certain Indenture or Bargain & Sale bearing Date with these Presents and made or mentioned to be made between the above named Alexander Finnie and Sarah his Wife of the one part and the said Lewis Hallam of the other part which on the part and behalf of the said Alexander Finnie his Heirs Exors Admors and Assigns are or ought to be performed fulfilled accomplished and kept according to the true intent and meaning of the said Indenture Then the above Obligation to be void and of none effect otherwise to remain in full force and virtue …
Alexr Finnie (L S)
John Hyndman (L S)

Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of
John Prentis
Wm Hunter
Recorded August 17, 1752.

²

These agreements between Hallam and Finnie were made a little less than a month prior to the opening of Hallam's theatre. Already notice had been printed in the Virginia Gazette of August 21, 1752, announcing the opening play, The Merchant of Venice. Hallam wanted protection in case Waller came back on Finnie claiming Finnie had not complied with the provisions in the deed.

Almost immediately upon acquiring the "Play House" from Finnie, Hallam announced that he had "with great Expence, entirely altered the Play-House, at Williamsburg to a regular Theatre."

Actions of debt soon appeared against some of Hallam's actors. Whether they had assumed part of the expense of altering the Play-House with Hallam or whether the debts were purely personal is not known.¹ Dr. George Gilmer in Williamsburg 6. at the time remarked that the actors were "a set of idle wretches, arrived in Lee at about 1000 expence." Later, "… they purchased Finnie's theatre, enlarged it mostly, so altering it as to make it a regular house. The money kept burning till they opened and then it flew among this Association of indigent wretches with a lavishness you would be surprised at."²

Exactly three years after Waller's original deed to Finnie (September 2, 1751; recorded September 16, 1751) Waller had taken back the property (September 16, 1754) claiming breach of contract, and conveyed same property to John Stretch:

September 16, 1754

Waller, Benjamin
Martha, his Wife
to
Stretch, John, Printer,³
Consideration: 10 Pounds 15 shillings Current Money

… All those two Pieces, Parcels or Lots of Land lying and being on the East side of the Eastern Street of the City of Williamsburgh in the Parish of Bruton, … Bounded as followeth: Beginning at the Lot No. 23 thence along the said Street North ½ degree East 10 Poles to the lot No. 20, … South 89 ½ degrees East 15 Poles to the end of the said Lot in the Line of the Lot No. 42, thence along the Line of the said Lot and the Lot No. 25 South ½ degree West 10 Poles to the Corner of the Lot No. 24 in the line of the, Lot No. 25, thence along the line of the Lots No. 24 and 23 North 89 ½ degrees West 15 Poles to the beginning … which said Lots are denoted in the Plan thereof annexed to the Deed … from the said Waller to Stephen Brown by the figures 21 22 and are part 7. of a Tract of Land purchased by Benjamin Waller of Mann Page… and were Sold & Conveyed by Benjamin Waller … to Alexander Finnie… September 2, 1751 in Fee Simple upon Condition that if the said Alexander Finnie his Heirs or Assigns should not within the space of three Years next ensueing the Date of the said Indenture build and finish on the said Pieces or Parcels of Land two Dwelling Houses each twenty feet in length and sixteen Width with Brick Chimneys thereto-or one good dwelling House … twenty feet in Width and fifty feet in length with a brick Chimney to front as therein is mentioned that then the said Indenture should and the said Pieces or Parcels of Land should be immediately reinvested in Benjamin Waller and His Heirs in as full and Ample manner as if they had not been disposed of and the said Alexander Finnie and his Assigns have broke the said Condition and not built and finished any dwelling House upon the said Premises nor Erected any Chimneys the said Benjamin Waller hath entered upon and taken Possession of the Premises and Appurtenances and is again Seised thereof in fee Simple… TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Pieces or Lots of Land hereby bargained and Sold with the Appurtenances to said John Stretch his Heirs and Assigns… forever Provided… upon this Condition that if the said John Stretch… shall not within the space of three Years next… build and finish upon the said Pieces Parcels or land hereby bargained and sold to him one good dwelling house containing twenty feet in Width and fifty feet in length at the least a Brick Chimney thereto the said House to front with the Row of Lots in which it stands at the distance of six feet from the extream Western bounds of the said Lot that those Presents and everything thereunto contained shall cease determine and be utterly void and the said pieces parcels or Lots of Land hereby bargained and sold shall be immediately reinvested in the said Benjamin Waller.
Ben: Waller.
Martha Waller.

