Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

IN SUMMARY:

The ownership of lot 48 from the year 1707 when Henry Gill, ordinary keeper, came into possession, until 1754 is vague. In 1760 William Waters sold a part of lot 49 towards the west to William Holt. The part of the lot on which the Teterel Shop or storehouse stood was devised later, by will of Waters, to his wife, Mrs. Sarah Waters. From 1767 to 1802 Sarah Waters was owner of two or part of two lots, (49 & 50). The tax records, insurance policies, and insurance receipts, for this period bear out the statement that Waters, Francis Teterel, Walter W. Webb and Jacob C. Sheldon were owners in succession. In 1856 Isaac Hofheimer, merchant, was owner and operator there until 1902 when he conveyed to H. B. Goodridge who immediately conveyed to Samuel Harris.

The lot with storehouse thereon had been used since ca. 1760 as a store lot. It was rented by the firms of "Baker & Hubard," "Allan & Turner," "John Turner," "William Pitt," "W.W. Webb & Company," "Sheldon & Maupin" and possibly others.

OWNERS:

• 1707-1720/21 Henry Gill, ordinary keeper
• 1721/22-1737 Gills heirs
• 1737--1744 Robert Davidson, apothecary
• 1744 John Holt, merchant
• 1754-1767 William Waters
• 1767-1802 Waters estate
• 1802-1825 Francis Teterel, merchant
• 1825 Mary Teterel
• 1826-1833 Walter W. Webb, merchant
• 1833-1856 Jacob C. Sheldon, merchant
• 1856-1902 Isaac Hofheimer, merchant

RENTERS:

• 1765-1767 Hubard & Baker, merchants
• 1767-1768 Jerman Baker, merchant
• 1769-1771 Jacob Allan, merchant
• 1771-1773 Allan & Turner, merchants
• 1773-1775 John Turner, merchant
• 1775-1778 William Pitt, merchant

LOCATION:

The Teterel Shop or Storehouse was located on the north side of Duke of Gloucester Street on the eastern portion of Lot 49.

HISTORY:

On May 3, 1707 through the Feoffees of Williamsburg, Henry Gill came into the ownership of Lots 49 and 50 in Williamsburg.¹ Gill's dwelling house was erected on Lot 50. He kept an ordinary at his house until his death in 1720/21.² In his will the two lots in his possession are noted but not by number.

Records do now show which one of Gill's heirs owned and lived in the house nor how long, but it seems that one or some of the heirs still owned the house in 1729.³

It may be that John Gladish was the next owner of lots 49 and 50. From a deed of 1744 it is evident that the transfer of lots 49 and 50 from John Gladish to Robert Davidson,⁴ "Practitioner 2 in Physick," was recorded in the lost or destroyed files of the General Court ¹ in December, 1737:

[March 18, 1744]

[John Blair, administrator of Robert Davidson
vs
John Holt ², merchant in Williamsburg
Consideration: £232 current money of Virginia]

... Whereas the said Robert Davidson died Seized of two Messuages and Lotts of Land lying & being in the City of Wmsburgh and County of York aforesaid by him purchased of John Gladish and Elizabeth his wife by Indenture bearing date the Tenth day of Decr in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred & thirty Seven proved and recorded in the General Court of this Colony in his Demesne as of Fee Simple very much indebted And Whereas after the death of the sd Robert a Suit in Chancery was Commenced and prosecuted in the Court of the said County ... the Cause came on to be heard the Eighteenth day of June last past... On Consideration whereof it was the opinion of the Court That as the personal Estate of the said Robert Davidson had been apply'd towards discharging the debts due from him at the time of his death on Bonds and other Specialties Wherewith his Real Estate was Chargeable the Messuage & Lotts aforesd ought to be Subject to the Complianants demands Therefore it was ordered and decreed that unless the heir at Law of the said Robert should within Six Months shew good Cause to the Contrary the Sherif of the said County should make Sale of the said Messuages and Lotts with the Appurtenances unto the highest Bidder for ready mony, giving public Notice of the Time and place of Sale... And for as much as it was Suggested that the heir at Law of the said Robert resided in the Provence of Carolina It was further Order'd that the said Decree should be published three times in the Virginia Gazette.., And Whereas another Decree was made in the said Suit at a Court held for the County of York the Eighteenth day of Febry last post reciting that the Decretal order before mention'd had been duly published in the Virginia 3 Gazette and that the Heir or Heirs at Law of the said Robert did not appear and that the Sherif that day return'd that he had Sold the Messuages & Lotts aforesd with the Appurtenances unto John Holt... who was the highest Bidder for Two hundred & thirty two pounds Currt mony which he had ready... the two Messuages House & Lotts of Land... lying in the City of Wmsburgh on the Northside of Duke of Gloucester Street in the County of York aforesd whereon the said Robert lately dwelt and denoted in the plan of the said City by these figures 49 & 50... forever...

