Walthoe House Historical Report, Block 9 Building 25A Lot 26 & 27Originally entitled: "The Walthoe House, Block 9 - Portion of Lots #26 & #27"
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1135
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
THE WALTHOE HOUSE
Block 9 - Portion of lots #26 & #27
THE WALTHOE HOUSE
Block 9 - Part of lots #26 & #27
SUMMARY
LOCATION:
This report concerns 3968 square feet of land out of lots #26 & #27, on the south side of Duke of Gloucester Street between the house now known as the "Kerr House," and the site of the "English Coffee House." (See plat opposite page 3 of this report.)
OWNERS:
Stott
In 1730 John Stott, Watchmaker of Williamsburg, purchased 3968 square feet of land from the executors of Dr. John Brown's estate for £35, with all buildings and appurtenances thereon erected. Stott either enlarged an existing building on the property or built a new house, for by the time of his death the property had more than tripled in value.
Burwell
Lewis Burwell purchased Stott's "Houses in Williamsburg with all the Ground thereto belonging" at public auction in May, 1749, for £116.
Walthoe
In January, 1751, Lewis Burwell sold the house and land to Nathaniel Walthoe, Clerk of the Council, for £120. Walthoe occupied the house when it was destroyed by fire in April, 1754. (See George Fisher's account of the fire, pages 6-8 of this report.)
Palmer
In 1759, Walthoe sold the 3968 square feet of land with all remaining "houses Conveniences and appurtenances" to John Palmer, who owned the property to the east, for £60. It does not appear that another house was erected on the site of Walthoe's dwelling in the eighteenth century. The Frenchman's Map of 1782 shows a space between what was Palmer's house (now part of the present "Kerr House") and the "English Coffee House," - which burned in 1858.
DESCRIPTION:
All we know of Walthoe's house is contained in George Fisher's account of the fire in 1754. It was covered with shingles, and must have been built of wood, as it burned rapidly. It stood about four feet from the "English Coffee House" to the west of it, and about thirty feet from the store on Mr. Palmer's property to the east, where the fire started.
EXCAVATIONS:
The present nineteenth century house known as the "Roberts House" was (according to Mr. Charles, a late resident of Williamsburg,) built after the English Coffee House burned in 1858, by a "Mr. Moss, who erected on the site of the old dwelling, two large two story shops, in which he manufactured carriages, buggies, wagons, etc." Until the "Roberts House" is removed, and excavations are made on lots #25, #26, and the western portion of #27, we cannot be sure of the size and shape of the buildings which once stood there: the "English Coffee House," the "Walthoe House," which this report concerns, and the store on Mr. Palmer's, or the "Kerr House", property.
A detailed history of the site follows.
Mary Goodwin December, 1950
NOTE: When excavations are made on this site, Mr. Knight's sketch of foundations unearthed and the corresponding portion of the Frenchman's Map of 1782, should be added to this report.
WALTHOE HOUSE
Block 9 - Part of lots #26 & #27
William Robertson,1 for many years clerk of the Council, was granted two lots in Williamsburg by the trustees for building the City, on January 22, 1707/8. These lots, #26 and #27, were bound on the north by Duke of Gloucester Street, on the south by Francis Street, on the east by Capitol Square, and on the west by lot #25. (York County Records, Deeds, Bonds, II, 267-68.) Robertson erected a dwelling-house on the Francis Street portion of these lots (see report on Robertson-Galt House ), and sold the Duke of Gloucester Street portion as follows:
In May 1708, he sold a small portion of lot #26, forty feet square, fronting on Duke of Gloucester Street and adjoining lot #25, to John Marot,2 who owned lot #25. (Ibid., p. 295. See report on the English Coffee House.)
In November 1718, Robertson sold Dr. John Brown3 an irregular piece of ground, fronting on Duke of Gloucester Street from the eastern corner of lot #27 up to the forty-foot plot out of lot #26 belonging to Marot. (Ibid., Deeds and Bonds, III, 267.) Dr. Brown built on this property and lived there until his death in 1726. (See report on Kerr House.) By his will, dated September 8, 1726, Brown directed that his wife Mildred have 2 the use of his land and houses in Williamsburg for three years after his death, at the end of which time his executors were ordered to sell the property. A very short time after his death, Brown's widow married Col. Henry Willis of Spotsylvania County.
On June 15, 1730, Mildred and Henry Willis, and John Holloway and Richard Hickman, executors of the will of Dr. John Brown, sold a plot of ground containing 3968 square feet1 to John Stott2, watchmaker of Williamsburg, out of Brown's portion of lots #26 and #27, fronting on Duke of Gloucester Street, and adjoining the forty-foot plot out of lot #26, sold to John Marot in 1708:
3[June 15, 1730]
THIS INDENTURE made the fifteenth day of June in the year of Our Lord MDCCXXX BETWEEN Henry Willis Gent and Mildred his wife, John Holloway Esqr & Richard Hickman Gent Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Brown Gent decd on the one part and John Stott of Williamsburgh Watchmaker of the other part WITNESSETH That the said Henry Willis and Mildred his wife, John Holloway and Richard Hickman ... for and in Consideration of the Sum of Thirty five pounds Curt money of Virginia to them paid by the said John Stott ... the receipt whereof they ... do hereby acknowledge ... do grant bargain sell ... unto the said John Stott and his heirs one piece or parcel [torn. —— con]taining Three thousand nine hundred & sixty eight [——] and being on the South side of Duke of Gl[——] Williamsburgh binding on the said Street and the [——] Esqr and James Ingles and the la[——]tor Brown lately lived and all and [——]ldings thereon erected and being and also the [——]ions Remainder and Remainders Rights [—— ... —— to have and to] hold the said piece or parcel of land and all [——] the premises herein before mentioned and [——] hereby granted with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said John Stott ... (York County Records, Deeds, IV, pp. 42-43.)