Recorded November lst, 1754.

¹

It is well to notice in the above deed that Waller in conveying the two lots to Stretch made the stipulation that if Stretch "shall not within the space of three Years next… build and finish… one good Dwelling House containing Twenty feet in width and fifty feet in length at the least a Brick Chimney thereto the said House to front with the Row of Lots in which it stands at the distance of six feet from the extream Western bounds of the said Lot that then those Presents… shall cease… and be utterly void … " There was to be erected within three years one house at least 50 by 20. Does this mean that Waller was accepting the Playhouse as one 8. house on one of the lots but Stretch must build a second house on the other lot in order to meet the stipulations in the deed? ^{no need first deed}The Playhouse, though largely closed to plays from 1752-1768 was referred to as "at the late Play-House" in a Virginia Gazette notice of October 10, 1755, when it was used for a Performance called "Microcosm or The World in Miniature."^{This could have bee in the Block 7 play house just before alteration to house JMB} The Play-house was in continual use for two months in 1768 when the American Company was in Williamsburg. The writer is inclined to think that Stretch — or Finnie — erected a house at least 50 by 20 prior to December 1757, because the consideration named in the deed from Finnie to Walthoe in 1757 was 450 pounds.

About two and a half years after Waller's deed, John Stretch conveyed by annuity to Alexander Finnie the two lots as described in the deed for the property, dated September 16, 1754:

April 22, 1757

Stretch, John, Printer, Williamsburgh,
to
Finnie, Alexander
Consideration: Annuity of 40 Pounds Sterling secured to and for John Stretch during his natural life

… All those two Peices or Parcels or Lots of Land lying and being on the East Side of the Eastern Street of the city of Williamsburgh in the Parish of Bruton in the County of York it being those Pieces or Lots of Land conveyed to the said John Stretch by Benjamin Waller and Martha his wife September 16, 1754… With all Houses…Gardens…
John Stretch

Recorded September 19, 1757.

¹

About three months later, Finnie conveyed the property to Nathaniel Walthoe, Esquire:

[December 15, 1757]

Finnie, Alexander
Sarah, his wife
to
Walthoe, Nathaniel Esquire
Consideration: 450 pounds Current Money of Virginia

9.

… All those two Pieces Parcels or Lotts of Land lying and being on the East side of the Eastern Street of the City of Williamsburgh in the Parish of Bruton in the County of York it being those Pieces, Parcels or lotts of Land conveyed to John Stretch by Benjamin Waller, Esquire, and Martha, His wife, by Deed bearing date September 16, 1754, and by the said John Stretch conveyed to the said Finnie by Indenture bearing date 22nd day of April, 1757, recorded in York County Court and Bounded as in and by the said first mentioned deed is mentioned and described Relation being thereunto had made more fully and at large appear… With all Houses, gardens …
Alexander Finnie
Sarah Finnie

Recorded January 16, 1758.

In the Presence of
Thomas Everard
Fred Bryan
Ben: Waller

¹

In the intervening years between Walthoe's acquisition of the property (1757) and Christianna Campbell's title to ownership (1774), Walthoe or his heirs rented the property. The two lots were still held together when conveyed to in 1774.

Prior to 1767 there is evidence that Mrs. Jane Vobe, tavern-keeper, was occupying (renting) the house built by Finnie - which house had to be 50 x 20 at least according to the conditions of the deed.

In 1765 a French traveller visited Williamsburg and lodged at Mrs. Vobe's. From the Frenchman's account, Fauquier's description of a tavern near the Capitol and a Virginia Gazette notice, proof is sufficient that Mrs. Vobe was keeping tavern on lot 21:

… aipril the 25th. set out Early for williamsburg… at 9 arived at this Capitol, which at a Distance looks like a large town, but it is far from it …
on our arival we had great Difficulty to get lodgings but thanks to mr sprowl I got a room at mrs. vaube's tavern, where all the best people resorted. I soon got acquainted with several of them,, but particularly with Colonel Byrd, 10. sir peton skipper, Capt. Russel, Capt. le fore, and others, which I soon was like to have had reason to repent, for they are all professed gamesters, Especially Colonel Burd, who Is never happy but when he has the box and Dices in hand … ¹

Governor Fauquier's letter to the Board of Trade and Plantations, November 3, 1765:

Wmsburgh Novr 3d 1765.

