Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

THE ANNEX SITE
Block 19, Colonial lot #43

On the town plan map made by an unknown draftsman and described by Lyon G. Tyler as having been drawn about 1790 this property is shown as an integral part of colonial lot #43. This map shows lot #43 as comprising the whole section of the Market Square lying on the north side of the Duke of Gloucester street and extending from England street (which at that time extended across both the Duke of Gloucester and Nicholson streets) to the Paradise lot (colonial lot #44.).

Lot #43 was deeded four times in the early part of the eighteenth century by the Trustees of the city with the building proviso passed by the General Assembly, which required that buildings must be erected upon this site within a period of twenty-four months after the deed became effective. Those receiving title to the property were Col. Phillip Ludwell, September 23, 1700; Christopher Jackson, April 12, 1713; Ambrose Cobbs, June 13, 1718; and Christopher Jackson again received dead to lot #43 on February 6, 1722. It is evident that they did not build and each time the property was reclaimed by the city.

The York County records show that in December, 1745, lot #43 was again granted by the Trustees of the city of Williamsburg, this time to John Blair. Since the lot was granted with the same proviso mentioned above, it would appear that buildings were erected upon this lot some time between 1745-1747. The Frenchman's Map of c-1782 indicates three buildings located on the eastern end of this lot, and these were probably the structures which were erected at the aforementioned time in compliance with the abovementioned 2 building clause. In the year 1769 it appears that the building on the lot immediately adjacent to the Market Square was used as a storehouse. When in November of that year an act to annex part of York County to James City County, in order to build the James City court house, was introduced, the records show that Haldenby Dixon was keeping store there. The record states:

WHEREAS it hath been represented to this general assembly that the justices of James City county have entered into an agreement with the mayor, recorder, aldermen and common council, of the city of Williamsburg to build a new court-house at their joint expence, and for their common use and benefit, but it so happens that no convenient place can be found, whereon to erect the said court-house, except on that part of the market-square which lies on the north side of Duke of Gloucester-street, in the said city, and which by the present dividing line between the said county of James City and the county of York, is contained in the said county of York; Be it therefore enacted, by the Governor, Council, and Burgesses of this present General assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, That so much of the said market-square as lies on the north side of the said street, as far as Nicholson street, and between the line of Hugh Walker's [Norton House] lot, on the west, and the paling where Haldenby Dixon's store stands, on the east, be, and the same is hereby added to and made part of the said county of James City; any thing, in any former law, contained to the contrary thereof, notwithstanding.
… (Hening, William Waller, Statutes at Large, Vol. 8, p. 419-420)

The following advertisements of Dixon's shop were published in the Virginia Gazette during 1770 and 1771:

May 24, 1770

Just imported from London by the subscriber, in the Elizabeth, Capt. Howard Esten,
AN Assortment of GOODS, suitable for the season, and to be sold at his store cheap for ready money.
H. DIXON.
WILLIAMSBURG (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, Eds.)

3

Thursday, May 2, 1771.
WILLIAMSBURG, May 2,

…
Last night between 8 and 9 o'Clock, Mr. Haldenby Dixon's store was broke open, and a drawer taken out with cash to the amount of about ten pounds. The many daring robberies of this kind, that have been comitted, call loudly for the interposition of justice; and it is to be hoped that the Gentlemen of the corporation will make some provision for the appointment of a watch…

(Virginia Gazette, William Rind., Ed.)

Though it appears that Dixon was keeping store in 1769 in the westerly structure erected by Blair on this property, it does not appear that he had acquired title to the store at that time. Two years later, in 1771, Blair, in his will, bequeathed to his son "the four lots whereon my storehouse stands with all their appurtenances." The York record states:

October 5, 1771.

I give and devise to my son John Blair all those lots and houses where I now live, also the four lots whereon my storehouse stands with all their appurtenances to him and his heirs forever. I likewise give to my said son John all my lands below the City of Williamsburg and my lands at Tashaness, together with all their appurtenances to him and his heirs forever… (York County, Va., Book 22 - Wills, Inventories)

Since town maps of a later date indicate that this property had been divided, it seems probable that such a division of lot #43 had been made at some time prior to Blair's death and it is not certain how much of colonial lot #43 was included in this bequest.

It seems probable that Blair's son soon disposed of the storehouse site and buildings for by 1779 Haldenby Dixon and another merchant, Graham Frank, jointly owned the property. The structure appears to have been used as a double store. In that year the half of 4 the property owned by Graham Frank escheated to the Commonwealth. A York County record for September 30, 1779, states:

Frank, Graham
Escheated Land.

A house in the city of Williamsburg adjoining the Market Square on the North side of the Main Street, now in the possession of Bartlett Williams, Esq., being only one half of the said house and lot belonging to Graham Franks, the other half belonging to Mr. Haldenby Dixon.

The above becomes escheated to the Commonwealth.

(York County, Va., Book VI - Deeds)

The following year the portion of the property which had been owned by Frank was advertised for sale in the Virginia Gazette by the escheater of York County, and at the same time Dixon's half of the property was offered for sale also. The Virginia Gazette record for December 25, 1779, states:

To be SOLD, by the Escheator of York county,…
…Also half of a very convenient store and part a lot, where Bartlett Williams, Esq. now lives, opposite the house of Mr. Maupin, and near the market in the city, lately the property of Graham Frank…
WILLIAM A. ROGERS,
JOHN DICKESON,
Commissioners

N. B. the other half of the above-mentioned store will be sold at the same time and place.

(Virginia Gazette, Dixon and Nicolson, Eds.)

This is the last definite record regarding private ownership of this property during the eighteenth century. It appears that some time prior to the period 1790-1800 the city had reclaimed title to the entire colonial lot #43, for both the map by an unknown draftsman, described by Lyon G. Tyler as having been made c-1790, and the Bucktrout Map of 1800 show all of this property as an integral part of the Market Square. Since only public buildings are indicated on these plans, it 5 is impossible to know whether or not the three buildings mentioned above were still standing at the time these plans were made.

Certain references in the York County records and the Virginia Gazette between the years 1745 and the time of Blair's death in 1771 make it seem probable that Blair may have sold certain sections of colonial lot #43 during that time. In the year 1754 James Bird, a blacksmith, mortgaged to Patrick Matthews:

All goods and chattels in schedule annexed, Schedule referred to:

A smith shop and the ground whereon it stands in the market place in the city of Williamsburgh, leased by the said James Bird from the trustees of the said city for a term of years not yet expired…

(York County, Va., Land Causes)

Since Bird also mortgaged at the same time a property adjoining the garden of John Blair, it seems not improbable that the smith shop referred to above could have been that one of the three buildings depicted on the Frenchman's Map of c-1782, which stands at the rear of the other two. Since it seems likely that the two properties which had been used by Bird were contiguous it seems not inconceivable that the other property mortgaged to Matthews at this time may have been the third of the buildings depicted on the Frenchman's Map. This fact, however, we have not been able to establish. It is only known that the property which Matthews acquired through foreclosure at this time was sold by him to Graham Frank the following year. Frank in turn sold the property to James Tarpley, a merchant, in 1760. In 1762, Tarpley sold to Daniel Hoye, city wheelwright. Hoye sold the property to John Leggitts some time between 1762 and 1766. In 1766 Josiah Chowning conducted a tavern on this site. In 1768 William Elliot succeeded Chowning as a tavern keeper and in 1771 the property 6 was sold by Joseph Leggitts, administrator for John Leggitts, to John Tyler. In the settlement of Tyler's estate the property was sold to Thomas Cole on April 9, 1774. This is the last deed recorded to the property during the eighteenth century.

Since it cannot be established that the property just referred to in the above paragraph is that upon which stood the third building represented on the Frenchman's Map, the one east of the store owned by Dixon, the information in this paragraph is inserted purely for conjectural purposes.

Since no further deeds to this lot are available it is impossible to tell to whom the property belonged in the latter part of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

According to the statement of an aged resident of Williamsburg, Mr. John S. Charles, made in his Recollections of Williamsburg, two buildings remained standing on this site until some years prior to the Civil War:

On the site of these buildings now standing, there were two old buildings, razed many years before the War. These old buildings were under the ninety-nine year lease, which expired during the occupancy of the parties then holding the lease. An effort was made by the lessees to have the lease renewed. This was opposed by some of the leading spirits on the city council. A hot contest was waged; but by some measure, or for some reason not then known but revealed by subsequent events, the lessees lost, and had to move bag and baggage to other quarters, and the old houses were pulled down, in order, it was said, to extend the Green to Queen street, its legitimate eastern boundary…

Mr. Charles states that the Annex building and the store building adjoining it were erected some time prior to the Civil War.

^{after 1937
Before 1939
Superseded May 16, 1941.}

CHOWNING'S TAVERN
Block 19

The lot on which Chowning's Tavern stands today was so centrally located for the various activities of those who frequented Williamsburg that the property built upon it passed rapidly from person to person, and from one type of business enterprise to another. After the middle of the century, the western half of the house seems to have remained in the ownership of one merchant while the eastern half had many uses. This eastern part was, it appears, used by Josiah Chowning and William Elliott in succession for the brief period c. 1766-70. Neither of these tavern-keepers assumed such importance in Williamsburg as did Wetherburn, Finnie or Hay; nor could Chowning's Tavern attain such a place in the life of the capital as was held by the Raleigh.

The first known owner of this lot was William Shields. He sold it to John Blair in 1739, one-time president of the Council and twice acting-governor, who sold or leased it to a tailor. The description of this property for a long time included the phrase "adjoining the garden of John Blair, Esq." From 1745 to 1757 it was in the possession of James Bird, blacksmith. Bird like so many eighteenth century people lacked ready money. In order to borrow money to pay for this property, he gave as security to his creditors in 1746 his salary as keeper of the public arms. On record in the Journal of the House of Burgesses that year is his petition for £50 sterling per annum as armourer and for cleaning the "Great Guns before the Governor's House." In his second recorded venture in borrowing, Bird mortgaged not only his house and lot and household goods but also the blacksmith shop which stood on ground in the Market Square which he had leased from the city. This second mortgage reveals that a Williamsburg blacksmith so illiterate he had to make his mark owned "seven Wainscot 2 English Oak Chairs, Two large Walnut tables… One Chest of Drawers and one Desk both Walnut four Russia Leather Chairs eight large Silver Spoons six Tea D^o…"

Bird's failure to repay the loan led to a lawsuit in which his creditor, Patrick Mathews, won. Mathews recovered the amount of his loan by joining with Bird to sell or mortgage the property to Graham Frank, merchant of Yorktown, in 1757. It is after this transfer that the history of the property becomes confused. Frank had as his partner in 1761 a Dixon, believed to be Haldenby Dixon since the latter was undoubtedly located here for the ten years, 1769-1779. When the part of the Market Square which was in York County was incorporated into James City County by an act of the General Assembly in 1769 so as to locate the present court house in the latter county, the statue read:

So much of the said Market-square as lies on the north side of said street, [Duke of Gloucester], as far as Nicholson Street, and between the line of Hugh Walker's lot, on the west, and the paling where Haldenby Dixon's store stands, on the east, be, and the same is hereby added to and made part of the said county of James City.

The eastern portion of the house seems to have had a frequent turnover and during the eighteenth century was leased in rapid succession to the following: a merchant, a spinster, a wheelwright--who would find the blacksmithy a very useful part of his property--Joseph Jeggitts, two tavern-keepers, Josiah Chowning and William Elliott, John Tyler, Thomas Cole, and finally to Bartlett William.

Through only two advertisements in the local Gazette was Josiah Chowning connected with Williamsburg. One of these advertisements was his, announcing the opening of a tavern; the other was one by William Elliott two years later saying that he was keeping tavern where Chowning had formerly kept one. Chowning's announcements, appearing in the Virginia Gazette (Purdie and Dixon) for October 10, 17, and 24, 1766, all read: 3

I HEREBY acquaint the publick that I have opened tavern at the house where I formerly lived, and lately possessed by Mr. John Jeggitts; where all who please to favour me with their custom may depend upon the best of entertainment for themselves, servants, and horses, and good pasturage.
JOSIAH CHOWNING.

A John Jeggitts was the owner or lessee of this property on Market Square. Since there is no evidence of Jeggitts owning any other property in Williamsburg--though many titles to property in Williamsburg disappeared through the loss of the James City County, General Court, and Williamsburg Hustings Court records--it has been assumed that Chowning kept tavern on the Market Square in 1766.

Two years later William Elliott made a similar announcement about tavern-keeping in Williamsburg:

April 7, 1768

William Elliott, Hereby acquaints the publick that he has opened Tavern in the house formerly occupied by Mr. Chowning: where all Gentlemen who shall please to favour him with their custom may depend upon good accommodation for themselves, servants, and horses, and the best entertainment.

In September, 1779, Frank's property, described "as a house in the city of Williamsburg adjoining the Market Square on the North side of Main Street, now occupied by Bartlett William, Esq, being only one half of the said house and lot…, the other half belonging to Mr. Haldenby Dixon," was declared escheated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Both Frank's and Dixon's property was offered for sale through the columns of the Virginia Gazette in December of that year as follows:

…half of a very convenient store and part of a lot where Bartlett William Esq. now lives opposite the house of Mr. Maupin, and near the Market in this city; lately the property of Graham Frank.
…
N. B. The other half of the above mentioned store will be sold at the same time and the same place.

4

From that time on until the Civil War period, the history of this property is obscure. Mr. Charles in his Recollections says that two old buildings standing on the Court House Green to the east of the Court House were razed many years before the Civil War.

These old buildings were under the ninety-nine year lease, which expired during the occupancy of the parties then holding the lease. An effort was made by the lessees to have the lease renewed. This was opposed by some of the leading spirits on the city council. A hot contest was waged; but by some measure, or for some reasons not then known but revealed by subsequent events, the lessees lost, and had to move bag and baggage to other quarters, and the old houses were pulled down, in order, it was said, to extend the Green to Queen street, its legitimate eastern boundary.

Dr. Samuel Griffin, a leading spirit in all the affairs of the city, then built the house later known as the Colonial Hotel as well as the house east of it. [Mr. Charles insinuates that the two old buildings, perhaps the eighteenth century ones, had been removed to make way for Dr. Griffin's houses. That seems obvious in view of his statement that Dr. Griffin had influence, and that he built there when the pretext for removal was to clear the Green to Queen Street.] Mr. Charles' description of the property built by Griffin is as follows:

This house was always regarded as an oddity in construction, having two large rooms in front, with two flights of narrow stairs, one on each side of a partition leading from a front platform to rooms above. The house next door was much in appearance as it is now, except the front room on Duke of Gloucester street was the highest, and was reached by several stone steps.

Block 19, Building 5a - Chowning's Tavern - General
Chowning's Tavern

From the historical data available, Chowning's Tavern cannot be located finally and definitely on the Court House Green. It is only through the name of one man and because of the lack of more definite information that the Chowning's Tavern of the eighteenth century has been located there.

Through only two advertisements in the local Gazette was Josiah Chowning connected with Williamsburg. One of these advertisements was his, announcing the opening of a tavern; the other was one by William Elliott two years later saying that he was keeping tavern where Chowning had formerly kept one. Chowning's announcements, appearing in the Virginia Gazette (Purdie and Dixon) for October 10, 17, and 24, 1766, all read:

I HEREBY acquaint the publick that I have opened tavern at the house where I formerly lived, and lately possessed by Mr. John Jeggitts; where all who please to favour me with their custom may depend upon the best of entertainment for themselves, servants, and horses, and good pasturage.
JOSIAH CHOWNING.

A John Jeggitts was the owner [or lessee] of the Court House Green property in question. Since there is no evidence of Jeggitts owning any other property in Williamsburg--though many titles to property in Williamsburg disappeared through the loss of the James City County, General Court, and Williamsburg Hustings Court records--it has been assumed that Chowning kept tavern on the Court House Green in 1766. Two years later William Elliott made a similar announcement about tavern-keeping in Williamsburg:

April 7, 1768

William Elliot, Hereby acquaints the publick that he has opened Tavern in the house formerly occupied by Mr. Chowning: where all Gentlemen who shall please to favour him with their custom may depend upon good accommodation for themselves, servants, and horses, and the best entertainment. [Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon]

2

It is interesting to note that both tavern-keepers made their announcements in advance of the meeting of the General Assembly. A check of the House Journals for those dates reveals that the Assembly met in November, 1766, and May, 1768.

The property on the Court House Green had a rather rapid turnover of owners or lessees. As early as 1739, it was sold by William Shields to John Blair, one-time president of the Council and twice acting-governor. After a brief ownership by a tailor, it was occupied for about ten years by a blacksmith, James Bird. Bird seemed always to lack ready money. In order to borrow money to pay for this property, he gave as security to his creditors in 1746, his salary as keeper of the public arms. On record in the Journal of the House of Burgesses that year is his petition for £50 sterling per annum as armourer and for an allowance for cleaning the "Great Guns before the Governor's House."

His second recorded venture in borrowing reveals that an illiterate Williamsburg blacksmith who could only make his mark on legal documents was the owner of such furniture (luxuries?) as "seven Wainscot English Oak Chairs, Two large Walnut tables … One Chest of Drawers and one Desk both Walnut four Russia Leather Chairs eight large Silver Spoons six Tea D^o…"

Bird had to mortgage not only his chattels for this loan but also his house and lot and the blacksmith shop on the Market Square, which ground he had leased from the city corporation.

Failure to pay and an attempt to avoid payment led to a lawsuit, brought by his creditor, Patrick Matthews, butcher of Yorktown, in which Bird and his wife lost.

In the latter part of the century after the property had passed to use, Graham Frank, the evidence points to the house and lot being subdivided in use.

3

A merchant, Haldenby Dixon, seems to have owned and used the portion nearest the Court House as a store. When the boundary between York and James City counties war redrawn to include part of York on the northern side of the Duke of Gloucester Street in James City county so that the contemplated new Court House (on the Market Square) would be in James City county, Haldenby Dixon's palings were made the eastern boundary of this line. The statute in 1769 reads:

So much of the said Market-square as lies on the north side of said street, (Duke of Gloucester), as far as Nicholson Street, and between the line of Hugh Walker's lot, on the west, and the paling where Haldenby Dixon's store stands, on the east be, and the same is hereby added to and made part of the said county of James City.

The eastern portion of the house seems to have had a frequent turnover and was leased to a merchant, a spinster, a wheelwright--who would find the blacksmithy a very useful part of his property--a Joseph Jeggitts, perhaps the two tavern-keepers, a John Tyler, a Thomas Cole, and a Bartlett Williams.

In September, 1779, Frank's property, described "as a house in the city of Williamsburg adjoining the Market Square on the North side of Main Street, now occupied by Bartlett William, Esq, being only one half of the said house and lot…, the other half belonging to Mr. Haldenby Dixon," was declared escheated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Both Frank's and Dixon's property was offered for sale through the columns of the Virginia Gazette in December of that year.

From that time on until the Civil War period,, the history of the property is obscure. Mr. Charles in his Recollections says that two old buildings standing on the Court House Green to the east of the Court House were razed many years before the Civil War.

4

These old buildings were under the ninety-nine year lease, which expired during the occupancy of the parties then holding the lease. An effort was made by the lessees to have the lease renewed. This was opposed by some of the leading spirits on the city council. A hot contest was waged; but by some measure, or for some reasons not then known but revealed by subsequent events, the lessees lost, and had to move bag and baggage to other quarters, and the old houses were pulled down, in order, it was said, to extend the Green to Queen street, its legitimate eastern boundary.

Dr. Samuel Griffin, a leading spirit in all the affairs of the city, then built the house later known as the Colonial Hotel as well as the house east of it. (Mr. Charles insinuates that the two old buildings, perhaps the eighteenth century ones, had been removed to make way for Dr. Griffin's houses. That seems obvious in view of his statement that Dr. Griffin had influence and that he built there when the pretext for removal was to clear the Green to Queen Street.) Mr. Charles' description of the property built by Griffin is as follows:

This house was always regarded as an oddity in construction, having two large rooms in front, with two flights of narrow stairs, one on each side of a partition leading from a front platform to rooms above. The house next door was much in appearance as it is now, except the front room on Duke of Gloucester street was the highest, and was reached by several stone steps.