Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

LOCATION:

Colonial Lot 20 is located on Waller Street behind the Capitol. (See: Tyler's adaptation of the College Map (1791?) plat-opposite page.)

THE HOUSE:

The Frenchman's Map (1782) indicates a house flush to Waller Street facing west with a small dependency to the northwest.

Prior to 1749 this property was a part of a large tract owned by Mann Page of Rosewell. In 1749 Benjamin Waller was the owner. Lot 20 was not sold by Waller before 1772 - the new owner being Elizabeth Carlos and the amount named being 130 pounds current money of Virginia. There were houses thereon when sold. It is probable that Miss Carlos conducted a millinery business on the site. Her property was rented by Mary Dickinson, another milliner of Williamsburg, evidently, in 1773. In 1777 Carlos conveyed to Bartholomew Dandridge for 225 pounds current money of Virginia. Benjamin Day, an adjutant in Virginia Regiment and lawyer, became the owner ca 1782 holding the property until 1785. Day's property was valued at £1 in 1782. One wonders if the original houses had burned prior to 1782 and after 1777. If so, Day must have built on the lot by 1782 as the Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a house on the property. Day was followed by Thomas Dawson in 1785 to 1807. In 1793 Dawson was charged by Humphrey Harwood, Williamsburg carpenter and brick mason, with repairs to 1 room, a passage and 2 rooms and an entry. John Pearman was the owner from 1807 until 1815 and was followed by William Pearman from 1816 to 1818 when Sarah W. Byrd became the owner. Mrs. Byrd held the property until her death when it was sold to Mary H. Claiborne. In 1882 Mary H. Claiborne conveyed to Archie Brooks Jr. At this date the property fronted west 86 ½ feet on Waller Street running east in parallel lines 283 feet to the land formerly owned by Robert P. Waller, deceased, and on the north by the dwelling house of Waller and south by the residence of Benjamin Waller, deceased. In 1916 Brooks conveyed to Edith Miller who by deed of 1920 conveyed to Lucy Lamb Kelly. Mrs. Kelly conveyed in 1920 to Lucy Lane Lamb. In 1939 Lucy Lane Lamb conveyed to Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated. Mr. John S. Charles, an old citizen of Williamsburg, recalled in 1928 the city as he knew it in the Civil War period: "The next residence on this [Waller] street was called 'Clebourne' house, which was a small story-and-a-half wooden building, with dormer windows. The front porch was a short distance from the street, with yard filled with shrubs and flowers, which somewhat obscured the view. On the south side it adjoined the premises now owned by Capt. Lane, who 2 now lives in the old home of Dr. Ro. P. Waller, who was the owner of more slaves, and the largest owner in this section."

In 1952 archaeological research on this lot revealed foundations of a small house and out building - both on identical locations as noted by the Frenchman's Map. Such findings will be included in the report when completed by the architectural department.

LOCATION:

Lot 20 is located on the east side of Waller Street directly behind the Capitol. See: Tyler's adaptation of the College Map (1791 ?) on page opposite.

HISTORY:

Lot 20 along with other adjacent lots belonged to that tract of land which was a part of the estate of Mann Page of Rosewell. An Act of Assembly of 1744 gave Mann Page II the right to sell and dispose of certain entailed lands of his father's estate. This property 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 area was made by William Waller. At this date Benjamin Waller had come into that part of Page's estate which would cover Lot 20 and thereabouts.² Waller divided the area into lots and numbered them for development or sale.

As far as records show, Waller did not make sale of Lot 20 until 1772. The adjacent lots, 21 and 22, had been sold in 1751; and lots, 19 and 43, in 1763. What use Waller made of Lot 20 until its sale in 1772 is not known. In 1772 Waller conveyed to Elisabeth Carlos:

[February 6, 1772.]

Waller, Benjamin - Gentleman of the City of Williamsburg
Martha, his wife
to
Carlos, Elizabeth of the same City

2

Consideration: 130 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

… All that piece, parcel or lot of land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg, Parish of Bruton, County of York, and is numbered in the Plan thereof, by the figures 20, and bounded as followeth towit: Beginning at the Northwest corner of the Lot No. 21, thence along the street leading to Queen Mary's Port, North ½ degree East 5 poles to Wallers Street, thence along the same South 89½ degrees East 15 poles, thence South ½ degree West 5 poles to the Northeast corner of the lot No. 21, thence along the Northern Bounds of that lot North 89½ West 15 poles to the beginning. With all houses…
Ben: Waller LS
Martha Waller LS¹

Sealed and Delivered In Presence of
Thos Everard
John Tazewell
James Hubard

Recorded in York County Records
Rich: Cary February 17, 1772.