Unfortunately, one page on which this deed appears in the records is badly mutilated, and it is impossible to know what stood on the plot of ground when Stott purchased it. The words "——ldings thereon erected" and "appurtenances" appear in the above deed; and the price £35 would probably indicate that some small building or buildings were on the property. The amount of land Stott obtained is mentioned in subsequent deeds. (See the plat on opposite page for the various divisions of lots #26 and #27.)
Dr. John Brown's executors (Mildred Willis and her husband Henry Willis, and John Holloway) sold the remainder of his property to Alexander Kerr, jeweller, in 1732 - the deed mentioning details of Brown's will and referring to the land sold to Stott in 1730:
[July 1, 1732]
Whereas ... John Brown was in his life time Seized in Fee of and in one Messuage Garden & outhouses ... upon Duke of Gloucestor Street and being so Seized made his last Will and Testament in writing bearing date the Eighth day of September MDCCXXVI ... vizt Item my Will is so that my Execurs hereafter named three Years after my decease do sell my land and Houses in Williamsburgh to any person that Will purchase the same in Fee for the best price they can and that in the mean time my said Wife shall have the Use thereof And of his said last Will did Constitute the said Mildred then his Wife and the said John Holloway & Richard Hickman now deceased his Execurs ... And whereas the said Mildred hath Enjoyed the said House and land with the Appurtenances for and during the Space of three Years ... they the said Henry Willis & Mildred his wife & the said John Holloway Esqr in pursuance of the said Will and for and in Consideration of the Sum of one Hundred pounds Curt Money of Virginia ... do grant Bargain & Sell Unto the said Alexander Kerr All that Messuage or Dwelling House with the Garden or Piece of Ground thereunto belonging ... bounded on the North by Duke of Glocestor Street on the East by the Capitol Square on the South by part of the 4 lots of John Grymes Esqr [formerly William Robertson's property] and on the West by the Lotts of the said John Grymes and that Piece of Ground lately Sold by the Execrs to John Stott of the said City Watchmaker. ... (York County Records, Deeds, IV, pp. 150-51.)
Stott either built a new house on his 3968 square feet of land, or added to whatever building stood on the property when he purchased it; for at the time of Stott's death in 1748 the value of his property had increased from £35 to £116. Apparently he lived comfortably: His inventory listed five bedsteads with bedding, blankets, etc., seven tables (walnut), a number of chairs, a corner cupboard, a desk, two clocks, two looking glasses, some pictures, window curtains, brass andirons, fender, shovel and tongs, seven candlesticks, snuffers and snuff dish, books, tablecloths, napkins, towels and sheets, china, earthenware, stoneware, pewter, and a list of slaves; besides clothing, two wigs, and his watchmakers tools and supplies. In his will he left his sister, Dutcibella Stott of London, his silver tankard, punch ladle, and tea tongs.1
Stott appointed his "good friends William Prentis and Peter Scott of Williamsburgh" executors of his will and ordered that:
... all my Estate in Virginia both real and personal (except such part as shall by this my Will be otherwise disposed of) be sold in such manner as My Executors shall think best and the produce thereof I give and bequeath as follows that is to say one half part thereof unto my Sister Magdalen Swanton of Limehouse near the City of London if she be living at the time of my decease but if she be dead then her said part shall descend unto my loving Sister Dutcibella Stott now or lately living at the Blackamores Head-Chancery Lane Holborn in London aforesaid and the other half part I give & bequeath unto my said Sister Dutcibella and to her Heirs forever. But if she be dead then I give and bequeath all that she should take by this my Will unto my Neice Elizabeth Davis - the daughter of my said sister Magdalene by her former Husband Robert Stevens and her Heirs forever.5
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said Executors and their Heirs forever my Houses in Williamsburgh with all the Ground thereto belonging in Trust to be by them Sold together with my other Estate for the purposes herein before mentioned. [Dated November 9, returned November 21, 1748.] (York County Records, Wills, Inventories, XX, 125.)
