Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

[photocopy of hand-written note]

Thomas Craig announced in 1767 that he had a license and meant to keep a tavern here. The size of the house and stable certainly indicates his keeping a tavern before Gabriel Maupin took it over. [illegible] M.E.M. April 3, 1944

VA Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, Feb. 12, 1767

THE MARKET SQUARE TAVERN - 16
Block 12 - Lot 12

The land upon which this building stands was leased for 21 years by the City of Williamsburg to Dr. John Dixon in 1749. (Ms. Deed from City of Williamsburg to Dr. John Dixon, July 3, 1749.) There is no direct evidence that he erected a building on this lot, although it would seem likely that he did. Before the expiration of the 21 years, the property passed through the hands of a number of persons and was conveyed in 1760 to Robert Lyon (not Lyons), a merchant and barber. (York County Records Book 6 - Deeds - p. 265.) That Lyon was a wig-maker seems probable from some of the artifacts he sold to John Hood, merchant:

List of Hair
60 yards narrow wig ribbon
…
25 Wig Cauls
…
26 Wig Roses
List of Wigs
…
20 groce of curling pipes
… (Ibid., Book V - Deeds - pp. 545-548.)

Lyon was designated a barber and a merchant in the court records. (York County Records, Book V - Deeds - pp. 445-448; Book 6 - Deeds - p. 265.) The property then came into the possession of Thomas Craig, a tailor (Ibid., Book 6 - Deeds - pp. 382-383), who opened a public house. (Rind's Virginia Gazette, Feb. 19, 1767.) There seems to be no definite evidence that Craig enlarged the building. In 1771, Gabriel Maupin having acquired the tavern and, having enlarged it, announced "the best Entertainment and Accommodations." In addition to his duties as tavernkeeper, he operated a business in saddlery and harness making. (Purdie & Dixon, Virginia Gazette, Sept. 26, 1771.) He also served as keeper of the Powder Magazine nearby. (Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia, Vol. I, p. 137.) The only record of which we know that might have been interpreted to imply that Gabriel Maupin repaired arms is the following:

The Lieutenant Governor is advised to order the Keeper of the Magazine [Maupin] forthwith to cause all the Arms under his care which are unfit for use, to be immediately sorted & set apart for service, and to cause those which are out of Order to be repaired without Dealy --…
… and the Treasury to Order a Captains Guard immediately to attend & assist ye Keeper of Ye Magazine, & the Armourers in assorting & repairing the Arms & Accoutrements for Action --…

(Ibid., p. 465.)

In 1775, he became one of the early devotees of a vogue which prevailed after the Revolution by christening his son George Washington Maupin. (Dixon and Hunter, Virginia Gazette, October 7, 1775.) Maupin's tavern survived the depression which followed the Revolution and the removal of the seat of government. (Humphrey Harwood's Ledger - B-1.) The date of sale to Deneufville cannot be established as 1802. In 1807 a property transfer of 1 ½ lots to Deneufville via Maupin was noted, (Williamsburg Land Tax, Virginia State Library Archives), and it may have been this property. At any rate, it was definitely in the possession of Peter Rob Deneufville in 1809. (Insurance Policy Book, p. 22). Peter Robert Deneufville is believed to have come to Virginia at the time of Lafayette's second visit. (William and Mary Quarterly, 1st Series, Vol. VI, p. 59.) We have been unable to find direct evidence that this house was damaged by fire in 1842, and was repaired. Tax records indicate, however, that Peter Rob Deneufville's estate was in possession of 2 lots in 1840 and 1843 as follows:

Names of Owners	Kind of Estate	Value of lots including buildings	Remarks
1840
Deneufville Peter R's est	---	$750
Do.	Lease	----	The ground belongs to the Corporation.
1843
Deneufville Peter R's Est	---	---	Buildings totally destroyed by fire in April 1842.
Ditto Ditto	Lease	--- (Value of buildings - $2000)	The ground belongs to the Corporation of Williamsburg.

(Photostatic copies of James City County and Williamsburg Tax Records, 1784-1861, pp. 104, 111.)