On February 7, 1772, Elizabeth Carlos gave mortgage to Waller for the property. There was a provision that unless Carlos paid the 130 pounds current money within three years the property would revert to Waller.

February 7, 1772

Carlos, Elizabeth of Williamsburg
to
Waller, Benjamin of the same City

Consideration: 130 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

… All that piece parcel of lot of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 20, bounded as follows: Beginning at the Northwest corner of the lot No. 21, thence along the Street leading to Queen Mary's Port North ½ degree East 5 poles to Waller's Street, thence along the same South 89½ degrees East 15 poles, thence South ½ degree West 5 poles to the North East corner of the lot No. 21, thence along the Northern bounds of that lot North 89½ degrees West 15 poles to the beginning, which said lot was sold unto the said Elizabeth by Benjamin Waller and 3 Martha his wife, February 6, 1772…with all Houses…Provided…that Elizabeth Carlospay unto Benjamin Waller the sum of 130 pounds Current Money within the space of three Years…with interest…
Elizabeth Carlos LS¹

Sealed & delivered In Presence of
Thos Everard
John Tazewell
James Hubard
Rich: Cary

Recorded in York Court Feb. 11, 1772.

Little could be discovered about Elizabeth Carlos. By chance, we found in the vast mass of uncatalogued Tucker-Coleman Manuscripts Collection an account which a Mrs. Fitzhugh owed Elizabeth Carlos in 1777. From the nature of the items, one is led to believe that Miss Carlos was a milliner or mantua-maker in Williamsburg. Account follows:

Mrs Fitzhugh's to Eliza Carlos 1777[no other date]

to 16 yds of Bumbazean at 5/6 a yd	£ 4: 8:0
to 12 yds of Crape a 3/2 per yd	2. 0.0
to a moade Cloak trimmed with Love Ribbon	1. 1.0
to a pair of Silk gloves 9/	0. 9.0
a fine Black cloath Cloak	3. 0.0
one yd & three quarters of Lutesberg at 12/	1. 1.0
5 yd hat crape at 2/6 8 hanks silk at 10	0.17.6
10 Linen for two gowns 4/9 per net 3/9	0. 8.6
to 4 yd of ribbin at 1/2 03 cotten thread at 3/	0.10.0
to a [?] hem to miss Poly 9/ 2 pair Boys hose at 5	0.19.0
one Boys hatt with a gould button & coard	0.18.0
to make Bumbazean gown & cout	0.10.0
to Do a Crape 6/ to making apron 9/6	0.10.6
	------------
	£ 16. 7.6 2

It seems probable that Miss Carlos in 1772-73 rented her house or a part of it to Mary Dickinson, another milliner in the city. Mary Dickinson's notice in the Virginia Gazette (April 30, 1772), informed "the Publick that she has removed to the Store above the Coffeehouse, near the Capitol and has just imported, from LONDON, a fresh Assortment of JEWELLERY, MILLINERY, and other GOODS…"¹

In 1765 Fauquier had called the tavern behind the Capitol in "the Exchange"…"the Coffee House."² In 1772 Mrs. Campbell had a tavern "behind the Capitol." She offered "PRIVATE LODGINGS may be had for seven or eight Gentlemen during the Assembly, at the Coffee-house, near the Capitol."³

It seems highly probable that Miss Dickinson's shop was on the Carlos lot, next door to Mrs. Campbell's tavern-formerly called "the Coffee House" by Fauquier. However, there were other coffee houses in Williamsburg near the Capitol--which makes a positive statement unwise until other evidence comes to light.

On October 14, 1773, Miss Dickinson advertised that she was "next Door above the COFFEE HOUSE."⁴

In June, 1777, Carlos conveyed the property to Bartholomew Dandridge:⁵

June 13, 1777

Carlos, Elizabeth of Prince George County
to
Dandridge, Bartholomew of New Kent County

Consideration: 225 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

…All that tenement, piece, parcel or lot of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg, Parish of Bruton, County of York, and is numbered in the plan thereof by the figure 20, and bounded as followeth; to-wit: Beginning at the Northwest corner of the lot No. 21, thence along the street leading to Queen Marys Port North ½ degree East 5 poles to Wallers Street, thence along the Same South 89½ Degrees 15 poles, 5 thence South ½ degree West 5 poles to the Northeast corner of the lot No. 21, thence along the Northern bounds of that lot North 89½ degrees West 15 poles to the beginning. With all house…
Eliz^a Carlos LS¹

Sealed and delivered In presence of
Ben: C. Waller
Ben: Powell
William Eaton
James Honey

Recorded June 16, 1777.

From the above conveyance we note that within five years the consideration price named for the property has changed from 130 pounds current money of Virginia to 225 pounds current money. Some of the difference may have been the change in valuations due to the War, or it may have been due to changes in building or repairs.

