Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

I am sending herewith a report on "The Sign of the Golden Ball" (Colonial Lot #53) which we have prepared at your request.

"The Sign of the Golden Ball"
Block 17-1, Lot #53

Lot #53 was one of the lots granted by the town trustees or feoffees very soon after Williamsburg became the capital of the colony of Virginia. This seems to indicate that it was considered a desirable location. Its later subdivision into two lots with different types of merchandise for sale thereon further confirms its favorable location on the Duke of Gloucester Street and near the capitol.

It was first granted to Richard Bland of Prince George County. The grant (in abstract) reads:

August 3, 1708.

Consideration: 30 shillings.

Two certain lots of land in the city of Williamsburg denoted in the plat of the said city by the figures 53 and 54.

Shall begin to build within the space of 24 months upon each of said lots one or more good dwelling houses according to an Act of Assembly 1699.

[York County Records, Book III, Deeds, Bonds, p. 128]

It seems that Bland did not meet the requirement of building a house within two years on Lot #53, as the lot reverted to the two trustees who deeded it on January 20, 1723, to John Holloway, gentleman, of York County:

Consideration: 15 shillings Current Money of Virginia.

One certain lot of ground lying and being in the city of Williamsburg designed in the plan of the said city by the figures 53, with all woods thereon growing or being together with all proffitts...

Shall build within space of 24 months one or more good dwelling houses with brick chimney according to Act of Assembly 1705.

[Ibid, Vol. III, Deeds, Bonds p. 418]

The phrase "all woods thereon growing or being" indicates that the lot had not yet been cleared.

Since John Holloway was the next grantor, rather than the trustees, 2 it is evident that he was the first to build on this lot. The fact that James and John Carter later built a brick house and shop on the eastern portion of the lot [York County Records, Book VII, Deeds, p. 163] may indicate that Holloway built the wooden house which at one time was called the "Sign of the Golden Ball". Holloway sold the lot to Henry Bowcock, innkeeper. The deed providing for this transfer reads (in abstract):

May 16, 1724

Holloway, John
to
Bowcock, Henry

Consideration: 70 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

One lot or half acre of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg designed in the plot of the said city by the figures 53, with all houses. [York County Records, Vol. III - Deeds, Bonds, p. 421]

In his will made on December 27, 1729, and recorded on February 16, 1730, Bowcock left his "lands, lots and tenements" etc. to his wife, Mary "and to her heirs and assigns forever". [York County Records, Book 17, Orders, Wills, p. 43] [See page 14 of this report.] The disposition of this lot from this date until June 20, 1764, when Edward Booker and Henrica, his wife, sold it to James Carter [Ibid, Book VII, Deeds, p. 163, August 15, 1765] is not apparently to be found in the York County Records, although the property is in that county.¹

James Carter and his brother John jointly built a brick house on the eastern portion of the lot during the first year of the former's ownership of the lot. [Ibid, Book VII, Deeds, p. 163] James Carter subdivided the lot, the eastern portion of the brick house he leased to his brother John, and the western portion of the lot, he sold or leased to James Craig, jeweler. It is clear from the deed to Craig that the latter was already keeping a jewelry shop there.

Just how long Craig's business had been located on Lot #53 cannot be ascertained.²

The grant from Carter to Craig is as follows:

August 30, 1765.

Carter, James, - Surgeon
Hester, his wife
to
Craig, James - Jeweller

Consideration: 230 Pounds. Current Money.

One piece or part of a lot of ground purchased by the said James Carter of Edward Booker and Henrica, his wife, lying and being on the North side of Duke of Gloucester Street in the City of Williamsburg aforesaid in the County of York, and bounded on the West by the Lot of Dr. George Gilmer, deceased, on the South by a line from the corner of the said Gilmers lot down the said street so as to include 15 feet of the House where the said Craig now keeps his shop thence North through the said house including the said Shop a straight course to the Northern Bounds of the said Lot and thence West to the said Gilmers lot together with the Privilege of a Passage 6 ft. wide on the back side and on the East end of the said house so as to have a way round the said House to the Main Street with all Ways, Easements... appurtenances... [Ibid., Book VII, Deeds, p. 167]

A year later Carter made a second grant to Craig which brought the latter's property up to the wall of Carter's house or shop:

June 24, 1766.

Carter, James - Surgeon
Hester, his wife
to
Craig, James - Jeweller

Consideration: 200 Pounds. Current Money.

