Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

It appears from the records that William Byrd of Charles City County was the first owner of lot 22, although this fact cannot be stated with complete certainty. William Bird of Charles City County had purchased lot 24 from James Shields, taylor in 1707. (York County Records, Deeds, Book II, p. 234)

When James Sheils [sic] on January 24, 1707 deeded lot 25 to John Marott, he located it next to "the lot formerly sold be the said James Sheils to William Bird, Esq.". (Ibid., Book II, p. 262) If Byrd had three contiguous lots on the south side of the Duke of Gloucester Street, as will appear below, then those lots must have been 22, 23, and 24. Just when and how he got the other two lots is not shown by the records on hand.

In 1738, Benjamin Harrison deeded Henry Wetherburn lots 21 and 22. (York County Records, Deeds, Book IV, p. 450) Since Wetherburn renewed his license to keep an ordinary in 1739, (York County Records, Wills, Inventories, Book XVIII, p. 589) it is reasonable to believe that he used these lots for that purpose.

Another gap in ownership comes between 1738 and 1749. On February 26, 1749, James Crosby, merchant of Glasgow deeds to Arch'd Buchanan & Co. merchant of Glasgow, 3 lots on one of which was a dwelling-house and kitchen, upon the middle lot a store-house, and upon the other lot a warehouse and stable all lying contiguous on South side of Main Street opposite Rawley Tavern (numbers not given) which formerly belonged to the late Colonel William Bird of Charles City County. (York County Records, Book V, p. 393)

A "Mr. Crosbie merchant" was located by Alexander Finnie, as next door, when he advertised his wigs in 1745. (Virginia , William Parks, July 5, 1745) The fact that no money consideration was named for the deed would seem to indicate that the Scotch merchants had taken a mortgage on his property as security for debts. This seems to have been the practice according to a letter of Francis Jerdone's. (December 14, 1754 printed in William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XIV (1), pp. 141-144)

Ownership to the lot continues to be shadowy through the 5th, 6th and 7th decades of the eighteenth century. The Scotch merchants employed lawyers who disposed of the lot, first to Kenneth McKenzie. When McKenzie died, Peter Scott, purpose unknown, brought suit for the lot against McKenzie's widow as follows:

June 20, 1757

Your Orators further show unto your Worships, that the said Kenneth McKenzie some short time before his death having purchased the House and lot in his will mentioned of Hugh Blackburn and John Hyndman, attornies in fact for 2 Andrew, Archibald Buchanan and Company, merchants in Glasgow for the consideration of _________ did together with one ___________ his security enter into a Bond for the payment of the said sum of money and did at the same time receive of the said Hugh Blackburn and John Hyndman a certain writing obligatory with a condition more-under written that they should when required execute such deed or deeds as should be thought sufficient to give the said Kenneth McKenzie, a good title to the said house and lot, but the said Kenneth departed this life before the said deeds were executed. Peter Scott
v.
Joanna McKenzie - widow (Land Causes, card 957. Hyndman & Company were merchants in London. [Virginia Magazine, Vol. VIII, p. 332; Vol. XII, p. 2, see also Mason, Norton & Sons, p. 416] Hugh Blackburn's name is not in Swem's Index.)

Just when lot 22 passed into the hands of Richard Charlton is not yet ascertainable. Nor can one say what other lots in Williamsburg in James City County he owned. He advertised his coffee shop in the Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon) on June 25, 1767. In a deed of 1784 lot 22 can be traced from Richard Charlton to his son Edward Charlton to William Trebell to John Minson Galt, trustee. (York County Records, Deeds, Book VI, p. 207)

Charlton kept a tavern frequented as late as 1774 by so distinguished a man as George Washington. (Fitzpatrick, John C., George Washington, Colonial Traveller, p. 360) Tickets for the "Beggar's Opera" and the "Sham Doctor", entertainments given on the same evening could be bought "at Mr. Charlton's". (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, May 26, 1768)

As was the custom of Williamsburg tavern-keepers, Charlton furnished a lot or pasturage for the safe-keeping of ^{the horses of} this lodgers. This practice would seem to be the root of the following advertisements:

April 25, 1776

STRAYED, or STOLEN, from Williamsburg, about three Weeks ago, a DARK BAY MARE,... Whoever conveys the said Mare to Mr. Richard Charleton in Williamsburg, or to my Plantation in King William shall be handsomely rewarded by
THOMAS ELLIOTE (Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Hunter, April 27, 1776)

August 9, 1776

STRAYED or STOLEN the 3d instant, from Mr. Richard Charlton's lot, a sorrel horse... Whoever will bring the 3 said horse to Mr. Charlton's shall have 40s. reward.
THOMAS ELLIOT,
Lieutenant-colonel to the 6th regiment. (Ibid., Alexander Purdie, August 9, 1776)

October 11, 1776

BROKE out of Mr. Richard Charlton's pasture, in this city, a bay horse...Any person who delivers the said horse to Mr. Richard Charlton, or to me in Richmond town, shall have 10s. reward.
ZACHARIAH ROWLAND (Ibid., Alexander Purdie, October 11, 1776)

Charlton was interested in the wig-selling business. On December 20, 1770, Landon Carter paid "Richard Charlton £4 for a wig". (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XIII (1), p. 52)

Charlton formed a partnership with James Nichols for the wig-making and barbering business, but the alliance did not stand the test of time as the following advertisements show:

June 14, 1776

WANTED, a journeyman BARBER, who is a steady light shaver. Such a person will have good encouragement from
CHARLTON & NICHOLS (Virginia Gazette, Alexander Purdie, June 14, 1776)

November 22, 1776

I BEG leave to inform the publick, that ever since the 22d of April 1776 Mr. Richard Charlton has not been concerned in the shop carried on by the subscriber in this city, notwithstanding the advertisement since the above date which did signify we were in partnership, but he, not coming up with any part of his agreement, causes the partnership to be void. Therefore desire all who are indebted to the shop since the above date to pay only to me, or my orders.
JAMES NICHOLS (Ibid., Alexander Purdie, November 22, 1776)

It is impossible on account of the niggardly description to say whether the ship was located as an adjunct to the tavern or on another street.

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Two advertisements seem to indicate that Charlton lived on the back street ^{may also mean "back of"}. The first may mean that Charlton's establishment [if on the south side of Duke of Gloucester] was so well known that a person on the back spoke of being "opposite to Mr. Charlton's" when he really meant "opposite the back of Mr. Charlton's lot". The first reads

January 7, 1775

ROBERT GILBERT,
SHOEMAKER
Has opened Shop in the back Street, at the Place where he formerly lived, opposite to Mr. Richard Charlton's, and intends carrying on his Business in all its Branches, having on Hand a very Neat Assortment of Leather proper for Boots and Shoes. The many Disappointments he formerly met with obliges him for the future to sell entirely for Cash. He returns his sincere Thanks to those who were his former Customers, and shall endeavour to render Satisfaction to all those who may please to employ him.

Good Encouragement will be given to a Journeyman who understands making of Boots.

(Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Hunter, January 7, 1775)

On the other hand, an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette in 1777 certainly points strongly to the occupation by Charlton of a house in the back street. It reads:

October 10, 1777

To Be Rented,
Seven neat rooms, in the house, occupied by Mr. Richard Charlton, in the back street, opposite to Mrs. Starke's, those gentlemen who choose to live private and furnish their own rooms. A good stable belonging to the premises, and immediate possession given at the meeting of the assembly.
ROBERT GILBERT (Virginia Gazette, Alexander Purdie, October 10, 1777)

Charlton, in his will made May 7, 1779 and probated November 15, 1779, appointed his wife, Sarah, Robert Prentis and Dr. John Galt as his executors. The two friends were to act as guardians for the children, Edward, Thomas and Jane, until they had reached the age of 21 years. He wanted his estate, real and personal, sold, leaving to his executors the discretion of reserving from sale such part of the estate as would most benefit his children.(York County Records, Wills & Inventories, Book XXII, p. 462)

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Richard Charlton died at Richmond on October 2, 1779 "on his way from the Springs". (Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Nicolson)

The inventory of his personal property shows some of his possessions as very valuable, i.e. ^{These "pounds" however are not sterling but Continental Currency worth about 10¢ - 20¢ at this time}-

