Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

On May 15, 1713, the Trustees for building of the City of Williamsburg granted two lots of land on the north side of Duke of Gloucester Street (lots #57 and #58), to Francis Sharp.¹ (York Co. Records, Deeds & Bonds, III, 1.) Evidently Sharp failed to comply with the building clause in the deed - that a house be erected on each lot within 24 months - for the lots reverted to the trustees. The same lots were again conveyed to Sharp in 1717:

May 2, 1717 Trustees of the City of Williamsburg
to
Francis Sharp
Consideration: 30 shillings.

...Two certain lots of ground in the City of Williamsburg denoted in the plan of the said City by the figures 57 and 58... Shall build within 24 months upon each of the said lots one or more dwelling houses of such dimensions and in such manner as directed by Act of Assembly of 1705...[Abstract] (Ibid., III, 168.)

Sharp built on the lots within the prescribed time, for the property was still in his possession at the time of his death (1740).

In 1718, Sharp was granted license to keep an ordinary in Williamsburg - although his petition for a license the previous year had been rejected. (Ibid., Wills, Orders, XV, 180, 230.) It is believed that he kept an ordinary in his house on lot #57 (see research report on The Red Lion, Block 17, lot 57.). It is not known what Sharp first did with his house on lot #58. He may have leased it, or possibly he kept an ordinary in one house and occupied the other with his family - before removing to Surry County, where he was well established at the time of his death. Prior to Sharp's death, the house on lot #58 was leased to John Burdette. Sharp wrote his will on August 14, 1739, leaving the house and lot #58 to his son Francis Sharp, Jr., with the exception of a strip to be laid off of the eastern end of the lot:

In the Name of God Amen I Francis Sharp of... the County of Surry ...Give devise and bequeath in Manner and form following Imprimis, I give and devise to my son ffrancis Sharp the Lot of Land House and Appurtenances in the City of Williamsburg that Mr: Burdet now liveth upon Adjoining the Capitall Square (Excepting thirty five 2 feet to be laid off out of the East end of y^e said Lot) ... I give and devise to my son William Sharp...Thirty five feet out of the East End of y^e Lot given to my Son Francis whereon M^r Burdet in Williamsburg now lives...
[Dated August 14, 1739 - recorded Feb. 21, 1739/40.] (Surry County Records, Deeds & Wills, 1738-1754, 115.)

Sharp's son, Jacob Sharp, was appointed sole executor of the will. No deed conveying lot #58 has been found in the York County Records; but reference was made to its sale in a deed concerning the adjoining lot to the west, #57. According to this deed, Jacob Sharp (executor of the will) sold lot #58 to Thomas Pattison ca.1742:

October 1, 1742

Sharp, John - Planter of Surry
to
Wetherburn, Henry, Ordinary Keeper Consideration: 80 Pounds

…All that messuage, tenement Lott and half acre of land...lying and being upon the Duke of Gloucester Street...bounded on the East by the lot lately purchased by one Thomas Pattison of Jacob Sharp, brother of the said John Sharp, on the South by the Duke of Gloucester Street... now in the tenure and occupation of one Thomas Penman, and marked in the plan of the said city with the number 57. …

(York County Records, Deeds, V, 39.)

John Burdette, who occupied the house on lot #58 when Francis Sharp wrote his will, still occupied it when Pattison purchased it; and continued on the property until his death ca. 1746. In 1743, Burdette was defendant in a suit concerning his boundary line, in which Seth Seekright, lessee of Thomas Penmen, (who had occupied lot #57 in 1742 (see deed cited above) sued him for trepass.

May 16, 1743

Seekright, Seth - Plaintiff
Lessee of Thomas Penman
vs.
Burdett, John - Defendant.

In the Ejectione Firma between Seth Seekright lessee of Thomas Penman, Plaintiff and John Burdett, Defendant, this day came the parties aforesaid by their attornies and waived the tryal by jury and submitted the matter to the opinion of the Court, which is, that the black line in the surveyors plot returned in this cause is the bounds of the Plaintiff's land in dispute. And that the Plaintiff hath sustained one shilling damage by occasion of the trespass and ejectment aforesaid. And it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the defendant his term yet to come of and in one messuage one tenement and one lot or half acre of land with appurtenances situate, lying and being on the Duke of Gloucester Street in the City of Williamsburg as in the deed mentioned together with his damages aforesaid and also his costs by him about his suit in this behalf expended. And the said defendent in mercy etc.

