Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

The history of Lot 161 (sometimes called 61 in the deeds) is often identical with that of Lot 162. (See report on Norton House, Block 19, September, 1944) The two lots were originally granted together, in instruments of lease and release (February 5 and 6, 1716), to Samuel Cobbs, with the stipulation that he should "within the space of 24 months build and finish upon Each Lott one good dwelling house or houses according to an Act of Assembly 1705." (York County Records, Book III - Deeds & Bonds, pages 149-150)

Deeds of lease and release of July 17 and 18, 1719, show that the property passed to Samuel Boush, Jr.:

Cobbs, Samuel
Edith, his wife
to
Boush, Samuel, Jr. of the County of Norfolk
July 18, 1719
Consideration: Fourty Pounds lawfull money of Virginia

Two lots of land with appurtenances scituate, lying and being in the City of Williamsburg beginning at a corner stone on the Main Street and running thence up the Palace Street to another street, thence down the said street to the Market Place, thence along the Market to the Main Street, thence along the Main Street to the beginning Stone, the same being taken up by the said Cobbs and acknowledged by the Feoffees of the said city as the Deeds bearing date the fifth of February 1716 and recorded in York County... (Abstract, York County Deeds & Bonds, III, 297-298)

The exact date at which Lot 161 came into the hands of James Geddy has not been discovered, but it was before 1738. In that year, when Geddy acquired Lot 62 (162), it was revealed that he was already living on the adjoining lot (which would be 161):

Boush, Samuel
Frances, his wife - County of Norfolk
to
Geddy, James - City of Williamsburg - Gunsmith
December 8, 1738
2 Consideration: 30 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

One lott or half acre of Ground lying and being in the City of Williamsburg and denoted in the Plan of the said by the figure 62, and adjoining the Lot whereon the said James Geddy now dwells. With all houses, woods... (Abstract, York County Deeds IV, 535-536)

According to this deed, James Geddy was then living on Lot 161 (also called 61). More than a year before this date, mention of "Mr. James Geddy'^sShop, in Williamsburg" was made in an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette (William Parks, July 1-8, 1737). Perhaps he was keeping shop in his dwelling on Lot 162. At least, no record of other James Geddy property in Williamsburg at that time, has yet been discovered. Geddy advertised his business of gunsmith in the Virginia Gazette in 1738 (William Parks, 29 September-October 6, 1738) and in 1739. (William Parks, September 28-October 5, 1739) He died at some time between September 23, 1743 and August 20, 1744, as is shown by the following excerpt from his will:

Item I give unto my Sons & Daughters David, James, William & John Geddy Elizabeth, Anne & Mary Geddy each of them five shillings. I do constitute & appoint Anne Geddy my beloved wife Sole Extrix and heiress of all my real & Personal Estate to be disposed by her as she thinks most proper. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal this 23^d day of Sept. Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred & forty three years.
James Geddy

Witnesses:
Thomas Bennett
George Charlton
Hugh Boyd
Proved, York County Court, August 20, 1744

(York County Wills, Inventories, XIX, 306-307)

This indicates that James Geddy died between September 23, 1743 and August 20, 1744. It also explains how title to Lot 161 came to Anne Geddy, so that she was legally capable of deeding the property to her son in 1760, as will appear later in this report.

The inventory of the senior James Geddy, entered in York County November 19, 1744, is given as Illustration #1 in the Appendix to this report. 3 The inventory is interesting because it gives, in addition to the list of household furnishings, such items as "a parcel rough brass work for Guns,... Bullet Moulds,...Turner Laith,...a parcel of Nail Tools," etc. If a gunsmith's shop should ever be made a part of the restored James Geddy House, this inventory would be valuable.