One piece of part of a lot of ground purchased by the said James Carter of Edward Booker and Henrica, his wife, lying and being on the North side of the Duke of Gloucester Street in the city of Williamsburg, County of York, and bounded on the West by the ground lately purchased by the said James Craig of the said James Carter, on the said Duke of Gloucester Street 21 feet 9 inches Eastwardly to the said James Carter's brick house or shop and along and adjoining 4 the wall of the said House or shop a straight course the whole length of the said lot to Nicholson Street and along the said street Westwardly 21¾ feet to the ground of the said James Craig. [Ibid, Book VII, Deeds, p. 183]

An archaeological report made by Herbert S. Ragland in March, 1931, throws light on the proximity of the two houses:

From these two deeds it is clear that there was an alley way between the Carter House and the Craig building, and that the distance from the Carter House across the alley to the west wall of Craig's building was 36' 9". A number of walls have been found at the Craig site, of which the western one is 36' 9" west of the Carter foundation, agreeing with the deeds, and the eastern one 2' 1½" west of the Carter foundation, leaving the alley way, mentioned in the deed, between the two buildings. [See Archaeological Report: Block 17, p. 4 in Department of Research and Record]

There is no evidence from the records that Craig advertised his shop as "The Sign of the Golden Ball" until 1772. This does not mean, of course, that that name had not become already attached to the shop, but it seems doubtful. Craig's advertisements during the years 1766-1772 are as follows:

October 10, 1766.

Just imported in the Matty, Capt. Fox, and to be sold at the Subscriber's Shop, in Williamsburg;
A neat Assortment of Jewellery, Plate, & fine Cutlery, Cheap, for Ready money.
James Craig.

N. B. The highest price for old Gold and Silver.

[Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, Eds.]

April 7, 1768

Just imported from London - A choice assortment of Jewellery, Plate, Toys end fine Cuttlery. There are some fine visual Spectacles fit for all ages ...
James Craig. [Ibid]

Craig's notice in October, 1772, is particularly interesting since it is here that he for the first time gives his shop a name. The reader also learns that Craig now had with him a watchmaker who had served an apprenticeship 5 abroad.

October 1, 1772 .

JAMES C-R-A-I-G
At the GOLDEN BALL,
WILLIAMSBURG,
Begs Leave to inform the Publick that he has just got an eminent Hand, in the WATCH and CLOCK MAKING BUSINESS, who served a regular Apprenticeship to the same in Great Britain, and will be much obliged to those who favour him with their Commands. He makes, and repairs, REPEATING, HORIZONTAL, and STOP WATCHES, in the neatest and best Manner.

JEWELLERY, GOLD, and SILVER WORK, as usual, made in the neatest Manner, and on reasonable Terms, at the above Shop.

[Ibid]

October 29, 1772.

AT THE
GOLDEN BALL,
WILLIAMSBURG,
A NEAT Assortment of JEWELLERY and SILVER WORK, with PINCHBECK BUCKLES and FINE CUTLERY, such as Ladies Steel Watch Chains, Pocket and Penknives, and a Variety of Scissors and Spectacles, just imported from London, are to be Sold (as usual) upon the most reasonable Terms ...

…WATCHES and CLOCKS cleaned and repaired there likewise, at an easy Rate, with Fidelity and Expedition.

[Ibid]

It seems very probable that the "eminent hand" was Robert Bruce, although the only evidence is the lack of more definite information, coupled with the following announcement:

June 2, 1774

ROBERT BRUCE, WATCH and Clock Maker, is removed from Mr. Craig's, at the Golden Ball, to the opposite Side of the Street, the House above Mr. Robert Anderson's, where he intends carrying on his Business, and will be much obliged to those who may please to employ him. [Ibid]

Craig soon found another British-trained watchmaker to assist him at the "Golden Ball": 6

July 14, 1774

JAMES CRAIG
At the GOLDEN BALL
Williamsburg,

Begs Leave to inform the Publick that he has just got an eminent Hand, in the WATCH and CLOCK MAKING BUSINESS, who served a regular Apprenticeship to the same in Great Britain, and will be much obliged to those who favour him with their commands. He makes and repairs, REPEATING, HORIZONTAL, and STOP WATCHES, in the neatest and best Manner. JEWELLERY, GOLD, and SILVER WORK, as usual, made in the neatest Manner, and on reasonable Terms, for ready Money only, at the above Shop. [Ibid]

Craig was still located at Lot #53 in 1774. The owner of Lot #52 names the lot or part of a lot of James Craig as on the east of his property. [York County, VA., Book VIII - Deeds, p. 461] Craig's last advertisement of his wares and workmanship appeared in the Virginia Gazette on April 15, 1775.

