Block 17 Lot 58 Historical ReportOriginally entitled: "Walthoe Store House Block 17 - Lot #58 East
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1379
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
To: Mr. Campioli
From: A. P. Middleton
Re: Walthoe Storehouse. Block 17, Lot #58-east.
Attached please find a report on Walthoe Storehouse. Block 17 - lot #58-east, prepared by Mary Goodwin.
[signed] A. P. M.
NOTE: If excavations are ever made on this site, the sketch of foundations unearthed, and of the corresponding portion of the Frenchman's Map of 1782, should be added to this report.
MG
[Block 17 Lot 58 -
Location of Walthoe Store House]
WALTHOE STOREHOUSE
Block 17 - Lot #58-east
WALTHOE STOREHOUSE
Block 17 - Lot #58-east
| LOCATION: | This report concerns the site of the present "Armistead House" on the north side of Duke of Gloucester Street adjoining Capitol Square. In 1739, a thirty-five foot strip of land was ordered laid off at the eastern end of Lot #58, bound on the north by Nicholson Street, south by Duke of Gloucester Street, east by Capitol Square, and west by the remaining portion of Lot #58 where "Burdette's Ordinary" now stands. | |
|---|---|---|
| OWNERS: | In his will dated August 14, 1739, Francis Sharp (owner of lots #57 and #58) directed that thirty five feet be "laid off out of the East end" of lot #58 for his son, William Sharp. He left the remaining portion of that lot, "that Mr: Burdet now liveth upon," to | |
| Sharp: | another son, Francis Sharp, Jr. There is a gap in the records concerning William Sharp's disposal of the eastern portion of the lot. | |
| Lidderdale, Crichton, Walthoe: | The next record we have found concerning the thirty-five foot plot indicates that John Lidderdale, merchant, came into possession of it and sold it to Robert Crichton, merchant, who erected a storehouse on it. In August, 1750, Robert Crichton sold the Walthoe: plot whereon the said Robert hath lately built a Store house" to Nathaniel Walthoe, Clerk of the Council, for £350. | |
| Bayley, Walthoe: | Nathaniel Walthoe owned the property from 1750 until 1759, although have found no record indicating how he used it. In April, 1759, he sold it to Benjamin Bayley, of the merchant firm of Britten and Bayley, for £400. Walthoe purchased the property back from Bayley in January, 1762, when that fire went out of business. The property remained in Walthoe's possession until his death in August, 1770 after which it was sold for his heirs in Great Britain. | |
| Walthoe Heirs, Dickson, Morrison: | Walthoe's heirs, Henrietta Marmilled and Martha and Mary Hart, all of England, conveyed the property to Charlotte widow, in 1772 for £350. Mrs. Dickson owned it until her death ca. 1801, after which it belonged to her estate until 1804. In 1804 it was sold to George Morrison, and Morrison or his heirs owned it until at least 1861, and possibly longer. There is a gap in the Williamsburg Land Tax records from 1861 until after the Civil War. Mr. John S. Charles, a late resident of Williamsburg, described. the "Morrison House" as he recalled it, when it was evidently used as a dwelling; and said that it was pulled down in 1883. The present "Armistead House" was subsequently erected on the site. If the Williamsburg Restoration should ever own the property, a study of the Williamsburg Land Tax Records at the Court House will fill in the chain-of-title from ca. 1865 to date. | |
| DESCRIPTION: | Mr. Charles, in his Recollections of Williamsburg ca. 1861, described the "Morrison House" as "a story-and-a-half frame house, with dormer windows. There was a porch slang the western end. The front of this old house was about on a level with the street; but was high from the ground at the back. This old domicile was evidently also one of the originals..". | |
| The Frenchman's Map of 1782 indicates a rectangular house on the site, about the same else and shape as the-building-to the. west of it (Burdette's Ordinary), with a space between the buildings. |
Mary Goodwin - Jan. 1951.
WALTHOE STOREHOUSE
HISTORY
Block 17 - Lot W58 - east
In May, 1717, the Trustees for Building the City of Williamsburg granted Francis Sharp1 two lots of land in the City: lots #57 and #58, on the north side of Duke of Gloucester Street, bound on the north by Nicholson Street, on the east by Capitol Square, on the south by Duke of Gloucester Street, and on the west by lot #56.2 The deed included the usual building clause (that unless a house be built on each lot within the apace of twenty-four months the lot would revert to the trustees); and as Sharp still owned the lots in 1740, at the time of his death, he must have fulfilled the requirements.