And it is ordered that his Majesty's writ of Habere Fac's possionem issue to put the Plaintiff in possession of the premises.

And it is ordered that the surveyors plot and certificate returned in this cause be recorded and they are recorded as follows:

2a

All that messuage, tenement Lott and half acre of land situate, lying and being upon the Duke of Gloucester Street in the city of Williamsburg, and bounded on the East by the lot lately purchased by one Thomas Pattison of Jacob Sharp, brother of the said John Sharp, on the South by the said Duke of Gloucester Street, on the West by the lot of Rachel Rhodewell and on the North by Nicholas Street, the said premises being now in the tenure and occupation of one Thomas Penman, and marked in the plan of the said city with the number 57.

And all houses.

[York County Records, Book V - Deeds, p. 39]

Pattison rented his house to John Burdette, innkeeper, who lost out in a suit in which his neighbor, Seth Seekright, living at lot #57, accused him of encroachment. A detailed account of this suit is found in the York County Records and reads:

May 16, 1743

Seekright, Seth - Plaintiff
Lessee of Thomas Penman
vs.
Burdett, John - Defendant.

In the Ejectione Firma between Seth Seekright lessee of Thomas Penman, Plaintiff and John Burdett, Defendant, this day came the parties aforesaid by their attornies and waived the tryal by jury and submitted the matter to the opinion of the Court, which is, that the black line in the surveyors plot returned in this cause is the bounds of the Plaintiff's land in dispute. And that the Plaintiff hath sustained one shilling damage by occasion of the trespass and ejectment aforesaid. And it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the defendant his term yet to come of and in one messuage one tenement and one lot or half acre of land with appurtenances situate, lying and being on the Duke of Gloucester Street in the City of Williamsburg as in the deed mentioned together with his damages aforesaid and also his costs by him about his suit in this behalf expended. And the said defendant in mercy etc.

And it is ordered that his Majesty's writ of Habere Fac's possionem issue to put the Plaintiff in possession of the premises.

And it is ordered that the surveyors plot and certificate returned in this cause be recorded and they are recorded as follows:

P. 204 - Wills & Inventories 1740-46
Suit for Trespass
Penman Vs Burdette.

3

[Drawings of lots 57 and 58 with houses thereon.]

Surveyors Note:
In obedience to an order of York County Court dated the 16th of May 1743, I have surveyed the lot in dispute between Seth Seekright, lessee of Thomas Penman, Plaintiff and John Burdette, defendant, as each party directed, that is to say, the lot No. 57 claimed by the Plaintiff and the Lot No. 58 claimed by the defendant according to the above plan, by which it appears that the body of the defendants house stands about 8 feet on the plaintiffs lot. The prickt line A shows the bounds of Burdetts lot as held by Mr. Kerr, taking in __ 14 feet from Penmans lot: and the prickt line B. taking about 4 ft. more, was lately a line of pales of Burdette.
Jos. Davenport - Surveyor City Wmsburg.

In the action of Trespass between Thomas Penman, Plaintiff and John Burdett, Defendant, this day came the parties aforesaid by their attornies and thereupon came a jury to-wit: Andrew Anderson, Edward Baptist, John Goodwin, Jr, Wynne Edward Dobson, Edward Curtis, William Fuller, Edward Peters Edward Potter, James Goodwin, George Holloway and Hugh Orr, good and lawful men who were elected, tryd and duly sworn to say the truth in the matter in issue and upon their oaths they say that the defendant is guilty of the trespass in the declaration mentioned and they assess the damages of the Plaintiff by occasion thereof to 5 pounds.

Therefore, it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the said defendant his damages aforesaid by the jurors aforesaid in form aforesaid assessed, and also his costs by him about his suit in this behalf expended and the said defendant in mercy, etc.