I then thought proper to go to the Coffee House, (where I occasionally sometimes go) which is situated in that part of the Town which is call'd the Exchange, tho' an open street, where all money business is transacted.
… They [the crowd] follow'd him (Colonel Mercer) to the Coffee House, in the Porch of which I had seated myself with many of the Council and the Speaker who had posted himself between the Crowd and myself … ²

January 15, 1767

Mrs. Vobe's location is given thus A TENEMENT between Mr. Lewis's³ store and Mrs. Vobe's and another between Mrs. Vobe's and Mr. Benjamin Powell's⁴ may be RENTED, on reasonable terms, of
BENJAMIN WALLER.⁵

It is possible that Lewis occupied the Theatre building as a storehouse.^{6 References to Lewises store found in RR for Lot 24 seem to put Lewis in "Jackson Ho" on Lot 23} The Theatre was closed from ca. 1761 to May, 1768. See: House History of The Second Theatre (1946) Research Department.

The last quoted notice in the Gazette definitely locates Mrs. Vobe on Lot 21.

Let us notice that the French Traveller refers to Mrs. Vobe's as a tavern, and Governor Fauquier describes what must have been Mrs. Vobe's location as "the Coffee House, (where I occasionally sometimes go) which is situated in that part of the Town which is call'd the Exchange, tho' an open street, where all money business is transacted."¹

In November, 1769, Washington as representative of Fairfax County in the House of Burgesses, was in Williamsburg attending the session and supped at Mrs. Vobe's:

[l769]
November 6. Came to Williamsburg. Dind at Mr. Carter's with Lord Botetourt, Govr Eden, etca. and supd. At Mrs. Vobe's with Colo. Fitzhugh.²

In May, 1771, Washington was at Mrs. Vobes:

[1771]
May 6. Returned to Williamsburg by 11 Oclock with Colo. Bassett and Colo. Lewis. Dined at Mrs. Vobes; and Suppd at Anderson's.³

On July 25, 1771, Mrs. Vobe advertised that her household and kitchen furniture would be sold at auction from her dwellinghouse in Williamsburg:

To be SOLD by JOSEPH KIDD, Auctioneer, &c. &c. on MONDAY the 12th of August, being JAMES CITY Court Day, at the Dwellinghouse of the Subscriber, in the City of WILLIAMSBURG,
ALL her HOUSEHOLD and KITCHEN FURNITURE, consisting chiefly of several very good Feather Beds and Furniture, Mohogany and Walnut Tables and Chairs, several Looking Glasses of the most fashionable Frames and Sizes, a neat plain Gold Watch, Riding Chairs, both double and single, with Harness new and complete, a small Tumbrel, two Carts, nine very good Cart Horses, with Harness, several Mens Saddles and Bridles, two large new Carpets of the best Kind, a Stock of very good Liquors of all Kinds, also a Negro Woman, and many other Articles too tedious to mention. Credit will be allowed until the 20th of April next for all Sums above fifty Shillings, the Purchasers giving Bond, with approved Security, to
JANE VOBE.⁴

Mrs. Vobe was, evidently, successful in selling out. In September, 1771, she advertised that she was "intending to leave the Colony in a few Weeks, desires all Persons that have any Demands against her immediately to apply for Payment; and those indebted to her are requested to make Payment before her Departure, otherwise their accounts will be left in the Hands of Mr. John Tazewell to Commence Suits against them."¹

On October 3. 1771, Mrs. Christianna Campbell had moved to the tavern recently vacated by Mrs. Vobe:

WILLIAMSBURG, October 2. 1771.

I BEG LEAVE to acquaint the Publick that I have opened TAVERN in the House, behind the Capitol, lately occupied by Mrs. Vobe; where those Gentlemen who please to favour me with their Custom may depend upon genteel Accommodations, and the very best Entertainment.—-*** I shall reserve Rooms for the Gentlemen who formerly lodged with me.
CHRISTIANNA CAMPBELL.²

Prior to October, 1771, Mrs. Campbell was at a location described as "the COFFEE-HOUSE in the main Street, next the Capitol, where Mrs. Campbell lives."³ This, obviously, was not the tavern behind the Capitol (on lot 21). Probably it was a house on the western part of lot 58 which property had been owned by Walthoe. 13. As Waller, executor of Walthoe's estate advertised the Coffeehouse for sale, this theory as to location of the Coffeehouse may be correct. Further research is needed on that part of lot 58.