In 1718, Sharp was granted a license to keep an ordinary in Williamsburg. It is believed that, for a time, he operated a tavern or ordinary in his house on lot #57 - which house was mentioned in 1742 as being "commonly known by the name of Francis Sharp's is the city of Williamsburg."3 Before his death, Sharp had settled in Surry County, and lived at a plantation "called by the name of Young Thomas Smiths."4
In his will, Francis Sharp left to his son, Francis Sharp, Jr. "the Lot of Land House and Appurtenances in the City of Williamsburg that Mr: Burdet now liveth upon Adjoining to the Capitall Square (Excepting thirty five feet to be laid off out of the East end of ye said Lot.)" His son Jacob was appointed executor of his will. The western portion of the lot with the 2 buildings thereon which Sharp left to Francis Sharp, Jr. was sold by Jacob Sharp to Thomas Pattison in 1742 - when it was occupied by John Burdette as it had been when Francis Sharp, Sr. made his will in 1739.1
This report concerns the thirty-five feet of lot #58 which Francis Sharp, Sr. ordered to be laid off at the east end of the lot, and left to his son William Sharp, as follows:
Imprimis, I give and devise to my son ffrancis Sharp the Lot of Land House and Appurtenances in the City of Williamsburg that qtr: Burdet now liveth upon Adjoining to the Capitall Square (Excepting thirty five feet to be laid off out of the East end of yt said Lot) and one hundred and thirty five Acres of Land in the County of Isle of Wight ...
...
Item I give and devise to my Son William Sharp the remaining part whereon I live nor (Surry County]...and I also give to my said Son William Thirty five feet out of the East End of ye Lot given to my Son Francis whereon Mr Burdet in Williamsburg now lives and also what timber he shall giant towards the building and Repairing upon the said Lot and plantation of off yt Land given to my Son John...2
If William Sharp built on his portion of lot #58, there is no record of the fact. Nor have we been able to find any entry disposal of the property in the York County Records. Possibly the transactions concerning lot #58 were recorded in the General Court - and those records have been destroyed. At any rate, at some date between the probation of Francis Sharp, Sr.'s will in February, 1740, and a deed which was entered in the 3 York County Records in August, 1750 (by which Nathaniel Walthoe1 obtained the property), the eastern portion of lot #58 had passed through several hands and a storehouse had been erected upon it.
According to the deed, the plot was in the possession of John Lidderdale,2 a merchant, who sold it to Robert Crichton,3 also a merchant, who erected a storehouse on the plot of ground shortly before he sold it to 4 Nathaniel Walthoe in 1750:
[August 3, 1750. Consideration: 5 shillings]
...That Storehouse & Land Situate lying and being on the North side of Gloucester Street in the city of Williamsburgh and is the Land that the said Robert Crichton. purchased of Mr. John Lidderdale and whereon the [said Robert Crichton hath lately Built a Storehouse and is opposite to the Store of Mr. John Palmer...
[August 4, 1750 - Consideration: 350 Pounds Current Money]
...THAT Store house and Land situate lying and being on the North side of Gloucester Street in the city of Williamsburg and is the Land that the said Robert Crichton purchased of John Lidderdale and whereon the said Robert hath lately built a Store house and is opposite to the Store of Mr John Palmer...
(York County Records, Deeds V, pp. 388-89.)
...
RECEIVED of the within named Nathaniel Walthoe the Sum of ... £350 ... the 17th day of September 1750.(Ibid., V, 392.)
It is not known what Walthoe did with the storehouse. He may have leased it, or possibly a storekeeper operated a store for him for a time, although we have found no advertisements of merchandise for sale in Walthoe's name in the existing Gazettes. This storehouse may have been the building whcih Walthoe offered to rent to Danial Fisher in 1755, stating that "Mr. Mitchelson, the Person who rented his store had become a Bankrupt." (Louise Pecquet du Bellet, Some Prominent Virginia Families, Vol. II, page 807. In journal of Daniel Fisher.) We do not know whether Fisher accepted the offer. However, many issues of the Virginia Gazette are missing between the years 1750 and 1766. In 1759, Walthoe sold the storehouse to Benjamin Bayley,1 merchant, for £400:
5[April 1, 1759]
Nathaniel Walthoe of the City of Williamsburg Esqr to Benjamin Bayley, of the same Place Merchant Consideration: £400
...That Store house and Land Situate lying and Being on the North side Gloucester Street in City of Williamsburg purchased by said Nathaniel Walthoe from Robert Crichton formerly of said City Mercht
. . .Received the lot day of April 1759 of the above Named Benjamin Bayley the sum of four hundred pounds ...