SAMUEL READE [sheriff] (L.S.)¹ JOHN BLAIR (L.S.)

[Recorded York County Court March 18, 1744]

At this time there were two messuages on these lots.

In 1754 William Waters² came into ownership of lots on main street via William Holt,³ merchant:

[July 19, 1760]

[William Waters, Gentleman and Sarah, his wife, to
William Holt, merchant, Williamsburg,
Consideration: 300 pounds current money of Virginia]

. . . All that Piece Part or Parcel of a Certain Lot of Land lying and being on the North Side of the main Street in the said City of Williamsburgh which said Lot is denoted in the Plan of the said City by the Figures 49 and to begin at the West Corner of the said Lot on the main Street and to Extend from thence Easterwardly and along the Line of the said Street twenty four feet thence to Run Northwardly down into the said Lott Eighty seven Feet thence Westwardly a Line of twenty four Feet Parralel to the First Line and thence along the West Side of the said Lot being a South Direction to the Beginning being Part or Parcel of one of the Lotts Conveyed to the said William Waters by 4 Indenture bearing date the Thirteenth day of December one thousand seven hundred and fifty four made or mentioned to be made Between.Peyton Randolph then of London Esqr of the first part the Honourable William Nelson and John Robinson Esquires of the second part Elizabeth Holt of the City of Williamsburgh aforesaid of the third part and the said William Waters of the fourth part Together with the Store house thereon lately Erected and all other Buildings ... ¹

From the above deed it is seen that Waters sold off a piece of Lot 49 towards the west. This lot which was cut off was 24 by 87 feet. A storehouse had been erected lately thereon. As this lot along with others had been conveyed to Waters in 1754, it is quite possible that the storehouse "lately erected" could have been the building known later as the Teterel Shop but it does not seem probable. Deeds to Lot 49 which follow later in this report locate the Teterel lot almost adjacent to a house on Lot 50 which is east. An archaeological survey of this area shows, foundations of a building located on the easternmost part of Lot 49 within 36 feet 11 inches of a house on Lot 50. The storehouse mentioned in the deed of July 19, 1760 quoted above, is situated on the western part of Lot 49.

The remaining part of Lot 49 and Lot 50 was held by Waters until his death. The will recorded in York County, May 15, 1767 bequeathed to his wife, Sarah Waters, "the houses and lotts where I now live during her life, and after her death to my daughter Sarah Waters and to her heirs forever.... "²

The Waters estate was advertised for sale in October, 1768 by John Tazewell, executor:

October 13, 1768

To be SOLD at publick auction, on Friday the 4th of November next. The LOTS and HOUSES of the late Mr. William Waters , deceased, in the City of Williamsburg, on the Main Street, and opposite Dr. Carter's large brick house. Credit will be allowed the purchaser until April next on giving bond and.security to
JOHN TAZEWELL, Exec.

