Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

LOCATION:

The lot, believed to be #61 is located on Nicolson Street to the northeast of Capitol Square. On the College Map (1791?) the lot is not numbered but is shown as "Paradise." On the Bucktrout Map (1803) the same is true. Across the Capitol Square to the west, the first lot numbered is "58." From this clue, one arrives at the number of the lot [#61] known also as "Paradise." However, numbering the "Paradise" lot as #61 is confusing as another lot in the city has this number also. (See College Map, copy in Illustration #1.)

HISTORY:

In April 1707, the trustees of Williamsburg by deeds of lease and release, granted unto John Redwood of York County, four lots or half acres in the city, denoted in the plan by the figures 61, 62, 272 and 273.¹ (York County Records, Deeds & Bonds, III, p. 286.) Redwood was the keeper of the gaol at the time. (See: Public Gaol Report, Research Department.) Redwood had been employed in March 1703, to look after "ye Capitoll & publick prison." (See: Report on the Public Gaol, p. 8.)

Redwood had an ordinary license dated December 15, 1707, which indicates that he had obtained an ordinary license earlier, and that he already had a dwelling house in the city:

"The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bounded John Redwood hath renewed his license to keep an ordinary at his dwelling house in Williamsburg..."(York County Records, Deeds, Orders, Wills, Book 13, p. 110.)

On May 4, 1708, Redwood conveyed the two lots east of the Capitol, 2 #61 and #62, to Philip Ludwell of Green Spring.¹ From the deed we know that Redwood kept the ordinary at his dwelling east of the Capitol after the date of the above quoted license:

May 4, 1708.

Redwood, John of the Parish of Bruton in York County
Elizabeth, his wife
to
Ludwell, Phillip of Green Spring in the County of James City
Consideration: 150 Pounds lawful money of England

All that Two Lotts or half Acres of Ground lying and being in the City of Williamsburgh on the Northeast Side of the Capitol Square, designed in the platt of the said City by the figures 61 and 62 being the Lotts whereon the Now dwelling house and outhouses of the said John Redwood do stand.

And also Two, other Lotts or half Acres of Ground lying & being in the said City of Williamsburgh and designed in the platt of the said City by the figures 272 & 273 together with all & singular houses Outhouses Barns Stables Buildings Edifices Gardens orchards ... to the Said four Lotts of Ground...¹

(York County Records, Deeds, Bonds, II, p. 305.)

From this deed we see that Redwood had a dwelling house and outhouses standing in May 1708 on lots #61 and #62.

A problem arose as to Redwood's title to the lots and his right to transfer them.² In 1719, this was solved by an agreement between the city trustees and Ludwell. In the agreement, Ludwell retained lots #61 and #62 giving up his claim to lots #272 and #273:

June 12, 1719.

Trustees of the City of Williamsburgh
to
Ludwell, Philip

THIS INDENTURE made the Twelfth day of June in the fifth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George ... & in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand Seven hundred & Nineteen Between the Feoffees or Trustees for the Land appropriated for 3 the building & Erecting the City of Williamsburgh of the one part and Philip Ludwell of the County of James City Esqr of the other part WHEREAS Chickeley Corbin Thacker & Mongo Ingles Gents two of the Trustees for the sd City of Williamsburgh by their Deeds of Lease or Release bearing date the Twenty Seventh & Twenty eight Days of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred & Seven for the Consideration of three pounds lawfull. money to them in hand paid did Grant Bargain Release and Confirm unto John Redwood of the County of York & his heirs & Assigns for ever four Lotts or half Acres of Ground lying & being in the Sd City of Williamsburgh & denoted In the Plan of the Sd City by these figures 61. 62. 272. & 273 as by the Sd Deeds may more at large appear which four Sd Lotts or half Acres were afterwards by Good Deeds in Law conveyed by the Sd John Redwood to the aforenamed (Philip Ludwell Esqr & his heirs) but for as much as it doth not appear that the Sd Lease & Release Granted to the Sd John Redwood have been acknowledged & Recorded nor can now be by reason of the death of Mongo Ingles one of the Sd Trustees by means whereof Some Doubts & Law Suits may arrise And Whereas the Sd Philip Ludwell Esqr is willing to quitt his claim & pretensions to Two of the Sd four Lotts Viz those denoted by the figures 272 & 273 & to accept of a Release & Confirmation of the Remaining Two lotts mentioned in the Sd Deed of Lease & Release Granted to the aforenamed John Redwood Now This Indenture WITNESSETH that the Sd Feofees or Trustees for the Considerations above mentioned... & in Consideration of Thirty Shillings lawfull money of Virginia ... HAVE Remised Released & quitt Claimed & do by these presents Remise Release & Quitt Claim to the Sd Philip Ludwell his heirs or Assigns for ever all these Two Cotts or half Acres of Land lying & being in the Sd City of Williamsburgh - & now in the actual possession of hin the Sd Philip Ludwell & his under Tenants by vertue of the Deeds & conveyance aforesd of the Sd John Redwood & denoted In the plan of the Sd City by the figures 61 & 62...
(Signed] John Clayton seal
Wil Robertson seal