N: Walthoe. (York County Records, Deeds 91, pp. 190-91.)
The firm of Britten and Bayley probably occupied the storehouse from the time Bayley purchased it until the dissolution of the partnership in February, 1762. (Virginia Gazette, J. Royle, February 12, 1762.) Bayley sold the storehouse back to Walthoe about that time:
[January 1, 1762
...That Storehouse and Land Situate lying and being on the north Side of Duke of Gloucester Street in the City of Williamsburg aforesaid purchased by the said Benjamin from the said Nathaniel and conveyed to him by deed recorded in the Court of York County the twenty first day of May, 1759 ...
Benjamin Bayley of the City of Williamsburgh Merchant to
Nathaniel Walthoe of the same place Esqr
Consideration: 315 Pounds Current Money]
...
Received January the first 1762 of Nathaniel Walthoe Esqr Three hundred and fifteen pounds the consideration above mentioned. Ben. Bayley.(York County Records, Deeds VI, pp. 427-29.)
No information has been found as to what he did with the building,1 but the storehouse remained in Walthoe's possession until his death in 1770. His Williamsburg property was left to heirs in gland - a sister, Henrietta Marmillod, and two nieces, Martha and Mary Hart.2 Benjamin Waller was appointed executor of Walthoe's will, and also acted as attorney for the heirs. He obtained the passage of an act of Assembly3 permitting Walthoe's sister to inherit her legacy without consideration of her husband (from whom she was separated); and after that Waller sold the Williamsburg property, including the storehouse, for the heirs. The storehouse vas sold for Henrietta Marmillod of Kensington, Middlesex County, Mary Hart of the same place, and Martha Hart 6 of Brook street, Middlesex, to Charlotte Dickson1 of Williamsburg, "Widow," as follows:
[March 10, 1772]
[Consideration: 350 Pounds current money
. . .That Store House and Land situate lying and being on the North side of Duke of Gloucester Street in the City of Williamsburg aforesaid sold and conveyed to Nathaniel Walthoe Esquire deceased by Benjamin Bailey by Deed Recorded ...the seventeenth Day of May 1762. . .and by the said Nathaniel devised to the said Henrietta, Mary and Martha by his last Will ...proved and Recorded in the General Court...(York County Records, Deeds VIII, 209.)
Charlotte Dickson may have occupied the building as a dwelling-house, or she may have turned it over to her son, Beverley Dickson,2 who in 1770 had a mercantile business in two rooms of the brick house across the street from the storehouse (the house now known as the "Kerr House.") At any rate, ¼ of a lot was charged to Charlotte Dickson in the Williamsburg Land Tax Records from 1782 (when these records start) until 1801, when the ¼ of a lot was charged to Charlotte Dickson's estate, with a valuation given as $23.34.3 The ¼ of a 7 lot was charged to her estate until 1804, when George Morrison was charged with ¼ of a lot, "via Dixon" valued at $23.34. From 1804, until the Williamsburg Land Tax Records end in 1861 (to begin again after the Civil War) George Morrison,1 or his Estate after 1833, owned the eastern portion of lot #58. In 1830, Morrison purchased the property immediately to the west of the storehouse lot "via Jesse Cole trustee for David Chalmers," making him owns all of lot #58 for a time. Between 1830 and 1840, both pieces of property (the storehouse and the house to the west of it) were given the same valuation: $400 for building - $500 for lot and building. In 1840 the valuations changed - the building and land longest in possession of Morrison's estate being valued at $1000, and that purchased from Chalmers' trustee at $900. In 1853, Morrison's heirs sold the house on the western portion of the lot to Robert Blassingham (see research report on Burdette's Ordinary, Block 17 - lot #58 west); but the heirs continued to own the eastern portion of lot #58 through 1861 - and probably thereafter.