The 3968 square feet of land and buildings owned by Stott were sold to Lewis Burwell at Public Auction for £116, and the transaction recorded by Stott's executors as follows:
6[May 13, 1749]
...One certain messuage Piece or Parcel of Land containing Three Thousand nine hundred Sixty-eight Square feet lying and being on the South side of Duke of Gloucester Street ... binding on the said Street and the Lands of William & Thomas Nelson,1 Esqrs John Palmer2 and James Shields3 which said Messuage ... Piece ... of Land the said John Stott purchased of Henry Willis and Mildred his wife John Holloway Esqr and Richard Hickman Executors of the last will and Testament of John Brown Gent deced who conveyed the same to him by Indenture bearing Date the fifteenth Day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & thirty Recorded in the Court of York County and so being seised the said John Stott by his last will and Testament in writing bearing Date the Ninth Day of November ... one thousand seven hundred and forty eight did devise the said Premises by the Description of his Houses in Williamsburgh with all the Ground thereunto belonging unto his said Executors ... in Trust to be by them Sold ... for the Purposes mentioned in his said Will AND WHEREAS Lewis Burwell purchased the said Premises at Public Auction being the highest Bidder for one hundred and sixteen pounds current money to the sd William Prentis and Peter Scott ... they the said William Prentis and Peter Scott Have granted ... sold ... unto the said Lewis Burwell all the aforesaid Messuage Piece or Parcel of Land and all Houses out Houses ...
Received this Thirteenth Day of May 1749 of the within mentioned Lewis Burwell ... £116 C. M. ... (Ibid., Deeds, V, pp. 288-90.)
About a year and a half later, Lewis Burwell "Gent" of "the County of James City" sold the property to Nathaniel Walthoe "Gent" of the "City of Williamsburg," for £120:
[January 21, 1750/1.]
...All that Messuage piece or parcel of Land containing three Thousand nine hundred and Sixty Eight Square Feet lying and being on the South side of Duke of Gloucester Street in the City of Williamsburgh binding on the said Street and the Lands of William and Thomas Nelson Esqrs. John Palmer and James Shields Deced which said Messuage Piece or Parcel of Land was Sold unto the said Lewis Burwell by William Prentis and Peter Scott, Executors of the last Will and Testament of John Stott Decd by Indenture bearing Date the thirteenth day of May one thousand seven hundred and forty nine...and all Houses out Houses...
RECEIVED January the Twenty first, 1750/[1] of the within named Nathaniel Walthoe the Sum of ...£1,20... (Ibid., Deeds V, pp. 413-15.)
Nathaniel Walthoe had come to Virginia ca. 1740, with letters to the Governor, William Gooch, from the Bishop of Salisbury. He was appointed clerk of the council in 1743, and continued in that position until his death in 1770. (See biographical sketch of Walthoe, appendix, pp. iv-vii.)
Walthoe occupied the property purchased from Burwell, probably from the date of its purchase until it was destroyed by fire in April 1754. He befriended a tea and coffee merchant, George Fisher, who came to Virginia in 1750, and was living on the property immediately to Walthoe's west (the English Coffee House) when the fire occurred. Fisher wrote an account of his friendship with Walthoe, and of the fire - which began on the property of Mr. Palmer in a store occupied by a Mr. Osborne, to the east of Walthoe's house. Unfortunately, Fisher did not describe Walthoe's house in detail - merely noting that it was covered with shingles, and stood about thirty feet from Palmer's store to the east of it, where the fire started, and about four feet from the English Coffee House to the west, where Fisher lived. Fisher's account of the fire follows:
...on Saturday the 24th of April, 1754, about 8 in the Evening, I being just got to bed my Daughter alarmed me with the cry of Fire at a neighbor's house, one Mr. 7 Palmer, an Atty; there was our good friend Mr. Walthoe's house only between which and us; the apartment where the fire began was a back room or counting house joining to a store next Mr. Walthoe's, which was let to a merchant (Mr. Osborn) who was gone to England to fetch over his Family, and by the neglect of his Brother-in-Law who kept the Store in his absence, in leaving a fire too carelessly in the said room, while he staid longer than he intended at a Public House, the floor first catched and then the window curtains. With any tolerable management, the fire might easily [have] been extinguished, ... Some persons ... gave the word that there was a large quantity of Gun Powder in the store, which struck a general terror for a considerable time, and the rope to my well, the nearest and only water within a good way, was broke or cut after drawing the first or second bucket. Mr. Palmer's well indeed was close by the room where the fire kindled, but the Cry of Gun Powder hindered that from being used till it grew too hot to stand at all in that place. The running off with the goods was the chief thing minded, ... till at the last a Negro of Mr. Walthoe it is said, got up (it [the gunpowder] being kept just over the store or shop) and tumbled one of the barrels into the street, but the flames having then burst into that room also, the man was obliged to jump down himself to save his life. This was a little less than an hour after the fire was discovered. When the Powder Catched, the whole roof (covered with shingles, indeed we have no other) was in a blaze.
