Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

James Galt House - No. 11

"On its original site it was the house of James Galt." Proof: Tyler in Williamsburg writes that the buildings on the Lots where the Insane Hospital now stands were destroyed by fire in 1885. The only building left was "a small frame house, within the grounds, formerly the residence of Superintendent James Galt."(Page 244)

Mrs. Victoria Lee in Williamsburg in 1861 writes:

Back of the Main Building [of the Eastern State Hospital] was a small frame, story and a half cottage known as the Galt House. I remember this house very well because I lived there for seven or eight years. It vas built an a hill with deep cellars. Two stone steps led to the front door. This house at that time did not have the small porch that it now has since its restoration.(Page 4)

Mr. Charles states in his Recollections that

The old and well preserved story and half building with basement and dormer windows, now on hospital grounds southwest of the infirmary, was once the home of the "Galts", and faced them on Ireland Street.(Page 25)

James Galt's position in the "Hospital for Lunatics, Idiots, & other Persons of unsound Mind" was always that of "keeper" of the asylum. (Tyler's Quarterly, Vol. II, p. 177; Calendar of State Papers, Vol. III, p. 558) Dr. Brown of the Astern State Hospital says that Galt's duties corresponded to those of a steward. (Telephone conversation, April 12, 1940)

To James Galt was issued a warrant on October 4, 1777, for £13.7.0 as "Lieut., for pay of his Comp'y Williamsburg Militia."(Virginia Magazine, Vol. VIII, p. 307)

This military service may explain his being called "late keeper" in 1779 at which time the Court of Directors petitioned the Virginia Assembly in his favor. Galt had threatened to resign his office as keeper of the Lunatic Hospital and was persuaded to keep it by the Directors on condition that they petition in his behalf. The petition was marked "Declared reasonable." (Tyler's Quarterly, Vol. II, p. 177) Perhaps his financial condition 2 explains the following advertisement:

April 9, 1779

The subscriber has for sale, two tenements in Williamsburg, which nearly joins Mr. John Saunder's. Also a complete watch engine. I will take for them the emissions of May 20, 1777, and April 11, 1776.
JAMES GALT (Virginia Gazette, Dixon and Nicolson)

The Hospital was closed at some time during the American Revolution--one writer says for lack of funds. (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. VIII (1), p. 260) It was certainly closed in November 1781. John de Sigueyra, the physician of the hospital, wrote on January 15, 1784 to Governor Harrison "I must acquaint you, that from the October Session of Assembly in 1769 to nov: 1781 the Hospital for Lunaticks being then broke up, I have not received my salary......."(Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. III, p. 555)

Further proof of the closing of the hospital during the American Revolution follows:

October 13, 1766

The Court of Directors have at length effected the repairs of the Hospital for Lunatics, &c., and put it in proper Condition to receive some unhappy Patients who have long suffered for want of this humane Asylum............ (Ibid., Letter from Dudley Digges to Hon. J. Ambler, Esq., Vol. IV, p.178)

James Galt returned to his post at the Hospital after the war. Proof: Dudley Digges, Director, wrote the Governor asking that the Auditor pay James Galt £150 "on account of the said Hospital". (Calendar of State Papers, Vol. III, p. 612, September 29, 1784) James Galt was still connected with the hospital in 1786. (Ibid.,. Vol. IV, p. 137) A Galt, presumably James Galt, was still there in August 14, 1800. ("Mr. _______ is situated in the most commodious and agreeable part of that very incommodious and disagreeable 3 place, the Hospital. Mr. Galt the keeper, is a man of much humanity". Chapman Brown to David Watson, Williamsburg, in Virginia Magazine, Vol. XXIX, pp. 271-2) Dr. Brown of the hospital said that James Galt died on December 8, 1800. James Galt's name appears an the James City County Tax Records for 1797 but does not appear in 1801.

He is listed as one of the proprietors of lots in Williamsburg in 1783. (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XI (1), p. 114) He was taxed in 1783 for five tithable slaves, four slaves under sixteen and two wheels. (Ibid., Vol. XXIII, p. 136) In the census of 1790, which listed Virginia head families in 1782, he was shown as being responsible for four white persons and eleven slaves. (Virginia State Library, Archives Department)

In the James City County Tax Records of 1791, he had ¾ of a lot; in 1797, 1/3 of a lot; in 1801 and 1806 his name is not listed; in 1810 and 1812, T. William Galt had 2 lots; in 1817, 1818 and 1819, 3 lots; in 1820, 2 lots, on one a house valued at $525; from 1825 on, 3 lots; in 1830, and in 1835, William T. Galt's Estate was taxed for 3 lots. In 1837, Mary A. Galt came into possession of one lot via Sheriff of James City heretofore charged to the estate of Wm. Galt. (Williamsburg Land Transfers in Virginia State Library) In 1838, 1840 and 1847 she was taxed for this lot. In 1854 it was listed as Mary Galt's estate. (James City County Tax Records, p. 129) In 1829-30, her son, William T. Galt, was a student at William and Mary. (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. III (2), p. 167) The Galt house may have belonged to the Galts or may have been furnished by the Hospital.

James Galt was a treasurer of the Williamsburg Lodge of Masons, 1776-78. (Ibid., Vol. I (1), pp. 15-16)

James Galt was succeeded as keeper by his son, William T. Galt, 4 who served from 1800 to 1826. (Secondary source only: William and Mary Quarterly, Vol VIII (1), p. 260) Dr. Brown confirms this statement and says that both father and son died in office.

Three physicians, relatives of James Galt and William T. Galt, served the hospital as physicians. They were Dr. John Minson Galt, Dr. Alexander Dickie Galt and Dr. John Minson Galt. (Ibid., Vol, VIII (1), pp. 259-60) Their medical service to the hospital extended from 1785 to 1862. (Ibid.; statements by Dr. Brown) An entry in Harriete Cary's Diary, May 26, 1862:

Since Dr. Galt's death a Yankee has been appointed his successor which was but the beginning of a complete revolution in the Asylum government-with the exception of steward and one of the inferior officers, who have been retained for some reason. (Tyler's Quarterly, Vol. IX, pp.113-114)

The writer does not know what other members of the Galt family occupied the Galt house. Nor could any proof be found-thought this does not mean non-existence-of the house being spoken of as the "Keeper's House".