Unfortunately, both George Morrison and his heirs, failed to insure the house on the eastern portion of the lot - but insured the building to the crest purchased from Chalmers' trustee, as did Blassingham after he bought it. 8 Policies on this property (see report on Burdette's Ordinary) indicate that Morrison's heirs (apparently his children) occupied the "storehouse" property to the east as a dwelling-house. This information in the policies is corroborated by recollections of late citizens of Williamsburg, who described the buildings in this immediate vicinity as follows:
The last house on this square facing on Duke of Gloucester Street was upon the present site of Mrs. Armistead's residence 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 eastern end. The front of this old house was about on a level with 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. An old maiden lady with her four bachelor brothers lived in this old house within the memory of the writer; which being located so close to the "Capitol" may have, in its early days, sheltered such worthies as G. Washington, T. Jefferson, G. Mason, and P. Henry... (John S. Charles, Recollections of Williamsburg Ca. 1861, pp. 48-49, Typed copy Research Department.)
...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 a Miss Morrison and her bachelor brother and so palled the Morrison Douse. The premises surrounding this place were beautiful. The present Armistead house is built on the foundations of this old house . ... (Mrs. Victoria Lee, Williamsburg in 1861, p. 10 Typescript Ms.)
According to the above accounts, the house disappeared in 1883. The house which now stands on the site is still owned and occupied by the Armistead family.
If the property should ever be purchased by the Williamsburg Restoration, excavations on the site of the present modern building will undoubtedly reveal the size and shape of the storehouse built by Robert Crichton and sold to Benjamin Walthoe in 1750. In such an event, a search of the deeds in the Williamsburg Court Records after the Civil War (the earlier records having been destroyed) will doubtless bring the chain-of-title to the lot up to date.
Report Prepared by:
Mary R. M. Goodwin
January 1951
Footnotes
"I HEREBY give Notice, That Mr. Robert Crichton, late of Williamsburg, Merchant, hath impowered me to collect his Debts, and assigned his Books and Debts to me, as well those in his own Name as in the Names of Crichton and Scrivener … William Montgomery." (Ibid., January 31, 1750/1.)
It is probable that he is the same Robert Crichton who was in Charleston. South Carolina in September, 1751, when he addressed a letter to the young men of Williamsburg as "a Legacy due to them" on the evils of gaming. The letter was printed on the first page of the Virginia Gazette for September 5, 1751.
TO: Mr. Noel Hume
FROM: Patricia Gibbs
RE: Information on Christiana Burdett Campbell Before She Moved to Lot 21 in 1771
Christiana (b. 1722, d. 1792) was a daughter of John Burdett, who kept a tavern on Lot 58 West.1
John Burdett's will (dated August 30, 1745; recorded August 18, 1746) mentions daughters Christiana and Mary Virstilly and his wife Mary. Christiana was bequeathed three hundred pounds sterling and Negro slaves--Shropshire and Bell with her child and increase. Burdett is presumed to have been living on Lot 58 West when he died. No property is mentioned in the will, and no reference to Burdett's awning property in Williamsburg has been located.2
Christiana Burdett qualified as administratrix of her father's estate with Ebenezer Campbell and William Nimmo as securities. She advertised a sale of the personal estate of John Burdett on September 19, 1746, "next door to Mr. Prentis's, in Williamsburg" (probably the Russell House, Lot 52). At this time Lot 52 was owned by Harmer and King who had offered the property for sale on April 23, 1746. Walter King purchased the property from John Harmer in November 1746.3
Where Christiana lived immediately after her father's death is unknown. Little is also known about Ebenezer Campbell. The earliest reference to him which has been located is January 14, 1744, when "Dr. Ebenezer Campbell" purchased "1 Table Cloth old Naps. &c." from Carter Burwell for £1..1..6. Sometime after 2 September 19, 1746,Christiana married Ebenezer Campbell. They had two daughters: Mary who married William Russell of Williamsburg, and Ebenezer (b. about 1753) who married Benjamin Day of Fredericksburg. Dr. Ebenezer Campbell, an apothecary, died before August 14, 1752, when a notice of the sale of his personal estate--including medicines, surgical instruments and books at his shop in Blandford as well as liquors, household furniture and horses--appeared in the Virginia Gazette.4 Since no eighteenth-century court records of Blandford survive, further information about the settlement of his estate is unknown.