1 doz. Mahogany chairs £450, 1 punch ladle £6, 6 silver tablespoons £120, 1 soup spoon £60	£186
20 silver teaspoons £100, 2 mahogany tables £45, 1 desk and bookcase £200	£245
1 bed and furniture	£250
2 beds and furniture	£300
1 eight day clock and case	£250

(York County Records, Wills, Inventories, Book XXII, p. 469)

Sarah Charlton, widow, and J. M. Galt, as executrix and executor, called on debtors and creditors of the estate to settle their accounts. (Virginia Gazette, Dixon and Nicolson, December 4, 1779) At least two of Charlton's slaves were sold at public auction before the Raleigh. (Ibid., December 11, 1779)

Serafine Formicula, with his surname apparently spelled "Formieda, Vermicula, Formacola" etc. took over Charlton's tavern-keeping in the next month after the latter's death. He advertised for patronage:

November 20, 1779

The subscriber begs leave to inform the publick in general, and his friends in particular, that he has opened tavern in the house lately occupied by Mr. Richard Charlton, deceased. Gentlemen who favour him with their custom may depend on his utmost endeavours to give satisfaction, but will not be answerable for any horses that may stray away or be stolen.
SERAFINO FORMICOLA (Ibid., Clarkson and Davis, November 20, 1779)

Whether Formicola had his tavern at lot 22, or on the back street is not clear from this advertisement. He had three years earlier bought 150 acres in the Parish of Bruton from Samuel Crawley which he sold the next year to William Hunter. (York County Records, Deeds, Book VI, p. 16) In 1788, he bought 8 lots "in or near the city of Williamsburg" near the road leading to the Capitol landing. (Ibid., p. 370)

The only source found for Matilda Stewart or Stuart marrying Serafino Formicula in Venice was a secondary one, Tyler's Quarterly, Vol. II, p. 194. That, too, is the only source found for Governor Dunmore's friendship for Formicula and Lady Dunmore's wardship of Formicula's daughter, Evelyn.

^{* Marquis Jean Francis Chartelleux in his Travels in North America in the Years, 1780-82 (London, 1787) p. 153 after eating at the Formicula inn wrote of the proprietor "He is a [illegible] who came to Virginia with Lord Dunmore, as his Maitre d'Hotel" see card under Description and [illegible]}

The first reference found to Serafino Formicula was his announcement: 6

May 27, 1773

I Intend for Great Britain in September next, and hope those indebted to me will make immediate Payment. (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon)

In a list of the marriage bonds of Northampton County, that of Serafino Formieda (of York County) to Matilda Newman wid[ow?] took place on July 12, 1774. (Tyler's Quarterly, Vol. I, p. 203)

If this was a record of Formicula's marriage license, then his daughter, Eve, could not have been much more than a year old in 1775 when Lady Dunmore left the colony. (Virginia Gazette, John Pinkney, June 29, 1775) It is hard to understand how Eve could have been the ward of Lady Dunmore unless the latter acted as godmother.

During the Revolution, a Serinno Formicolo abetted the patriot cause for he was issued a warrant in 1776 for £3 for a gun which he had furnished the Virginia State Troops. (Virginia Magazine, Vol. 27, p. 339)

Serafino Fornicola [sic] was a lot-owner in Williamsburg in 1783. (William and Mary Quarterly , Vol. XI (1), p. 114) Sometime soon he moved to Richmond. There his wife died in 1787. Serafino was spoken of in the obituary in a Richmond newspaper as a "publican". (Tyler's Quarterly , Vol. VIII, p. 69) ^{Johann David Schoep: Travels in the Confederation (1783-84) Ed. Alfred J. Morrison (1911) p. 64 says "Formicola a Neapolitan" kept a tavern in Richmond.}Just what his occupation in Richmond was could not be established by primary sources. Tyler's Quarterly , Vol. II, p. 195, says he managed the famous Eagle Tavern.

There can be no question that Eve Formicula was popular and that her love affairs interested some of the young men at the College of William and Mary. To say that she was "the distraction of the College" seems something of an overstatement. The letters that follow show here as popular and according to a contemporary, "fickle, inconstant, extravagant and coquettish".