[York County Records, Book 19 - Wills and Inventories, p. 234]

Burdette was still in occupation of Pattison's property when the latter made his will, of which the most important clause, from the standpoint of lot #58, reads:

November 17, 1742

I also give unto my said wife [Anne Coke Pattison] my houses and lot in the city of Williamsburg now in the occupation of John Burdett during her natural life and after her decease I give and devise the same to my beloved son Thomas Pattison of the Kingdom of Great Britain who was born about four miles from the city of Durham and to his heirs and assigns forever. [York County Records, Book 19 - Wills and Inventories, p. 169]

Apparently John Burdett continued to live here until his death c. 1746. Before his death, he offered a billiard table and other equipment for sale. This advertisement reads:

A Very Good English-made Billiard Table, cover'd with green Cloath; the Frame strong, true, and well-season'd, with Balls; and Masts for French Billiards: Also Port and King, with Sticks of Lignum Vitae tipt with Ivory, and Balls, for English Billiards. Enquire of Mr. John Burdett, in Williamsburg. [Virginia Gazette, William Parks, Ed., January 23, 1745/6]

Burdette in his will left to his wife, Mary, and daughter, Christiana, a slave each; to his daughter, Mary, he left money. The rest of his estate, after debts were paid, was to be divided equally between his wife and Christiana. [York County Records, Book 20, Wills and Inventories, p. 37.] Since Burdette was the last occupant mentioned in a deed of 1757 for lot #58, it seems reasonable to conclude that at his death, c. 1746, he was still at lot #58. Also it would seem to follow that the advertisement and inventory of his estate referred to the household goods used at lot #58. Both are, therefore, included:

Burdett, John August 27, 1746

1	pr. stilyards, 1 field bedstead	0/19/6
1	garden pott, 2 wooden benches	0/ 2/0
1	brass kettle, 6 delph soop plates	2/12/0
15	flatt delph plates 3/, 5 dishes 4/	0/ 7/0
3	tea potts 1/6, 4 baking pans 1/. 5 small bowls 1/6	0/ 4/0
A	parcel crackt earthern ware	0/ 1/0
9	china bowls sorted	2/ 0/0
4	crackt do 7/6, 12 breakfast cups 6/	0/13/6
6	china plates 12/, 2 butter basons 2/	0/14/0
3	doz. wine glasses 18/, 2 beer glasses 1/6	0/19/6
5	glass rummers 2/6, 11 decanters sorted 25/	1/7 /6
2	large crackt china bowls 5/, 3 earthern do. 3/9	0/ 8/9
6	earthern plates 1/6, 6 salts and 1 mustard pot 2/6	0 /4/0
2	cruits and 1 tumbler	0/ 1/6
2	tea boards and 1 bottle stand	0/10/0
4	pr. brass candlesticks, 2 pr. snuffers	0/14/0
13	china coffee cups	0/ 5/0
2	pr. brass sconcers 3 odd do.	0/10/0
2	qt., 1 pt. mugs, 1 milk pott and 1 butter bason	0/ 2/0
5
2	glass lanthorns 5/, 1 close stool pan 7/6	0/12/6
14	flag bottom chairs 20/, 1 salver 1/, 1 fender 2/6	1/ 3/6
2	cases buckhandle knives and forks	0/14/0
13	knives and 3 forks 5/, 9 ivory do and 3 forks 3/	0/ 8/0
1	warming pan 6/, 1 hand boll 1/6	0/ 7/6
2	umbrellows 5/, 6 pewter soop plates 10/	0/15/0
33	flatt plates 20/, 1 old fiddle 2/6	1/ 2/6
1	doz. hard metal do. 22/, 1 pewter cullender 2/	1/ 4/0
9	pewter dishes 25/, 6 old do. 6/, 10 lbs. old do. 5/	1/16/0
8	white chamber pots, 2 wash basons	0/ 5/0
1	lead tobacco dish 3/, a parcel long pipes 3/	0/ 6/0
1	gallon and 1 pottle gorge 3/6, 3 potting pans 1/6	0/ 5/0
1	table and 1 hand brush 1/, 6 tin sconces 3/	0/ 4/0
3	old funnels 3/, 3 house bells 5/, 1 painted candle box
1	pipe stand, 1 tinder box and a toaster	0/13/0
1	doz. pattipans, 2 iron candlesticks and 1 grate	0/ 3/0
1	copper coffee pott 5/, 1 copper pott and chopping knife 2/	0/ 7/0
1	stew pan and 2 old sauce pans 6/, 1 coffee mill 2/	0/ 8/0
1	copper fish kettle 10/, 1 slate 6d	0/10/6
2	copper sauce pans	0/ 8/0
1	doz. candle moulds 18/, 1 folding grid iron 7/6	1/ 5/6
1	small grid iron 1/6, 1 iron pott 5/, 1 do. 14/	1/ 0/6
5	brass cocks and 1 gimblet 10/, 1 pr. farrier 1 toaster	0/11/3
1	plate warmer 7½, 3 bridles	0/ 5/7½
4	pr. money scales, 1 frying pan	0/13/6
2	tea kettles, 6 wine measures	1/ 2/0
1	chafing dish, 1 pr. brass scales and weights	0/ 5/0
2	flesh forks, 1 waiter, 1 small bell	0/ 3/9
1	dutch oven 15/ —
1	dripping pan, 1 trivett, 1 shovel, 1 hatchet, Garden shears 1 pr. tongs	0/10/0
1	tin cannister 1/6, 3 square tables 7/6	0/9 /0
1	scrubbing brush, 1 broom, 1 map	0/ 2/0
1	marble mortar 12/6, 1 portmanteau 2/6	0/15/0
2	spitts, 1 ax, 1 spade	0/10/0
3	old canes, 1 pr. foils, 4 butter potts, 1 gorge	0/18/0
3	straw cushions 1/, 2 screens 26/, 1 elbow chair 20/	2/ 7/0
1	meal trough 2/6, 1 large oval table 26/	1/ 8/6
1	small oval table 10/, 1 do. 7/6	0/17/6
1	chimney flower pot 10/, 1 passage bench 1/	0/11/0
1	oval oak table, 10/, 1 large do. 20/	1/10/0
2	pair backgammon tables	1/ 0/0
1	pair tongs 2/6, 9 old glass windows 10/	0/12/6
1	billiard table with sticks, balls, etc.	12/ 0/0
1	case of bottles with brandy and gin drams	2/ 0/0
4	benches 10/, 1 trussel and bed 12/6	1/ 2/6
1	iron pot damaged 1/, 1 jar with tamarines 1/6	0/ 2/6
1	gauging rod 2/, 1 wine glass 1/	0/ 3/0
1	glass 2/6, 1 feather bed, 2 blankets, 1 bolster, 1 set field curtains, 1 counterpin, bedstead and cord	5/ 0/0
6
1	Field feather Bed, 2 Blankets, 1 Bolster, 1 Counterpain &c	5/ 0/0
1	Bed, 2 Blankets, Bolster, 2 Pillows, Counterpain, Bedstead, Cord & Hide	3/ 0/0
1	Bed, Bolster, 2 Pillows, 1 Blanket, Bedstead, Hide and Cord	2/ 0/0
1	Bed, Bolster, 2 Pillows, 1 Blanket, bedstead and Cord	1/15/0
1	Bed, 1 Blanket, Bedstead and Cord	1/15/0
1	Bed, Bolster, 1 rug 2 Pillows, Bedstead and Cord	1/15/0
1	small Bed and Quilt	1/ 0/0
12	China Cups	0/ 3/0
2	pair fine Holland sheets	6/ 0/0
1	pair sheets 20/, 1 pr. Do., 12/, 1 pair Do., 12/	2/ 4/0
1	pair Do. 12/, 1 pr. Do. 20/, 1 pr. Do. 7/6	1/19/6
2	pr. Do. 24/, 1 pair Do. 5/, 1 pair Do. 12/, 1 pair Do. 7/6	2/ 8/6
1	Counterpain 35/, 1 Do. 20/	2/15/0
5	Breakfast Cloths 15/, 3 Damask Table Cloths 20/	1/15/0
1	Desk 50/, 7 Diaper Cloths 50/	5/ 0/0
12	Damask Napkins 20/, a Parcel of odd Curtains	1/10/0
4	Bound magazines 4/, a Parcel Books 10/	0/14/0
12	Roman Emperor Prints	0/ 2/6
1	doz. Leather Chairs 70/ 1 Cane Couch 10/	4/ 0/0
1	small Oval Table 5/1 Pipe stand and 1 Wine Crane 2/	0/7/0
13	Carboys Rum about 65 Gallons a 3/6	11/7/6
1	Pipe Madeira Wine	25/ 0/0
	[List of other Wines and Ales]
19	[illegible] Cask Wine a 22/[illegible]doz:	14/6/0
13	Dozen English Cider a 10/	5/0/0
19	Bottles [illegible] Beer a 20/	3/0/0
8	doz: Yorkshire Ale a 9/	3/10/0
1	Iron Pott	0/15/0
3	Pails, 1 Tin Kettle, 1 Trivett, 8 Earthern Pans, 1 Lanthorn	0/10/0
2	old Tables and 3 Potracks	0/15/0
3	flasks Florence Wine	0/6/0
1	Jug Oyl 6/ 5 Wine Pipes 10/	0/16/0
1	chair & Harness	10/0/0
1	[illegible] called [illegible]	6/0/0
7	silver spoons and 1 Tankard wt. 44 oz. a 6/ pr. oz	13/ 4/0
	The remainder of an old Sign with the Iron Work	2/ 0/0
1	long Table 4/, 1 safe 7/6, 1 chimney Glass and sconces 20/	1/11/6
	Sir Richard Steels Pictures 15/, 1 looking Glass 6/	1/ 1/0
1	Looking Glass 10/, a parcel of Maps and Prints 30/	2/ 0/0
1	large Looking Glass 30/ 2 Pictures 10/	2/ 0/0
30	Prints and Maps 30/, 16 Bird Bottles 3/	1/13/0
2	Earthern Pans, 1 Egg slice and 2 Trays	0/ 2/0
4	Cows at 35/ 1 Horse £3 1 [illegible] £5	15/0/0
11	Shropshire a[illegible]	40/0/0
	[illegible] Do	40/0/0
	Bell a Negro Woman & 2 children	50/0/0
	[illegible] an Old Woman	15/0/0
11	pr. dice at 2/6	1/ 7/6
	List of negroes
5	Loaves [illegible] Sugar wt 30lb at 2/	0/2/0