By 1753 the "Widow Campbell" had returned to Williamsburg and had slaves baptized at Bruton Parish Church. Several large orders for produce in 1755 suggest that she may have been operating a tavern or boarding house: "To 25 Bushels of Wheat @ 4/ £5" from Carter Burwell and on May 6th "To 111 lb. Beef 3d. £1..7..9" from William Lightfoot.5
We do not know where Christiana Campbell lived in Williamsburg until 1760. A deed (dated November 18, 1760) for Lot 18, where the James Anderson House has been reconstructed, mentions that the property is "now in the Tenure and Occupation of Christianna Campbell." She may have kept a tavern before this but was definitely operating a tavern by April 13, 1761, when George Washington made payments to Williamsburg tavernkeepers, including a payment to Mrs. Campbell of £2 5s. Presumably Mrs. Campbell operated a tavern at the house where she lived. No evidence to the contrary has been located, and this was the case when she owned and operated the tavern on Lot 21. Washington frequented Mrs. Campbell's tavern at her various locations through 1774.6
An advertisement in the Virginia Gazette of April 27, 1769, 3 indicates that Catherine Rathell probably occupied the house on Lot 18 since Freer Armston, chandler and soap boiler, gave notice that he had "opened a shop between Mr. Carter's great brick house and Mrs. Rathell's."7 This presumes that Freer's shop was in a separate building between the two houses or that the shop was located in an east wing of the house on Lot 18. It is not possible to determine how long Mrs. Rathell had occupied Lot 18 or when Mrs. Campbell moved from the property, except that it was sometime before April 27, 1769.
Surviving court records show that three suits for debt against Christiana Campbell were entered in the York County Court between. 1766 and 1768 No cases of her suing to collect debts appear in the court records before 1771. In 1769, 1770, and 1772, Mrs. Campbell purchased hogs and wheat from Carter's Grove.8
By May 1771 Mrs. Campbell was living at "the CoffeeHouse in the main Street, next the Capitol" (Walthoe Storehouse, Lot 58 East) which was owned by the estate of Nathaniel Walthoe. This coffeehouse was next to another building (Burdett's Ordinary, Lot 58 West) which was referred to as a coffeehouse at times during the 1770's. It is probably the coffeehouse on Lot 58 East which Benjamin Bucktrout referred to when he advertised in February 1769 that he would arrange "The lease of the large and commodious BRICKHOUSE, opposite to the Coffee House and Nigh the Capitol." John Minson Galt evidently took up Bucktrout's lease since he advertised in September 1769 that he "intends opening shop at the brick house opposite the coffee house, as soon as he gets his utensils fixed..."9
By the fall of 1771 Christiana Campbell gave notice that she had moved to Lot 21: 4
WILLIAMSBURG, October 2, 1771
I BEG LEAVE to acquaint the Publick that I have opened TAVERN in the House, behind the Capitol, lately occupied by Mrs. Vobe; where those Gentlemen who please to favour me with their Custom may depend upon genteel Accommodations, and the very best Entertainment. . . .I shall reserve Rooms for the Gentlemen who formerly lodged with me.
CHRISTIANNA CAMPBELL.10
The building on Lot 58 East, which was referred to as a coffeehouse from about 1769-1771 while Christiana Campbell lived there, appears to have been used by a subsequent tenant as a millinery shop. In April 1772 Mary Dickinson announced that "she had moved to the Store above the Coffeehouse, near the Capitol." In October 1773 she described the location of her shop as "next Door above the Coffee House."11
This information leaves questions unanswered, raises others, brings into doubt statements in several house histories, and causes the usual frustrations when trying to fill in the gaps about who lived where and when in Williamsburg during the colonial period. None of this offers a solution as to why you are finding so few evidences of tavern occupation at the Anderson site for the period about 1760-1769 when Christiana Campbell lived there. Do I dare suggest the possibility that she might have been neat or that most trash was disposed of in a repository not yet excavated? Washington's accounts, combined with references in his diaries, indicate that she was obviously keeping a tavern. If she was like other tavernkeepers, she kept a tavern even when it was referred to as a coffeehouse. Coffeehouses and taverns were separate establishments in England at this time, but the-references we have to coffeehouses in Williamsburg indicate that food, drink 5 and lodging were available as well as coffee.12
P. A. G.
Footnotes
PAG :LP
Attachment
[REFERENCES TO CHRISTIANA CAMPBELL OF WILLIAMSBURG begin on f. 141.