Washington had patronized Mrs. Campbell at the above location near the Capitol whenever he was in Williamsburg. After she moved in October, 1771, to the location "behind the Capitol," Washington frequented her new location.

Mrs. Campbell seems to have specialized in men lodgers. When she moved to the Tavern behind the Capitol in October, 1771, notice was given in the Gazette that "I shall reserve Rooms for the Gentlemen who formerly lodged with me." A notice of January 30, 1772 (unsigned) says: "PRIVATE LODGINGS may be had for seven or eight Gentlemen-during the Assembly, at the Coffeehouse near the Capitol,"⁴ We do not know that this was Mrs. Campbell's notice, but it seems more than likely in view of her advertisement of October, 1771, above quoted.

Washington was in town on November 6, 1771 and noted in his Diary that he had "Dined at Mrs. Dawson's⁵ and Spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's."⁶

In the spring of 1772 Washington returned to Williamsburg as a member of the House of Burgesses in session. During March and April he dined at Mrs. Campbell's frequently: 14.

1772
March 9.	Returned to Williamsburg by 12 Oclock and Dined at the Club at Mrs. Campbell's.
12.	Dined at the Club and went to the Play.
28.	Dined at the Club and Spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's.
30.	Dined and Spent the Eveng at Mrs. Campbell's…
31.	Dined at Mrs. Campbell's and spent the Eveng there also.
April 1.	Dined and Spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's.
2.	Dined and Spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's.
3.	Dined at Mrs. Campbell's and went to the Play.
6.	Returned to Williamsburg; Dined at Mrs. Campbellls. Went to the Concert and then to Mrs. Campbell's Again.
7.	Dined at Mrs. Campbellts and went to the Play; then to Mrs. Campbell's and Spent the Evening at my lodgings.

March, October, November and December, 1773, Washington was in Williamsburg and frequented Mrs. Campbell's:

1773
March 8.	Dined, and Spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's.
10.	Dined at Mrs. Campbell's and Spent the Evening there also.
11.	Dined and Spent the Evening in the Club Room at Mrs. Campbell's.
12.	Did the same.
October 26.	Went to Williamsburg. Dined at the Raleigh, and supped at the Coffee House.1
December 2.	Dined at Southall's, and spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's.

In 1773 the house and two lots "where Mrs. Campbell keeps Tavern" were offered for sale:

To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, on six Months Credit THE HOUSE, and two LOTS of Ground, with the Appurtenances, where Mrs. Campbell keeps Tavern, below the Capitol, in Williamsburg. The Sale will be before the Raleigh Porch, on Thursday the 29th of July next, at 5 o'Clock in the Afternoon. Bond and Security for the Purchase Money to be given to Benjamin Waller, Attorney for the Devisees of Nathaniel Walthoe, Esquire, deceased.

The sale of the property was made on January 5, 1774, to Christianna Campbell:

January 5, 1774

Marmillod, Henrietta sister of Nathaniel Walthoe (J.H.B. p. 185)
Hart, Mary
Hart, Martha the Kingdom of Great Britain
To
Campbell, Christiana of the City of Williamsburg Widow
Consideration: 598 Pounds 10 shillings Current Money

… All those two pieces, parcels or Lotts of land lying and being on the East side of the Eastern Street of the City of Williamsburg in the Parish of Bruton, County of York, being those two Lotts of land Conveyed to John Stretch by Benjamin Waller and Martha, his wife by Deed of September 16, 1754 and by the said John Stretch conveyed to Alexander Finnie, and by the said Alexander and Sarah his wife conveyed unto Nathaniel Walthoe, Esquire, deceased, and by the said Nathaniel devised to the above Henrietta, Mary and Martha in Fee Simple and bounded as in and by the said first mentioned Deed is mentioned and described as by the said Deed Recorded in York County Court and the Will of the said Nathaniel… Recorded in the General Court more fully may appear With all Houses …

Recorded Feb. 21, 1774.