Between the east end of Mr. Walthoe's house and this in flames, was a void space of about Thirty foot, and the wind directly at west, a strong Gale, so that but from the effects of the Gun Powder, there was no great danger, or had his house been covered with Tile slate or any other material not combustible, it had nevertheless remained safe. But the explosion of the Gun Powder, (the roof then all in a blaze) scattered the firebrands upon Mr. Walthoe's house, already heated or dryed like tinder by the adjacent flames, set his house also instantly in a blaze. Had his house been covered with wet bags or blankets, that would have preserved it, but for more than an hour not a ladder (or other useful implement) could hardly be met with. My Pails, Buckets, Tubs, Axes, Spades, etc., etc., were indeed delivered immediately, but except the well bucket which was secured at the bottom of the well, I never received one thing any more. The Capitol, tho' more than 200 feet distant, was by its eastern situation in great danger of being burnt a second time, the shingles catching several times. But that being better attended and supplyed with water, etc., etc., it was preserved ... whereas, save what Mr. Walthoe gave out of his own Pocket to Persons who pretended to have aided at Mr. Palmer's and his own house, the recompence of the helpers in general consisted with what they ran away with, of the substance of the sufferers. 8 Between the West end of Mr. Walthoe's and the East end of my house, was a void space of no more than about four foot. Yet as the explosion was over, without affecting me, and the wind continued to blow still strong at West, I would not suffer any of my goods to be removed out of my house, which was then beset by great numbers of lazy negroes, calmly viewing the Bon Fire. I spoke to a knot of these, exhorting them very civilly to assist in drawing or fetching water, etc., but received a surly reply with an Oath of who will pay us? But ... Mr. John Holt ... countenanced and supported by many others no better affected to me than himself, at this instant authorized and commanded these Black Spectators to level or pull down my house to the ground, under the pretence of its being for the Public good by preventing the flames spreading farther into the Town.
... This Righteous order was no sooner issued, than these Lazy fellows became the most active industrious people in the world. For in a moment my doors which I had locked or barred, were all broke open, and every part of my house filled with Negroes ... [who] ran away with whatever of my substance they thought fit.
... It is not possible for me to compute the damages I sustained in this unparalleled depredation on my goods ... at this time a Gentleman (Mr. Benjm. Grymes) arrived and seeing the mob so busy in pulling down the house, desired to know the meaning of the shocking violence which had been committed; he put an immediate stop to their outrage ... and stepping up himself upon the East end of my house next the flames with the aid of three or four such hands, stopped entirely the spreading of the Fire without any further devastation.
(William & Mary Quarterly, 1st Series, Vol. XVII, pp. 150-52.)
Mr. Walthoe's house, as well as Palmer's store occupied by Osborne, and another building nearby, were burned. The Maryland Gazette published the following account of the fire:
WILLIAMSBURG. April 25.
Last Saturday Night, about Eight o'Clock a terrible Fire broke out in the Store of Mr. Charles Osborne, of this City, which burnt for two Hours with great Vehemance, and entirely consumed the same, together with two Dwelling Houses and a Jeweller's Shop, adjoining; but was, by the Vigilance and Activity of several Gentlemen present, prevented from doing any further Mischief, the whole Loss is computed at upwards of Five Thousand Pounds.
(Maryland Gazette, May 9, 1754.)
Walthoe owned other property in Williamsburg, and at the time of his death in 1770 he was living on lot 272 on the north side of Nicholson Street, back of the Raleigh. (See biographical notes - Appendix, pp. iv-vii)
9.In 1759, Walthoe sold the land on which his house had stood to John Palmer, owner of the property to the east of it, for £60 - half the amount he paid for it in 1751. The deed was recorded as follows:
[March 1, 1759]
...All that Piece or parcel of Land containing three thousand nine hundred sixty eight Square feet Situate on the South side of Duke of Gloucester Street ... bounded by the said Street and the Lands of William & Thomas Nelson Esqrs the said John Palmer and James Sheilds, decd which said ... Land was Sold & Conveyed unto said Walthoe by Lewis Burwell of County of James City Gent ... 21st January one thousand seven hundred and fifty ... and all houses Conveniencies and appurtenances whatever to the said Premises in any manner appertaining ...
[Receipt of £60 acknowledged March 1, 1759 by Nathaniel Walthoe.] (York County Records, Deeds VI, pp. 187-88)
As "all houses Conveniencies and appurtenances ... in any manner appertaining" to the property were mentioned in the above deed, it is probable that outbuildings still stood on the property at the time of the sale. Apparently nothing was erected on the site of the Walthoe House during the remainder of the century. The Frenchman's Map of 1782 shows a space between the building on lot #27 (formerly John Palmer's house - his store had burned) and the English Coffee House, on lot #25 and a small portion of lot #26.
The Palmer House (now known as the "Kerr House") has survived, although it was greatly altered and enlarged in the mid-nineteenth century. The English Coffee House was burned in 1858. Concerning this property, Mr. Charles, a late resident, wrote:
10.... there stood up to 1858, when it was destroyed by fire, a long one-and-one-half story frame building, with dormer windows ... [see report on English Coffee House]
This old house is well-remembered by the writer, who lived across the street from it when it was burned. After the fire the house now [1928] owned by Mr. Roberts was built and was occupied as a residence by a Mr. Moss, who erected on the site of the old dwelling, two large two story shops, in which he manufactured carriages, buggies, wagons, etc.
(John S. Charles, Recollections of Williamsburg, ca. 1861, pp. 54-55.)