Mrs. Waters is entitled to dower in the above.¹

The sale was held in November, 1768. Three items relating to the Teterel shop are in the lists of the Waters estate in account with the administrators:

Though a part of Waters' estate-real and personal was sold at this time, the lots were not disposed of at the sale. Perhaps, Sarah Waters claimed the lots as her rightful dower. The records lead one to think that she mortgaged the lots in 1771 to William Prentis:

[May 8, 1771]

[Sarah Waters
John Bowdoin, Executors-of William Waters
John Tazewell
to
William Prentis
Consideration: 500 pounds current money of Virginia]

6

... All those two Lots or part of two lots of Land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg and denoted in the Plan of the said City by the figures 49 and 50 ... lying... on the Duke of Glocester Street... forever...

Sarah Waters (L.S.)
John Bowdoin (L.S.)
John Tazewell (L.S.) ¹

In June, 1771 Mrs. Waters paid off the mortgage.²

In 1777 Mrs. Waters was still located to the east of William Hunter's lots 47 & 48.³ In 1782 William Hunter sold to Joseph Davenport "lots bounded on the East by the lots of Sarah Waters, widow."⁴

A study of notices in the Virginia Gazette and Virginia Gazette Day Book, (MS), indicate that James Hubard and Jerman Baker operated a store from January, 1765 to January, 1767.⁵ Baker was at the store as late as April, 1768 trying to sell out all the goods: [all advertisements follow]

WILLIAMSBURG, Jan. 1, 1767

THE partnership of HUBARD and BAKER being expired, all persons indebted to them are desired either to make payment, or give bond for the balance of their accounts to JERMAN BAKER, who continues the store, and to whom those who have any demands against them are desired to apply.
JAMES HUBARD.
JERMAN BAKER.⁶

[Aug. 20, 1767]

To be SOLD by WHOLESALE, A Considerable quantity of GOODS, very suitable for the fall. For the convenience of the purchasers they will be divided into lots, or the whole sold together at a very easy advance and an reasonable credit, bond and security being given.
JERMAN BAKER.

N.B. All persons indebted to the late partnership of Hubard and Baker are desired to make speedy payment.¹ WILLIAMSBURG, August 18, 1767.

[April 21, 1768]

ALL persons indebted either to the late partnership of Hubard and Baker , or to myself, are desired to make payment, as I cannot conveniently give any longer indulgence...
JERMAN BAKER.

I have a quantity of GOODS on hand, which I would sell by wholesale, on reasonable terms. J.B.²

[April 28, 1768]

THE Subscriber has removed to the brick house opposite Mr. Baker's store ... JAMES PATTERSON³

[November 5, 1768]

[Jerman Baker paid for store rent to Waters estate--£2:10:7½.]⁴

About this date, Jacob Allan appears on the scene. He advertised that he was an agent for Charles Goore of Liverpool and requested that all owing Goore would pay him.⁵

On November 16, 1769 Allan advertised that he kept store in the place "lately occupied by Mr. Jerman Baker, in Williamsburg:"

[November 16, 1769]

JUST IMPORTED,
8 IRISH and brown linens, handkerchiefs, lawn, gauze, Scotch threads of all sorts &c . to be sold wholesale, at a reasonable advance, at the store lately occupied by Mr. Jerman Baker , in Williamsburg .
JACOB ALLAN.¹

In February, 1770 he announced imported goods for sale:

[February 15, 1770]

HAVING now imported another large and fresh assortment of white, osnabrug, and coloured Scotch THREADS, of all sorts, which I dispose of wholesale and retail, on very reasonable terms, at the store formerly occupied by Mr. Jerman Baker , storekeepers may be supplied with any quantity as low as they can import them.
JACOB ALLAN.

N.B. In a few months I shall have a STOCKING WEAVER from Britain . All those who are pleased to have work of that kind shall have it well and expeditiously done.²

July 19, 1770 Allan advertised thus:

[July 19, 1770]

Just come to hand ,
A LARGE quantity of white and brown THREAD STOCKINGS, some very fine, BREECHES PATTERNS of the same, a large quantity of Irish LINENS, mostly fine, BLUE LINEN, British OSNABRUGS, WOMENS STAYS, and CALIMANCO SHOES; to be sold at my store, at the lowest rates.
JACOB ALLAN.³

WILLIAMSBURG
June 19, 1770.