[York County Records, Book 20 - Wills and Inventories, p. 46][Recorded Nov 17, 1746]

September 4, 1746.

On Wednesday the 19th of this Instant, will be Sold to the highest Bidder, (next Door to Mr. Prentis's, in Williamsburg,) all Sorts of Houshold Goods, and Kitchen Furniture; also Horses, Cows, a good Billiard Table, well furnish'd with Sticks and Balls, a Quantity of choice old Madeira Wine, and 7 old Barbados Rum, Ale Arrack, and several other Sorts of Liquors. Likewise a very good Two-wheel'd Chaise, with Harness for two Horses;it being the personal Estate of Mr. John Burdett, deceas'd.…
Christiana Burdett,
Administratrix

Virginia Gazette, William Parks, Ed.]

Burdette's Ordinary has sometimes been given the name "The Sign of Edinburgh Castle." The basis for this is two items in the inventory of Thomas Pattison, owner, and John Burdette, leaseholder. Respectively, they are: "The sign of Edinburgh Castle with the irons etc. 2/ 0/0." [York County Records, Book 19 - Wills and Inventories, pp. 177-179] "The remainder of an old sign with the iron work 2/ 0/0." [York County Records, Book 20 - Wills, Inventories, p. 46] See note on page 13 concerning this..

Between the death of Burdette, about 1746, and the sale by Thomas Pattison to Benjamin Waller on May 1, 1752, the use made of lot #58 is not known. Nor is there any proof that Waller occupied the house. Apparently eleven years had passed since the house had been occupied. This undertainty is due to the wording of the deed by which Waller leased the house to John Webb.

March 5, 1757

Waller, his wife
to
Webb, John Pearson - Gent.
Consideration: 275 pounds.

One messuage House and lot of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg bounded on the south by the Duke of Gloucester Street, on the East by the Capitol Square, and on the North by Nicholson Street and on the West by the lot late of John Sharp now belonging unto Henry Wetherburn, being the messuage house and lot late in the tenure and occupation of John Burdett with appurtenances except 35 feet square laid off out of the East end of the said lot which now belongs to Nathaniel Walthoe, Esq., which said messuage house and lot were sold and conveyed to the said Benjamin Waller by Thomas Pattison, son and devisee of Thomas Pattison, dec'd., May 1, 1752 as recorded in the General Court…

[York County Records, Book 6 - Deeds, p. 81]

Webb and Frances Webb had been running a combined mercantile and millinery business in Williamsburg. [Virginia Gazette, William Hunter, Ed., July 10, 1752.] After the purchase of lot #58, Webb seems to have run the business alone, as Frances Webb notified her customers:

April 22, 1757.