It is possible that the lot designated in these records as owned by the Corporation of Williamsburg is the Market Square lot, since the early history of this property indicated that it was leased by the city. If so, the records would refute the theory that the building burned in the fire of 1842. Further research may make possible the tracing of the complete chain of title during that part of the nineteenth century prior to the War between the States, and establish this point. The building has been used as a "tavern" during parts of three centuries, being a boarding house at the time of its purchase by the Restoration. (Purdie & Dixon, Virginia Gazette, Sept. 26, 1771; J. S. Charles, Recollections of Williamsburg, p. 41; Deed to Williamsburg Holding Corporation from A. B. Banks, Annie Laura Filbates, James E. Banks and Blanche Banks, Sept. 16, 1929.)

THE MARKET SQUARE TAVERN

Innkeepers of eighteenth century Williamsburg exercised great judgment in the selection of inn sites. "Situated in the most public part of the city" was the oft-repeated phrase of their advertisements in the Virginia Gazette.

Two situations were most sought after, near the Capitol and near the market place. The first block of Duke of Gloucester street contained no less than fifteen taverns and public houses in the eighteenth century, competing for the business brought by the meetings of the General Court and the House of Burgesses. The Market Square was a less favored location, but it boasted several taverns and a few lodging houses.

The Market Square was set aside for the city of Williamsburg in the original town plan of 1699, but it was some years before regular town markets could be established. In 1710, the governor of Virginia spoke to the council of the inconveniences which "the inhabitants of Williamsburg and the people resorting thereto upon publick occasions labor under for want of a Market for Provisions" ⁽¹⁾, and proposed a regular weekly market.

After regular markets were established a market house was needed and a petition from the good citizens of the town -2- to the assembly was presented in 1720 "complaining of the Irregularitys of their principal Streets and of the want of a Market House…" ⁽¹⁾. The petition for the market house was rejected, although the streets were ordered repaired.

Regular markets however, were held in the square, hucksters and farmers selling their produce directly from their wagons and carts. The Market Square soon became the town trading center. It was busiest in April and December when the town fairs were held.

A lively picture of the Market Square during fair day is presented in the early issues of the Virginia Gazette. Prizes were given to the persons bringing the best draught horses for sale, for those bringing the most cows, steers, sheep, cattle or hogs, and for a series of amusing competitive events. A few of these events as listed in the Virginia Gazette of December 7, 1739 were:

A Pair of Silver Buckles, value 20s. to be run for by the Men, from the College to the Capitol. A Pair of Shoes to be given to him that comes in Second. And a Pair of gloves to the Third.

A Pair of Pumps to be danc'd for by Men.

A handsome Firelock to be exercis'd for; and given to the Person that performs the Manual Exercise best.

A Pig, with the Tail soap'd, to be run after; and to be given to the Person that catches him, and lifts him off the Ground fairly by the Tail.

⁽²⁾

Because of this activity which took place about the -3- square, merchants, blacksmiths and tavern keepers soon sought space there. The ground belonged to the city, but portions of it were divided into lots and leased on long-term leases to various persons who built on them.

It was on one of these lots, leased to John Dixon for twenty-one years in 1749, that the tavern was erected which became known as the Market Square tavern. Like many other Williamsburg taverns, this started in a small building which was either torn down or greatly enlarged at a later date. ⁽¹⁾

John Dixon sold the remaining term of his lease to John Hood, a merchant, who sold it in turn to James Johnson, a Prince George county merchant. On May 3, 1760, Johnson conveyed the unexpired lease to Robert Lyon, a merchant and barber, for £150, a consideration so large that it indicates a building of great value at that time. ⁽²⁾

In his general store Lyon offered a large stock of merchandise according to his advertisement in the Virginia Gazette:

November 30, 1759. - Just imported, and to be sold reasonably, by the Subscriber, at his Store, in the Market Place, Williamsburg,
A choice Assortment of Goods suitable for the Season, viz. - Clothes, Duffles, Bearskins and Frizes, with Trimmings; Scots and Irish linens, Sheeting, coarse and fine Checks, striped and chekt Hollands, Chintzes, Calicoes, printed Linens, Chekt and printed Handkerchiefs, both coarse and fine; Cambricks, Lawns, Rufflees, Borders, &c, best stitched and bound Shoes and Pumps. Women's calimanco Shoes and assortment of Stuffs for Women's Gowns, &c, a large assortment of Copper, Pewter and Tin wares, Delph and Stone wares; a large Variety of Cutlery, well sorted and the best kind; Cabinet-Makers, Joiners and Shoemakers -4- Tools and Materials; with a great Variety of other Goods. - also Sugar, Coffee, Rum and Molasses.
ROBERT LYON. ⁽¹⁾

In addition to being a storekeeper, Lyon was also a barber and wig-maker, having advertised frequently in the gazette that he had a "choice parcel of good hairs for making all manner of Wigs, Ladies Tates and Locks". In order to guarantee his payment for the buildings on the Market Square, Lyon mortgaged all his stock in trade.

This included 135 yards of various kinds of wig ribbon, 26 wig roses, 2 working tables, a glass show-case with drawers, several lead cisterns and sinks, 11 mounting blocks, powdering troughs, curling pipes, shaving implements and brushes. There were also 7 leather bottom and 6 rush bottom chairs, a bottle case with 8 bottles, tables, a desk, and several chests; all doubtless the equipment of an elegant barber shop of the period. ⁽²⁾

In the next year Lyon sold his lease and buildings to Thomas Craig, a tailor, for £350, which indicated a tremendous increase in the value of the buildings and site over the previous sale. ⁽³⁾

Craig ⁽⁴⁾ announced in the Virginia Gazette that he had taken out a license for public house keeping, and in -5- addition would continue to carry on his tailoring business. He announced that his house would be supplied with good liquors. He operated the tavern in the Market Square for the next ten years.

He then advertised in the Virginia Gazette:

August 30, 1770. - To be SOLD at Public AUCTION on Monday the 10th of September, on the premises,

The dwelling-house at present occupied by the subscriber, which is very well-calculated for public business, being in the Center of the City, and every convenience to it for a tavern. There are fine cellars, and exceeding good stable for thirty horses, with a large fodder loft, a very good kitchen with room adjoining, a large and strong smoke house, at one end of it a place for people to sleep in, an excellent well of water, and a good garden. There is likewise a very good shop on the main street, which might be converted into three or four lodging rooms; and there is a cellar under it. The house might be made much larger, at a very trifling expense, by taking in a store at one end of it, which rents for 20£ a year. Upon paying 100 £ in October next, the purchaser will have two years credit for the remainder. At the same time will be sold sundry household and kitchen furniture particularly a very good number of beds and bedding, on credit, until April, for all sums above 5£ the purchasers giving bond and security.

The above sale being made in consequence of my resolution immediately to discontinues tavern keeping, and to have my affairs settled, I desire every person who is indebted to me to make payment in October ensuing, as, after that time, all accounts due me a lawyer will have the collecting of.
THOMAS CRAIG. ⁽¹⁾

The house was purchased by Gabriel Maupin, one of Williamsburg's well known tavern keepers. He was the son of Gabriel Maupin, the French Huguenot, who came to Virginia in 1704 with his wife and three children. Young Gabriel Maupin's sister, Marie, married Alexander Craig, brother of the Thomas who sold the tavern. ⁽²⁾.