August, 1771 Allan had taken in John Turner⁴ as his partner: 9

[August 22, 1771]

JUST imported, a large Quantity of COARSE WOOLLENS, consisting of Kendal and Welch Cottons, blue and green Plains, Bearskin, Duffils, Fearnoughts, Dutch Blankets of all Sorts, a fine Assortment of Bed Blankets, Worsted and Yarn Stockings, a Variety of Stuffs for Womens Gowns, &c. with other Articles suitable to the Season; they are all well bought, being immediately from the Makers, and the Publick may be assured they will be sold on very reasonable Terms. A Parcel of Ladies flowered Silk Gauze Stockings, at fifteen Shillings a Pair, a Parcel of coarse white Scotch Linens, also Scotch Threads of all Sorts, as usual , Wholesale and Retail.
JACOB ALLAN.
JOHN TURNER.¹

To dispose of, a Book for teaching the Way of writing the Universal English SHORT HAND, in the most easy, concise, regular, and beautiful Manner; it cost one Guniea Sterling.

In January, 1772 Allan departed for Liverpool. He Stated that he would be gone a few months and "the Business of the Store will be carried on, as usual, by Mr. John Turner.²

Another notice appeared concerning goods available in October, 1772:

WILLIAMSBURG, October 22, 1772.
JUST IMPORTED, a large assortment of GOODS suitable to the Season, viz. Bearskin, Duffils, Dutch Blankets, Halfthinks, Fearnoughts, Kendal Cottons, Stockings and Shoes, an Assortment of superfine and second Broadcloths, in Suits and Part of Suits, fit for any Size, with Trimmings, a great Variety of Stuffs for Womens Gowns, Bed Blankets, Hats coarse and fine, a choice Assortment of Irish Linens and Osnabrugs, Scotch Holland, Lawns and Gauzes of all Sorts, a large Quantity of Pit, Crosscut, and Hand Saws, ot a particular good Make, all Sorts of Files, Cutlery and Hardware of almost-all Sorts, a Parcel of the finest Womens Scissors ever imported, Oil and Paints, Capers, India Mangoes, &c. most Sorts of Dying Stuffs, Teas, Lump 10 Sugar, a large Quantity of Raisins and Currants, all Sorts of Spiceries, Cheese, Women's Leather Stays, Nails of most Sorts, all Sorts of Threads, as usual, with a great Variety of other Articles; which the Publick may depend will be sold on the most reasonable Terms, by their humble Servants,
ALLAN & TURNER.¹

Allan and Turner carried a full advertisement of their goods in the December, 1772 Virginia Gazette:

[December 31, 1772]

JUST arrived, in the Unity , Captain Goosley , from London , an Assortment of almost all Sorts of GARDEN SEEDS, with various Sorts of PEAS ana BEANS, and red and white CLOVER SEED. Likewise, from Liverpool , a fine Assortment of TABLE LINEN of all Sizes, consisting of Damask, Dornock, Diaper, and Dimity; also a large Quantity of CHESHIRE CHEESE, sold reasonable by
ALLAN & TURNER.²

On June, 1773 the firm of Allan Turner advertised again in the Virginia Gazette:

WILLIAMSBURG, June 3, 1773.
JUST imported from Liverpool , a very large Quantity of LOAF and LUMP SUGAR, with any Quantity of which the Publick may depend on being regularly supplied on as low Terms as Sugar from England can be sold for. Also an Assortment of other Goods, namely, IRISH LINENS, THREAD STOCKINGS, THREADS of all Sorts, CUTLERY, CROCKERY WARE, ENGLISH SOAP, NAILS, LIVERPOOL BEER by the Tierce or Dozen, CHESHIRE CHEESE, &C &C on our usual moderate Terms.

We shall have a constant Supply of MADEIRA WINE, in Quarter Casks or bottled, New York Quality.
ALLAN & TURNER.

N.B. Those who have fine Cotton or Thread, and are inclinable to have it made into Stockings, Frame knit, may have Mens for five Shillings and Womens for four Shillings. Those that have been made are judged equal, nay superiour, to Needle knit.³

The firm advertised in September these goods for sale:

WILLIAMSBURG, September 23, 1773.