The Subscriber having left off the Millinery Business, and removed into the Country, desires all Persons indebted to her to pay their respective Ballances to John PEARSON WEBB, and those who have any Demands against her are desired to apply to the said WEBB for Payment, in Williamsburg. Fans will be Mounted as usual; and Orders left with the said JOHN WEBB will be forwarded to
FRANCES WEBB.

Virginia Gazette, William Hunter, Ed.]

Webb never finished paying off the mortgage to Benjamin Waller for the property and lot #58. After his death, Frances, in order to pay off the remaining £150, rented the house and lot to James Hunter, a merchant.

August 5, 1764

Webb, Frances - widow
John Pearson Webb, dec'd.
Williamsburg
to
Hunter, James - Merchant.

Whereas the said John Pearson Webb at the time of his death was indebted to Benjamin Waller of the same city, gent., in the sum of 150 pounds, in part of the consideration money for a messuage, house and lot of land in the said city, great part of which said sum still remains due and unpaid. . . the same being mortgaged to William Webb and others who are securities to the said Benjamin Waller for the consideration money aforesaid, and also by his last will and testament [John or William Webb?] did devise the said house and lot to the said Frances Webb for her life who is willing and desirous that the debt due to the said Benjamin Waller should be secured and paid out of the rents arising out of the said house and lot…

(Note. rents the above to James Hunter for the term of seven years in order to pay off indebtedness.)

[York County Records, Book VII - Deeds, p. 43]

Mrs. Frances Webb, whose will is not ^yet on record, according to our records, named William Waters as her administrator, as an announcement made by him indicates: 9

August 29, 1766

All persons indebted to the estate of Mrs. Frances Webb, deceased, are desired to make payment, and those who have any demands against the same to apply to
William Waters, Adm.

Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, eds.)

There is a gap in the records concerning this property. At some time prior to 1789, David Meade¹ owned the lot. We have not, to date, been able to discover how he came into possession of it. From the above advertisement, we know that William Waters was administrator for Mrs. Francis Webb. Waters may have purchased her lot himself, or he may have sold it to his young friend, Davis Meade. Waters died in 1767, and in 1768 David Meade married his only daughter, Sarah (or Sally) (Virginia Gazette, May 19, 1768.) Meade may have come into the property through his marriage with Sarah Waters, or he may have purchased it then or at a later date. He was a burgess representing Nansemond County in 1768-69; and although he and his wife lived on the plantation Meade had inherited in Nansemond from his father, he may have wanted a town house. In any case, two ine nineteenth century plats of Williamsburg give the name "Meade" on lot #58; and a deed to the adjoining property in 1789 substantiates the ownership:

July 10, 1789
Nicholson, Henry W. and Sarah his wife
of James City County
to Consideration: 20 [200] Pounds Current money.
Crawley, Samuel, of Williamsburg

All that piece or parcel of land…bounded as follows: On the South by the Duke of Gloucester Street, on the West by the lot of William Nicolson, on the North by Nicolson Street, and on the East by the lot of David Meade, and denoted in the Plan of the said city by the figures 57...

York County Records, Deeds VI, p.427.)

According to the Land Tax Records for the City of Williamsburg, which begin in the year 1782, David Meade paid a tax on one lot in the city in 1782, valued at £5. He continued to be taxed for one lot in Williamsburg through 1808—the value of the lot changing from time to time, as follows: 1782-1785 - £5; 1786 - £7-10s.; 1787-1788 £4; 1789-1797 £2; 1787-1799 - $6.67; 1800-1803 (record torn—but name appears); 1804-1805, 1 lot - $5; 1806 and 1807 1 lot "via Waters" valued at $5. As he still owned only one lot in town in 1807 and 1807, possibly the "via Waters" meant that he had come into the property through his wife Sally—although it had not been thus noted in the tax records prior to this date. Apparently he was interested in selling the property about this time, because his name as property owner in Williamsburg disappeared from the tax records in 1809, when George Morrison was charged with two pieces of property: 1/4 lot valued at $50 and 1/2 lot "via Meade" valued at $5. The 1/4 of a lot which Morrison already had was the property immediately to the east of Meade's property, which Morrison had purchased from Charlotte Dixon's estate in 1805. (See report on Walthoe Storehouse, Block/58-east. 17, Lot#) From 1809 until 1819, Morrison was charged with 3/4 of a lot, valued at $55.00. In 1820 he or his estate was charged with two lots ^{to [illegible] [illegible]}