The house referred to above, now known as the "Roberts House," still stands. Until it is removed, and excavations are made on lots #25, #26, and #27, it is impossible to know the size and shape of the buildings in question: the Walthoe House, the subject of this report, and Palmer's house and storehouse (see Kerr House history) to the east of it, and the English Coffee House to the west of it.
Report prepared by:
Mary R. M. Goodwin
December, 1950
Footnotes
JOHN STOTT
John Stott, probably from London, where his sisters were living at the time of his death, was first mentioned in our records in 1730 as being "of Williamsburgh Watchmaker," in the deed by which he purchased 3968 square feet of land from the executors of Dr. John Brown out of lots #26 and #27, on the south side of Duke of Gloucester Street, near the Capitol.
Stott either built on the property, or enlarged a building already standing thereon, for / it increased in value from £35 (which he paid for it) to £116 - (the price it brought after his death).
His house was mentioned twice in the Virginia Gazette as being where Captain Acrill or Mr. Osheal lodged (1737 and 1738). Apparently he had no family in Virginia, as he left his estate to two sisters living in or near London. The inventory of his estate indicated that he was comfortably supplied with furniture and furnishings, owned some slaves, and had an active watchmaking business.
Stott died between November 9, 1748, when he made his will stating that he was then "Sick and Weak in Body," and November 21, 1748, when his will was recorded in the York County Court. His executors, his "good friends William Prentis and Peter Scott," merchant and cabinetmaker of Williamsburg, sold his "Houses in Williamsburgh with all the Ground thereto belonging" at public auction to Lewis Burwell, the highest bidder, for £116, in May, 1749.
Stott's will and the Inventory of his estate follows:
ii[Nov. 9, 1748]
"I John Stott of the City of Williamsburgh ... Watchmaker being Sick and Weak in Body but of Sound ... Mind and Memory Do make this my Last Will and Testament ...
Item. It is my Will that all my Estate in Virginia both real and Personal (except such part as shall by this my Will be otherwise disposed of) be Sold in such manner as my Executors shall think best and the produce thereof I give and bequeath as follows that is to say one half part thereof unto my Sister Magdalen Swanton of Limehouse near the City of London if she be living at the time of my decease, but if she be dead then her said part shall descend unto my loving Sister Dutcibella Stott now or lately living at the Blackamores Head-Chancery Lane Holborn in London aforesaid and the other half part I give & bequeath unto my said Sister Dutcibella and to her Heirs forever. But if she be dead then I give and bequeath all that she should take by this my Will unto my Neice Elizabeth Davis the daughter of my said sister Magdalene by her former Husband Robert Stevens and her Heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said Executors and their Heirs forever my Houses in Williamsburgh with all the Ground thereto belonging in Trust to be by them Sold together with my other Estate for the purposes herein before mentioned.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said Sister Dutcibella Stott my Silver Tankard, Punch Ladle and Tea tongs.
Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my good friends William Prentis and Peter Scott of Williamsburgh aforesaid executors of this my will ..."
(York County Records, Wills, Inventories, XX, 125.)
[Returned at a Court held for York County, November 21, 1748.]
INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN STOTT
Watchmaker of Williamsburg
[September 18, 1749.]
| "1 bed, bolster, 2 pillows, 1 quilt, blanket, bedstead | 1/15/0 |
| 3 tables, 1 trunk, 2 old chairs | 1/ 0/0 |
| 1 screen 15/, 1 gun 15/, 1 cane 1/ | 1/11/0 |
| 1 bed, bolster, quilt, rug, blanket, pillow, curtains, bedstead | 4/ 0/0 |
| 1 bed, bolster, quilt, 2 blankets, curtains, bedstead, pillow | 4/10/0 |
| 1 table 8/, candle 6/3, 1 dressing glass 3/6 | 0/17/9 |
| 1 bed, bolster, 2 quilts, 1 blanket, curtains, pillow, bedstead, coverlid | 6/ 0/0 |
| 1 table, 1 close stool, 1 looking glass | 1/ 1/0 |
| 1 bed, bolster, pillow, quilt, 3 blankets, bedstead | 3/10/0 |
| 2 buckets, 1 desk, 1 show glass | 1/17/6 |
| 1 pr. and irons, 1 table | 0/12/6 |
| 1 clock £9, 1 clock £ 2, | 11/ 0/0 |
| 6 low back chairs, 6 high back chairs | 2/10/0 |
| 6 cane do., 2 old elbow do. | 0/10/0 |
| 1 walnut oval table, 1 old do. | 1/12/6 |
| 1 square table, 1 old do., 1 looking glass | 1/13/0 |
| 1 pair hand irons of brass, fender, shovel, tongs, | 1/0 /0 |
| 1 corner cupboard | 1/ 0/0 |