The Subscriber has on Hand a neat Assortment of GOLD and SILVER WORK, which he will sell cheap for ready Money. He makes all Kinds of JEWELLERS WORK, particularly MOURNING RINGS, in the newest Fashions, and sets MINIATURE PICTURES in Gold and Silver.
JAMES CRAIG.

N. B. All kinds of CLOCKS and WATCHES cleaned and repaired.

[Ibid, Dixon & Hunter, eds.]

On June 5, 1779, Craig declared that his house and shop were:

To be sold to the highest bidder for ready money, before the Raleigh door, on Thursday the 10th of June the house and shop the subscriber now lives in, with a garden, kitchen, stable, chairhouse, smokehouse, and dairy.
JAMES CRAIG [Ibid]

The evidence that this notice applied to Lot #53 is found in the deed of Dr. Carter's brick house on Lot #53 to William Carter. The deed gives as its western boundary "the lot of James Craig". [York County, VA., Book VI - Deeds, 1771-1795, p. 47, July 19, 1779]

If Craig's notice of a sale of his property referred to that on Lot #53 - and in view of a lack of evidence of any other property, it seems reasonable to believe that it did - there was no successful purchaser, as Craig's property went to his daughter, Anne Miller, as will appear later.

The Frenchman's map of 1782 (?) or 1786 (?) shows, in what seems to be the western portion of Lot #53, a house fronting the Duke of Gloucester Street wedged between a larger house on the left and a much larger one on the right. The relationship of the house and its outhouses is indicated in the tracing below. (It is to be understood, of course, that the assumption that this is the Craig property is only a theoretical one.)

[Drawing]

[This drawing has been slightly enlarged and the buildings on what is apparently Lot #53 are shaded.]

A James Craig was a proprietor of a lot or lots in Williamsburg in 1783. [William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XI (1), p. 114] In the enumeration of heads of families in Williamsburg in 1782, a James Craig had five in his family, and owned five slaves. [Census of 1790 in the Virginia State Library.] In 1792, a James Craig in Williamsburg had two tithables. [File B-100, York County Clerk's Office. Card #965 in the York County Records in the Department of Research and Record.]

In his will made on December 13, 1793, Craig provided that his houses and lots in the city of Williamsburg should go to his daughter, Anne Miller, wife of David Miller, for her life, and after her death to his son Adam Craig and his heirs forever. [York County Records, Book 23, Wills, Inventories, p. 401] 8 The date of the probation of the will shows that Craig had died before June 16, 1794. The will reads:

I give to my daughter Anne Miller, wife of David Miller, my houses and lots in the city of Williamsburg for her life and after her death, I give the said houses to my son Adam Craig and his heirs forever.

I give to my son Adam my table clock.

I lend my household furniture to my daughter Ann Miller and after her death I give the same to my son Adam.

All the rest of my estate I wish to be equally divided between my sons Adam and James.

Son-Adam appointed executor.

Perhaps Craig was one of the craftsmen who felt the effect of the Revolution. The lack of any jeweler's tools or wares in his inventory may show the results of the determination of those in authority to curb all buying of luxuries especially if the articles were imported. Certainly Craig would have been too old to start anew in Richmond when the capital was moved there. Whatever the cause, his inventory was indeed a brief one:

Craig, James - Inventory
June 25, 1794.

List of slaves
Horse, cart, etc.
10 mahogany chairs and 1 armed ditto	7/ 0/0
A mahogany desk and book case	5/ 0/0
A mahogany desk	5/ 0/0
3 black walnut chairs	0/15/0
2 looking glasses	2/10/0
1 large black walnut table	0/10/0
1 round ditto smaller	0/ 5/0
1 smaller ditto	0/ 5/0
1 corner mahogany table	1/ 0/0
1 card table	1/ 0/0
1 tea ditto	0/15/0
1 eight day table clock	7/10/0
2 beds	4/ 0/0
1 bedstead	0/10/0
1 corner glass and cupboard	0/ 7/6
1 candle stand	0/ 2/0
3 Pots, 1 dutch oven, grid Iron, & fish kettle and Spit	1/10/0
1 Fiddle and Case	1/ 0/0
1 pr. scales	1/ 0/0
Total	£ 93/ 9/6

[York County Records, Book 23, Wills, Inventories, p. 483]

Although the Unknown Draftsman's map (either copied by or from the Bucktrout map of 1803 in the possession of Miss Estelle Smith, or copied from the same plan of the city used by Bucktrout) takes no account of the Craig property in Lot #53, the insurance policies and tax record's tell a different story. The Unknown Draftsman's map shows a Davis in Lot #53 between a Russell in Lot #52 and the Raleigh Tavern at Lot #54, as indicated below:

[Drawing] [This tracing has been slightly enlarged.]