During 1761 and 1762 the cash accounts are divided into categories such as merchants, doctors, tavernkeepers, etc.]
George Washington Ledger A (1750-1772)
Library of Congress (M-89-2)
| [ f . 141] | ||
| 1761 | By Cash paid to Sundries vizt. | |
| ... | ||
| Apl. 13 Tavernkeepers...Mrs. Campbell. | £ 2..5..- | |
| [f. 146] | ||
| 1762 | Nov. 29 Tavern Expences Williamsburg Mrs. Campbells | 8..17..6 |
| [ f . 160] | ||
| 1763 | May 3 By Mrs. Campbell | 2..-..- |
| [f. 165] | ||
| 1763 | May 31 By Mrs. Campbell's Acct. | 2..-..- |
| [f. 171] | ||
| 1763 | Nov. 1 By Mrs. Campbell's Acct. | 4..4..- |
| [f. 175] | ||
| 1764 | Jany. 21 By Mrs. Campbells for lodging | 2..-..- |
| [ f . 189] | ||
| 1764 | Decr. 14 By Mrs. Campbell pd. her in Cash | 22..7..6 |
| [f. 208] | ||
| 1765 | May 10 By Mrs. Campbell's Acct. | 3..5..- |
| [f. 231] | ||
| 1766 | May 3 By Mrs. Campbell board | 1..18..6 |
| [ f. 238] | ||
| 1766 | Dec. 12 By Mrs. Campbell for board & Lodgg. | 17..7..6 |
| [f. 249] | ||
| 1767 | Apr. 11 By Mrs. Campbells Acct. | 12..5..- |
| [f. 262] | ||
| 1767 | Nov. 6 By Mrs. Campbells Acct. for my Board &c. | 3..10..- |
| 2 | ||
| [f. 274] | ||
| 1768 | May 12 By Mrs. Campbells for Board | 2..10..- |
| [ f . 281] | ||
| 1768 | Nov. 6 By Mrs. Campbells Acct. for Board &c. | 3..18..9 |
| [f. 291] | ||
| 1769 | May 20 By Mrs. Campbells Acct. for Board &c. | 6..15..- |
| [f. 296] | Nov. 14 By Coffee &ca. at Mrs. Campbells | -..2..- |
| [f. 299] | ||
| 1769 | Dec. 17 By Mrs. Campbell's Acct agt. self JPC & MPC | 42..12..6 |
| Dec. 21 By Mrs. Campbell 30/6 | 1..10..6 | |
| [f. 318] | ||
| 1770 | June 23 By Mrs. Campbells Acct. in full | 16..13..4 |
| [ f . 335] | ||
| 1771 | May 2 By Play Tickets 10/ Club at Mrs. Campbells 5/ | -..15..- |
| [f. 337] | ||
| 1771 | May 9 By Club at Mrs. Campbells | -..5..- |
| May 9 By Mrs. Campbells Acct. in full | 3..12..- | |
| [ f . 340] | ||
| 1771 | July 11 By Expences of Board &c. at Mrs. Campbells | 3..11..8 |
| [f. 356] | ||
| 1772 | Mar. 11 By Club at Mrs. Campbells | -..5..- |
Appendix i
FRANCIS SHARP
In 1702, Francis Sharp purchased 100 acres of land 3.n Bruton Parish, York County, adjoining the land of Richard Page and James Whaley. (York Count Records, Deeds, Bonds, II, 41.) In 1707 he purchased 50 additional acres from Mary Whaley.. "bounding to the southward of the said Francis Sharps plantation." (Ibid., II, 284.) In 1714., Sharp purchased a lot (#7) at queen Gary's Port and evidently erected something upon it; for in 1726, Francis Sharp "Planter" and his wife Elizabeth sold the lot and buildings to Samuel Cobbs for E8. (Ibid., Deeds, Bonds III, 464.)