After the death of the senior James Geddy, the gunsmith's business was evidently carried on by his sons, David and William; for in 1751, the following advertisement appeared:

DAVID and WILLIAM GEDDY Smiths in Williamsburg, near the Church, having all Manner of Utensils requisite, carry on the Gun-smith's, Cutler's and Founder's Trade, at whose Shop may be had the following Work, viz. Gun Work, such as Guns and Pistols Stocks, plain or neatly varnished, Locks and Mountings, Barrels blued, bored and rifled; Founder's Work, and Harness Buckles, Coach Knobs, Hinges, Squares, Nails and Bullions, curious Brass Fenders and Fire Dogs, House Bells of all Sizes, Dials calculated to any Latitude; Cutler's Work, as Razors, Lancets, Shears, and Surgeon's Instruments ground, cleaned, and glazed, as well as when first made, Sword Blades polished, blued, and gilt in the neatest Manner, Scabbards for Swords, Needles and Sights for Surveyors Compasses, Rupture Bands of different Sorts, particularly a Sort which gives admirable Ease in all Kinds of Ruptures: Likewise at the said Shop may be had a Vermifuge, Price, 3 s. 6 d. per Bottle, which safely and effectually destroys all Kinds of Worms in Horses, the most inveterate Pole-evils and Fistulas cured, and all Diseases incident to Horses; at their said Shop. (Virginia Gazette William Hunter, August 8, 1751)

Later, the shop seems to have passed to the son James Geddy who is described as goldsmith (in his advertisements in the Virginia Gazette) and silversmith and jeweller (in the York County records of deeds), but never as gunsmith. Some of his many advertisements will be given later.

Mrs. Anne Geddy, widow of the first James and mother of the last mentioned James, sold Lot 162 (called 62) to James Taylor on November 17, 1750. The deed shows that there was a well on Lot 161 (called 61):

...also one moiety or half part of the well situate and 4 being on the lot No. 61 belonging to the said Ann Geddy and adjoining the lott hereby sold and convey'd with free Liberty to the said James Taylor, his heirs and assigns, his and their Servants & Tenants at all times to pass and repass to the said Well without the interruption or hindrance of the said Ann Geddy or any other person or persons. . .
(York County Deeds, V, 402)

On May 1, 1753, Taylor leased part of his property (Lot 162) for a term of twelve years to John Bryan, Wig Maker. He described the part leased as being "between the end of the House belonging to the said James Taylor . . . and the House belonging to the Widow Geddy." (York County Deeds, V, 535) Evidently the widow had retained title to Lot 161 until 1760 when she deeded it to her son James:

Geddy, Anne (widow) County of James City
to
Geddy, James
(Silver Smith) City of Williamsburgh
August 18, 1760.
Consideration: 100 Pounds current money

All that Peice Parcel or Lot of Land lying and being in the Parish of Bruton and County of York on the North Side of Duke of Gloucester Street in the City of Williamsburgh and bounded on the South by the said Street on the West by Palace Street on the North by Nicholson Street and on the East by the Lott of Richard Corbin and Mann Page Esquires and denoted in the Plan of the said City by the Figures 161, and all houses Buildings Yards Gardens. . . (York County Deeds, VI, 276-278)

Shortly after he obtained title to Lot 161, James Geddy had some improvements made. They are recorded in the deed book:

Geddy, James - Silver Smith, City of Williamsburgh
to
Walker, Hugh - of the same City
and Goode, John - of London, merchants and Partners
September, 1760.

Whereas in pursuance of an agreement made between the Parties aforesaid the said Hugh Walker and John Goode at their own proper Cost and Charge have repaired and improved a Messuage house or Tenement Scituate and being on the North Side of Duke of Gloucester Street and are to Erect & Build a Shed to the same Sixteen feet long and ten feet wide with an outSide Chimney upon the Lot of Ground belonging to the said 5 James Geddy where he now dwells, which Lot is numbered in the Plan of the said City by the Figures 161... in consideration of the repairs and improvements aforesaid for the rent hereinafter reserved and also for and in Consideration of the Sum of five shillings...Lett part of the Messuage house or Tenement by them repaired and improved as aforesaid that is to Say the East End or Room of the said house with the Chamber or Room over the Same and the Cellar underneath with the said Shed when built as aforesaid in the whole Containing Sixteen feet in front and twenty Six feet in width with leave to Erect and Build an Outside Chimney to the back Room or Shed also the free use of the necessary house and Well be longing to the said Lot...15 year term. (York County Deeds, Book 6, 288-290)

The drawing given on the following page is an attempt to interpret the meaning of the building described in the foregoing lease. Other interpretations may be possible; but this one fulfills the requirements. It shows a shed "Sixteen feet long and ten feet wide" in a position where it could have an outside chimney, either on the north or on the east. The shed is also called "the back Room or Shed;" and the "East End or Room of the said house" is described as the part leased along with the proposed shed. The overall dimensions of the room and the shed are stated as "Sixteen feet in front and twenty Six feet in width." The western part of the house is not described in the lease.