¹

On January 16, 1774, Mrs. Campbell gave a deed of trust for the property:

January 16, 1774

Campbell, Christiana of the City of Williamsburg Widow
to
Carter, Charles of Corotoman
Nelson, Thomas
Burwell, Nathaniel of Carter's Grove Gentlemen

[the above named are bound with C. Campbell as her Security in Bond dated August 3, 1773 unto Benjamin Waller Attorney for Henrietta Marmillod, Mary Hart and Martha Hart in the penalty of 1197 pounds current money of Virginia with the condition to be void if the said Christiana shall pay to the said Benjamin the sums of Five Hundred and ninety eight pounds ten shillings Current Money on or before the tenth day of June next. The description of the property is the same as the deed of January 5th. Recorded February 21, 1773.]²

In the Journals of the House of Burgesses of May 14, 1774, Benjamin Waller as executor, petitions for a new act necessary to confirm the title to Mrs. Campbell 16. and others.¹ On June 15, 1775 "the Council agreed to the Bill to confirm the titles to sundry Houses & lots of Nathaniel Walthoe decd to the purchasers thereof."²

In May, 1774, Washington was again in Williamsburg at the session of the Burgesses. He dined at Mrs. Campbell's several times:

1774
May 16.	Came to Wmsburg, dind at the Governor's and spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's.
18.	Dined at the Club at Mrs. Campbell's and spent the Evening at Southall's.
19.	Dined and spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's.
20.	Dined at Mrs. Campbell's and spent the afternoon at my lodgings.
24.	Dined at the Speaker's and spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbell's.
August 1.	Went from Colo. Bassett's to Williamsburg to the Meeting of the Convention. Dined at Mrs. Campbell's...
6.	Dined at Mrs. Campbell's and spent the Evening at my own Lodgings.

³

From the Virginia Gazette reference is made to John Pringle, late bar-keeper of Mrs. Campbell's.⁴

In November, 1774, Mrs. Campbell's house was broken into and robbed:

On Sunday Night last Mrs. Campbell's House was broke open, and two Trunks, containing seventeen or eighteen Changes of Linen (some marked BB, and some SF) besides sundry other clothes, and four or five Changes belonging to one of our Servants, carried away. One of the Trunks, with several Papers and Tobacco Notes it contained was found next morning; but a small Canvass Bag, containing about 12£ 10s. in cut silver, is wanting. FIVE POUNDS will be paid on Delivery of the Trunk that is missing with the Linens, at the Bar of the Raleigh, Mrs. Campbells, or the Post Office, and no Questions asked, and TWENTY POUNDS on conviction of the Thief, if the Trunk and Linens do not appear by Sunday.
BENNET BROWNE.
SIMON FRASER.⁵

The Playhouse was standing^{but probably in block 8 not in block 7} as late as 1775. John Lockley advertised in the Virginia Gazette that he had found "near the Playhouse, a Pair of new SADDLE-BAGS with a Brass Lock, the Contents unknown…" (July lst edition).

By 1780 the Playhouse was no longer standing. A deed from Samuel Major to John Draper describes a piece of property as:

June 6, 1780.

Samuel Major Jr of Williamsburg
to
John Draper of Williamsburg
Consideration: 600 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

… One Lot piece or parcel of Land situate & lying in the City of Williamsburg whereon the Old Play House lately stood containing thirty five feet in length and thirty feet in breadth and bounded by James Moirs line the Capitol Square and the Street and all houses outhouses and other appurtenances… and rents… claims and demands…^{neither Major nor James Moire owned in block 7 JMB Aug 1952}
Samuel Major Jr.

Recorded June 19, 1780.

¹

The Williamsburg Masonic Lodge arranged to hold a supper party at Mrs. Campbell's "as heretofore." It was called off on account of the critical times.²

During 1776 there were numerous companies of soldiers encamped in and around Williamsburg. Many were billeted in homes in the city. The Coke (Coke-Garrett) house and the Waller house near Mrs. Campbell's were used by the soldiers as well as taverns such as the Raleigh and Anderson's.³ Mrs. Campbell's is not mentioned 18. specifically, however, the location near the camping grounds would have been a suitable place for officer's quarters. "Waller's Grove" was used as a parade ground and camp. This grove was to the northeast of Mrs. Campbell's about a fourth of a mile.¹

The Frenchman's Map (1782) of Williamsburg shows a long house, flush to the street facing west, with a smaller house to the rear and an office-type house to the north near the lot line. See: copy of Frenchman's Map, Illustration #1, appendix. This house as shown on the Frenchman's Map is interpreted to be Mrs. Campbell's tavern.