William and Mary College
November 29, 1797

Little E. F. has reigned unrivalled here for some time, but Miss Champ Carter of Albermarle has lately arrived & disputed the palm very warmly with her... (Isaac A. Coles to David Watson, Louisa County, Virginia Magazine, Vol. XXX, p. 232)

December 20, 1797

...I know of none [no news] but some trivial occurrence of town, not worthy of Retail. Such for instance, as Basset's courting Eve Formicola. (G. Minor to David Watson, Ibid., p. 235)

March 21, 1798

Little "Eve" is again engaged, and I think, it will not be her fault, this time, if she is not married. Norfleet seems to have her too susceptible heart perfectly at his command. The time appointed for their marriage is the 7 last of April. (Isaac A. Coles to David Watson, Ibid., pp. 240-41)

April 28, 1798

One of the finest [ladies] has lately retired from this elysium. E. Formicola is noosed irrevocably to Mr. Norfleet. On the whole, I admired Eve. She was fickle, inconstant, extravagant and coquettish. But she was endowed with sensibility and a share of sense which in some measure extenuated these qualities. (Garrett Minor to David Watson, Ibid., p. 245)

April 28, 1798

...to close my intelligence with respect to marriage affairs, little Eve that inconstant, wavering little creature has settled her mind and was married a few days ago to J. Norfleet with everybody's consent, I believe but Lewis and Selden's who would rather have procrastinated the matter could they have done so with decency. (James M. Morris to David Watson, Esq. of Louisa, Ibid., p. 243)

J. Norfleet may have been John Norfleet who was born September 20, 1776 and died July 14, 1798 (Virginia Magazine, Vol. 37, p. 67)

June 7, 1799

There is but one event which I think worth mentioning from the old city [He had been writing about the College of William and Mary.]. Eve is going to be married again to our old fellow student - Bankhead. (Joseph C. Cabell to David Watson, Virginia Magazine, Vol. 29, p. 264)

Eve Formicula Norfleet married in 1799, Stuart Bankhead who died in 1805. The latter's obituary appeared in the Richmond Enquirer for September 5, 1805 (Tyler's Quarterly, Vol. II, pp. 194-95); Virginia Magazine, Vol. 20, p. 288, says May 14, 1805. They had only one child, a daughter, Elisa. It therefore seems doubtful that Tallulah Bankhead, if she is the "popular Motion Picture Actress" referred to, could have been a descendant of the Bankhead-Formicula marriage.

Eve seems to have married as her third husband, her husband's brother-in-law, Robert Gilchrist Robb. (William and Mary Quarterly , Vol. IX (2), p. 313)

In 1795, William Russell acquired Richard Charlton's estate. (Williamsburg Land Transfers in Virginia State Library) Philip Moody in 8 Policy No. 125, April 19, 1796, p. 38 locates his lot between the lots of James Davis and William Russell. In insurance policy No. 618, p. 46, William Russell on March 11, 1806, revalued his "three buildings on the Main Street...now occupied by myself situated between the Lotts of William Rowsay on the West and Philip Moody on the east". Exhibit A is a drawing of his houses.

The map of the unknown draftsman (circ. 1790?) shows a Russell on No. 22 with Rowsay on the west and Moody on the East. Bucktrout shows the same location for Russell but contains no lot numbers.

In 1785, in the James City County Tax Records "Richard Charlton's Est." seems to be credited with one lot. (The Record is torn.) In 1797, William Russell was taxed for one lot; in 1801 his name appears, but a poop photostat makes it impossible to say how many lots he had. In 1806 and 1810 he had two lots. In 1812, "W^m. Russell's Est." was taxed for two lots. Then in 1816, 1817 and 1818, a Catherine Russell had two lots.

On the other hand, the Williamsburg Land Transfers show that Rachel Anderson had got one lot in 1816 "via Wm. Russell's exors.", a house and lot in Williamsburg adjoining Maria Moody's. Maria Moody was the daughter of Philip Moody who died November 5, 1811. (Virginia Magazine, Vol. 34, p. 165.) Philip Moody as shown above owned lot 23.

From that time, the information about lot 22 seems somewhat hazy.

Additional information: