Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

I am sending herewith the report which we have prepared for you on Colonial Lot #56 (the Lee House).

NICOLSON SHOP, PASTEUR-GALT APOTHECARY SHOP & SCRIVENER HOUSE
[LEE HOUSE SITE]
Colonial Lot #56

^obsolete

The first definite reference to the site of the Lee house (Colonial Lot #56) known was made when this property was sold in 1717 by the attorneys of William Wharton to John Marot, who for a decade prior to that time had conducted an ordinary on another lot on Duke of Gloucester Street. The deed is as follows:

June 5, 1717

Jones, Thomas
Holdcraft, Henry
Holloway, John - Attornies
of William Wharton
to
Marot, John
Consideration: 40 Pounds.

All that one lot or half acre of ground situate lying and being on the Duke of Gloucester Street in city of Williamsburg on the North side of the sd street opposite to ye now Dwelling house of ye sd Marot adjoining to ye Lotts of Suzanna Allen and described in the plan or plott of ye ad City by ye number 56, & ye mansion or Dwelling house thereon now standing. Book III - Deeds & Bonds
York County Records
(Pages 188-189)

William Wharton had apparently inherited this property from a relative, Richard Wharton, for two years earlier, Susanna Allen who kept an inn on lot #55, in a deed dated February 17, 1715, described her property as bounded on the east "by the Lott late of Richard Wharton, dec^d."

Whether or not John Marot intended to move his ordinary from its former location to the "Dwelling house" on lot #56 mentioned in the deed of 1717 is not clear from the records.

In a will made the same year (1717) Marot bequeathed to his wife for her natural life one-third of all of his lots in Bruton Parish with the houses thereon and the remaining two-thirds to his three 2 daughters in equal shares, with the reversion to them of the third bequeathed to his wife after her death:

August 31, 1717

-----And for ye disposall of what wordly Estate God has been pleased to bestow upon me I do Give & dispose of ye same in manner following. I give & bequeath to my dear & loving wife Anne One third part of all my Lotts of Land, houses & appurtenances to ye same belonging Scituate & being in ye Parish of Bruton in ye sd County of York for & during ye term of her natural life & ye other Two thirds of my Lotts of houses & the Reversion of ye third part thereof after ye death of my sd Wife I do give Devise & bequeath to my Three daughters Edith, Anne & Rachel & to their heirs for Ever Equally to be divided between my sd daughters & their heirs. And it is my Will & desire that my sd wife have & Enjoy all ye Lotts & houses untill such Time as my sd daughters shall Severally attain to ye age of Twenty one year or be marryed & that Each of my sd daughters as they shall attain to their Severall respective Ages of Twenty one year or shall be marryed shall have & Enjoy their part of Share in ye sd Lotts & houses provided my sd wife do during Such time continue to be a Widow, & from ye time my sd wife shall happen to Marry it is my Will & desire that She have & Enjoy only one third part of my sd Lotts & houses ------.

Probated December 16, 1717

Book 15 - Orders, Wills, etc.
(1716-1720)
Marot's Will
York County Records

Evidently lot #56 was divided in accordance with the provisions of Marot's will to give proportionate shares to his widow and his daughters, for by 1715 the western section, 30 feet wide, and the eastern section, 52 feet wide, were held under separate titles.

In that year (1745) Samuel Cobbs and his wife, Edith, one of the daughters of Marot, deeded the western section of the lot to James Shields, an ordinary keeper who had married Anne Marot. The small fee, 5 shillings, seems to indicate a clearing of title rather than a sale. This deed follows: 3

May 4, 1715

Cobbs, Samuel - Gent. Amelia County.
Edith, his wife
to
Shields, James - Ordinary Keeper,

Consideration: 5 shillings.

A parcel of ground situate lying and being in the city of Williamsburg on the South side of the Duke of Gloucester Street, whereon the said James Shields now lives. Also all that part of a lot of ground now in the possession of the said James Shields, distinguished in the plan of the said city by the figures 56, containing by estimation 30 feet in breadth, bounded Southwardly by the Duke of Gloucester Street aforesaid, Eastwardly by two posts at each end of the said lot, Northwardly by Nicholson Street, and Westwardly by the land of Andrew Anderson, and is opposite to the above mentioned lots whereon the said James Sheilds now lives. All which ground formerly belonged to John Marott.
And all houses, buildings .... Book V - Deeds
(Page 132)

On the same day that the above deed was made, Cobbs and his wife and James Shields deeded the other section of lot #56 to John Harmer, Gent. This deed is as follows:

May 4, 1745.

Cobbs, Samuel - Gent.
Edith, his wife of
Amelia
&
James Shield - Ordinary Keeper
Williamsburg
& (to?)
Harmer, John - Gent.
Williamsburg.

Consideration: 50 pounds.

All that part or parcel of a lot of ground situate lying and being in the city of Williamsburg, and distinguished in the plan of the city by the figures 56, containing by estimation 52 feet in breadth which did formerly belong to John Marot, and other part whereof being 30 feet in breadth the said Samuel Cobbs & Edith his wife did convey to the said James Sheild by even date with these presents, 4 Bounded southerly by Duke of Gloucester Easterly by the lot of Henry Wetherburn now in the possession of Thomas Penman Northwardly by Nicholson Street and Westwardly by two posts at each end of the said lot which divide the premises hereby granted from that part of the said lot which was convey'd to the said James Sheild as aforesd. Book V - Deeds
(Page 130)

John Harmer apparently offered for sale the eastern portion of lot #56, which he had bought, five days later. On May 9, 1745 he inserted the following advertisement in the Virginia Gazette:

May 9, 1745

"To be sold to the highest Bidder for ready Money, About Two Thirds of that Lot of Ground on the Main Street .where Mrs. Rodewell now lives, near the Capitol, in Williamsburg, being a very Commodious Situation for any Sort of Business."

Though genealogical charts show that Marot's daughter Rachel became the wife of a Colonel Richard Booker, it seems not improbable that the "Mrs. Rodewell" referred to in the above advertisement may have been Rachel, the third daughter mentioned in Marot's will and that the eastern section of the land had been a portion of her father's estate originally assigned to her, for in a deed to lot #57, given in 1742, that lot was referred to as being "bounded on the west by the lot of Rachel Rodewell." Book V - Deeds
York County Records
(Page 39)

Information on this head is given merely for conjectural purposes and because such genealogical charts are known frequently to be incorrect. ^{(Also could not the same lady have married twice?)}

5

John Harmer did sell this eastern portion of the lot a month after he had advertised his property in the Gazette, to William Hubard, another merchant.

June 17, 1745

Harmer, John - merchant
to
Hubard, William - merchant

Consideration: 100 pounds.

A lot of ground situate lying and being in the city of Williamsburg denoted in the plan of the city by the figures 56, bounded Southerly by the Duke of Gloucester Street, Eastwardly by the lot of Henry Wetherburn, Northwardly by Nicholson Street, Westwardly by two posts at each end of the said lot, which divides the premises hereby granted from the other part of the said lot now in the possession of James Shield.(York County Records, Deeds, Book V, Page 140)

Four years later, in 1749, William Hubard sold the eastern portion of the property to Henry Wetherburn.

June 17, 1749

Hubard, William
to
Wetherburn, Henry

Consideration: 95 Pounds.

All that part or parcel of a lot of ground situate lying and being in the city of Williamsburg and distinguished in the plan of the said city by the figures 56, bounded Southwardly by the Duke of Gloucester Street, Eastwardly by the lot of Henry Wetherburn now in the possession of Thomas Penman, Northwardly by Nicholson Street and Westwardly by two posts at each end of the said lot, which divides the premises hereby granted from the other part of the said lot now in the possession of James Shields. (York County Records, Deeds, Book V, Page 293)

6

It seems probable that Henry Wetherburn conducted a tavern on this site, for when he sold the property eleven years later, he described himself as a "Tavern Keeper." In July 1760, Wetherburn sold his eastern section of lot #56 to Dr. William Pasteur. The deed of sale is as follows:

July 15, 1760.

Wetherburn, Henry - Tavern Keeper
Ann, his wife
to
Pasteur, William, City Surgeon

Consideration: 200 Pounds

A certain part of a lot of ground lying and being in the said city of Williamsburg on the North side of the Main or Duke of Gloucester Street, to contain three quarters of a lot or half acre, the measure whereof according to the Plan of the said City is 5 poles in breadth and 16 poles in length, and to begin in the said Main street at the East corner of the Dividend or third part of the lot denoted in the said plan by the No. 56 belonging to James Sheilds, an infant, and now in the occupation of Joseph Scrivener, and running thence along the street line Easterly on the ground of the said Henry Wetherburn three quarters of 5 poles or 61 feet 10 inches and a half, thence Northerly in length 16 poles to Nicholson Street, and thence Westerly along the said Street by a line equal to the first course to the said Sheilds line and thence Southerly along that line to the beginning. And all houses, outhouses, yards, garden............ (York County Records, Deeds, Book 6, pp.251-2)

From this deed it would appear that Wetherburn had previously added to his eastern portion of lot #56, 9 feet from his adjoining lot #57, since the breadth of the lot sold to Pasteur was 61 feet rather than the original 52 feet.

Pasteur now subdivided the eastern section of the lot and sold part of it. Retaining the westerly portion of the eastern section for himself, Pasteur divided the easterly portion of that section into 7 two lots and sold them to different parties. The larger lot which faced Nicholson Street, he sold to William Holt:

July 19, 1760.

Pasteur, William - Surgeon
to
Holt, William - Merchant

Consideration: 35 Pounds

All that piece, part or parcel of ground situate, lying and being in the said City of Williamsburg, being part of the ground lately purchased by the said Pasteur of Henry Wetherburn and to begin at the Northeast corner of the ground lately purchased by the said William Pasteur of the said Henry Wetherburn and Anne, his wife, on Nicholson Street, and thence to extend up the said street and along the line thereof 30 feet, thence Southwardly through the said Pasteur's land 177 feet and to butt against the Northwest corner of the ground sold by the said William Pasteur to Andrew Sproul...( et als) thence running Eastwardly along the line of the said Sproul.....being a course of 30 feet equal to and paralel with the first line and thence along the East line of the said ground to the beginning.
With all edifices, buildings, yards and appurtenances... (York County Records, Deeds, Book 6, Page 258)

The smaller lot sold by Pasteur, that which bordered on Duke of Gloucester Street, was deeded to four merchants:

July 19, 1760.

Pasteur, William - Surgeon
to
Sproule, Andrew )
Turnbull, Charles )Merchants
Yuille, Thomas )Partners
Miller, Robert )

Consideration: 100 Pounds

A certain piece or parcel of ground situate, lying and being in the said City of Williamsburg, on the main street thereof called Duke of Gloucester Street, being part of the ground lately purchased by the said William Pasteur of Henry Wetherburn and Anne, his wife, and to begin at the East corner of the ground lately purchased by the said William Pasteur of Henry Wetherburn and Anne, 8 his wife, as aforesaid, on-the said Main Street and thence to extend up the said street and along the line thereof Westwardly 30 feet, thence Northwardly down the said line 87 feet, and thence Eastwardly a line of 30 feet paralel to the first line and thence Southerly 87 feet to the beginning, which said piece, part or parcel of a lot of land or part of the ground, lately purchased by the said William Pasteur of the said Henry Wetherburn and Anne, his wife...............and all edifices, Buildings, yards, gardens, Ways, Waters. (York County Records, Deeds, Book 6, Pages 255-256)

It appears that the above mentioned merchants known as Robert Miller and Co, conducted a shop in a building on the lot purchased from Pasteur. During January 1761, the following advertisement appeared in the Virginia Gazette:

January 16, 1761.

Just Imported in the Elizabeth, Capt. Thompson, and to be Sold for Cash or short Credit, at the cheapest Rates, by the Subscribers, at their store in Williamsburg, next Door to Doctor William Pasteur's, A large and complete assortment of European and India Goods.
Robert Miller, and Co.

The Mournings advertised last Week are all engaged, but we are advised that we have a very large assortment of the best and most fashionable Mournings on board the Charming Jenny which was to sail early in November last; therefore may be expected in Hampton Road every Day.

The two lots sold by Pasteur were again united under a single ownership in 1773. A deed from William Holt and his wife to Robert Nicholson in May 1773 states:

May 12, 1773.

Holt, William - Merchant (Jas. City)
Mary, his wife
to
Nicolson, Robert

Consideration: 50 Pounds.

All that piece, part or parcel of ground situate, lying and being in the city of Williamsburg and bounded 9 as follows, towit: Beginning at the West corner of Henry Nicolson's lot on Nicolson Street, thence to extend up the said street and along the line thereof 30 feet to William Pasteur's lot, thence Southwardly along the said Pasteur's lot 177 feet and to butt against the Northwest corner of the ground sold by........ Sproule, Charles Turnbull, Thomas Yuille and Robert Miller to the said Robert Nicolson, bearing even date with these presents, thence running Eastwardly along the line of the said Nicolson 30 feet equal to and parallel with the first line to the lot of the said Henry Nicolson, thence along his lot to the beginning, being part of the ground purchased by William Pasteur of Henry Wetherburn, and Ann his wife, and by the said Pasteur sold to William Holt.
With all houses ............ (York County Records, Deeds, Book 8, p. 316)

In 1779 Robert Nicholson deeded this property (the easterly portion of the eastern section) to his son, William Nicholson:

April 17, 1779

Nicolson, Robert
to
Nicolson, William (son)

Consideration: 100 Pounds.

All that lot or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the city of Williamsburg on the North side of the Duke of Gloucester Street, numbered in the Plan of the said city by the figures 56, bounded on the North by Nicolson Street, on the South by the Duke of Gloucester, on the East by the lot of Henry Nicolson and on the West by the lot of Dr. John Minson Galt, lately by him purchased of William Pasteur, being the lot or parcel of land purchased by the said Robert Nicolson of Andrew Sproule, Robert Miller, William Holt and Mary his wife.
And all houses, buildings. (York County Records, Deeds, Book VI. p. 36)

The ledger of Humphrey Harwood, a Williamsburg bricklayer, indicates that during the time that William Nicholson owned this property, Harwood made repairs on a shop and other buildings owned by Nicholson. William Nicholson's account is given as follows:

MR. WILLIAM NICOLSON

1779
Octobr	19	To Moveing Corn House, & 1 Day 5 of my Negroes & Self -----	9. 0.--
Novemr	13	To 60 bushls of lime 12/ & 3900 bricks a £16.10, & l2 days labr a 24/	114. 15.
		To Carting 3 loads of Sand a 20/ To pillering Shop	£10.0.0-- 13.0.
10
1780		To building Shop Chimney £36.0.0---(12)th- Cash lent you at Raligh 6/-	£36. 0. -
April	22	To 2 bushls of lime 7.6. hair 1/ & mendg. plastering 6/ & labr 2/--	- .10. 6
May	11	To Whitewashing 1 Room & 2 passages a 3/6 -----------	- .11. 3
1782
May	4	To Do. 2 papered Rooms 2 3/9 & 1 fr. 7/6 & passage up Stear, & Down 15/	1.10. -
	9	To Mortar & mending plastering 3/ -------------------	- .3. -
		To Whitewashing 2 Rooms 15/ - in Shop ---------------	-.15. -
August	15	To 14 bushels of lime a 1/6 & 1000 bricks a 5/6 -----	- 3.16. -
		To building a pair of Steps 30/ & labours work 7/6---	1.17. 6
Novemr	29	To 10/ Bushells of Wheat a 6/ --£27.3.7----------	3. 3. -
1783
Februy	27	To 1 load Wheat Straw 12/--------------------------	-.18. -
Septemr	26	To 2 bushls. of Wheat a 6/ ------------------------	-.12. -
1784
January	27	To Cash 12/7 ½, Va Load of Wheat straw 15/ --- £9.9.22-------	1. 7. 7 ½
1783		Reduced to Specie	£29 9 2 ½
January	18	To 3 ½ Flour Barrels of Corn Sent you & Not Settled for

This property was still in the possession of William Nicholson as late as 1789 for in a deed given that year by Henry W. Nicholson and his wife, Sarah, to Samuel Crawley, in which they conveyed to Crawley the title to lot #57, they referred to it as being bounded "on the West by the lot of William Nicolson."

July 10, 1789.

Nicholson, Henry W.
Sarah, his wife
James City County
to
Crawley, Samuel
Williamsburg.

Consideration: 200 Pounds.

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, Deeds Book VI, page 427)

11

A map of the town made by an unidentified Frenchman during the time that William Nicholson owned this property (1781 or 1782 or 1786) indicates that two buildings then stood on this eastern section near the Duke of Gloucester Street and one on that portion facing Nicholson or "North Street." Since this portion of York County was annexed to James City County early in the nineteenth century, records of this property during the latter years of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century were destroyed by fire during the Civil War. Therefore, information regarding the ownership of the property at this time is fragmentary.

Both the map by an unknown draftsman made c. 1790 and the Bucktrout map of 1800 show lot #56 in the hands of some member or members of the Greenhow family and lot #55 in the hands of some member or members of the Galt family. On the other hand (p. 16 of this report), the westerly portion of the eastern part of lot #56 with Dr. John Minson Galt's shop on it had been deeded to the son Alexander Dickie Galt, in 1798. An insurance policy of 1806 (#151, p.43) on the Raleigh Tavern (lot #54) describes its eastern boundary as "John M. Galt Dec^d lots." A possible explanation of the discrepancy between the deed to Galt, the insurance policies, and the maps is that the two maps were inaccurate. A second possible explanation is that during the latter part of the eighteenth century, the boundary lines of the two lots were shifted as was shown to be the case in Henry Wetherburn's deed to Pasteur in 1760. (See p. 6). If this theory is correct, Greenhow probably owned only the easterly part of the eastern portion of the original lot #56 with perhaps a part of lot #57. Galt had come into possession of his father's western part of the eastern portion, and possibly the western portion which had formerly belonged to Joseph Scrivener (See pp. 17-21). He may also have acquired lot #55 through 12 inheritance from his grandfather, Alexander Craig, who purchased the lot in 1771. (York County Records, Deeds, Book 8, p. 174). Craig made his four daughters, one of whom was Alexander Dickie Galt's mother, the residuary legatees of his estate. (York County Records, Wills and Inventories, Book 22, p. 322--December 19, 1772).

(See following page for insurance plat of lot #56)

12a

[Small Sketch]

Policy Diagram

13

(An insurance policy on John Crump's property on lot #57 dated February 19, 1802, mentions Robert Greenhow as living west of that lot.) Greenhow advertized merchandise for sale in Williamsburg as early as August 30, 1793, (Virginia Gazette, John Dixon) and it seems probable that he conducted his shop in the building on this lot formerly used for this purpose by Robert Miller and Company.

It seems, probable that the present Lee house covers the foundations of both the shop which stood on the easterly portion of the -eastern section (Robert Miller and Co.'s) and the shop on the westerly portion of the eastern section which was owned successively by Dr. Pasteur and Dr. John M. Galt and Dr. Alexander Dickie Galt.

Mrs. Victoria Lee in her "Williamsburg in 1861" says with regard to the property on this lot, "My home, the appearance of which is unchanged, was owned by the Cogbills, but a Presbyterian minister, Mr. Blain, made his home here. Between my home and the present Vaiden House was a very small, story and a half cottage. This house, which had no porch had one stone step before at the east end of the house. This house was the home, years later, of my son, and it was pulled down by Mr. Vaiden to whom he sold it." (p. 11)

The history of the westerly portion of the eastern section of lot #56, that retained by Dr. Pasteur for his own use, is for the most part, less involved than that of the eastern portion. Pasteur continued to own this lot for a period of eighteen years. Between 1760 and 1775, Pasteur advertized products for sale at his apothecary shop, in the Virginia Gazette on the following dates: 14

December 18, 1766	Virginia Gazette	(Purdie & Dixon)
June 18, 1772	" "	"
October 29, 1772	" "	"
June 3, 1773	Virginia Gazette	(Purdie & Dixon)
November 4, 1773	" "	"
June 9, 1774	" "	"
September 29, 1774	Virginia Gazette	(Purdie & Dixon)

A typical advertisement is given below:

November 4, 1773

Just IMPORTED from London, in the Bland, Captain Danby, and to be SOLD at my Shop in Williamsburg,
A Large and complete Assortment of DRUGS and MEDICINES, the best and freshest of their Kinds. Doctor Norris's Antimonial Drops, at 5 £ the Dozen, and 50s, the Half Dozen; Keysers' Pills, at 12s. 6d. a Box; James's Fever Powders, Turlington's and Friar's Balsams, Doctor Hill's Pectoral Balsam of Honey, Godfrey's and Freeman's Cordials, Essence of water Dock, Elixir Bardana, Daffy's, Sqire's, and Stoughton's, Elixirs, Jesuits and Bateman's Drops, Anderson's and Lockyer's Pills, Greenhow's Tincture for the Gums and Teeth, Ditto for the Tothach. Also best Durham Glower of Mustard, Saltpetre, Sago, Salope, fine Sallad Oil, Anchovies, Capers, Olives, pickled Walnuts, fine Jar Raisins, Currants, Figs, candied Ginger, Nutmegs, Barley Sugar, white and brown Sugar Candy, black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, a large Quantity of Gold and Silver Leaf, best London Lancets, Smelling Bottles, Verdigrise, red and White Lead, Vermilion, &c. &c. &c. WILLIAM PASTEUR. (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon)

In April 1775 Dr. Pasteur and Dr. John M. Galt formed a partnership. This partnership was announced in the Virginia Gazette as follows:

The Subscribers having this Day entered into Partnership, beg Leave to acquaint the Public in general and their Friends and Neighbors in particular, that they intend practising Physic and Surgery to their fullest Extent; and that they intend also, as soon as the Situation of the Times will admit, to keep full and complete Assortments of Drugs and Medicines, which they will endeavour to procure of the very best in Quality, and will take Care to have them fresh by making several Importations in the Year.

15

It is proposed that John M. Galt shall pay his particular Attention to Surgery, to whom our Friends are desired to apply on all such occasions, but will be advised and assisted by W. Pasteur, in all difficult Cases. They both desire to make their most grateful Acknowledgments to their Friends and Customers for the many Favours and Civilities they have received, and hope, by this Union, they will be enabled to carry on their Business to the entire Satisfaction of their Friends; as, on their Part, the strictest Assiduity and Attention shall be observed.
PASTEUR & GALT

(Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Hunter, eds.)

This partnership continued for a period of about three years, during which time Pasteur and Galt inserted advertisements in the Gazette from time to.time. On October 31, 1775 [8?] the partnership expired and was not renewed:

November 27, 1778.

The partnership of PASTEUR and GALT having expired on Saturday the 31st of October last, it becomes necessary to have the transactions of the said partnership settled as soon as possible. We have therefore authorized and empowered Mr. JOHN R0WSAY, of this city, to collect and settle the same. Those who have any demands against the said partnership are desired to call on PAr. Rowsay for payment. Long credit being very unusual at present, we hope our customers will discharge their respective balances without further notice.
WILLIAM PASTEUR
J. M. GALT. (Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Hunter, Eds.)

In 1778 Dr. Pasteur sold the property on which his shop stood to his former partner, Dr. Galt.

November 12, 1778.

Pasteur, Dr. William
Elizabeth, his wife
Williamsburg
to
Galt, Dr. John Minson

Consideration: 1650 Pounds.

All that parcel or part of a lot of land lying and 16 being in the city of Williamsburg on the North side of Duke of Gloucester Street, whereon the shop belonging to the Partnership of Pasteur & Galt now stands, being part of the lot denoted in the Plan of the said city by the number 56, purchased by the said William Pasteur of Henry Wetherburn and Ann, his wife, by indenture bearing date July 15, 1760, recorded in the County Court of York.
And all houses, buildings, palings etc. (York County Records, Deeds, Book 6, p. 17)

The map of the town made by an unidentified Frenchman during the time that this property was owned by Dr. John Minson Galt ( in 1781 or 1782 or 1786) makes it appear that two buildings then stood on that part of his property facing the Duke of Gloucester Street.

From Dr. John M. Galt the land and shop passed to his son, Dr. Alexander Dickie Galt, in April 1798.

April 16, 1798.

Galt, John Minson - Dr.
to
Galt, Alexander Dickie

Consideration: $1.00

One undivided moiety of that parcel or part of a lot of land situate lying and being in the Parish of Bruton, city of Williamsburg on the North side of the Duke of Gloucester Street whereon the Shop of the said John Minson Galt now stands, being part of the lot denoted in the plan of the said city by the number 56, it being the parcel or part of a lot of land purchased by the said John Minson Galt of Dr. William Pasteur, who purchased the same of Henry Wetherburne. (York County Records, Deeds, Book 7, p. 256)

Other records relating to the Galt property during the period from 1780 to 1815 are confusing. As has been mentioned, Robert Greenhow's insurance policy in 1802 refers to his property as being "between Dr. Galt's shop and John Cramp's tavern." The map by an unknown draftsman of c. 1790 indicates that colonial lot #55 was at that time owned by some member of the Galt family, but as has been stated, this map indicates that all of lot #56 was then owned by some member of the Greenhow family. Though no numbers are given for the lots on the Bucktrout map of 1800, this map apparently confirms the evidence of 17 the map of c. 1790. An insurance policy on the Raleigh Tavern in 1815 would make it appear that sometime prior to that time, the western section of lot #56 (originally sold to Scrivener) had been added to the lot on which the Galt shop stood and that this property was still owned by a member of the Galt family. This policy refers to the tavern as being located "between James M. Davis and John M. Galt, dec^d lots." (Policy 151, P. 43). Due to the destroying of the James City County records, no further information regarding the history of the westerly portion of the eastern section of the lot as a separate entity has been uncovered.

As has been mentioned, the western section of colonial lot #56 was sold in 1745 by Samuel Cobbs and his wife, Edith, to James Shields, an ordinary keeper. In 1762 James Shields sold this western section to Joseph Scrivener, a merchant. The deed was as follows:

July 30, 1762

Shields, James, Gent.
Susannah to his wife
Scrivener, Joseph, Merchant

Consideration: 350 pounds.

"All that one third part of a certain lot or half acre of ground denoted in the Plan of the said city by the figures 561 situate, lying and being on the North side of the Main Street in the City whereon, is a store house and other outhouses, now in the tenure and occupation of the said Joseph Scrivener, to begin at the Southeast corner of the ground belonging to [Alexander] Craig, and to extend thence Eastwardly along the Main Street ------- feet and one third, being one third part of the breadth of the said lot, thence North through the said. lot to the street called Nicolson Street, thence Westward a line parallel to the first line, and thence Southwardly to the beginning. And all houses, outhouses, buildings -------- (York County Records, Deeds, Book 6, p. 471)

A deed given to lot #55 in 1771 speaks of that lot as being bounded on the east by the "lot of Mr. Joseph Scrivenor." (York County Records, 18 Deeds, VIII, p. 174). Apparently, Scrivener kept a storehouse on this lot until the time of his death. An inventory of Scrivener'5 estate made in 1772 indicates the kind of goods kept in his store as well as the other kinds of property owned by him.

Scrivener, Joseph, Inventory	August 26, 1772.
Store goods amounting to	511/16/11
30 per cent	162/11/1
	704/8/0

Personal estate and slaves in current money, viz.

Rum	110 gal.	a 3/6	19/5/0
"	63 "	4/	13/12/0
"	45 "	3/6	7/17/6
Bohea Tea	90 lbs.	2/3 ¼	10 4/4 ¼
soap	53 lbs.	5 d	1/ 2/1
Sugar	370 lbs.	45/ per 100	8/ 6/6
Ginger	163 lbs.	2 ½	1/13/11 ½
Pepper	92 lbs.	20	7/13/4
Coffee	713 lbs.	12	35/13/0
Snake Root in 2 papers			0/ 6/0
Mould Candles	16 lbs.		0/13/4
2 pr. old scales and weights			0/10/0
5 juggs and carboys with dif. liquors			2/ 0/0
14 lbs. allspice			0/14/0
170 lbs. castile soap			7/ 7/6
7 juggs gin			4/ 4/0
5 doz/ Porter			2/10/0
36 bottles clarett			4/10/0
15 gallons molasses		1/6	1 2/6
20 gallons wine		5/	5/ 0/0
2 gallons ditto		10/	1/ 0/0
¼ cask ditto			6/ 0/0
6 old carboys		2/6	0/15/0
8 old juggs, and butter pots			0/12/0
9 small case bottles			0/ 4/6
10 ½ doz/ quart ditto			1/ 6/3
4 casks vinegar			6/ 0/0
3 trunks 20/, 1 easie chair		12/6	1/12/6
1 bed, bolster, pillow, bedstead, cord and hide			3/0/0
18 bags salt			8/ 2/0
116 lbs. bacon		7 ½	3/12/6
1 half bushel and 1 lantern			0/ 2/0
l pair iron doggs, 1 pot rack			1/ 5/0
1 copper kettle			2/10/0
2 pots 10/, 2 frying pans		5/	0/10/0
19
1 sauce Pan 5/, 1 pr. bellows 1/3, 1 choping knife 4			0/ 6/7
1 pr. flat irons 5/, shovel and tongs 1/3, gridirons 1/3			0/ 7/6
5 candlesticks 5/, 1 tin kettle and sauce pan 2/			0/ 7/0
1 tub and 4 pails 6/6, 8 pewter plates and 1 dish 7/6			0/14/0
2 tin pans and 1 egg slice 3/6, 6 stone dishes and 3 plates			0/11/0
2 pine tables 7/6, 1 old mahogany desk 40/			2/ 7/6
1 candlestand 12/6, mahogany waiter 1/			0/13/6
1 dressing glass (broke)			0/ 7/6
6 chairs 40/, 1 elbow chair and pan 20/			3/ 0/0
5 pewter measures and 1 funnel			0/12/6
1 walnut table 7/6, 4 pr. money scales and weight 20/			1/ 7/6
1 footman 2/6, pewter inkstand 1/3			0/ 3/9
1 pr. stilyards 10/, 1 pr. ditto 20/, 2 small pots butter 5/			1/15/0
4 pictures 4/, 1 case and 6 bottles 5/			0/ 9/0
1 mattross 35/, 2 blankets 10/			2/ 5/0
10 old shirts 40/, 18 shirts at 12/6			13/ 5/0
3 stocks and 1 cravat 1/6, 4 pr. riding leggings 2/3			0/ 3/9
1 table cloth 51, 3 sheets 22/6, 3 towells and 1 pillow case			1/10/0
2 waistcoats 8/, 2 hsnkfs. 3/, 3 pr. sheets 45/			2/16/0
1 counterpin 12/6, 1 pr. sleeve buttons 10/			1/ 2/6
4 pr thread stockings			0/ 4/0
Silver shoe and knee buckles and clasp			0/15/0
Pr. old curtain neting 1/3, 3 coats 55/, 2 new market do. 50/			5/ 6/3
1 cloak 20/, 2 waistcoats 10/, 7 Vols. Spectators			2/ 0/0
1 old bible 2/, 1 letter case 8, 1 dark lantern 1/			0/ 3/8
Old iron casks and other lumber			2/ 0/0
150 bushels of coal		10 d	6/ 5/0
6 silver tea spoons and 1 table spoon			1/ 2/0
1 stand bell and cloth brush 2/6, 3 busts 3/9			0/ 6/3
List of carts, harness, and slaves
1 plain gold watch			25/ 0/0
1 gold seal			3/ 0/0

(York County Records, Wills, Inventories, Book 22, p. 118)

In a will made on November 4, 1770 and probated August 17, 1772, Scrivener arranged for the sale of his entire estate:

November 4, 1770

Scrivener, Joseph
of City of Williamsburg.

I give, devise and bequeath my whole estate of what nature or kind soever to be sold by my executors hereinafter named and the money to be remitted and paid to my brother Francis Scrivener of Olney in Buckingham Shire, to whom I give the same (except the legacies hereinafter devised) but in case my said brother should be dead at the time of my death, then I give, devise and bequeath the money produced by the sale of my estate aforesaid (except as before) to the children of my said brother, and to my sister Elizabeth Wheeler to be equally divided among them share and share alike. 20

William Trebel and Robert Nicolson executors, to each of whom I give the sum of 150 lbs. (No other bequests)
Probated
August 17, 1772

(York County Records, Wills, Inventories, Book 22, p. 117)

Three days after this will probated, Scrivener's executors advertized his property for sale in the Virginia Gazette as follows:

(Purdie & Dixon)

August 20, 1772.

To be SOLD pursuant to the last Will and Testament of Mr. Joseph Scrivener, deceased, at his Late Dwelling-House in Williamsburg, on Wednesday the 9th of September,

ALL his STORE and other GOODS, four valuable NEGROES, a CART and five HORSES, RIDING CHAIR, and his HOUSE and LOT, on which are some valuable Improvements. The Purchasers will have twelve Months Credit, for all Sums above five Pounds, upon giving Bond and Security; and such as fail to discharge their Bonds punctually must expect to pay Interest from the Time they become due. All Persons who have Demands against Mr. Scrivener's Estate, upon making them known, will have them settled, and those who are indebted thereto, by Bond or otherwise, are desired to make immediate Payment, as no Indulgence can be Given.
WILLIAM TREBELLL) Executors.
ROBERT NICOLSON)

Two years after that time the executors again called upon all persons still owing money on the estate to settle their accounts:

September 8, 1774

THE Legatees of Mr. Joseph Scrivener, deceased, being very pressing to receive their respective Dividends of his Estate, it is expected that all Persons indebted thereto, by Bond, or for Goods purchased at the Sale, will make Payment by the ensuing October Court...
WILLIAM TREBELL
ROBERT NICOLSON (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon)

No record of the transfer of Scrivener's lot to another owner has been found. After this date, knowledge of the ownership of this western 21 section of lot #56 is somewhat conjectural. The map of Williamsburg by an unidentified Frenchman, made in 1781 or 1782 or 1786, seems to indicate that only one building stood at that time on this section of the lot. As has been said, the maps of c. 1790 and 1800 indicate that all of lot #56 was in the possession of some member of the Greenhow family. By 1806, however, Robert Greenhow had insured two buildings on a lot "between Dr. Galt's shop and John Crump's tavern." That same year an insurance policy on the Raleigh Tavern described the tavern as being located between the "Lott of Doc^r Galt on the east and the Lott of James Davis on the west."

No more definite information regarding the ownership of the lot prior to the Civil War, has been found. The statement of Mrs. Victoria Lee, referred to above, that a small structure stood between the present Lee house and the Vaiden house until recent years, however, makes it appear that the shop kept by Scrivener on the western section of lot #56 may have stood until a few years ago.