| A parcel of earthern ware, china and stone ware | 2/ 0/0 |
| 1 tea chest | 0/ 7/6 |
| 1 coffee mill, 7 candlesticks, 4 pr. snuffers, 1 snuff dish 5 knives, 3 forks, 1 chafing dish | 0/15/0 |
| 2 tea kettles, 1 coffee pot, 1 tin sauce pan, pestle, morter | 0/12/6 |
| 1 warming pan and 1 pair stilyards | 0/ 5/0 |
| Scales and weights | 0/ 5/0 |
| 1 hearth broom, pr. bellows, a parcel of pictures | 1/15/0 |
| 78 lbs. pewter, 1 quart pot, 1 funnel | 2/14/0 |
| A parcel of books, 1 lb. tea | 2/ 2/6 |
| 7 pair sheets, 7 pillow cases | 3/ 7/0 |
| 3 table cloths, 16 napkins and towels | 1/ 3/0 |
| 8 window curtains, 9 shirts and 5 necks | 2/18/0 |
| 7 pair stockings, 3 caps, 2 handkerchiefs | 0/17/6 |
| 1 black coat, waistcoat, breeches | 0/15/0 |
| 1 dark cloth coat, waistcoat, breeches | 2/ 0/0 |
| 1 great coat, 1 white cloth coat | 1/15/0 |
| 1 holt and banyan, 3 white waistcoats | 1/ 5/0 |
| 1 hat, 2 wiggs, 1 old gown | 1/ 2/6 |
| 1 pr. old shoes, 2 pr. stretchers, 1 pr. scales, 2 tin pans, 4 candlemoulds | 0/ 5/0 |
| 1 brass kettle, 1 skillet, 2 smoothing irons and 1 box iron | 1/13/0 |
| 2 iron pots and hooks, 1 tub, 1 pail, 1 churn, 1 cask | 0/12/6 |
| 1 frying pan, garden sheers, spade | 0/ 5/0 |
| 2 bottles mustard, part of a bottle of oyl, snuff, 1 brass cock | 0/ 5/0 |
| 1 camblet coat, waistcoat, breeches | 2/ 0/0 |
| A parcel of bottles | 1/ 6/0 |
| 1 gauging rod, 1 gunter scale, 1 sliding rule, 2 razors 1 hone, 1 strap, 1 slate, 1 pocket book | 0/ 7/6 |
| 1 powdering tub, 2 potracks, 1 pr. dogs. | 0/12/6 |
| 1 nest drawers, 12-1/3 doz. watch glasses | 2/19/0 |
| 10 doz. 7 main springs | 12/14/0 |
| iii | |
| 5¼ doz. keys | 1/ 1/0 |
| 30 silver pendants, 9 gilt do. | 1/19/0 |
| 6 pr. clock hands, ¾ yard red sattin | 0/15/0 |
| 2 doz. screw wheels | 0/ 3/0 |
| 1 gross minute hands, 3½ doz. hour hands, 6½ doz. verges | 1/13/0 |
| 1 doz. balance wheels, pendulum and pinion wyer | 0/12/6 |
| 7 thimbles, 3 pr. buttons, 1 pt. studs, 2 pr. shoe buckles | 1/18/0 |
| 5 rings, 1 pair buttons, 1 pair studs. | 3/12/6 |
| 5 clock lines, 9½ ounces old silver | 2/19/9 |
| 1 old gold ring, a parcel tools | 2/ 7/0 |
| 1 bench vice, 1 small stake, 1 pr. screws, 1 small spring saw, 6 bath scals | 0/18/6 |
| List of slaves. " | |
(INVENTORY of the estate of JOHN STOTT, Watchmaker of Williamsburg, September 18, 1749. York County Records, Wills, Inventories, XX, p. 160.)
NATHANIEL WALTHOE
Nathaniel Walthoe was educated at Oxford, and studied law at the Temple.1 He came to Virginia sometime prior to August 28, 1740, when his name first appeared in the Council journals as attesting minutes of a meeting: "A true Copy. Test. Nathl Walthoe, Cl. Conj."2
Walthoe was recommended to the Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, William Gooch, by the Bishop of Salisbury; but arrived in Virginia while Gooch was absent on the Carthagena expedition.3 After his return, on August 12, 1741, Gooch wrote the Bishop of Salisbury that he hoped to satisfy "the contents of your Lordship's letter in favour of Mr. Walthoe."4 Walthoe probably lived at the Palace with the Governor for a time, for Gooch wrote his brother, the Bishop of Norwich, on October 14, 1742:
"Your Lordship may lett my Lord of Salisbury know that you hear Mr. Walthoe lives with me, a Person His Lordship recommended to me. I beg your Lordship to remember me in writing, for 'tis of singular use to me."5
When an opening occurred, Gooch remembered his promise to the Bishop of Salisbury. On October 21, 1743, he "was pleased to grant a Commission unto Nathaniel Walthoe to be Clerk of the Council in the room of Robert Staunton Esqr deced,"6 and concerning this he wrote his brother:
"Robt Staunton died about three weeks since ... My Lord of Salisbury's friend Mr. Walthoe I have appointed to succeed him. it being the Place of Clerk of the Council; Ld Albemarle will not dispute it." ... "7ter 20th, 1743."7
Walthoe, soon after his arrival in Virginia, met William Byrd II of "Westover," and their acquaintance developed into a firm friendship. On March 1, 1741, Byrd noted in his diary: "Mr. Dering came and brought Mr. Walthoe the lawyer with him to breakfast." On the 2nd he added: "Mr. Dering went away but the other gentleman stayed"; and on the 3rd Byrd "persuaded Mr. Walthoe to stay another day. We played piquet till dinner..."8 Subsequently, v Walthoe presented Byrd with his portrait, which hung for many years at Westover.1 Mary Willing Byrd, widow of William Byrd III, left ten portraits to her son, Charles Willing Byrd, including a Titian, a Reubens, and the portrait of "Mr. Walthoe," by her will, dated December, 1813.2