In 1782-1783, Humphrey Harwood, Williamsburg builder and mason, made certain Repairs to Mrs. Campbell's property. From these accounts we observe that Mrs. Campbell's house had as many as 8 rooms, 3 passages, a bar, 2 porches:

		Mrs Christiany Cambell	Dr
47
1782	th
Octor	8	To 9 bushels of lime at 1/6 & repairing plasterg, 24/.	£l.17.6
		To 3 Days labour a 4/. & hair 2/.	.14.
	17	To 2 ½ bushs of whitewash at 3/.	. 7.6
1783		To whitewashing 8 Rooms & 3 passages at 7/6	4. 2.6
July	15	To 2 bushs of lime at 1/	. 1.
		To Repairing plastering & a grate 3/. & 1 bushs Whitewash at 2/	5.-.-
		To whitewashg 4 Rooms, the Barr & 2 porches at 4/6	1. 8.-
			£ 8-6-6

	Per Contra	Cr
N.B	Mrs Campbell disputed this acct says she had by consent of my Testm discharged it by a quantity of manure.

²

The Williamsburg Land Tax records indicate that in 1782 Mrs. Christianna Campbell held "2 lots assessed at £7.10.-"³ Personal Property Tax shows that Mrs. Campbell held 13 slaves and 4 cattle in 1783.⁴

We do not know how to reconcile the land tax records with the court records. The Land Tax records show Mrs. Campbell with two lots (1785) yet a deed of William Rowsay's of 1785 indicates that Mrs. Campbell held one lot [lot 21]and Rowsay was in possession of [lot 22]. See York County Record's, Deeds VI, p. 263^{Not so - Rowsay had 35 ½ ft [illegible] Lot 23 See lot 23 RR[illegible]} April 18, 1785 - William Rowsay to James Innes. The College Map (1791?) places "Campbell" on lot 21 and "Rowsay" on lot 22.^{Tax book count of Rowsay lots seems to require his ownership but conjecture not well founded.}

Following the removal of the Capital to Richmond and the havoc engendered by the Revolutionary War, Mrs. Campbell's establishment — as well as many others — declined. Alexander Macaulay¹ describes a visit to Williamsburg in February, 1783, when he went to Mrs. Campbell's for lodgings:

Williamsburg, February 25, 1783

… By this time we found ourselves at Mrs Campbells, we alighted & walked in; the House had a cold, poverty struck appearance; a large cold room on the left hand, no white Person yet appeared; several Negroes; "Pray does not Mrs Campbell live here!" "Yes." "Will you be so good as inform her We shall be happy to see her;" presently she came in. But as I did not approve of waiting for her in the passage, I had by this time led Bettsey into the cold parlour. Our Landladys looks were not more inviting than her House. Figure to yourself a little old woman, about four feet high; & equally thick, a little turn up Pug nose, a mouth screw'd up to one side; in short, nothing in any part of her appearance in the least inviting; I wish'd we were out of the House, fairly out of the House; But we were in for it, and I was obliged to accost her, "A-Hem, Madam! I ought to make an apology for this liberty, being on way throw Williamsburg, Madam, & knowing you formerly kept a very genteel House, We could not resist the inclination we had to call and take a Familly Dinner with you, Madam; We hope we will be no inconvenience. We are not nice, Madam; anything will not be amiss; my Wife, here she stands, is fond of Oysters Cook'd any way; & in the meantime, madam, will you be so good as order one of your Aids to make a little fire in this room;" By this time we had all the negros in the House, about a dozen, around us. I thought I had made a Capital Speechification, & stopt to draw my breath and give her time to 20. answer; with a very ill mannered tone, she replied, "I dont keep a house of entertainment, nor have not for some years;" Bettsey & I gap'd at one another; at last I recovered Spirits enough to say, "We have been misinform'd, Madam, I Beg pardon for this intrusion, impute it to ignorance only; But as we are fairly landed here" (for By this time Solomon had taken out his Horses) "suppose for this one time you relent, Madam; it will be charity, Madam, and charity covers a multitude of Sins, Madam; Angels sometime travell in disguise to mark the Deeds of Mortals;" she look'd up at me with the same amiable simplicity, as much as to say, your face is not smooth enough, even for an angel in disguise; and again answered, "I have no entertainment." She was now joined By her elder Daughter Molly, a Maiden Lady of about 45. You know old Andrew Greenhow of your County; I thought it had been him in petticoats; it was indeed high time to take some measures for a retreat from these amiable personages; I therefor immediately directed Solomon to put his Horses to the Carriage, in an audible voice, as we had come to a Damn'd bad Shop. I handed Bettsey into the Carriage, and could scarce help blessing them for a couple of Hell Cats; Miss Molly followed us to the Door, and told us Mrs Craig was the only Lady in Town who kept a publick House; I Thank'd her for her infomation, & to reward her shall direct my Brother Peter to give her a call the first time he comes to Williamsburg. Perhaps he may be of some service to her. We drove to Mrs Craigs, whose appearance prepossessed us in her favour as much as Mrs Campbells had against her…¹