[Recorded June 15, 1719] (York County Records, Deeds, Bonds, III, pp. 286-7.)

If Redwood kept an ordinary on lots #61 & #62 the building was not there at the tine of the Frenchman's Map (1782).

Mention in the above deed to "his [Ludwell's] under Tenants" implies that Ludwell rented this property.¹

Philip Ludwel1 died in 1726/27. (Virginia Magazine History, VII, p. 356.) His real estate included houses and lots in Williamsburg - which were in his son's [Philip Ludwell III] possession in 1767.

In 1749 William Waller made a map of the city (that part behind the Capitol). "Col. Philip Ludwell's 2 Lots" lay between Duke of Gloucester Street on the south, Nicolson Street on the north, the Capitol west, and Street to Queen Mary's Port on the east: (See: Copy of plat of part of Williamsburg taken from York County Records, Deed Book V, (1741-1754) in Research Department.)

Philip Ludwell III died in 1767 leaving three daughters to inherit his large estate. His will provided that four attorneys-at-law in Virginia hold his real and personal estate in trust for his daughters, Hannah Phillipa, Frances¹ and Lucy:

…to be divided as follows, the Green Spring part whereby I mean that part of my land that lies in James City County on the Western side of Powhatan Swamp (with slaves, stocks, etc.) including Powhatan Mill & the Miller; the Rich Neck part whereby I mean all on Eastern side of the Powhatan Swamp & at Archers Hope & in Williamsburg; the Chipokes part whereby I mean all lands in the county of Surry; these to be made as equal as possible by adding part of one division to another and then Green Spring part to be conveyed to H. P. [Hannah Philippa] my Rich 5 Neck part (with Rich Neck Plantation therein) to F.[rances] at 21 or marr'd and the third part including Chipokes & my Surry lands to L.[ucy] at 21 or marr'd... Cod[icil] dat. 2 Mar. 1767. Estate up to time of division to be carried on as if I were alive...
(Will proved on May 6, 1767.)" (Virginia Magazine History, XXXII, pp. 288-9.)

As the two lots of Ludwell's were held together, it is impossible to know on which lot the renters lived or conducted their business. We know that the house now known as the "Blue Bell," was rented from 1768 - 1770.¹ (The second theatre stood on lots #21 and #22 on the east side of Waller Street.) These announcements locating trades or businesses in vague phrases make it difficult to state with certainty on which lot these men were located. From a study of the Blue Bell House History, Research Department, it seems more probable that Willis and Brammer operated at the Blue Bell. One fact is certain: Brammer lived and carried on his merchantile business on one of the Ludwell lots.

The division of Ludwell's estate was completed in 1770. The property in Williamsburg assigned to Mrs. Paradise, daughter of Philip Ludwell, included "Powels Tenement" and was valued at £10. (Ms. in Lee Collection, Virginia Historical Society.)

In the Southall Papers, William and Mary College, there are copies from the General Court Records of an indenture of November 6, 1770 regarding the Ludwell estate. The tenement of Peter Powell is mentioned with location:

... Also the following lots of land or tenements in the city of Williamsburg to wit one tenement adjoining the Speakers one tenement called the red Lyon where Walter Lenox now lives and the tenement where Peter Powell now lives adjoining the Blue Bell. (Southall Ms. Papers, Uncatalogued, William and Mary College.)

Powell evidently was on this location as early as 1755, operating a wheel-wright and chair-making business:

Williamsburg, April 10, 1755.

