Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

PITT-DIXON - NO. 64
BLOCK 18 - LOT 47
1940 MAP

^* See last page.

It is difficult to determine whether these deeds are leases or sales, but it seems that Samuel Hyde was the real owner. It also appears that the legal documents from 1719-1729 that are quoted hereafter are leases, and that in 1729, Hyde sold the property to the Packes. This is conjectural, not definite information.

The first deed to lot 47 was from the Trustees of the city of Williamsburg to Samuel Hyde in 1717. It reads:

Trustees of City of Williamsburg
to
Hyde, Samuel
Consideration: 15 shillings

September 3, 1717

One certain lot in the city of Williamsburg denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 47.

Shall begin to build within 24 months one or more good dwelling houses according to An Act of Assembly 1705.

(York County Records - Deeds & Bonds - Book III, p. 228)

Between 1717 and 1719, a house was erected on this property as the following deed from Samuel Hyde to Joseph Freeman mentions "all houses, outhouses":

March 9, 1719

Hyde, Samuel
to
Freeman, Joseph
Consideration: 10 Pounds

One certain lot or half acre of land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg denoted in the plat of the said city by the figures 47, and adjoining on the great street between the store house of Mr. Archibald Blair and the house of Henry Gill, and all houses, outhouses.

(Ibid., p. 276)

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There was a deed of trust on the property on June 15, 1719 from Joseph Freeman to Thomas Jones:

June 15, 1719

Freeman, Joseph
to
Jones, Thomas
Consideration: 131 Pounds

All that lot or half acre of ground lying and being in the city of Williamsburg described in the plot of the said city by the figures 47, and joining on the Great Street between the storehouse now in the tenure of Archibald Blair and the house now in the tenure of Henry Gill, and all houses, outhouses, excepting out of the above granted lot one piece thereof of the breadth of the said lot and the length of 30 feet and lying on the North end of the said lot. All of which said granted premises are now in the possession of Thomas Jones.

(York County Records - Deed & Bonds - Vol. III, p. 288)

Freeman deeded the property to Jones as the following deed states:

February 7 1721

Freeman, Joseph - Joyner
to
Jones, Thomas - Merchant
Consideration: 135 Pounds

All that lot or half acre of ground lying and being in Williamsburg described in the plot of the said city by the figures 47, and adjoining on ye Great Street between the storehouse now in the tenure of Archibald Blair and ye house now in the tenure of Michael Archer, and all houses, outhouses, buildings.

Ibid., p. 379)

On August 4, 1722, Thomas Jones deeded to Christopher DeGraffenried for the consideration of 130 Pounds "All that lot and half acre of ground lying and being in Williamsburg described in the plot of the said city by the figure 47, and adjoining on the Great Street between the storehouse now in the tenure of Archibald Blair and the house now in the tenure of Michael Archer, and all houses, outhouses, building." (Ibid., p. 385)

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The next transfer was between DeGraffenreid and John White:

June 12, 1728

DeGraffenreid, Christopher
Barbara, his wife
to
White, John - Glazier
Consideration: 115 Pounds

All that lot of ground, situate, lying and being on the North side of the Main Street in the city of Williamsburg and denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 47, and adjoining to the lot now in the tenure and occupation of Mrs. Joanna Archer, widow, and also the dwelling house, outhouses, excepting out of the said lot a certain parcel on the North end thereof to measure 30 feet on the length of the lot and to be the whole breadth thereof, which dividend was heretofore reserved to Samuel Hyde, who formerly possessed the same lot.

(York County Records - Deeds, Bonds - Vol. III, p. 434.)

John White and his wife, Margaret, deeded their part of lot 47 to Richard Packe on January 7, 1729 in the following deed:

January 7, 1729

White, John - Glazier
Margaret, his wife,
to
Packe, Richard
Consideration: 115 Pounds

All that lot of ground situate, lying and being on the North side of the Main Street in the City of Williamsburg, denoted in the Plan of the said city by the figures 47, and adjoining to the lot now in the possession of Mrs. Joanna Archer, also the dwelling house and outhouses, excepting out of the said lot a certain dividend on the North end thereof to measure 30 feet on the length and the breadth thereof formerly reserved to Samuel Hyde. The above was formerly sold by John White and Margaret, his wife to John Holloway and by the said John Holloway assigned to Richard Packe.