Nathaniel Walthoe owned property in Williamsburg. In 1750/1, he purchased a house on the south side of Duke of Gloucester Street (part of lots 26 & 27), between what is now known as the "Kerr House" property and the English Coffee House.3 Walthoe was occupying this house when it was destroyed by fire in April, 1754. In 1750 he also purchased a "storehouse and land" on the north side of Duke of Gloucester Street, across the street from his dwelling-house.4 He either mortgaged or sold this storehouse in 1759 to Benjamin Bayley, a merchant; but he purchased it back from Bayley in 1762, and owned the property at the time of his death in 1770.5
In 1750, George Fisher, a tea merchant, came to Virginia from London with letters to Walthoe from his brother, "Mr. Walthoe" and his nephew "Mr. Hart."6 Walthoe was kind to this man, who occupied the house to the west of Walthoe (the English Coffee House) in 1754, when Walthoe's house burned. Fisher wrote an account of his stay in Virginia, and described his acquaintance with Walthoe, and the fire which destroyed his house in some detail.7
After his house on Duke of Gloucester Street burned, Walthoe probably moved to property he had purchased in 1751, on Nicholson Street, back of the Raleigh Tavern.8 At any rate, he occupied this property at the time of his death (part of lot 272 on the north side of Nicholson Street). In 1772, the executor of Walthoe's estate sold the house to an Elizabeth Balsom9 (or Bolsams) who offered it for sale in 1774, describing it as being "on the back street, next to Mr. Blovat Pasteur's ... deemed exceedingly convenient for any gentleman in want of private lodgings."10
viWalthoe was evidently fond of horse racing, and owned at least one race-horse, for in 1769, his horse, "Fanny Murray," ran for the Williamsburg purse of £100 pounds, against John Tayloe's "Nonpareil" and Capt. Littlebury Hardyman's "Mark Anthony." "Mark Anthony" won the race, "Fanny Murray" being "withdrawn the second mile going round."1
Walthoe died on August 23, 1770, and the Virginia Gazette (Wm. Rind, ed.) of that date carried the following notice of his death:
"WILLIAMSBURG, August 23.
"This day died NATHANIEL WALTHOE, Esq; of this city. He was a Gentleman well versed in polite literature, and possessed many amiable qualifications. It has been remarked of him, that he never uttered a disrespectful word of any one whatsoever. He was educated at Oxford, and the Temple, and was for many years Clerk to his Majesty's Privy Council of this colony."
The following issue of the Gazette (Rind, ed., August 30, 1770) announced that "His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint JOHN BLAIR, jun, Esq; to succeed Nathaniel Walthoe, Esq; deceased, as Clerk to his Majesty's Privy Council."
By a will in which Benjamin Waller was named executor, Walthoe left his estate to be equally divided between his sister, Henrietta (Walthoe) Marmillod, and his nieces, Mary and Martha Hart, all of Great-Britain.2 On November 1, 1770, Waller published a notice urging Walthoe's creditors to prove their demands promptly in order to be paid; and asking his debtors to discharge their obligations immediately, in order that he could settle the estate and "remit the surplus to his relatives in England, upon whose account I cannot grant any indulgance."3 On November 29, 1770 he gave notice that "On Tuesday next ... at the late dwelling-house of Nathaniel Walthoe, Esq; deceased, in this city, will be sold great part of his personal estate, consisting of household furniture, desks, and a variety of other articles ... His valuable collection of English, Latin, French, and Italian BOOKS are to be sold ... Such as are lent out are desired to be returned."4 In 1771 Waller announced that a sale of "all the WEARING APPAREL of Nathaniel Walthoe" would be held at the Raleigh Tavern on May 25th; and on June 18th at the same place would be sold "the HOUSE and PIECE of GROUND thereto belonging, in the back Street, behind the said Tavern, where Mr. Walthoe lived; and the COFFEE-HOUSE in the Main Street, next the Capitol where Mrs. Campbell lives."5
viiBenjamin Waller was appointed attorney by Walthoe's heirs in England; and in February, 1772, secured the passage of an act in the General Assembly which enabled Walthoe's sister to "sell and dispose of the estate devised to her by her brother ... notwithstanding her coverture."1 This act enabled Henrietta, who was described as being "infirm, and in want of the money arising from the estate so devised to her by her said brother," to inherit and dispose of her legacy as if her husband "was naturally dead, and as if the said Henrietta was actually and really a femme sole." She had been separated from her husband, a "Native of Switzerland or Sweden," then "an inhabitant of Denmark" for a number of years.