In an insurance policy with the Mutual Assurance Society dated May 14, 1806, James Davis, now located in James Carter's brick dwelling house described his three buildings on the north side of the main street as "situated between the Raleigh Tavern (Philip Moody) and the Lott of James Craig decd in the County of York." The plat of the buildings is particularly helpful for Craig's property, in view of the fact that the appraiser of the property described it as "contiguous within 30 [?] feet of 9 woden [sic] Houses & 1 brick 10 walls covered with wood".

[Insurance Policy #647, p. 42]

In the Williamsburg Land Tax Records for 1791, James Craig was shown as possessing 1/3 of a lot, the annual rent of which was £12.³ In 1801, when property began to be valued in dollars, Craig's estate was taxed for 1/3 of a lot, the annual rent of which was $40. In 1806 the property was listed in the name of "Robert Miller" - apparently an error in given name. Miller received the property "via Craige" and was credited with ¾ of a lot, the annual value of which was $66.67. During the period 1810-1820, David Miller was taxed for the property. From 1820-1847, the property "formerly charged to David Miller's estate" was now in the name of Ann Miller. In the year 1820, when house and lot began to be valued, the house was valued at $900, both house and lot at $975. This valuation continues up to 1847 with only a minor change of $25 in the value of the lot.

In 1846, Ann Miller apparently had died and in accordance with the terms of the will, the property had come into the possession of her brother, Adam Craig, or his heir. In a printed poster the property was advertised for sale by Craig's attorney, Robert Stanard, as follows:

March 18, 1846

A House & Lot, In the City of Williamsburg
For Sale.
On Tuesday, the 31^st March,
I shall offer for sale, at public auction,
The House & Lot
In the City of Williamsburg, lately occupied by Mrs. Miller.
It is eligibly situated, in a central part of the City
The terms will be the purchase money in three equal installments... [Mss. folder 133, Southall Papers, in the Library of the College of William and Mary]

The purchaser was George W. Southall, and the record of the sale was written by 12 hand on the back of the posters:

Received of Mr Geo. W. Southall his check on the Farmers Bank of Virginia for six hundred & fifty dollars being in full of purchase of the house & lot within described & sold by Ro. Stanard as admr de bonis now of Adam Craig deceased --(Stanard had given W. B. Stanard authority to make the sale) [Ibid]

From 1847 through 1861, the tax records show the following facts about this property:

Year	Owner	No. of Lots	Value Bldgs.	Value Lots & Bldgs.	Rent	Tax	County Tax
1847	Southall, Geo. W.	1	900	1000	85	2.04
1850	Ditto	Ditto	Ditto	Ditto	Ditto	Ditto
1854	Southall, Geo. W's Est.1	1	600	850		1.70	2.83
1859	Southall, Geo. W's Est.	1	600	850		3.40	4.78
1861	Lee, William H.2	1	600	850		3.40	5.31

[Williamsburg Land Tax Records]

Taking the Raleigh Tavern as a fixed point and travelling westward through the eyes of Mr. Charles, the reader arrives at the following description for a building located on the former Craig lot in the year 1861:

The next house east was an old story-and-a-half frame building with dormer windows and shed attached to the rear. Up to a few years ago, the brick wall was hard against the eastern side of the house. This wall was the western end of a big brick building with stone steps in front. This was then the leading mercantile establishment in the city, and was on the lot next to the Raleigh Tavern, and separated from it only by a four foot alley. [Charles, Recollections, p. 45]

On page three of Mr. Ragland's archaeological report he writes:

An old colored woman, the mother of William Baker, the sexton of Bruton Parish Church, who worked for Mr. Vest, said 13 that Vest's Store was very close to the house west of it, the old Lee House - that there was just enough room for a person to walk between the two buildings. Her statement has been verified for the east foundation wall of the Lee House recently uncovered is actually 2' 1½" west of the west wall of the Carter (later Vest) building.

A sketch of the old Lee House is found in this archaeological report by Mr. Ragland.

Bowcock, Henry - Inventory.
March 16, 1729.