Ibid., p. 501

Samuel Hyde appears to have deeded the complete lot to Richard Packe in 1729, excepting the 30 feet, and previous to this time the transfers were merely leases or mortgages etc. The deed reads:

December 15, 1729

Hyde, Samuel
Sarah, his wife
to
Packe, Richard
Consideration: 6 Pounds

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One certain lot or half acre of ground lying and being in the City of Williamsburg, in the County aforesaid, designed in the plat of the said city by the figures 47, and adjoining the great street between the storehouse of Mr. Archibald Blair and the House of Henry Gill (excepting out of the said premises one piece of the said lot of ground on the North end thereof the breadth of the said lot and 30 foot in the length)

(The above formerly belonged to Joseph Freeman)

Ibid. - Deeds - Book IV, p. 8)

It is impossible to say when the 30 feet which were reserved for Samuel Hyde in lot 47 were deeded to any owner of the lot. Hyde may have leased the 30 feet, then when the lease was up, it would have reverted to the Packes, purchasers of the lot. In the pages that follow, it appears that Sarah Packe inherited the lot from her husband, Richard Packe, and owned it from the time of his death (date unknown). After her death, her second husband, George Pitt deeded the property to John Dixon. The deed contains no clause about the 30 feet. Hyde may have sold the 30 feet to Sarah Packe or Dr. Pitt, but nothing is known of the transaction.

Mrs. Sarah Packe had a milliner's shop in this house in 1738 as the following advertisement in the Virginia Gazette shows:

March 1, 1738

Bombazeens, Crapes, and other Sorts of Mourning, for Ladies; also Hatbands, and Gloves, for Gentlemen: Sold by Sarah Packe, in Williamsburg.

(Virginia Gazette, William Parks)

Mrs. Packe seems to have taken in over-night guests in her home also, for Edmund Pendleton locates himself during the time of the court "at his Lodgings at Mrs. Packe's next Door to the Printing-Office."(Ibid., Parks, March 27, 1746.)

When William Hunter acquired lot 48 in 1751, he located it as being next to Mrs. Packe in the lot west of him. (York County Records Deeds - Book V, pp. 439-441)

This lot 47 was offered for sale on November 7, 1754 while Mrs. Packe was the owner: -5-

To be Sold, in the City of Williamsburg,
A very good Dwelling-House, situate next Door to the Printing-Office, with a good Kitchen and Cellar underneath, Stable and Chair-House, Smoak-House, a good Well, and a Store adjoining, with a good Cellar underneath. For Terms enquire of the Printer.

Virginia Gazette, William Hunter

It is impossible to know whether she was married to Pitt at this time. However, some time between 1754 and 1757 it seems she married him for he offered the property for sale again in 1757:

April 22, 1757

To Be Sold at public Auction, before Mr. WEATHERBURN'S Door, on Tuesday the 26th Instant,
An House and Lott, in the City of Williamsburg, very well situated, wherein Mr. GREEN, Merchant, now lives, late belonging to Mrs. PACK; with a Kitchen, Dairy, Outhouses, and garden; also a Store, with a Cellar, and several other very good Conveniences. The Purchasers will have Credit for one Half till October next, and the other Half till April following, on giving Bond and Security to
GEORGE PITT

(Ibid.)

It appears that Sarah and George Pitt did not live in this house at the time of this advertisement. George and Sarah Pitt were living in the house in 1758 as the following deed of trust to Benjamin Bailey states:

November 20, 1758

Pitt, George - Apothecary - Surgeon
to
Bailey, Benjamin - Merchant
-6- Consideration: 5 Pounds

All that Messuage or dwelling house and storehouse thereto adjoining with the lott or ground thereto belonging, where they the said George and Sarah now live, situate and being on the North side of the Duke of Gloucester Street in the said City of Williamsburg, and next adjoining the printing office, with all outhouses, yards...

(Ibid., Book VI, p. 194)

This is the third reference to a storehouse adjoining the house on this property; the first one was mentioned in 1754 in Mrs. Packe's advertisement.