Drawing M 1 (dated March 11, 1929, made before restoration in 1930-31) in Architectural Department shows first floor plan of Geddy House with an addition sketched in at the back (north) that corresponds almost exactly with the dimensions of the 1760 shed. Drawing M 2 (dated March 12, 1929, made before restoration in 1930-31) in Architectural Department shows north elevation of house with one-story shed.

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The pencil drawing on this page is not congruent with that of the Frenchman's Map (See Illustration 2 in Appendix of this report), but of course the date of the lease that describes the shed (1760) is some 7 twenty years before the date of the Frenchman's Map. However, it will be noted later that in 1777 Geddy advertised his "houses and lot" as "well improved, and the whole built within these few years." (Virginia Gazette, Purdie, May 2, 1777) That advertisement would lead one to believe that it is a later house that appears on the Frenchman's Map.

During his occupancy of Lot 161, James Geddy advertised often in the Virginia Gazette. Some of these advertisements follow:

JAMES GEDDY, GOLDSMITH, Near the Church in Williamsburg, has now on hand for SALE, very cheap, for ready money, the following articles, VIZ.
SILVER Tea Spoons and Tongs, Mens, Womens, and Childrens Shoe Buckles, Stock and Knee do. Spurs, Plain and Stone Rings, Stone Seals Plain and Stone Brooches, Plain and Stone Gold Buttons, Plain and Stone Silver Buttons and Studs, Plain and Stone Earrings in Gold, and many other articles. N. B. He still continues to clean and repair WATCHES, and repairs his own work that fails in a reasonable time, without any expense to the purchaser. (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, March 5, 1767)

Just imported in the last ship from London, and to be sold at a low advance, by the subscriber, next door to the Post Office,¹ Williamsburg,
A NEAT assortment of JEWELLERY, consisting of the following articles,
viz. Stone and paste shoe, knee, and stock buckles, stone and plain gold brooches, hair sprigs, pins, crescents, and earrings, stone sleeve buttons and rings of all sorts, silver and pinchbeck buckles, turenne and punch ladles, thimbles, plated spurs, silver and steal watch chains and seals, &c. &c. &c.
JAMES GEDDY (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, Oct. 27, 1768)

8

JAMES GEDDY, GOLDSMITH, Next door below the Church, W^msBurg, Has now on hand a neat assortment of country made GOLD and SILVER WORK, which he will sell at the lowest rates for cash, or exchange for old gold or silver. As he has not imported any jewellery this season, he flatters himself he will meet with encouragement, especially from those Ladies and Gentlemen who are friends to the association.
N. B. He repairs his work, without any expense to the purchaser. (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, September 28, 1769)

WILLIAMSBURG, October 4, 1770. JAMES GEDDY,
Goldsmith, near the Church, Williamsburg,
HAS on hand a neat assortment of COUNTRY MADE GOLD and SILVER WORK, which he will sell reasonably, for cash; likewise a small, but neat assortment, of imported JEWELLERY (ordered before the association took place) among which are paste shoe, knee, and stock buckles, hair pins, thimbles, mocho and crystal in gold and silver, tortoiseshell and horn poll combs, fashionable plated spurs, &c. &c. He has also for sale, on six months credit, a likely NEGRO WENCH, about eighteen years old, with her child, a boy. (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, October 4, 1770)

Just IMPORTED, and to be SOLD by the Subscriber, near the Church in Williamsburg.
A NEAT Assortment of PLATE, WATCHES, and JEWELLERY, consisting of Silver cans; pierced, oval, and round Salts; Tureen, Punch, and Pap Ladles; Table and Tea Spoons; Spring Tongs; chased Cream Buckets; plain Silver Watches, of various Prices; Paste and plain Combs; Sprigs and Pins; Crystal, Paste, and other Earrings; Corals and Bells; Paste Shoe, Knee and Stock Buckles; Brooches; Thimbles; fashionable Silver and Pinchbeck Buckles; Mocho Sleeve Buttons in Gold, set round with Marcasite; Crystal Ditto in Gold and Silver; Triangle, and other Seals, in Gold, Silver and Pinchbeck; plain and ornamented Lockets; Diamond, and other Rings; Loop, studded, and Chain Spurs; Ladies and Gentlemens Steal and Pinchbeck watch Chains; Steel, and Common Keys; chased Etwee Cases, and Instruments; Pearl, Bugle, Marcasite, Wax, and Venecian Necklaces; with a neat Assortment of TOOLS and MATERIALS in the different Branches of his Business, &c. &c. &c. JAMES GEDDY.