By 1792, Mrs. Campbell had died. The Land Tax Records for that year lists Mrs. Campbell's estate with "2 lots valued at £12."² In 1793, the houses and lots of Mrs. Campbell's were advertised for sale:

September 4, 1793

Houses and lots of Mrs. Campbell's situated near the Capitol in Williamsburg are advertised for sale.
Benjamin Day
William Russell³

The property was not sold at this time. The Williamsburg Land Tax records continue to carry the property under "Christiana Campbell's Estate 2 lots value £12" until 1798.

In 1801 Thomas Sands seems to be the owner. Sands' property is described in an insurance policy of the Mutual Assurance Society as "my Two buildings facing the Main Street back of the old Capitol at Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between the Lot of Thomas Dawson and that of John Houston... wood Dwelling $1700; 60 by 24 feet, one Story high, underpinned with Bricks 2 feet above the Ground, with a Cellar; Wood Kitchen $100; 20 by 16 feet one story high."¹

This seems to describe what was formerly the property of Mrs. Campbell. It (the policy) also agrees with the College Map (1791?) which marks lot 21 As "Campbell" and lot 20 as "Dawson." as does the Bucktrout Map (1803). Lot 22 is marked "Rowsay".^{2 RR for Lot 23 p. 7 clearly indicates the Rowsay lot as a portion of 23 JMC}

In 1809 a revaluation of policy #485 is numbered #988. The property is in the name Thomas Sands and "is now occupied by Henry Gibbs That it [the dwelling house] is situated on Gallows Street immediately east of the Capitol and has on the South Houstons and Jacksons lots — East Wallers lots and North the lot of John Pearman… The Dwelling House A at $2666 2/3." The dwelling was 60 feet by 25 feet with outhouse 22 feet distant to north and a kitchen and outhouse distant 42 feet east of dwelling.³

By 1815 Edmund Christian was the owner. Under Policy #1713 a revaluation of #988, the property is described as "my building on Gallows Street situated between 22. Pearmans and Wallers lots… Dwelling $1500… of wood and covered with wood — one story 60 x 25."¹

In 1823 Benjamin Waller was the owner. The property is described as "my building on my own land in Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between the lot of Sarah Byrd on the north, William Yates on the South and a street on the west... Dwellinghouse $1000… dwelling A is not contiguous to any wooden building within thirty feet."²

Waller or his heirs continued to own the lot until 1886 when it was conveyed to Moses R. Harrell. Harrell held until 1890, then P. M. Thompson held until 1894, L. W. Lane was the owner from 1894 to 1920, followed by Lucy Lane Lamb, Lucy Lamb Kelly 1920-1939 and Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, 1939 to the present date. See: chain to title in Accounting Department, Colonial Williamsburg for further data.

Mr. John S. Charles writing in 1928 his "Recollections of Williamsburg" During the Civil War period, had this to say about the Ben Waller house:

The next house on Waller Street was a very large old Dutch-roof frame building, known in the writer's time, as the "Ben Waller House". This house stood about one hundred feet^{? 100 ft in front of Kelly! JMC} in rear of the present residence of Mrs. Kelly and an old man Ben Waller there within the recollection of the writer. This "Ben Waller" may have been the son of the man for whom the "Morecock" residence is named. This old house disappeared many years ago.³

According to land tax records the building burned ca. 1859.

When a thorough archeological survey has been made of this lot and those adjacent, the exact location of the theatre and Mrs. Campbell's tavern will be more clearly determined. At this date archeological work is only partially complete.^{Archaeological excavation reveal Tavern and Kitchen JMB Aug '53}

Illustration #1.