-6-

As was customary, the new keeper advertised the opening of his tavern in the gazette:

September 26, 1771. - As I have purchased the House in the Market Square lately occupied by Mr. Thomas Craig, to which I am making considerable Additions and Improvements for the Purpose of KEEPING TAVERN, this is to acquaint my FRIENDS, and the Publick in General, that the House will be ready for their reception by the beginning of the ensuing General Court, where they may depend upon Meeting with the best Entertainment and Accommodations from
Their humble servant,
GABRIEL MAUPIN

My shop will likewise be moved to the Above Place, where the SADDLERY and HARNESS MAKING business will be carried on in all its Branches. Those who please to employ me may be asured of being furnished with neat and substantial Work at short Notice, and on reasonable terms. ⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾

In 1773 Maupin acted as the agent for Bartholmew Le Petit, who came from Norfolk to establish a school for teaching French, "that polite and agreeable Language so universally courted in the most genteel companies, in its greatest purity, attended with its elegancies of Pronunciation…" ⁽²⁾

Maupin, during the Revolution, was an ardent patriot; he served as keeper of the Magazine on the Market Square, and in October 1775, when his son was born he was baptized George Washington Maupin. ⁽³⁾

Being keeper of a tavern during the Revolutionary War was a trying business. The numerous soldiers quartered in the town and in nearby camps frequently impressed the horses in the tavern pastures. Repeatedly Maupin advertised for horses -7- "strayed or stolen" from his pasture, for a "light bay mare", "a likely bald-faced sorrel horse", "a large dark brown horse", and a "middle-sized dark brown horse", until January 27, 1776 found his patience so exhausted that he announced, "I will not be answerable for any Horses that may get away for the future." ⁽¹⁾

Maupin's tavern survived the bad times brought by the Revolution and the removal of the capital to Richmond, for in 1792 and 1793 he had Humphrey Harwood make improvements and repairs to it. ⁽²⁾ This included whitewashing thirteen rooms upstairs, whitewashing passageways and stairways, and mending sinks and plaster.

He kept tavern until about 1802, selling his lease and buildings to Peter Rob Deneufville, another French-American, who came to Williamsburg with Lafayette at the time of his second visit. This family had been loyal to the American cause, being warm friends and near relatives of the Deneufville whom William Lee knew at the Hague. Peter Robert Deneufville married Miss Julia Travis, but died without issue in 1809. ⁽³⁾

His brother, John Augustine Deneufville married Henrietta Fayette Bellet, sister of Philip J. Barziza's wife. They had three children. One of these children, Miss Emma Lou Barlow, still lives in Williamsburg, not far from the tavern of her patriotic ancestor, and cherishes a badge given to her grandmother by Lafayete during his visit to Williamsburg in 1824. ⁽⁴⁾

-8-

Peter Robert Deneufville insured his "dwelling house, storehouse, kitchen and counting house" in 1809. In this insurance policy is a plat of all the other outbuildings on the lot, and a record of the tavern itself.

This has proved of great value, for in 1842 a disastrous fire destroyed a block of Williamsburg's fine old buildings, and damaged the tavern in the Market Square so badly that it was practically rebuilt, later, and only so munch of the old material was used as had escaped the flames.

The famous Raleigh Tavern burned in 1859, and its name and fame were perpetuated by naming the rebuilt Market Square tavern the Raleigh Hotel.

Both stand today as they stood in the day of Southall and Maupin, so each is known by its own name; not even fire being able to destroy the record of the history and architecture of these taverns. They stand today, replicas of the old Raleigh and the Market Square tavern.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Deeds. City of Williamsburg to Dr. John Dixon.
  July 3, 1749 and February 9, 1750.
  Owned by Mss. Committee.
• Harwood, Humphrey
  Mss. Ledger.
  Loaned by Miss Emma Lou Barlow.
• Page, Mann
  Receipt for board, febry to Novr., 1786 from Gabriel Maupin.
  Vandegrift papers, Mss. Committee.
• Virginia Gazette. 1736-1781.
  Williamsburg Abstracts, Department of Research & Record.
• William & Mary College Quarterly. Volume VI, 1st series, P.59.
• York County, Virginia.
  Records, 1633-1825.
  Williamsburg Abstracts, Department of Research & Record.

REPORT - RALEIGH HOTEL NAME
April 14, 1931

According to present records in this department the name Raleigh Hotel is of recent origin. It was probably given to this old public house long after the disappearance of the famous Raleigh Tavern in 1859.