JUST imported, an Assortment of Woollens, namely, Beaver Coating, Plains of various Sorts, Fearnoughts, Friezes, Kendal Cottons, Rugs, Duffils, and Dutch Blankets; Welch, Shetland, and Plaid Hose; Worsted Stockings, of all Sorts and Sizes; Scotch Carpets, and Carpeting, of almost all Sizes; also Currants, Raisins in Casks and Jars, Capers., India Mangoes, and Anchovies; Mens, Womens, and Children's Shoes; Womens and Childrens Morocco Shoes; [blur] of all Sorts, as usual, Wholesale and Retail. A large Parcel of [blur] plain SCOTCH LAWNS will be sold, by Wholesale, on very [blur] Terms.
ALLAN & TURNER.

[blur] expect, in a few Weeks, a large Quantity of BROAD [blur] TRIMMINGS.¹

In November the Virginia Gazette reported the death of Jacob Allan:

[Deaths]

Mr. JACOB ALLAN, Merchant in this City; whose Probity and Candour entitled him to general Estimation, and makes his Death regretted by all who set the proper Value upon an honest Man, a good Christian, and a valuable Member of Society.²

A notice in the newspaper of date, December 16, 1773, notified customers of the firm of Allan & Turner that John Turner would take over the store following Allan's death:

WILLIAMSBURG, December 14, 1773
THE Partnership Of ALLAN and TURNER being now dissolved, it is requested that all Persons indebted to them will pay off their respective Accounts between this and the April Court, as the surviving Partner has several large Sums to make up then. Those who have any Demands against the Partnership will be paid by applying to
12 JOHN TURNER.

N.B. The Business will be carried on to its usual Extent, and Goods sold at the same low Prices as formerly, by
JOHN TURNER.¹

A notice in the Virginia Gazette of October 6th, 1774 gives light on the occupant of the former Allan & Turner store:

[October 6, 1774]

PATRICK BEECH, At the Brick Shop opposite Mr. Turner's Store, WILLIAMSBURG... gives the highest Prices for OLD GOLD, SILVER... ²

It is thought that Turner maintained his store on the Allan & Turner lot until his death in 1775. His death was announced in June, 1775.³

On December 16, 1775 William Pitt, merchant, announced in the Virginia Gazette that he was "at the Store lately occupied by Mr. TURNER":

TO BE SOLD
By the Subscriber, at the Store lately occupied by Mr. TURNER, a large Assortment of GOODS, consisting chiefly of the following, for READY MONEY ONLY: BROADCLOTHS, Shalloons, Durants, Velverets, Shags, Thread, Worsted, and Silk Patterns; Silk Lasting, Armozeens, Lustrings, Persians, Lorettoes, Maccaronies, Burdets, Tobines, Floridas, Taffetas, Bombazeens, Crapes, India Dimity, Lawns and Gauze Handkerchiefs and Aprons, Satin Cardinals and Bonnets, striped Gauze, Parisnet, Catgut, worked Muslin Aprons, white Thread and Blond Lace, Pans, Ribands, Necklaces, Gloves, handsome painted Table-Cloths, Castor Stands with Silver Tops, Cruets, black Walnut Coffee Chests, painted Sugar and Coffee Canisters, Window Glass, Paints, Garden Seeds, Saddlery, 13 Brasiery, Pewter, Copper, Tin, China, and Earthen Ware, &c. &c. &c.
WILLIAM PITT.¹

In December, 1775 Pitt had a similar notice in the paper printed by Pinkney. On January 6, 1776 Pitt carried another notice of goods for sale. He stated that he was "at the Store lately occupied by Mr. TURNER."² on May 10, 1776 again Pitt listed a long list of articles for sale - similar to the list of December, 1775.³

In July, 1776 he gave notice that he had "received 41 SMALLARMS, which I would sell on reasonable terms, and have still by me an assortment of SWORDS. "

In October, 1776 Pitt advertised to be sold "at his Store in Williamsburg...