Portion of - Photostat Copy of the Williamsburg Plat in "Williamsburg, the Old Colonial Capitol" by Lyon G. Tyler

From Frenchman's Map 1782?

Illustration #2.

NOTE:
The writer is not certain that this chain to title is correct. The tax records are so vague. It seems probable that the records are correct from 1804-1860.

Illustration #3

Illustration #4

Mutual Assurance Society Policy #485 of Thomas Sands residing in Williamsburg
1801, July 22,

I THE underwritten Thomas Sands residing at Williamsburg in the county of York do declare for assurance in the Mutual Assurance Society against Fire… My two buildings facing the Main Street back of the old Capitol at Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between the Lot of Thomas Dawson and that of John Houston in the county of York…

Mutual Assurance Society policy # 988 Revaluation of building declared for assurance by Thomas Sands as per declaration No 485
September 6, 1809

We the underwritten Robert Anderson special agent and George Morrison and Hunter Royle appraisers do hereby certify that we have viewed and revalued the Building heretofore declared for assurance by Thomas Sands then residing at Williamsburg in the county of York… we also certify that the said building is now owned by Thomas Sands and is now occupied by Henry Gibbs That it is situated on Gallows Street immediately east of the Capitol and has on the South Houstons and Jacksons lots, East Wallers lots and North the lot of John Pearman…

The Dwelling House Marked A at 2666 2/3 Dollars Say Two thousand six hundred sixty six & 2/3 Dollars

Mutual Assurance Society Policy #1713 Revaluation of Building declared for
assurance by Thomas Sands per declaration No 988
July 20, 1815

I the underwritten Edmund Christian residing at Williamsburg in the county of York do hereby declare for assurance in the Mutual Assurance Society against fire… my building on Gallows street now occupied by myself situated between Pearman and Wallers lots in the County of York…
The Dwelling Marked A at 1500 Dollars Say fifteen hundred dollars

Mutual Assurance Society Policy No 5044 Revaluation of Building formerly declared for Assurance by Edmund Christian per
Declaration No 1713
April 15, 1823

I the underwritten Benjamin Waller residing at Williamsburg in the county of York do hereby declare for Assurance in the Mutual Assurance Society against fire… my building on my own land in Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between the lot of Sarah Byrd on the North, William Yates on the South and a street on the West in the county of York…
The Dwelling house Marked A at 1000 Say One thousand Dollars

Illustration #5

Illustration #6

York County Records
Judgements & Orders (1752-1754) pp337-338

[November 27, 1753 Court]

[SUIT]

Seth Seekwright Plt
Agst
Barnaby Badtitle Deft

In Ejectment for two lotts of land contiguous together whereon the Play House now stands in the Parish of Bruton in the County of York of the Demise of John Stretch and Edward Charlton.

This day came the Plt by his attorney and it appearing by the affidavit of John Hyde that Anthony Joseph Dugee tenant in possession of the premises had been duly served with a copy of the Plts declaration and of the Note there unto Written and he not Appearing It is Ordered That Unless he having Legal notice of this Order or those under whom he Claims or some or one of them to Appear here on the third Monday in next month and make himself her self or themselves Deft or Defts in this Suit in the room of the said Badtitle Please General Issue Confess Lease Entry and Ouster in the Declaration supposed and entered in the Common Rule to insist on the Title only at trial Judgment an be Given for the Plt and the Kings Writ Habere Facias Possession an Awarded.

Ibid, pp 357-358

[December 17th(Monday) 1753 Court]

Seth Seekwright Plt
Agst
Barnaby Badtitle Deft

In Ejectment for two Lotts of Land contiguous together whereon the Play House now stands in the Parish of Bruton in the County of York of the Demise of John Stretch and Edward Charlton

This day it appearing by the affadavit of John Hyde Deputy Sherif of this County that the Consideration at Order in this Course hath been duly Served on Anthony Joseph Dugee tenant in Possession of the Premises was solemnly called but came not. Therefore on the Motion of the Plt by his Attorney It Considered by the Court that the Plt recover agst the Deft his Term yet to come of and in the two Lotts of Land aforesd with the Appertenances and the Deft may be taken &c. Whereupon the Plt prays the Writ of our Lord the King to Sherif

This memo, based on some information unknown when these reports were written about forty years ago, corrects and clarifies conclusions in the reports but also leaves some points unanswered and unanswerable due to incomplete records.