A gap to title occurs at this point. No deed has been found conveying the property from Dandridge. However, by tracing the title from the present time back to 1782, we find that Benjamin Day,² adjutant of the Second Virginia Regiment, owned the property from 1782 to 1785. Such conveyances to title will be given with proof chronologically.

Williamsburg Land Tax Records of 1782 (first date for Land Taxes), indicate that Benjamin Day held 1 lot valued at £1.³ As the tax valuation is so little in comparison with the 225 pounds valuation in the deed of 1777, one is led to wonder if the original property had burned prior to Day's ownership. If so, Day must have built a less expensive house thereon by 1782. The price may have been due to deflation following the Revolution.

The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a house flush to Waller Street facing west with a small dependency to the north. See: Illustration #1 for drawings from the map of this section of the city.

According to the Land Tax records of Williamsburg, in 1785 Thomas Dawson bought the lot from Benjamin Day.¹ The tax valuation given at this date was £5 10 shillings in comparison to £1 in 1782. Dawson held the property from 1785 to 1807. His name is used in different ways: "Thomas Dawson, Thomas B. Dawson and B. Thomas Dawson".²

The College Map (1791?) has "Dawson" on lot 20. See: Tyler's adaptation of the College Map, opposite to page 1 of the report. The Bucktrout Map (1803) has the same identification. See: Research Department.

In 1793 Thomas B. Dawson was charged by Humphrey Harwood, Williamsburg carpenter and brick mason, with whitewashing 1 room and a passage, 1/2 bushels whitewash, and whitewashing 2 rooms and an entry.³

Dawson probably died in 1801. The Land Tax records charge the property in 1802 to "B. Thomas Dawson Est^a…". The estate held the lot until 1807 when John Pearman became the owner "via Dawson." The property was valued at $40.⁴

John Pearman held the property until 1816 at which time the Land Tax records state that "William Pearman [held 1 lot---$40 Via William Waller Trustee The House and Lot formerly the property of John Pearman dec^d the father of the said William." Other identification of the Pearman's location is found in insurance policies of the Mutual Assurance Society: policy # 988 (1809) 7 of Thomas Sands gives "John Pearman" as a boundary; and policy #1713 (1815) notes "Pearmans" as a boundary.¹

In 1818 Sarah W. Byrd had come into the property described as: "1 lot---$60 Via Edmond Christian, house and lot on the Capitol street, and adjoining Benj^a C. Waller--see conveyance from Pearman to Ratcliffe and Ratcliffe to Christian and is the same formerly charged to William Pearman."² In 1820 the way of describing property in Williamsburg changed. Sarah W. Byrd's lot is recorded as "$500 lot & building; and $450 sum added to lot on account of building." Such valuation remained practically the same until 1851. However, in 1846 Mary H. Byrd had come into the property at the same tax valuation. "Devised to her by the last will and testament of Mr^s Sarah W. Byrd dec^d from Ro. P. Waller."³

In 1854 Mary H. Byrd had conveyed the property to Mary H. Claiborne. The lot and buildings were valued at $950 with $800 the sum for building thereon. Mary H. Claiborne was holding the property in 1861 when the total valuation was $1500.⁴ In 1882 the executor of Mary H. Claiborne conveyed the property to Archie Brooks Jr. The house and lot were described thus:

The house and lot in the City of Williamsburg, Virginia, late the residence of the said Mary H. Claiborne, deceased, fronting west 86½ feet on Waller Street and running east in parallel lines 283 feet to the land formerly owned by Robert P. Waller, deceased, and now by his daughter, Mrs. Catherine Langhorne, on the north by the lot on 8 which is situated the dwelling house of the said Robert P. Waller, deceased, and on the south by the lot on which stood the residence of Benjamin Waller, deceased.¹

In 1916 Archie Brooks and wife conveyed to Edith Miller.² By deed of January 23, 1920 Edith Miller Paskill and husband conveyed to Lucy Lamb Kelly. Lucy Lamb Kelly and husband conveyed in July 1920 to Lucy Lane Lamb.³

^{July 8 1955 Mrs. Clyde Hall says house run down and no value hence demolition in 1920 by Kelly}

In September 1939 Lucy Lane Lamb conveyed the property to Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated.⁴

Further details of the ownership can be found in the Accounting Department, Colonial Williamsburg.

Mr. John S. Charles, an old citizen of Williamsburg, recalled in 1928 the city as he knew it in the Civil War period:

The next residence on this [Waller] street was called the "Clebourne" house, which was a small story-and-a-half wooden building, with dormer windows. The front porch was a short distance from the street, with yard filled with shrubs and flowers, which somewhat obscured the view. On the south side it adjoined the premises now owned by Capt. Lane, who now lives in the old home of Dr. Ro. P. Waller, who was the owner of more slaves, and the largest owner in this section.^{5never owned by Robt. P. - was owned by Benj. W.}

In 1952 archaeological research on this lot revealed foundations of a small house and out building both on identical locations as noted by the Frenchman's Map.