Francis Sharp was granted lots #57 and #58 in the City of Williamsburg in 1713, but he evidently failed to comply with the building clause in the deed (Ibid., III, p. 1); for the lots were again granted him in 1717, with the building clause included. Ibid., III, 168.) As he owned the two lots until his death in 1740, he evidently erected buildings thereon within the required twenty-four months after the date of the second deed. In 1718, Sharp obtained a license to keep an ordinary in Williamsburg., and he probably kept it in his house on lot #57. At the time he wrote his will, August 14, 1739 (proved February 21, 1739/40), warp owned houses on both lots, which were leased. (See reports on Burdette's Ordinary, Block 17, Lot 58, and Red Lion, Block 17, lot 57.) By that time he had established himself in Sorry County at a plantation mown as "Young Thomas Smiths" (See Sharp's will - Appendix, pp, ii-iii). Francis Sharp died in 1740, leaving his houses and lots in Williamsburg, his plantation in Sorry County, land in Sorry and Isle of Wight Counties, and slaves and other personal estate to his children: Francis Sharp, John Sharp, Jacob Sharp, William Sharp, Sarah Sharp, Mary Sharp, Eliza. Garris, end Comfort King.
In 1717, while still living in York County. Sharp had difficulty with the law on tyro occasions, although, apparently in both instances, he was acquitted. At a court held June 17, 1717, for the County of York, Sharp rues tried and found not guilty of a charge "presented by the Grand jury for living in fornication with his late wife's Sister." (York County Records, Wills, Orders, XV, 126.) On November 18, 1717, he was again tried by the York, County Court "on Suspition of his haveing murdered John Marott." That court ford that there was "just cause for trying the said prisoner at the Court of Oyer & Terminer for the murder whereof he is accused." He was "therefore ordered ...remanded to the prison of the County under the Custody of the Sheriff & from thence to be conveyed to the publick Goal at Wmsburg as the law in Such cases directs. (Ibid., XV, 169.) The records of the Court of Oyer and Terminer are not extant, but the fact that Sharp continued to acquire property, and obtained an ordinary license in 1718, is sufficient evidence that he yeas again found "not guilty."
Appendix p. ii
THE WILL OF FRANCIS SHARP
In the Name of God Amen I Francis Sharp of the parish of Lawnes Creek in the County of Surry being creak in body beat of Sound mind and disposing Memory praised be God for it and knowing the uncertainty of human Life do make this my Last Hill and Testament in Manner and fform following I commend my Soul into the protection of Almighty God trusting through the Intercession of the Blessed Jesus to receive free pardon and Remission of all my Sins and my Body I leave to the Earth to be buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and
Concerning my Worldly Goods and Estate that it hath pleased God to bestow upon me in this Life I 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 nor liveth upon Adjoining to the Capitall Square (Excepting thirty five feet to be laid off out of the East end of ye said Lot) and one hundred, and thirty-five Acres of Land in the County of Isle of Might Lying on the Beaver Dams and also an Entry of three hundred Acres of Land lying upon the flan Swamp which said House and two Tracts of Land I give to my said Son his Heirs and Assigns for ever. I also give to
my said Son fforty pounds Currant mony to purchase two Slaves Item I give and devise to mar Son Jacob Sharp the Trot of Land and House and Appurtenances adjoining to the Market place in the Citty of Williamsburg now in the Occupation of John Rice Taylor, and two hundred and fforty Acres of Land in ye Isle of Wight County it being the remainder of that Land I bought of Edward Simons which said House and Tract of Land I give to my said ______ his Heirs and Assigns for ever I also give to my son Jacob a Neagro Slave Called George and a Negro Slave Galled Peter to him. and his Heirs-for ever I also give and devise to my said Son Jacob Sharp his. heirs and Assigns for ever three Hundred and fifty Acres of Land Joining on Amos Garris I also give to my said Son Jacob and his Assigns my Still with all the Appurtenances thereto belonging
Item I Give to my Son John Sharp the House or Tenement now in the Occupation of Roadwell a Shoemaker it lying in the Citty of Williamsburg and the Plantation whereon I now live upon that is now called by the name of Young Thomas Smiths then along a line of markt trees near an East Course to a branch Called Possums and into the great Branch which said House Land and Plantation I give onto my said Son John Sharp and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever (Excepting what Timber my Son Jacob and William Sharp Shall want off of the said Land towards the building and repareing of their own Houses upon their said Lots and Plantations) I also Give to my said Son John a Negro woman Called Moll & her Increase and a Negro Man Called Daniel to him and his Assigns for ever
Item I give and devise to my Son William Sharp the remaining part whereon I
live now of ye said Land and plantation and my Entry of Land att the Secory Chapell and a Negro woman Called Nun and her Increase to Him and his Heirs and
Assigns for Ever and I also give to my said Son William Thirty five feet out of the East End of ye Lot given to my Son Francis whereon Mr Burdet in Williamsburg now lives and also what timber he shall grant towards the building and Repairing upon the said Lot and plantation of off ye Land given to my Son John to him his Heirs and Assigns for over
Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Sharp a Negro man Called Robin another Called Prince and a Negro woman Galled Bess to her and her Assigns for ever
Item I give to my Daughter Mary a Negro Man Called ffrank and a Negro Man called Jemmy to her and her Assigns for ever -
Item I give to my Daughter Eliza: Garris a Gold ring of ten shilling price
Item I give to my Daughter Comfort King three pounds a year for the Space of twenty years next Ensuing my Decease to be paid her by my Executor Annually in Credit in some Convenient Store provided she shall Live so Long
Appendix p. iii.
