Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Subject: Archaeological Report on Foundations of Outbuildings in rear of Paradise House, No. 7, Block No. 18.

See drawing Blk 18 area A

Submitted herewith is an archaeological drawing showing remains of foundations of outbuildings recently uncovered by excavations in the rear of the Paradise House. No information has been found in the court or insurance records, now on file in the research notes referring to outbuildings on this lot. However, the "Frenchman's" map shows an outbuilding where foundations marked "B" on the drawing are shown. This would have been a very logical location for the Kitchen, but the remains of foundations are too fragmentary to indicate anything more than that an outbuilding once stood here.

Wall No. 7 on the drawing is the only one that has every appearance of being colonial. The bond is English, the bricks colonial size and color (the buff-red or salmon color of the Palace and Raleigh Tavern bricks) and the mortar, oyster shell. Brickwork at 5, 8, 9, and 10, is of a redder color, and apparently had no connection with wall No. 7. No. 9 looks like a part of a chimney foundation. Fragments of walls and brickwork numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, apparently belonged to the same building, another outbuilding between the foundations previously mentioned and the Paradise House, marked [illegible] on the drawing. There are three courses of brickwork in Wall No. 1, all stretcher courses, and very slight indications of oyster shell mortar. Of the brickwork shown at No. 2, 2 the northern part is merely 4 bricks laid flat, which perhaps were a part of the south wall of this outbuilding. The other bricks shown at No. 2 are laid on edge and were probably part of an entrance platform in front of a doorway. The paving shown at No. 6 is largely fragmentary, but the red color and large percentage of bats suggest that it is not very old and was laid with re-used bricks.

All other information is shown on the drawing. A box of articles uncovered by the Excavations has been turned over to Mr. R. Goodwin.

Referring to our conversation of yesterday, the valuable fragment of white china plate or bowl, with the words "Pitt & Liberty" in blue colonial script baked in it, was found, early in February, about 30 feet north of the Paradise House, in uncovering the foundations of outbuilding, which was, perhaps, the kitchen.

Re: Work Done at Foundation of House East of Paradise House on East Duke of Gloucester Street

1408

Block 18 Area Co

To secure all evidence about the building and its contents, the earth and debris excavated by others in uncovering the foundation of House East of the Paradise House, on Duke of Gloucester Street, has been screened twice, once through 2" mesh screen, and once through 1" mesh screen. To protect the foundation walls until some use may be made of them, they have been covered with heavy building paper, and the excavation nearly filled, and walls recovered with the screened earth. A few additional loads of earth will have to be hauled to the site to complete the filling, because the bricks and brick debris which would not pass through the screens have been hauled away.

Todd & Brown, Inc., began the screening at 12:30 p.m. July 14, 1930, with four men, and continued the work with an average of seven men, including a foreman, through July 30th.

The remains from the building and its contents, salvaged from the screening, fill seven boxes 15" x 28" x 15" in size, and are, largely, pieces of china, bottles, glassware, iron (such as parts of hinges, etc.), and other miscellaneous articles.

The following things I think are worth mentioning here:

Bowl of colonial white clay pipe, a very fine specimen, for encircling the bowl is a fine impression of the British Coat of Arms.

Parts of a piece of flat white china on which, in black, is a ¼" scale.

Piece of white china, containing the maker's mark, "Iron Stone China—Powell & Bishop, England."

Piece of brown and white china, on which is the following, "E. Jun^r."

A military brass button, on which are the initials N. H. D. V. S., which Genl. Mitchell, retired U. S. Army officer and visitor in Williamsburg, a day or two ago said stands for the words "National Home Disabled Volunteer Soldiers."

A small coin, apparently British; words and date nearly obliterated, about the size of old U. S. 3-cent piece.

An American one-cent piece; date, 1831.

An American five-cent piece; date, 1869.

The remains are stored in school on Palace Green, in north-west corner room, first floor.