Bailey deeds it back to Pitt for the same consideration of 5 pounds on December 21, 1758. Perhaps Bailey could not pay for it or for other unknown reasons, but Pitt became the owner again:

December 21, 1758

Bailey, Benjamin, Merchant
to
Pitt, George, Apothecary & Surgeon
Consideration: 5 Pounds

All that Messuage or dwelling house and storehouse thereto adjoining with the lot and ground thereunto belonging where the said George Pitt now liveth, situate and being on the North side of Duke of Gloucester Street in the said City of Williamsburg, and next and adjoining to the printing office with all outhouses, yards, gardens.....

Ibid., pp. 197-98)

Pitt, at any rate, occupied the building and carried on a drug business there as he had the following advertisement in the Virginia Gazette:

February 12, 1762

Just Imported, a fresh Assortment of Drugs and Medicines, By the Subscriber, at the Sign of the Rhinoceros, next Door to the Printing Office, Williamsburg ....

(Virginia Gazette, J. Royle)

This is the first and only reference of this building being called "The Sign of the Rhinoceros."

Pitt planned to leave for England and inserted this announcement in the Virginia Gazette (Purdie and Dixon):

October 29, 1767

The Little regard paid to my former request, and the impossibility of my being able to make personal application to many of my debtors who live at a distance, obliges me once more to take this method, desiring all persons whose accounts are still open on my books to pay their respective balances immediately, or give their notes on bonds, with security for the same, as I am determined to go for England as soon as my affairs can be adjusted.

I will dispose of my Stock of Drugs, Medicines, and shop utensils, on reasonable terms.
George Pitt

The next advertisement is in Sarah Pitt's name which indicates she still carried on her millinery business in 1768: -7-

October 27, 1768

Just imported from London, in the Jordan, Captain Woodford, and to be sold by the subscriber in Williamsburg, at a very low advance for ready money, the following articles, viz.

Womens calimanco pumps, girls do. womens leather pumps, girls do .....
SARAH PITT

(Ibid.)

Mrs. Pitt died on November 12, 1772 as the following announcement in the Virginia Gazette (Purdie and Dixon) shows:

Last Monday died Mrs. SARAH PITT, Spouse to Doctor George Pitt, of this City; who bore a tedious Illness with much Christian Patience and Resegnation, and was a Lady of a very amiable Character.

Pitt continued business here between 1772 and 1774 which indicates that if he went to England in 1767, he had returned by 1772 to Williamsburg. On September 2, 1774, he announced again his intention of leaving this country immediately and "desires all persons indebted to him, by bond or otherwise, to pay what they owe to Mr. Robert Prentis, of this city, who is properly empowered as attorney ..."(Ibid., Clementina Rind, September 15, 1774)

The next owner of lot 47 was John Dixon who acquired it in 1774 through a deed from George Pitt, merchant. The boundaries of this lot seem to indicate that the 30 feet excepted in the early deeds were no included. This inclusion cannot be explained by the existing deeds. The deed reads:

August 17, 1774

Pitt, George - Merchant
to
Dixon, John
Consideration: 650 Pounds

All that lot of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg denoted in the plan thereof by the numbers 47, bounded on the North by Nicolson Street, on the East by lots of William Hunter whereon the printing office now stands, on the South by Duke of Gloucester Street, on the west by a -8- small lane; being the lot formerly sold by Benjamin Bailey to the said George Pitt.
And all Houses.

(York County Records - Deeds - Book VIII, p. 465)

This is the first instance where a lane is mentioned on the west side of this property.

John Dixon deeded this property to his partner, William Hunter, early in 1775:

February 13, 1775

Dixon, John
Rosanna, his wife
to
Hunter, William
Consideration: 650 Pounds

All that lot of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg, denoted in the plan thereof by the numbers 47, bounded on the North by Nicholson Street, on the East by the lots of William Hunter where on the printing office now stands, on the South by the Duke of Gloucester Street, on the West by a small lane, being the lot formerly sold and conveyed by George Pitt to the said John Dixon.
And all houses, buildings.