Consideration: 20 [200] Pounds current money

All that piece or parcel of land lying and being in the Parish of Bruton, City of Williamsburg, County of York, bounded as follows: On the South by the Duke of Gloucester Street, on the West by the lot of William Nicolson, on the North by Nicolson Street, and on the East by the lot of David Meade, and denoted in the Plan of the said city by the figures 57, which said lot is at present in the occupation of Ebenezer Ewing and Joseph Bryan.
All houses, etc.

[York County Records, Book VI - Deeds, p. 427]

To whom David Meade, who was in Kentucky, rented his lot during the decade or longer after 1789 is not known. The name in this lot on the original Bucktrout Map of 1803 hanging in the home of Miss Estelle Smith is illegible.

The insurance policy of John Crump and Esther Whitfield, joint owners of lot #57, in policy #585 taken out with the Mutual Assurance Society on February 19, 1802, names a J. W. Dixon as the person on the east of their property.

When Robert Anderson revalued the buildings which he got from John Crump (i. e. lot #57) in an insurance policy in 1815, he described his buildings as bound on the east by the lot of Joseph Hague (policy #1387, p. 8).

In 1817, David Chalmers was taxed for a house and lot which he got from Joseph Hague. It had been formerly the property of James Thomson and was on the main street adjoining Morrison's and Robert Anderson's lots. [Williamsburg Land Tax Records]. In 1820 Chalmers' house was valued at $400. (It is an interesting fact that both George Morrison's and Chalmers' properties were valued at identical sums in the tax records from 1820 through 1828, especially so in view of the fact that the houses nearest the Capitol on the northern side of the Duke of Gloucester Street in the Frenchman's map appear to be of equal size.)

David Chalmers owned the property until 1830, when it passed to George Morrison, "via Jesse Cole, trustee for Davis Chalmers." (See Williamsburg Land Tax records. Microfilm, CWI.) Morrison, who owned and occupied the property to the east, evidently leased the dwelling and store he purchased from Chalmers. In 1834 the property was charged to George Morrison's estate - the house on the eastern portion of lot 58 continuing in the possession of his heirs, and the dwelling and store to the west continuing to be leased. (See below for lesees named in insurance policies.) The valuation of the property changed from $500 for house and lot to $900 for house and lot in 1840. In 1853, Morrison's heirs sold to Robert Blassingham the lot "formerly charged to George Morrison's estate," the property being then valued at $800. Blassingham continued to own it until 1861 (when our Williamsburg Land Tax records end) and possibly thereafter. One late resident of Williamsburg recalled the house as "a tiny, frame, story and a half cottage, occupied and owned by the Blassinghams" ca. 1861. (See Mrs. Victoria Lee's Williamsburg in 1861, p. 10, Typescript Ms. CWI.)

In 1817, David Chalmers occupied the house, and insured it for $825. The policy described the house as a "Dwelling & Store of wood & covered with wood of one story high 30 x 27," between George Morrison's lot to the east and Robert Anderson's lot to the west. Chalmers again insured it in 1822 for $640, the building being described as "Dwelling and Store of wood and covered with wood." (See policies #849 and #5014, pp. 14-15 of this report.) As stated above, George Morrison obtained the property in 1830. He insured it in 1834 as "Dwelling and Store of wood entire, two stories, 31 x 27," valued at $700 - then occupied by William Lee. (See policy 7595. p. 16.) Morrison's heirs insured the building in 1839 when it was occupied by Peter H. A. Bellett - for $800 - "Dwelling and Store of wood 31 by 27 feet - two stories." (Policy No. 11,011, p. 17.) In 1846, Morrison's heirs insured it again, when it was occupied by John M. King. (Policy No. 14,401, p. 18.) Robert Blassingham, who purchased the property in 1853 from Morrison's heirs, insured it for $600 in that year, noting that he owned and 12 occupied the building. (Policy No. 17,623, p. 19.) Blassingham still occupied it when he insured it in 1860 - for $500. (Policy No. 21,316, p. 20.) who, #21319; #17626; #14374

The two buildings on lot #58 (Walthoe Storehouse - later owned by George Morrison or heirs, on the eastern portion of the lot, and Burdette's Ordinary - the subject of this report - to west of lot) were described by late citizens of Williamsburg in reminiscences of Williamsburg ca. 1861, as follows:

On the site now occupied by the new dwelling owned by Mr. Bryhn, and the house next to the Cogbill house, there stood, up to a few years ago, a long one-story-and-a-half frame building with dormer windows, and two doors opening on the street. The uptown door was the entrance to the part used as a dwelling, and the downtown door was the entrance to the store once kept there. This house was the original "Red Lion," and not the little reddish brick house now at the N.W. corner of Duke of Gloucester and Colonial streets, which in recent years has been erroneously called the Red Lion.

This old Red Lion was evidently one of the originals. On account of its age it became delapidated and a menacing fire trap so it was removed not many years ago.

Where the house of Mr. Donegan now stands, there stood, until after the War Between the States, a two-story frame house with porch on the western front, which was used as a residence; and in the eastern end there was a store for many years, which had the distinction of having been the only store here for a long period of the War.

The last house on the square facing on Duke of Gloucester street was upon the present site of Mrs. D. Armistead's residences, and was known as the Morrison house. This was a story-and-a-half frame house, with dormer windows. There was a porch along the street; but was high from the ground at the back. This old domicile was evidently also one of the originals, and being worn out in service, it was pulled down in 1883.

(Mr. Charles,Recollections, pp. 46-47, typescript Ms. CWI.)

Across the street from this [Kerr] house, on the site of the present Armistead home, stood a large, frame, story-and-a-half house. This house was owned and lived in by Miss Morrison and her bachelor brother's [?] and so called the Morrison house. The premises surrounding this house were beautiful. The present Armistead house is built on the foundations of this old house.

To the west of the old Morrison house was a tiny, frame, story-and-a-half cottage, occupied and owned by the Blassinghams.

13

The Red Lion Inn, a story-and-a-half house, stood a few yards west of the Blassingham house. The Red Lion was a rather long house, three doors opening on the street. This old house had a very interesting interior, I remember a hunting scene painted above the mantel in the west living room. Like so many other houses in Williamsburg, this house was occupied during the war by three families of refugees. The Red Lion was only a few feet east of the house in which I now live.

(Mrs. Victoria Lee,Williamsburg in 1861, pp. 10-11, Typescript Ms. CWI.)

NOTE RE USE OF SIGN "EDINBURGH CASTLE" ON BUILDING - 1951:

John Burdette occupied the house on the western portion of lot #58 prior to the death of its original owner, Francis Sharp, who noted in his will, dated August 14, 1739, that the lot, house, and appurtenances "Adjoining the Capitall Square" were then occupied by "Mr: Burdet." The property continued in Burdette's occupancy until his own death ca. 1746; although Sharp's son and executor, Jacob Sharp, sold it to "one Thomas Pattison" ca. 1742. (See page 2 of this report.) Evidently Burdette continued to lease the property from Pattison, who noted in his will, written in November, 1742, that it was "now in the occupation of John Burdette." (See page 3 of report.) Pattison died sometime in 1742 or early in 1743, for the inventory taken of his estate was admitted to record in February 1742/3. Among his personal property was listed: "The sign of Edinburgh Castle with the irons etc." valued at £2/0/0. John Burdette died sometime in 1746, and an inventory of his estate, made in August of that year, listed among his possessions: "The remainder of an old sign with the iron work" valued at £2/0/0.

No advertisements have been found for Burdette's Ordinary under any name at all in the Virginia Gazette. However, some have felt that John Burdette - although he conducted an ordinary prior to Pattison's connection with the property - may have purchased the sign from Pattison, or from his estate, after Pattison purchased the property about 1742, shortly before his death. On that basis, some of the members of the Department of Interpretation have felt justified in placing the reproduction of an "Edinburgh Castle" sign in front of Burdette's Ordinary. MG

Appendix i