Waller handled the settlement of Nathaniel Walthoe's estate with care. His personal property, including household furniture, books, wearing apparel, etc., was sold promptly, either at his late dwelling-house or at the Raleigh Tavern. His real estate was sold after Waller has straightened out the matter of Walthoe's sister's right to inherit the property as "a femme sole." Walthoe's dwelling-house on Nicholson Street was sold in March 1772, for £102. His storehouse on Duke of Gloucester Street was sold in March, 1772, for £350. His "Coffee House" property on "the East side of the Eastern Street of the city" was sold in 1774 for £598.
PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE WILLIAMSBURG PLAT IN "WILLIAMSBURG, THE OLD COLONIAL CAPITOL" BY LYON G. TYLER
ROBERTS HOUSE - BLOCK #9 - LOT #26
May 13, 1931
(Superseding report issued September 5, 1930)
From present data it seems apparent that the Roberts house stands on the site of two older buildings, Nathaniel Walthoe's house (prior to 1754) and Coke's office (1809). Just what relation the present house has to either of these can be determined only by archaeological examination.
Walthoe's house was completely destroyed by fire on April 24, 1754. This fire started thirty feet east (approximately) of Walthoe's house in a store on Colonial lot #27 (Vest lot). Just four feet west of Walthoe's house was a long low two-family one and one-half story house, then known as the English Coffee House; this house was damaged but not destroyed.
In 1809 the former Coffee House was owned by John Coke, who insured it. At that time a building described as eighteen feet east of Coke's house and known as Coke's office stood on the Walthoe site.
It is doubtful that the Roberts house can be identified with the Coke office of 1809 as Mr. Charles says that the Roberts house was built after a fire which destroyed the former Coffee House some few years after 1862. Mr. Charles has been found to be accurate wherever check has been made on his statements, and as he lived across the street from the Roberts house, when he was a boy, there is added reason to accept a late date for the Roberts house.
In representing a building on the Roberts site the choice seems to be between Walthoe's house of 1754 and earlier and the Coke office Page 2 of 1809. In neither case is there much data at the present time; beyond the fact that Walthoe was a man of wealth and importance in Williamsburg and lived in a wooden house covered with wooden shingles.
The presence of the Tilledge house on part of the Coffee House site does not alter the fact that all historical evidence (and there is a great deal) points to the famous old tavern being in this location.
If old timbers and material are found in the Roberts house it is probable that they were salvaged from the Coffee House ruins, or perhaps from the Coke office.
Harold R. Shurtleff, Director
Department of Research & Record.
Report by: Helen Bullock
HB/ab
Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin.
A. A. Shurcliff.
A-English Coffee 1754 - 4 ft. from Walthoes house. Later Coke's house - 1809 - 18ft. from Coke's Office. B-Walthoe's house - burned 1754. Coke's Office - 1809. Robert's house - after 1862. C - Palmer's Store - burned 1754. D - Palmer's house - 1754 - etc.
REPORT OF RESEARCH STAFF ON ROBERTS HOUSE, BLOCK #9, LOT #26.
September 5, 1930.
Mr. Charles, in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" gives the following description of a house standing on the site of the present Roberts house:
...."On the lot between the old house just described and the "Vest" (Christian) lot, there stood up to 1858, when it was destroyed by fire, a long one-and-one-half story frame building, with dormer windows. The front door was close to the ground with just two stones for steps down to the street. (Roberts House)
To the windows on the lower floor of the Colonial structure, there were double "shutters" made with panels like most of the houses of that day.
This old house is well-remembered by the writer, who lived across the street from it when it was burned. After the fire the house now owned by Mr. Roberts was built and was occupied as a residence by a Mr. Moss, who erected on the site of the old dwelling, two large two story shops, in which he manufactured carriages, buggies, wagons, etc.
These houses were there when the Union host marched past, the bands playing "Yankee Doodle", and "On to Richmond", and when Gen'l McClellan made his headquarters in the "Vest" house, which presented then very much the same exterior appearance as it does today."
.(p.54, P 5,6,7, p.55, P 1,2.)
This is further indicated by an insurance policy dated November 16, 1806 for a building on the site owned by Coke and occupied by Samuel Shield, Jr. The building described in the policy is located between "Coke's lot and office" (present Vest house) and the house of P. Moody, (Tilledge) on the west. The building was situated 18 feet west of Coke's office and 3 feet distant from P.Moody's lot.
The house itself, is described as follows:
"A dwelling house 1 story high covered with wood and body of wood, 64 feet front and 26 feet deep, owned by John Coke and occupied by John Shield; valued at $1666 2/3."
A kitchen, a stable, a smoke house, and an out house are also shown on the policy, the kitchen 7 feet distant from the dwelling house and 7 feet from the Moody dwelling; the smoke house 1 foot from the kitchen, the outhouse 45 feet due east of the kitchen and 25 feet south of the dwelling; the stable is on the Francis Street edge of the lot.
ROBERTS HOUSE - BLOCK #9 - LOT #26
Dr. Tyler 7/25/31
For Nathaniel Walthoe, see Tyler, Encyclopedia, Page 351.
For John Coke who was a goldsmith, see William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. VII. Page 128.