^{July 8 1955 - Mrs. Clyde Hall remembers 3 dormers.}

Illustration #1 , Appendix.

FROM FRENCHMAN'S MAP 1782?

[Map]

Illustration #2
Lot 20 Waller Street

Illustration #3
Lot 20 Waller Street

Illustration #4
Lot 20 Waller Street

Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, eds., April 30, 1772. MARY DICKINSON informs the Publick that she has removed to the Store above the Coffeehouse, near the Capitol, and has just imported, from LONDON, a fresh Assortment of JEWELLERY, MILLINERY, and other GOODS, namely, Lustrings, Tafetas, Chintzes, &c. various Sorts of Necklaces, Earrings, large Sprigs and Paste Pins, plain and set Combs, Lockets and Crosses, Garnet and Marcasite Hoops, Ditto Tortoiseshell lined with Gold, many little Watch Trinkets, set Shoe, Knee, and Stock Buckles, Gold Bands, Buttons, and Loops, Sword Knots, fine China Hose, &c. Ladies Riding Hats, Boys blue and black Satin Caps and Feathers, Satin Cloaks and Bonnets, blue and white Satin Pumps, white and blue Satin Quilts, Blond and Minionet Laces, Gentlemens fine Minionet Lace Ruffles, complete Suits of Ditto for Ladies, Ribands, Riband Lace, Italian and Silver Stomachers and Knots, true Italian Fancy Caps, Nosegays and Breast Flowers, Egrets and Plumes, fine striped bordered Muslin and Lawn Handkerchiefs, laced and flounced Ditto, Cambricks, fine Book and thick Muslins, Gauzes, Catgut, Queen's Net-worked Muslin Aprons, Lawn and Gauze Ditto, Gentlemen and Ladies Silk, Kid, and Lamb Gloves, Woolpacks with Drop Curls, netted Hoods, Gauze and laced Caps, and many other Articles too tedious to mention.

IBID., October 14, 1773.

Just IMPORTED, in the latest Vessels from London, and SELLING by the Subscriber, next Door above the Coffee House, for ready Money,

A GENTEEL and very elegant Assortment of JEWELLERY and MILLINERY, &c. consisting of fine Blond Hoods, Italian and Lace Muffs, Fancy Caps, Egrets, Breast Flowers, Fillets, Lace and Gauze Caps, &c. handsome Agate Necklaces and Earrings set with Marcasites, Paste Ditto, French Wax Bows and Solitaires, Wax Pearl, real Garnets, Jet Ditto, Velvet Collars, Paste Pins of various Kinds, Sprigs suitable to all, which are beautifully set, Paste and plain Combs, set Shoe Buckles; Garnet, Marcasite, Paste, and plain Gold Lockets and Crosses; Italian and Blond Lace; Fancy, and Silver Stomachers; Ribands, Fans, Bobbins, Tapes; Gentlemens and Ladies Silk, and other Gloves; Gresham's Pumps, Sewing Silk, Cotton Thread, Book Muslin, thick Ditto, Cambricks, Lawns, Gauzes, black and white Sarcenets, casting Handkerchiefs and Teresas, Lawn, Muslin, Pocket, and Gauze Ditto, worked Book Muslin Aprons, Lawn and black flounced Ditto, Gauze Shades, Boys Satin Caps with Feathers, Hats, Bonnets, Cloaks, Ladies fashionable Riding Hats, with black, blue, and white Ostrich Feathers for them, and Gloves suitable; complete Suits of Gauze, and Blond Lace; Gentlemens Lace Ruffles, Minionet and Blond Laces; rich white, flowered, striped, and plain Lustrings; plain, and striped Tafetas; Persians, black Mode, Chintzes, Calicoes, Gentlemens Bags and Roses; Silk, Cotton, Thread, and Worsted Hose; Morocco, and Silk Pocket Books, with or without Instruments; Tortoise Shell, and other Sorts of Memorandum Books; Washballs, undressed Dolls, Childrens Tea Sets; Silk, and fine black Russel Quilts; very fine Bombasin, and Crape. Also a Variety of other Things too tedious to insert.

I have on Hand a small Assortment of CLOTHS, and proper TRIMMINGS, which I would sell Wholesale on low Terms, for Cash or short Credit.-- I take this Opportunity to return Thanks to those Gentlemen and Ladies who have favoured me with their Custom, and to assure them they shall be served upon the most reasonable Terms by their much obliged humble Servant,
MARY DICKENSON.