N. B. The Reasonableness of the above Goods, he hopes, will remove that Objection of his Shop's being too high up Town, as he proposes to sell any Article exceeding twenty Shillings Sterling at the low Advance of sixty two and a Half per Cent, and the Walk may be thought rather an Amusement than a Fatigue. 9 MOURNING RINGS, and all Kinds of ENGRAVING, done at the same Shop by
WILLIAM WADDILL.

(Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon, June 4, 1772)

The "N. B." of the above advertisement is an interesting commentary on the business section of the Williamsburg of 1772. Geddy evidently felt it required special inducements to coax people "up Town" to his shop. The advertisements continue, at intervals, showing that Geddy lived and kept shop in Williamsburg at least until December, 1777. Geddy is mentioned as owner of Colonial Lot 161 in deeds concerning the adjoining lot (162), in 1770, 1771, and 1773. (York County Deeds, VIII, 73-74; 177-179; 341)

On July 18, 1771, James Geddy advertised:

THE STORE, adjoining the Subscriber's Shop, lately occupied by William Russell,¹ is to be LET, and may be entered on immediately.
(Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon)

The only property James Geddy is known to have owned in Williamsburg at that date is Lot 161. His mother had sold Lot 162 in 1750 (See pp. 3-4 of the report). Although his father had owned both 161 and 162, the younger James had never had title to 162. Since the younger Geddy's shop is consistently described in advertisements as "near the Church" (and in at least one instance as "next door below the Church" See page 7 of this report), it is safe to assume that the shop was on his property on Lot 161. "THE STORE", mentioned in the above advertisement, suggests two business establishments on his property, either in his house or as separate buildings.

James Geddy did not spend his whole life in Williamsburg. He became a resident of Dinwiddie County at some time between December 5, 1777 and December 11, 1778.

10

On May 2, 1777, he advertised:

For SALE,
THE houses and lot whereon I now live in Williamsburg, well improved, and the whole built within these few years; one fourth of the purchase money to be paid down, and the remainder at four annual payments. If not sold before the 10th day of June next, they will then be set up to the highest bidder. (Virginia Gazette, Alexander Purdie)

The auction was apparently not held, for on December 5, 1777, the following advertisement appeared:

To be SOLD to the best bidder, for ready money, on Monday the11^th of December, at the subscriber's shop in Williamsburg, SUNDRY tools and materials in the GOLDSMITH and WATCHMAKER's business. My HOUSE and LOT in this city are also to be sold, at private bargain. The terms may be known, and payments made easy, by applying to JAMES GEDDY.
(Virginia Gazette, Purdie)

Whatever "private bargain" may have been made, there was no transfer of title to the land until December, 1778, at which time Geddy is described as a "Jeweller of Dinwiddie:"

December 11, 1778
Geddy, James - Jeweller of Dinwiddie
Elizabeth, his wife
to
Jackson, Robert - merchant of Williamsburg
Consideration: 1,600 Pounds current money of Virginia

All that lot or half Acre of Land situate lying and being in the City of Williamsburg numbered in the plan of the said City by the numbers not given and bounded on the South by the Duke of Gloucester street, on the West by Palace street, on the North by Nicholson Street and on the East by the Lots of John Hatley Norton lately purchased of William Pitt being the Lot or half acre of Land purchased by the said James Geddy of M^rs. Anne Geddy...in the year 1770¹ recorded in the County Court of York.
And all houses... (York County Deeds, Book 6, 48)

11

The foregoing deed seems to establish James Geddy as a resident of Dinwiddie County by December 11, 1778. On February 12, 1779, without mentioning his place of residence, he advertised for a watch "LOST out of the subscribers shop, while in Williamsburg, some time in the fall of 1777." (Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Nicholson) In 1782, he was registered on the personal property list of Dinwiddie County. (William and Mary Quarterly, First Series, XXVI, 100)

Evidently, Robert Jackson died within a few years after he obtained title to Lot 161; for by June, 1781, his wife had become a widow. In that year, she deeded "one moiety" of her estate to Dr. John Minson Galt in trust for her daughter, Nancy Jackson:

June 18, 1781
Jackson, Elizabeth
Relict of Robert Jackson late of Williamsburg
to
Galt, Dr. John Minson
In trust for her daughter
Jackson, Nancy
Consideration: Love and affection for daughter and 5 shillings Current Money of Virginia

One moiety of the whole Estate both real and personal given and devised to me by the Will of my late Husband Robert Jackson bearing date March, 1781, to have and to hold the said moiety of the whole estate both real and personal devised to me by the said will in trust to and for the use of my said daughter Nancy Jackson and her Heirs forever.

Provided always and upon this express condition that if my said Daughter should die unmarried or before she arrives to lawful age, then all that I have given . . . shall be to my sole use and benefit. . .

(York County Deeds, VI, 145)

In Harwood's ledger, under dates ranging from 1782 to 1787, there is an account for "Cap^t Robert Martin (that Marrid Widow Jackson)." (See Illustration #3 in Appendix of this report.) The account includes charges for lime, mortar, hair, bricks, plastering, whitewashing, and various repairs. 12 To say that the "Widow Jackson" whom Captain Robert Martin married was Elizabeth Jackson, widow of Robert Jackson and owner of Lot 161, might seem like jumping to conclusions, since no record of the marriage has been found. But there is a strong chain of circumstantial evidence which bears out that theory. On the Unknown Draughtsman's Map, the name on Lot 161 is Martin. (See Illustration #4, copy of Tyler's Plat, in Appendix of this report.) Robert Martin is a common name. Swem's Index lists many references to Robert Martin and several to Captain Martin, but none for Captain Robert Martin. Of the Robert Martin references, two may apply to the owner of Lot 161. The name appears on the list of proprietors of lots in Williamsburg in 1783. (William and Mary Quarterly, First Series, XI, 114) This date is within the time limit of the account in Harwood's ledger. Robert Martin also appears among the names of owners in a list of taxable articles in the city of Williamsburg in 1783. (William and Mary Quarterly, First Series, XXIII, 138)

The supposition is, then, that Robert Martin came into possession of Lot 161 by marrying Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson. It would then be natural for the lot to appear on the tax records in the name of Martin rather than Jackson. In any case, Jackson's name does not appear on the tax records. (The photostatic copy of the tax records in the Research Department begins with the year 1785 and Jackson had died before that.) Robert Martin is charged with one lot in 1785,¹ and with two in 1791. In 1797 a Robert Morton is charged with two lots at the same value as the Robert Martin of 1791. Since this is the only time Robert Morton appears, and since Martin's name does not appear in that year, it seems safe to assume that Morton is a mistake for Martin. In 1801 Robert Martin's name appears for the last time, but the number of lots is 13 folded in so that it does not appear on the photostat. In 1802, the Williamsburg Land Tax records show the following transfer:

Dunsford Wills [or Wells], late Martin. (Virginia State Library Archives)

Dunsford (whose first name was either Wills or Wells) appears on the tax records charged with one lot in 1806. In May of that same year, in an insurance policy of Peachy Wills, covering the Norton House (next door to the Geddy House on Lot 162), "the Lott of Wells Dunsford" is mentioned as the western boundary. A line on the insurance policy drawing points to a wooden house five feet from the shop part of the Norton House. This would indicate that in 1806 the Norton House and the Geddy House were five feet apart. About halfway back on Lot 161, another wooden house is indicated. (See page 64 of Insurance Book, Research Department; or Illustration #4 in Appendix of Norton House History.)

In 1809, in a deed or mortgage between Peachy Wills and Robert Greenhow (concerning Lot 162) the western boundary (Lot 161) is called "the Widow Dunsford's Lot." (York County Deeds, VIII, 16) Dunsford evidently died between 1806 and 1809.

Summarizing the highlights of this more obscure period of the history of the Geddy House, we see that James Geddy deeded his property to Robert Jackson in 1778. Jackson died at some time between March 178[illegible] and June 1781. A Captain Robert Martin married a Widow Jackson, and it looks as if he came into possession of Lot 161, for the name Martin appears on the lot on the Unknown Draughtsman's Map. According to the tax records, Martin's lot passed to Wills [or Wells] Dunsford in 1802, was charged to him in 1806, and to his estate from 1810 to 1819. The name Dunsford is mentioned in documents of 1806 and 1810 which refer to the owner of Lot 161.

14

In 1820, William Pearman is charged on the tax records with one lot "Heretofore charged to Wells Dunsford Estate." This lot is charged to him through the year 1830, when his name disappears from the records.

From the terms of the indenture that follows, it appears that in 1826 William Pearman and his wife had mortgaged Lot 161 to James Semple, Jr. and Leonard Henley, Trustees, to secure payment of a three-hundred-dollar debt due James Semple, Sr. By 1831, Pearman not having paid the debt, James Semple, Jr., as Trustee (Henley had died), sold Lot 161 at public auction, to Benjamin E. Bucktrout:

This Indenture...between James Semple Jr trustee of the first part and Benjamin. E. Bucktrout of the second part witnesseth that whereas William Pearman and Anne his wife by their deed dated of the 18^th day of April 1826. Conveyed to the said Semple and Leonard Henley Now deceased all that half acre lot of Land with the houses thereon in the City of Williamsburg whereon the said Pearman and wife then resided bounded on the south by the Main Street on the west by Palace street on the North by the Back Street and on the East by Roscow Coles Lot to secure a debt of three hundred dollars and interest due to James Semple Senr: whereby said debt remaining unpaid after the space of twenty days after the same should be demanded the said Semple Jr and said Henley...were authorized...to sell the said property for ready Money to satisfy the said debt interest and costs attending the trust. Which deed was admitted to record in the Hustings Court of the said City...and whereas the said debt and interest having been regularly demanded and remaining unpaid for more than twenty days. and being required to do so I have advertised the said property for sale as priscribed by said deed and also at said Williams request in a public paper and in pursuance thereof did yesterday offer the same property for sale at the Court door of the said city for ready money and the same was knocked out to the said Benjamin the highest bidder at the sum of Five hundred dollars. Now therefore the said Semple Jr. Trustee as aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of Five hundred dollars to him in hand paid by the said Benjamin at or before the delivery of these presents. has...conveyed...to him the said Benjamin. E. Bucktrout...the said half acre Lot and houses thereon... (Williamsburg Deed Book II, 157-158 James City County Court House)

15

Illustration # 6 in the Appendix of this report tabulates the tax records of Benjamin E. Bucktrout from 1835 to 1843; of his widow (Louisiana T. Bucktrout) from 1847 to 1850; of his estate from 1847 to 1854; of James E. Joyner who married Louisiana T. Bucktrout [Chancery Suit, File 16, James City County Courthouse], in 1854; and of Sydney Smith, "Guardian of L. E. Bucktrout," in 1859 and 1861. Benjamin E. Bucktrout died before 1855. His widow was Louisiana T., and his daughter was Louisiana E. The widow married the Rev. James E. Joyner, and the daughter married Daniel Dugger. Another daughter, Mary E., married Austin Neal. Another daughter, Virginia, married Sydney Smith. [All these facts are recited in the Chancery Suit, File 16, James City County Courthouse.]¹

The Abstract of Title (on file in the Treasurer's Office of Colonial Williamsburg, Inc.) discusses the claims of various Bucktrout heirs and shows that some of the heirs conveyed their rights in Lot 161 to Mary E. Neal in 1885. Evidently this was not enough to give her a clear title, though, for on March 14, 1879, Daniel Dugger conveyed to Mary E. Neal, with General Warranty: 16

all his right, title and interest in the house and lot situate in said City of Williamsburg of which the late Mrs. S. T. Joyner [formerly Mrs. Benjamin E. Bucktrout] died seized and possessed, bounded on the South by Duke of Gloucester Street, on the West by Palace Green, on the North by Street, on East by lot of Peter T. Powell, said house and lot being Mrs. Joyner's dower and the interest of said Dugger therein is one-third for life, being entitled to same as tenant by cortesy, and at his death the same descends to his two children, Ben and Lucy Dugger. (Abstract, City Deed Book 1, p. 503 James City County Courthouse)

Although the foregoing facts indicate clearly that Mrs. Mary E. Neal did not obtain a clear title to the property until 1879, it seems likely that she was living there before that. At least, so Mr. Charles says in his Recollections:

The Neal house [Geddy House], owned and lived in by Mrs. Neal, looks now very much as it did then (I mean since its restoration).