A LARGE Assortment of SHALLOONS, DURANTS, and Dresden POPLINS, Irish and Country made LINENS, a Collection of LUSTRINGS and other Silks, SILK CARDINALS, BONNETS and HATS, LAWNS, GAUZES, MUSLINS, Womens and Girls STAYS, TABLE CLOTHS, BUCKRAM, Mens SHOES, and a Variety of other Articles, &c &c.... also for Sale an elegant SINGLE CHAIR."⁵

April 18, 1777 Virginia Gazette carried this notice from Pitt:

TO BE SOLD, by the Subscriber at his Store in Williamsburg, a few Hogsheads of very good Muscovado Sugar, Casks of old Whiskey, Linens, Checks, Cloths, Silks, Writing Papers, Prussian Blue, Spanish Brown, Hoes, Axes, Reap 14 Hooks, Mace, Cinnamon, Cloves, Threads, and many other Articles.... I have an exceeding likely Riding Horse to dispose of.¹

Pitt seems to have been in business in 1778:

The subscriber has for sale about three hundred pounds sterling worth of European GOODS, also fifteen tierces of RUM, fourteen hundred weight of STEEL, a few [blur] of CARDS, and a valuable collection of BOOKS, such as would suit a Clergyman. WILLIAM PITT.²

Pitt was still living in Williamsburg in November, 1778:

WILLIAMSBURG, November 11, 1778.
STRAYED or stolen from the subscriber, the 4th Instant, a black horse (lately the property of Doctor Baker ) ...
WILLIAM PITT.³

By 1782 Pitt seems to be selling out his property in Williamsburg. On September 14, 1782 he advertised immediate sale of his "HOUSE and LOTS in this city, situated near the courthouse square on the back street..."⁴

Pitt had never owned the store lot but rented from the Waters' estate. (To follow in the report.)

The Frenchman's Map of Williamsburg (1782) shows three large houses in this lot area, and several outhouses.⁵

Williamsburg Land Tax lists for the period covered from 1782-1800 give Sarah Waters [widow of William Waters] as owner of two lots in the city.¹

In 1784 Mrs. Sarah Waters had Humphrey Harwood, Williamsburg bricklayer and contractor, to make some repairs to her property:

	Mrs Sarah Waters	Dr
1784
July 23d	To 4 bushels of lime 4/. & setting up a Grate 7/6 & 112 days lab 3/9.	£ .15. 3
August 11	To 2 bushels of lime at l/. & repairing Well 3/9 & labrs work 1/3	. .7. -
		£1. 2. 3
	Per Contra	Cr
1784
Septembr 16	By Cash of Mr Joseph Prentis. . .	£1. 2. 3
		£1. 2. 3 2

In 1796 Mrs. Sarah Waters insured the storehouse, kitchen and stable on this lot thus: Storehouse of wood covered with wood 34 by 22 feet, wood kitchen 20 by 18 feet and stable 28 by 20 feet. She stated that the storehouse was occupied by David Miller.³

No definite statement can be made as to the house on which these repairs were made. Grates and lime could be used for a dwelling or store., Personal Property taxes for Williamsburg give Sarah Waters as owning slaves and cattle until 1801; then the estate until 1804.⁴

In 1806 William Coleman had come into ownership of Sarah Waters' property.¹

Sarah Waters had died in 1800/1801. Tax records for 1801 indicate that her estate held only 1-¾ lots valued at $100.

The same tax records for 1802 show that Francis Teterel had become owner of 1 lot via Waters-valuation $50.² He paid $15.75 license to keep store in 1804.

In 1806 Teteral insured his store and other buildings with the Mutual Assurance Society. He stated that the "two buildings on the North side of the Main Street were situated between the lots of Wm. Coleman E. and Robert Anderson West, that the storehouse was 2 stories high 30 by 24; kitchen 1 story high 20 by 14 with shed." In 1815 and in 1823, Teterel insured the property.³ Teterel operated a store from 1799 to 1817 when he removed to Philadelphia.