THE Subscriber having lately set up for himself, in this City, near the, Capitol, to carry on the Business of a WheelWright and Chair-Maker; he therefore gives this public Notice, to all Gentlemen and Others that will please to favour him with their Custo, That they may depend on being served after the best Manner, and at reasonable Rate, by Their humble Servant,
Peter Powell. (Virginia Gazette, April 11, 1755.)

WILLIAMSBURG, April 25, 1766.

AS I am in immediate want of a BLACKSMITH, who understands doing riding chair work, any such, who coming well recommended, will meet with good encouragement from
PETER POWELL. (Virginia Gazette, April 25, 1766.)

To return to 1779: On the 15th of November 1779 an inquisition was held by the Commonwealth of Virginia re the Paradise property in Williamsburg by James Shields, Escheator, "who called twelve good and reputable citizens who testified under oath that John Paradise the owner of certain property, was a subject of the King of Great Britain, and it was therefore, ordered that the title to said property do escheat to the Commonwealth of Virginia, under the terms of the Act providing for the same." (York County Records, Deed Book 69 p. 69.) A part of Paradise's property was noted as "being the houses and lots which Peter Many has now in possession, being situate on the Northeast corner of the Capitol Square, being the corner lot on the street leading to the Capitol Landing and adjoining the lot of William Lee, Esq."¹ (York County Records, Deeds, 6, p. 68.) Many was the jailor. (Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Nicolson, August 14, 1779.)

In the Ms. Papers of George W. Southall, Williamsburg lawyer, there are records concerning the Paradise lots:

York County to wit 1779
Paradise Estate

An Inquisition for the Commonwealth of Virginia
. . . That John Paradise is a subject of the King of Great Britain & that the said John Paradise is seized of one small parcel of land adjoining the Main road from Williamsburg to Cartwrights being on the North side of the road in the County quantity unknown adjoining James Cockes & Joseph Crawley not exceeding 30 acres, likewise three houses & lots in the City of Williamsburg; north main street adjoining William Lee, now in possession of Walter Lennox; lot on north side of Market Sq. adjoining lots of Mrs. Betty Randolph & lot of Wm Lee Esq., now in possession of Mr Harrison Randolph; the third in possession of Peter Many (houses and lots) on the street leading to Capitol Landing Road.. & adjoining the Lot of William Lee, Esqr.
These according to Act of Assembly of Commonwealth May 3, 1779, are escheated to Commonwealth." (Copy from original Papers, William and Mary College, no folder number.)

From the above inquisition, we learn that Peter Many was occupying houses and lots then in the ownership of Paradise, and that the property was adjoining Lee's lot and on the street leading to Capitol Landing Road. This description would seem to indicate that Many's houses were on Nicolson Street as Paradise held lots to the west of Leets lot. (See: College Map (1791?), Illustration #1.)

Maps of this period furnish this information as to the lots behind the Capitol: The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a large inclosed area at the location of lot #61 and #62 north; and a small building west of this inclosure on line with the back street [Nicolson]. No other buildings appear on this lot or lots until the house assumed to be the Blue Bell and dependency, appears to the south.

The College Map (1791?) sometimes called the "Unknown Draftsman's Map," gives the ownership of these lots thus:

The Bucktrout Map (1803) shows "Lee" and "Paradise" on the lots [#61 and #62]. Copies of these maps can be seen in the Research Department.

The Williamsburg Land Tax Records for the Paradise property are so vague as to locations that it seems impossible to know the chain to title to this lot until ca 1830. Early in 1815 Philip Ignatious Barziza, grandson of the Paradises (who were both dead by this date) came to Williamsburg to take possession of Mrs. Paradise's personal property and to lay claim to the real estate which had already been seized by Mrs. Hopkins and Mrs. Hodgson.¹ John Hopkins, husband of Cornelia Lee, evidently held Lot #61 before 1830, for items in the Southall Papers show that Hopkins paid tax on a lot in 1830; and that Robert Jordan, carpenter, came into this property and was paying the tax in in 1835:

1830 John Hopkins Esta
To the Collector of Williamsburg	D
To tax on lot	61
9
1835 John Paradise Est
To the Collector of Wmsburg
R JORDAN Tax on lot 16c levy on value 18c	34
Recd pay of R. Jordan
Jno W. McCandlish Colr
1838 Robert Jordan To the Collector of Williamsburg
Tax on horse 8 town levy 6/	108
tax on Paradise Lot 10c levy on same	68
	1.76