Between the Neal house and Peter Powell's store, which was connected with the Powell house, stood another house—a two story frame building, in which a Mr. Dix kept a store. It seems to me—I am not sure—that this store may have been connected to the Neal house.

(John S. Charles, p. 80 Typed manuscript in Research Department)

Since Mrs. Neal was a Bucktrout heir and everyone knew that Lot 161 belonged to that family, it would be natural for the townspeople to call Mrs. Neal the "owner" even before she was legally declared to be.

SUMMARY:

Lot 161 was originally granted in 1716, together with Lot 162, to Samuel Cobbs. In 1719, the two lots were conveyed by Cobbs and his wife to Samuel Boush, Jr. At some time between then and 1738, Lot 161 passed to James Geddy, Gunsmith; for in 1738 when he bought Lot 162, the deed declared that Geddy was already living on Lot 161. He died at some time between 17 September 23, 1743 and August 20, 1744, willing his property to his wife, Anne. At first, it appears that his sons David and William, carried on the gunsmith's business in their father's shop "near the Church;" but later, James Geddy, Jr. practiced the craft that made him known variously as goldsmith, silversmith, and jeweller. In 1760, his mother deeded Lot 161 to him, and almost immediately, James Geddy, Jr., leased a part of the house for fifteen years to Hugh Walker and John Goode, at the same time making arrangements whereby Walker and Goode were to add a shed to the house. An advertisement of Geddy's in 1771 mentions a store adjoining the Geddy shop, suggesting two business establishments on the property. James Geddy, Jr., left Williamsburg for Dinwiddie at some time between December 5, 1777 and December 11, 1778, when he deeded Lot 161 to Robert Jackson, merchant of Williamsburg. By 1781, Jackson's wife had become a widow, and in that year she conveyed one moiety of her estate to Dr. John Minson Galt in trust for her daughter, Nancy, a minor. It seems that about that time Mrs. Jackson married Captain Robert Martin, whose name appears in Harwood's ledger charged with various repairs. On the Unknown Draughtman's Map, the name on Lot 161 is Martin. In 1802, Martin's lot was transferred to Wells Dunsford; in 1806, an insurance policy refers to Lot 161 as belonging to Wells Dunsford; and in 1809 a deed describes Lot 161 as the Widow Dunsford's Lot. In 1820, the tax record lists William Pearman with one lot "Heretofore charged to Wells Dunsford Estate." In 1826, Pearman and his wife mortgaged the lot, and in 1831 it was sold at public auction to Benjamin E. Bucktrout, whose heirs had several suits over the property. The Abstract of Title shows how these were resolved, giving Mary E. Neal possession of the lot in 1879, and tracing the title down to the day it became the property of Williamsburg Holding Corporation.

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The chain of title for this lot seems unusually complete; and there are a few items concerning physical characteristics of the buildings, that may be helpful. The lease to Goode and Walker in 1760 is important because of the description of the eastern side of the house at that TIME. The 1771 advertisement mentions both a "store" and a "shop" on the property. The advertisement of 1777, speaks of the buildings on the lot as being "well improved, and the whole built within these few years." If this can be interpreted as meaning newly built, the house of that advertisement could be dated within a few years. The Peachy Wills insurance policy drawing of 1806 shows that the Geddy House of that date was wooden, and that it was five feet away from the Norton House. It also shows that a wooden outbuilding was within two feet of a Norton House outbuilding.

Illustration #1	Geddy's Inventory.
Illustration #2	Drawing from Frenchman's Map.
Illustration #3	Capt. Martin's account from Harwood's Ledger.
Illustration #4	Tyler's Plat.
Illustration #5	Tax records (1785-1830).
Illustration #6	Tax records (1835-1861).