Teterel or his estate held the property in fee simple until 1825 when it is listed under "Mary D. Teterel." A footnote by this tax record, gives this information: "Devise of Francis Teterel decd who being an alien when this property was sold, purchased by his friend Philip Moody who died without having made a title. Alan Crump subsequently intermarried with Maria Crump Heir and only Child of P. Moody has lately conveyed in fee simple to Mary D. Teterel aforesaid."

In 1826 Mary D. Teterel conveyed to Walter W. Webb, a merchant in the city.¹ it is noted as "on N of Main Street."² Property thus designated on insurance policy.³

Accounts of James Cabiness in account with W. W. Webb & Company 1829-1831 show that Webb had a general store selling everything from butter, ribbon, shoes, nails, putty &c to brandy.⁴

Only one item of repairs for Webb's store (in 1826) could be located: "to 36 feet of plank for store fence at 2 Ct. per foot... $ - .72 [and] to one sedar post 33½ Cts to 2 rails at 25 . . . . $-.55." ⁵

In 1830 William W. Webb, the owner, insured his property thus: "... now occupied by myself situated between Coleman's Est. on the North and the East--Anderson's lot on the West and Main street on the South... store house $1950; kitchen $100... store house two stories high 21 by 35 and kitchen 20 by 21." ⁶

The property was insured in 1839 by Webb.⁷

In 1846 Jacob C. Sheldon,⁸ the owner, insured the storehouse 18 and lumber house: "store house - south part $2000; lumber house $500..."¹

In 1850 a fire in this part of the city destroyed the house of William Coleman and the houses of Jacob C. Sheldon according to the tax transfers.²

Mr. John S. Charles writing of Williamsburg as he recalled it following the Civil War said:

When the dogs of war began to howl, there was only one other house on this square fronting on the Duke of Gloucester Street and that was a very long two-story frame building just east of the depression referred to. This house had a store in the front part and the rooms in the rear and upstairs were used as a dwelling.

On the S.E. corner of the Duke of Gloucester and Botetourt streets there were the towering brick gables of a big building with two sets of semi-circular stone steps. Those walls are distinctly remembered by the writer. They were pulled down about 1870 and a big frame house was erected on the site.

The only dwelling that stood on this square, facing on Nicholson Street, was a two story wooden dwelling that stood in the valley. This along with every other house on this square, was burned in the big fire which occurred about thirty years ago, known as the 'Harris fire.'³

From the transcript of title, Block 18, Geddy lot (in Accounting Department, Colonial Williamsburg), it seems that Isaac Hofheimer held the lot from 1856 to 1902, he acquired it via Johnson 19 Sands in 1856.¹ The lot was valued for tax purposes in 1856 at $1550. In 1861, the last date these records were kept, the lot was valued at $2500.²

Hofheimer carried on a general store on this lot. In 1870 Hofheimer mortgaged the property:

July 13th, 1870, Isaac & Regena Hofheimer his wife, conveyed to Solomon Hamburger, Trustees, the following described property:

A certain lot of land situated on the Main Street in the City of Williamsburg, in the State of Virginia, generally called 'Sheldon's Storehouse Lot' together with a piece of the lot formerly belonging to Francis Coleman, and lying in the rear of said Sheldon's Storehouse lot, and bounded as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of 'Sheldon's Storehouse lot' thence northerly to a walnut tree situated on the back street, thence westerly to the northeast corner of John E. Pierce's lot, thence southerly by the line of John E. Pierce's lot, to the northwest corner of said Sheldon's Storehouse lot, being the same house and lot which was conveyed to Isaac Hofheimer by Johnson Sands & Rosalea A. Sands, his wife, by deed dated Oct. 2, 1856.³

This mortgage was released October 24, 1877.⁴

In 1902 Hofheimer conveyed to H. B. Goodridge. Several days later, February 21, 1902 Goodridge conveyed to Samuel Harris. For further history of this property, consult transcript of title in the Accounting Department, Colonial Williamsburg, Inc.