(Southall Ms. Papers, Legal Cases and Estates, Folder 200)

Apparently Jordan held the property until 1854 when John C. Mercer is charged with "1 lot - $150; lot and buildings $350 Formerly charged to Robert Jordan." (Williamsburg Land Tax Records) Tax records are vague as to when Mercer acquired the adjoining lot running north-south and marked "Lee" on the College Map. The lots as previously shown in the report ran north-south during the eighteenth century. By the mid-nineteenth century these lots had been divided so as to run east-west which means that Mercer held portions of both lots on the north. (We assume that the Blue Bell lot was thus divided at this period.)

Hence, from 1855 (when Mercer was the owner of a lot valued at $1100 for lot and buildings "with $900 added for new buildings this year") the Jordan lot is merged with the Mercer lot above cited and later known as "the Emily Lane House and Lot."

In 1887 by deed of John L. Mercer, per rep. of John C. Mercer, trustee, deceased, and Mary C. Mercer, conveyed to L. W. Lane, Jr. his real estate. (Williamsburg and James City County, Records, Deed Book 2, p. 241.)

By deed dated January 17, 1931, L. W. Lane, Jr. conveyed to Emily Byrd Lane, the same real estate. (Ibid., Deed Book 14, p. 425.)

By deed dated May 27, 1931, L. W. Late, Jr. and wife conveyed to Williamsburg Holding Corporation the same real estate. (Ibid., Deed Book 141 p. 467.)

IN SUMMARY

The lot designated as #61 on Nicolson Street to the northeast of Capitol Square is not numbered on the College Map (1791?) or on the Bucktrout Map (1803), but is designated "Paradise." In 1707 trustees of Williamsburg granted unto John Redwood four lots or half acres denoted in the plan of the city by the figures 61, 62, 272, and 273. Redwood was keeper of the city gaol and held license as early as 1707 to keep an ordinary at his dwelling house. In 1708 Redwood conveyed lots #61, #62, #272 and #273 to Philip Ludwell of Green Spring. Due to the fact that the deed was not recorded, a compromise was made in 1719 whereby Ludwell gave up all claim to lots #272 and #273 retaining lots #61 and #62. Upon the death of Ludwell in 1726/7 the property passed to his son, Philip Ludwell III. A map of the city (that part behind the Capitol) made by William Waller in 1749, designated "Col. Philip Ludwell's, 2 Lots" as located between "Duke of Gloucester Street south, Nicolson Street on the north, the Capitol west, and street to Queen Mary's Port on the east." Upon the death of Ludwell in 1767, his estate passed to his daughters, Hannah Phillipa and Lucy Ludwell. The division of Ludwell's estate took place in 1770 - William Lee, husband of Hannah, and John Paradise, husband of Lucy, coming into lots in Williamsburg: lot #61, was one lot assigned to Paradise: "the tenement where Peter Powell now lives adjoining the Blue Bell tenement." In 1779 the Paradise lot (#61) is described as "the third in possession of Peter Many (houses and lots) on the street leading to Capitol Landing Road & adjoining the Lot of William Lee, Esqr." The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a small building west of an inclosed area on line with the back street [Nicolson]. No other buildings appear on the lot. The Williamsburg Land Tax Records are vague as to property ownership of the Paradise property but it appears that the Paradise property was held 11 together until ca. 1831. At that date Robert Jordan came into this lot holding it until 1854 when he conveyed to John C. Mercer: "The lot and buildings $350 Formerly charged to Robert Jordan."

There apparently was no building of great value on the property during Jordan's ownership. In 1887 John L. Mercer per rep. of John C. Mercer, deceased, conveyed property to L. W. Lane, Jr. - such property having been acquired by John C. Mercer some time previously. In 1931 L. W. Lane, Jr. and wife conveyed the- same property to Williamsburg Holding Corporation.

Illustration #1

Photostat Copy f The Williamsburg Plat in "Williamsburg, the Old Colonial Capitol" by Lyon G. Tyler

Illustration #2
N0TES ON PHILIP LUDWELL II, PHILIP LUDWELL III, WILLIAM LEE

I attach herewith a report on Powell's Tenement (Colonial Lot #61, Block 8) prepared by Mary Stephenson.