There is no record in this office that would suggest the application of the name Lafayette to this building. There are so many other more famous buildings which can be authentically associated with Lafayette, including Bassett Hall, the Wythe House, and the "Ball" house and the Barlow house. Lafayette was formally entertained at the real Raleigh Tavern on a number of occasions, including the occasion of his visit to America in 1824.

After Thomas Craig sold this tavern in 1771 it was owned by Gabriel Maupin and Peter Rob Deneufville, both French-Americans. In their advertisements of their establishment however, it featured its proximity to the Market Square. All the proprietors, including Thomas Craig who was a well-known sadler, ran smithies and repair shops in connection with this tavern.

Bordering the old edge of Market Square, and being close to the activities of the Market House, this tavern and smithy must have been a busy place. If any name belongs to this tavern it is Market Square Tavern, a name which was attached to the building for numbers of years, when the crowds from the market place could patronize the tavern, and also get services for their horses, oxen and wagons.

The colonial importance of Market Square as a busy, open market center would be emphasized by restoring to the old tavern on its eastern border the name by which its early proprietors identified it in their advertisements… the "tavern next to the Market Square", or more simply, Market Square Tavern.

MARKET SQUARE TAVERN
Colonial lot #13, Block #12.
June 15, 1932.

(Addenda to report issued April 14, 1931.)

1792
Octo: 14th	To 25 bush: of lime a 9d ....	£ 18. 9
	To mending plaistering 16/ ...	16.
	To 9 bush of whitewash a 1/6..	13. 6
	To whitewashing 13 Rooms up Stairs a 3/....	1.19.
1793
Jan. 9	To 4 bush. lime 3/. & taking down & setting up a grate & mending 2 do 9/...	12.
		£ 5. 9. 3
	By his a/c to this date....	£ 2.17. 9

(Harwood Ledger C - 71.)

1793
March	14th	To 5 days hire of Jerry @ 4/. pr day & 3 ditto of Nat @ 4/. pr day	1.12.
	15	To 12 Bushs lime @ 9d pr Bush	9.
		To 1 ditto of Jerry @ 4/ pr Day	4.
	16	To 6 bushs Lime @ 9d pr Bush	3. 8
April	7	To Whitewashing 4 Rooms 2 Closets @ 3/9 & 1/6	18.
	8	To 1 ½ Bush Whitewash @ 2/...	3.
		To 2 Bushs lime @ 9d	1. 6
April	17	To whitewashing 3 Rooms @ 3/9 & 1 Passage & stair way @ 1/6	14. 3
	21	To 1 Bush Whitewash @ 2/...	2.
		To 1 days Hire of Jerry in mending Sink & plastering @ 4/. pr day & 4 bushs Lime @ 9d ...	7.

(Harwood Ledger - D - 1.)

[photocopy of hand-written sheet]

Report Raleigh Hotel Name

Thomas Craig married Ann Pasteur, sister of Dr. William Parker, son of Jean Pasteur, [illegible] of the French [illegible] also [illegible] 1704. He was a well known sadler.

Gabriel Maupin was a son of Gabriel Maupin & [illegible] his wife who came to Virginia in 1704 in the Hugenot [illegible] with "[illegible] femme and 3 enfans." His sister Marie married Alexander Craig, brother of Thomas Craig above.

3. Peter Robert deneufville was a son of Robert deneufville [illegible] Jean Cote, was born May 13, 1763 and came to Virginia, with his brother Jean Augustine deneufville, at the time of LaFayette's second visit to America. They were near [illegible] DeNeufville who [illegible] in negotiating with the Dutch. He married wife Julia Travis, but died without issue January 7, 1802. (See Wm & Mary Quarterly, Vol. VI, p. 59.)

DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH & RECORD
THE RALEIGH TAVERN
Williamsburg, Va.
September 15, 1930.

The Virginia Gazette (Miss Mary F. Goodwin's Notes, Book II), publishes the following advertisement which we believe refers to a house on the site of the present Raleigh Hotel:

September 26, 1771 - Gabriel Maupin has lately purchased the house in Market Square lately occupied by Thomas Craig, and is making considerable additions and improvements for the purpose of keeping a Tavern. He will move his shop also to the house, and continue to make saddles and harness.