Item It is my will and desire that all the Remainder of my personal Estate not herein before Specifically devised Remain in the Hands of my Son Jacob Sharp during the space if one year next ensuing after my Decease and then by him to be sold for three years Day of payment upon: Security given and that the Monies arising on ye said Sale be Equally divided amongst all my Children above named (Excepting Son Francis Sharp Eliza: Garris and Comfort King) which said Persons I do hereby Exclude from any part of my Estate not Specifically hereby given to them) and I do hereby desire and appoint my well beloved axed trusty friend Mr: Charles Binns to see that this my will be duly performed Lastly I do hereby Constitute and appoint my Son Jacob Sharp to be full and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all-other wills by me formerly made In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and, Seal this fourteenth Day of August in year of our Lord 1739
Francis Sharp Seal'd wth red wax
Signed Sealed and Declared
to be my Last Will and Testament
in Presence of Us
signum
Thomas B Bell
William W Evans
signum
signum
Mary X Bell
At a Court held for Surry County Febry ye 21th 1739
The above mention'd mill of Francis Sharp deceased was presented in Court by Jacob Sharp Executor thereof who made Oath thereto & gave Bond with Security according to Law and being proved by the Oaths of Thomas Bell and William Evans Witnesses thereto the same is ordered to be recorded and is recorded by John Allen C1: Curr:
A Copy,
Teste:
/s/ S B Barham Jr Clerk
D. & W. Book 1735-54, page 115
Appendix p. iv
WILLIAMSBURG LAND TAX RECORDS *
| No. Lots | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ S D | |||
| 1782 | Charlotte Dickson | ||
| through 1785 | ¼ | 2 - - | |
| 1786 | Charlotte Dickson | ¼ | 3 - - |
| 1787 | Charlotte Dickson | ||
| through 1788 | ¼ | 11 - (Yearly rent) | |
| 1789 | Charlotte Dickson | ||
| through 1797 | ¼ | 7 (Annual value) | |
| 1798 | Charlotte Dickson | ||
| through 1800 | ¼ | $ 23.34 | |
| 1801 | Charlotte Dixon's Est. | ||
| through 1803 | ¼ | $ 23.34 | |
| 1804 | George Morrison via Dixon | ||
| through 1805 | ¼ | $ 23.34 | |
| 1806 | George Morrison | ||
| through 1809 | ¼ | $ 50.00 | |
| 1810 | George Morrison | ||
| through 1819 | ¾ | $ 55.00 | |
| Value of Building | Value of Lot & Building | ||
| 1820 | George Morrison | ||
| through 1829 | $ 400 | 1500 | |
| 1830 | George Morrison | ||
| through 1839, but charged | 1--- $ 400 | $500 via Jesse Cole | |
| to Morrison's Estate after [2 lots | trustee for | ||
| 1833. | 1--- $ 400 | David Chalmers. | |
| $ 500 | |||
| 1840 | George Morrison's Est. | 1----$ 900 | $ 1000 |
| through 1849 | 1----$ 900 | $ 900 | |
| 1850 | George Morrison's Est. | 1----$ 800 | $ 950 |
| through 1852 | 1----$ 700 | $ 800 | |
| 1853 | George Morrison's Est. | 1----$ 800 | $ 950 |
| [Other lot sold to Robert Blassingham.] | |||
| through 1856 | |||
| 1857 | George Morrison's Est. | 1----$ 1000 | $ 1300 |
| through 1861 |