(Ibid., p. 469)

Lot 47 was offered for sale, probably by William Hunter, on December 5, 1777 in the following advertisement:

To be SOD or RENTED, and may be entered on the first day of JANUARY,
THE Dwelling-House adjoining Dixon & Hunter's Printing Office; there is a good Garden, well paled in, a good Stable and Chair House and all other necessary Outhouse. for Terms inquire of the Printers of this Paper. (Virginia Gazette, Dixon and Hunter)

In 1778 the property was still for sale. (Ibid., July 17, 1778)

William Hunter was a loyalist and joined Cornwallis' forces as the following written statement proves: -9-

Culford Augst 30th 1784

I certify that Mr William Hunter joined the army under my command at Williamsburgh in Virginia, and rendered essential service by procuring intelligence of the Enemy, & by every other means in his power; and that He afterwards bore arms at the siege of Yorktown in a Company of Volunteers. He has sacrificed his fortune to his Loyalty, and He is now, I believe, in the greatest want of temporary subsistance.
Cornwallis

(Loyalist Claims, Public Record Office, London, Audit Office 13, Bundle 31)

As a result, Hunter's property in Williamsburg reverted back to the state as the following deed shows:

July 20, 1782

Hunter, William
late of Williamsburg
to
Davenport, Joseph
Clerk York County
Consideration 1 pound.

All those houses, tenements and lots of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg bounded as follows: On the South by the Main Street, on the West by the Street running between the said lots and those of Robert Prentis, on the North by the Back Street between these lots and those of Elizabeth Hay, widow, and on the East by the lots of Sarah Waters, widow, and known in the plan of the said city by the figures 47 and [48].

(York County Records - Deeds - Book VI, p. 121)

The James City County Tax Records have William Hunter's estate listed in the following manner:

		No. Lots	Rent
1785	William Hunter's Estate	2	£18
1791	" " "	2	25
1797	" " "	4	25
1801	" " "	[Folded in]
1806	Not listed

In 1805, the Williamsburg Land Tax Records have Robert Greenhow listed with one lot "via Hunter." This may have been on e of Hunter's two lots, but it does not say which one or account for the other lot.

-10-

The maps of the Unknown Draftsman and Bucktrout c. 1800 show Hunter as owning lots 47 and 48. This conforms with the information in the tax records.

In the Public Records Office in London there was found an estimate of the losses sustained by William Hunter as a result of his joining the English forces in the Revolution. The following list was recorded by Hunter:

		Va. Currency
1	House and Lott in the City of Williamsburg N 47	£650.
1	Ditto Ditto N48	650.
1	Ditto Ditto	350.
1	Small Farm near Williamsburg	105.
4	Negro Men value £ 75 each	300.
5	Negro Women £ 60 each	300.
6	Negro Children from 2 to 10 Years old, average £30 each	180.
1	Phaeton & pair Horses in Value	175.
1	Waggon & 4 Horses	170.
20	Head of Cattle, 30 Head of Sheep, and a number of Hogs in value about	100.
	Household & Kitchen Furniture in Value about	500.
	Debts due on Amount of his Business	1200.
1	Sloop of 40 Tons	60.
1	Lott of Printing Materials	300.
	A small Quantity of Merchandise in value about	100.
		£5135.

(Public Record Office, London, Audit Office 13, Bundle 31)

On account of these losses, Hunter applied to the British Government in 1784 for aid for himself and his family. (Ibid.)

This property has been the home of a merchant, joyner, glazier, milliner, surgeon and apothecary shop keeper, and a printer.

The following description is given by Mr. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" before the property burned in 1896:

On the southwest corner of the square bounded by Duke of Gloucester, Nicholson, Colonial, and Botetourt there was a long rambling two story frame building with three doors opening out upon Duke of Gloucester Street. The upper story of this house had a very low pitch and the door at the western or uptown end had small platform with railing around it, with steps down to the street; the other two doors were reached by steps directly from the street.

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To the east of the house just described and separated from it by a narrow alley was a very old story and a half frame house with dormer windows and two doors opening on Duke of Gloucester Street and on a level with it. Tradition has it, and it seems now to be regarded as an established fact, that the first newspaper to publish the "Declaration of Independence" was printed in this house.

(P. 43)

There is a picture of the house on this property in the Coleman Collection which was taken around 1888 or 1889. It has three doors leading out on Duke of Gloucester Street, three chimneys and dormers. (Coleman Collection in Department of Research and Record)

Mrs. Victoria Lee said all the houses in the square bounded by Nicholson Street, Botetourt and Duke of Gloucester were burned about thirty years ago; dating back from 1933 when these recollections were given by Mrs. Lee. The fire must have been around 1900 or thereabouts.

The house has been reconstructed, and is owned by the Restoration.

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Policy of Robert Anderson