Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

LOCATION:

Lot L is located on what is now designated as Block 14. It is bounded on the east by Lot M, on the south by Francis street, on the west by a lot, I [K] and on the north by lot 350. See: Tyler's adaptation of the College Map (1791(?) to follow.

HISTORY OF LOT IN SUMMARY:

The first known owner of Lot L was Jonathan Druitt. Just when he gained possession is not known from records now extant. However, when his will was filed in the General Court of Williamsburg on April 30, 1735, Lots I [J ] & K along with Lot L were named with the bequest that they be allotted to Richard Stayton, a minor. As the General Court records were destroyed during the Civil War, there are no court records for this area of the city. Fortunately, legal procedure relating to Drewitt's property was recorded in the statutes of the General Assembly from which we find that by 1765 James Blair "was vested in the lot denoted in the plan by the letter L." by 1771, James Blair was deceased, and his nephews, John and James Blair, were advertising the property for sale: "…and another adjoining the Lot of the late Mrs. Blaikley, on the South…" The Frenchman's Map of Williamsburg (1782) shows no houses on the lot. It looks as though the Blair estate sold the lot to Monsieur Bushong, shopkeeper. In 1784 he is taxed with "1 lot valued for tax purposed at £1.10." In 1784 Bushong conveyed the lot to William Piggot (sometimes spelled Picket). Piggot was a carpenter. He held the lot from 1785 to 1810 or 1811. Evidently, sometime prior to Piggot's death, he had leased the property to Mary Charlton, merchant, and widow of Francis Charlton. In 1809 an insurance policy for adjoining property to the west described the property as "on Francis and Henry Streets situated between the lot of Mary Charlton (formerly Piggots) and Henry street and the lot of James Moir." Mrs. Charlton took out shop license from 1802-1810. In 1811 John Bowden, carpenter, had come into "1 lot via Pickett valued for tax purposed at $30." He died ca. 1817 but his estate held the property until 1861. Mr. John S. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg during the Civil War," remembered this area thus: "On this and on the site of the present Executive building of the Eastern State Hospital, there stood in 1861, and for many generations before, an old two story frame building which was very much dilapidated, and was torn down. There were then no houses in this block, fronting on Francis street…" In 1860-61 the property came into ownership of the Eastern State Hospital.

Tyler Map

LOCATION:

Lot L is located on what is now designated as Block 14. It is bounded on the east by Lot M, on the south by Francis Street, on the west by a Lot designated as "I[K]" and on the north by Lot 350. See: Tyler's adaptation of the College Map (1791?) opposite page. It is designated as "Taliaferro" on Unknown Draftsman Map (1791?) and Bucktrout Map (1804). See: copies in Research Department.

HISTORY:

The first known owner of these lots was Jonathan Druitt¹ (sometimes spelled "Drewitt," "Druet," or "Drewett." Just when Druitt gained possession is not known from the records now extant. However, when his will was filed in the General Court of Williamsburg on April 30, 1735, lots I[J] & K along with Lot L were named with the bequest that they be allotted to Richard Stayton,² a minor. The records of the General Court were destroyed by fire during the Civil War. Fortunately, legal procedure reached the General Assembly relating to Drewitt's property in Williamsburg and was recorded thus:

[October 1765--5th GEORGE III]

An act to vest certain lots in the City of Williamsburg in the purchasers thereof, and for other purposes therein mentioned.

I. WHEREAS it is represented to this present general assembly, by the minister and vestry of the parish of Bruton, in the counties of York and James City, that one Jonathan Druitt, deceased, did by his last will and testament, which was established by decree of the general court, the thirtieth day of April one thousand seven hundred and thirty five, give and devise unto one 2 Richard Stayton, and the issue male of his body, three lots or half acres of land in the city of Williamsburg; but if he should die before he attained the lawful age, or without issue, then to objects of charity belonging to the said parish, and made the vestry of the said parish his executors: That the said Richard Stayton is since dead without issue, and that it would best answer the charitable intent of the donor if the said vestry were empowered to dispose of the said lots, and apply the interest of the purchase money towards the relief of the poor of the said parish.

II. And whereas Edward Champion Travis¹, gentleman, hath contracted and agreed with the vestry of the said parish for the purchase of two of the said lots, denoted in the plan of the said city by the letters I K; and James Blair, gentleman, hath also agreed for the purchase of one other of the said lots, denoted in the said plan by the letter L; and they are now severally and respectively in possession of the said lots, and have built dwelling-houses, and made other improvements thereon.

III. Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governour, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same , That from and after the passing of this act the said Edward Champion Travis shall be, and he is hereby vested with the absolute property and fee simple estate of and in the said lots, or one acre of ground, denoted in the plan of the said city by the letters I K; and the said James Blair shall be, and in like manner is hereby vested with the same estate of and in the lot denoted in the said plan by the letter L; they the said purchasers paying to the said vestry the consideration money which they were respectively to pay for the said lots.

IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid , That the said vestry, or the major part of them, shall lend and place the money, when by them received for the sale of the said lots, in the hands of some responsible person, taking bond with good and sufficient security, in the penalty of double the money so lent, payable to themselves and their successours, the vestry of the said parish for the time being, with condition for the repayment of the said money, together with legal interest thereon, whenever the same shall be demanded; and the said vestry shall apply the interest arising on the said money from time to time to the relief of such objects of charity belonging to the said parish as they shall think proper, and to no other use or purpose whatsoever,

V. Provided always , That the execution of this act shall be, and the same is hereby suspended until his majesty's approbation thereof shall be obtained."²

Prior to this, on November, 1762, it had been ordered by the 3 General assembly that "An Act [be introduced] to empower the Vestry of Bruton Parish to sell certain Lots in Williamsburg ," and to lay out the Money for the Benefit of the Poor of the said Parish; and it is referred to Mr. Attorney to prepare and bring in the same.¹ In December, 1762, Mr. Attorney presented to the House the Bill.² After being presented to the Council³ it was ready for the Governor's assent. On May 11th, 1765 it was "Ordered , That Leave be given to bring in a Bill To empower the Vestry of the Parish of Bruton to sell certain Lots in the City of Williamsburg , and it is referred to Mr. Edmund Pendleton to prepare and bring in the same."⁴

It looks as though the way had been prepared, legally, for the Parish to sell the lots, that purchasers had been found and strange as it seems, the purchasers had built on the lots between May, 1765 and October, 1765. However, consent had not, been given by the Governor representing his Majesty George III at this date. Power had been given to Pendleton to prepare the legal papers for the Governor's signature &c. The Burgesses did not meet again until November 6, 1766. Sessions to follow make no mention of this bill--so, we do not know, actually, if the Governor signed and made it possible for the Parish to convey to Champion Travis and James Blair or not.

It seems unusual for Travis and Blair to erect dwelling houses on the lots before they had title to same. However, this situation happens 4 later in the history of Williamsburg when private citizens built on public lots and suits followed in order to clear the titles.

By 1771 James Blair was dead and his nephews, John and James Blair, it seems, were advertising the property for sale. Lot L lies directly south of Lot 350 owned by Mrs. Catherine Blaikley for many years. In November, 1771 just two months after Mrs. Blaikley's demise, the Blair property was advertised for sale thus:

[November 21, 1771]

"PURSUANT to the last Will of our deceased Father, we purpose, on the 11th Day of next Month, to sell to the highest Bidder four Tenements near the Church, in the said City, and another adjoining the Lot of the late Mrs. Blaikley , on the South...
John Blair
James Blair Executors"¹

The Frenchman's Map of Williamsburg (1782) shows houses thereon. See: Illustration #1.

It looks as though the Blair estate sold the lot to Monsieur Bushong, shop keeper.² In 1784 Bushong is taxed with "l lot valued for tax purposes at £1.10."³ In 1785 Bushong conveyed his lot to William Piggott (sometimes spelled "Picket"). Piggott was a carpenter. Personal Property tax indicates that he held a few slaves, horse and cattle from 1786 to ca. 1810, time of his death.⁴ Land Tax lists indicate that he owned I lot from 1785 to 1810 or 1811.⁵ Pigott did carpenter work for St. 5 George Tucker and for the Galt.¹

Evidently, sometime prior to Piggott's death, he had leased the property to Mary Charlton, merchant, and widow of Francis Charlton. An insurance policy (1809) for adjoining property, Champion Travis [Lots I & K] described his location as on "Francis and Henry Streets situated between the lot of Mary Charlton (formerly Piggots) and Henry street, and the lot of James Moir." ²

Mary Charlton had taken out a license to keep a shop from 1802-1810.³ She was born in 17--, daughter of Seymour Powell; married in 1786 Francis Charlton who had come from England in 1784. They had Thomas P. Charlton, Jane C. Charlton, Francis and Seymour P. Charlton. Mary Charlton died in 1811. An appraisement and personal inventory was ordered on July 27, 1811.⁴ Apparently, Mrs. Charlton had run a general store.

Land Tax records indicate that in 1811 John Bowden, carpenter, had come into "1 lot, via Pickett--valued at $30."⁵ Bowden did carpenter work for the Tuckers, Galts, William and Mary College and Court House of 1770. (See: reports, Research Department, on these houses.) He died ca. 1817 but his estate held the property until 1861.

Mr. John S. Charles writing of Williamsburg during the Civil War, had this to say about the house on this location:

"…On this square and on the site of the present Executive building of the Eastern State hospital, there stood in 1861, and for many generations before, an old two story frame building which was very much dilapidated, and was torn down. There were then no [other] 6 houses in this block, fronting on Francis street…¹

Around 1866 the lot with building was acquired by the Eastern State Hospital.

Frenchman's Map

Illustration #2

Illustration #3
Edward Champion Travis

Edward Champion Travis was a descendant of Edward Travis (.Q.V.). He owned a large part of Jamestown Island and was a Burgess for the same from 1752-1765 as well as Colonel of the James City militia. He married Susanna Hutchings, daughter of Colonel Joseph Hutchings of Norfolk county. He was born in 1721 and died in August, 1771.

Edward Champion Travis was the father of Colonel Champion Travis.

For further data on the Travis family see:
Tyler's Virginia Biography, vol. I, p. 344.
Swem's Virginia Historical Index.