In Policy No. 970, Revaluation of Policy No. 109, Gabriel Maupin insures the following buildings, then owned by Peter Rob. Deneufville, in the Mutual Assurance Society, under the date of September 23, 1809:

Policy No. 970 - Revaluation of No. 109.
Assured: Gabriel Maupin September 23, 1809-
Said buildings that are now owned by Peter Rob. Deneufville and are now occupied by Peter Rob. Deneufville, and are Situated South of the Main Street, East of the Courthouse Square, North of Francis Street and West of the Cross street dividing Lightfoot lot. County of James City.

Dwelling House	valued at $2000 -	58' x 31' -	1 story	- wood
Store House	" " 500 -	16' x 24' -	1 story	- wood
Kitchen	" " 500 -	29' x 18'		- wood
Counting House	" " 500 -	16' x 24'		- wood

A photostat of this policy, with a rough sketch of the location of the buildings is in the Department of Research and Record.

Mr. Charles, in his Recollections of Williamsburg, says the following in regard to the Raleigh Hotel:

Where the "Raleigh Hotel" now stands, there was an old, very old frame building which was used before the War as a dwelling and after the War as a hotel. The present hostelry was built not many years ago and much of the material in the old house was used in the present structure.

The old house was built on brick work, about six feet above the street, with a single porch and steps up to it. The house next to it, on the west was very like the one now occupied by "Dane & Spencer" as a real estate office…

COPY: Photostat of Mutual Assurance Society Policy No. 970.

[Note: These policies were photostated for our files with the understanding that they were to be regarded as confidential .

"Revaluation of buildings declared for assurance by Gabriel Maupin per declaration No. 109 and policy No. 109.

We the underwritten, Robert Anderson special agent and Hunter Royle and William Bowden appraisers -- do hereby certify that we have viewed and revalued the buildings heretofore declared for assurance by Gabriel Maupin then residing at Williamsburg in the county of James City, in the Mutual Assurance Society against fire on buildings of the State of Virginia.

We also certify that the said buildings are now owned by Peter Rob Deneufville that they are now occupied by Peter Rob Deneufville and that they are situated south of main street in Williamsburg, east of the Courthouse square north of Francis Street and West of a cross street dividing Lightfoot's lot.

We further certify that the dimensions, situation and contiguity to other buildings or wharves, what the walls are built of, and what the buildings are covered with, are specified in the hereunto annexed description of the said buildings on the plat signed by us and valued as appears by our certificate hereunder, to wit:

	Marked	Dollars	Dollars
The dwelling house	A at	2000	Say Two thousand Do.
The store house	B at	500	Five hundred Do.
The Kitchen	C at	500	Five hundred Do.
The Counting House	D at	500	Five hundred Do.
		3500

Say - Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars in All.

Witness, our hands and seals, this 23d day of September, one thousand eight hundred and nine.

Teste:
Ro. Anderson - Special Agent [signed]
Hunter Royle (seal) [signed]
Wm. Bowden (seal) [signed]

We the underwritten, being each of us Freeholders, declare and affirm that we have examined the above-mentioned buildings of Peter Rob Deneufville and we are of opinion that they would cost in cash three thousand five hundred dollars, to build the same, and that now (after the deduction of Two hundred and fifty dollars) they are actually worth three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars in ready money, as above specified to the best of our knowledge and belief. As witnesses our hands this 23d day of September 1809.

I the undersigned do hereby certify that I verily believe the buildings herein described are no over-valued,
Ro. Anderson Special Agent [signed]

H. Royle [signed]
Wm. Bowden [signed]
Residing in Williamsburg.

MARKET SQUARE TAVERN
Lot 12

For records of purchase of Colonial lot #12, by Peter Robert Deneufville from estate of Gabriel Maupin,
See manuscript receipts
Richard A. Maupin, Feb. 25, 1808
James Semple, June 26, 1807