[Illustration #1]

JAMES GEDDY INVENTORY

1 large black walnut Table 30/. 1 large Looking Glass 60/.	4/10/0
6 Leather Chairs 36/. 1 Japand cupboard/ corner/. 30/	3/ 6/0
1 Japand Cabinet 20/. 5 Pictures in Frames 40/.	3/ 0/0
1 pr. Iron Dogs faced wth Brass 30/. 10 Prints in Frames 10/.	2/ 0/0
7 old Leather Chairs 21/. 1 pr Glass Sconces 3/6	1/ 4/6
1 painted Frame for a Chimney 2/6, a poel of old Earthern Ware 2/6	/ 5/0
4 Stone Juggs 7/6 4 Stone butter pots 10/	0/17/6
3 potting pots & 3 Cream pots 2/. 1 Dressing Table & box 15/	0/17/0
1 Settee Bedsted Bed Rugg &c. 30/. a Sett Musketo Curtains 7/6	1/17/6
4 Virga Cloth Curtains 7/6 1 Warming pan 4/ old	0/11/6
1 Small Looking Glass 3/6 1 Pine Table 1 old Chest 1 old Box & Trunk	0/11/0
1 Desk 70/ 1 Japand Corner Cupboard 10/. 1 Looking Glass 10/	4/10/0
1 Dutch Table 12/6 1 old Oval Table 7/6 1 Picture & 1 Print 2/	1/ 2/0
1 Elbow Chair 2/6 1 old box 1/3	0/ 3/9
1 Feather Bed, Curtains & Vallens, Compass rod 1 pr Sheets
1 Blanket 1 Quilt 1 Cover Lid pillow Bedsted &c	4/ 0/0
1 Trundle Bed rugg Blanket & Sheet 20/. 1 pr Iron Doggs 1 pr Tongs & Shovl	1/10/0
4 plain Gold rings wt 7 wt 6 G at 4/6	1/12/7½
3 Gold rings set with Stones 21/6 7 oz 8 wt old Silver at 5/6 oz	2/18/8
1 Silver Watch £ 4. 1 Frize & 1 Fustian Coats 40/	6/ 0/0
1 Hatt 10/ 1 Bay Gelding £ 5. 1 Cow 35/	7/ 5
1 Sadle & Bridle 13/ 6 Washing tubs 12/	1/ 5
2 wooden Measures 2/6 1 Jarr 7/6 8 doz. Qt bottles 16/	1/ 6/0
1 Feather Bed 1 pr Sheets 1 Quilt 1 Counterpin 1 Blanket Bedsted Mattras & Cord £ 4 1 old Oval Table 10/	4/10/0
1 old Cain Couch & 2 old Cain Chairs 7/6 1 old Feather Bed &c. 20/	1/ 7/6
1 old Do with 1 blanket rugg 1 pr Sheets Bedsted &c	2/10/0
1 old Desk 5/. 1 Spinning wheel 3/. 63 ls pewter at 8d 42/	2/10/0
36 ls Do at 6d - 18/. 1 doz. hard Metle Soop plates 20/	1/18/0
1 doz. flat hard Do 15/. 14 Common plates 10/	1/ 5/0
1 pewter Montirth 5/. 4 porringers 2/	0/ 7/0
1 Cullender 1/. 1 Bason 1/. 1 Galln and 1 Qt Measure 1 Can & 1 Tankard 4/	0/ 6/0
1 Box Iron & heaters 2 flat Irons & Stand	0/10/0
1 Copper Chocolate pot 1 coffee Do	0/ 7/6
1 Copper Sauce pan 2/6 1 Skillet 2/6	0/ 5/0
A New Frame & Shafts for a Chair	2/ 3/0
1 old Tea Kettle 2/6 1 Grid Iron 4/	0/ 6/6
1 Iron Trivet 1/6 1 Brass Chafing Dish 2/6	0/ 4/0
A Bottom of an old Dutch Oven 1/6, 1 Skimmer & 2 Slices 2/	0/ 3/6
1 Jarr 2/6 1 Garden Water pot 2/6 6 Candle Moulds & stand 7/6	0/12/6
1 large Iron pot & hooks 20/. 4 Iron pots & hooks 35/	2/15/0
1 Spit 3/. 3 pr pot racks 6/. 1 Oyl Jarr 2/6 1 Frying pan 3/	0/14/6
4 Water pales 7/6 2½ bushels Salt 6/3	0/13/9
4 Brass Kettles/old/wt 80 ls at 9d p £	3/ 0/0
1 pr Stilliards 10/. 2 pr Brass Candlesticks 12/	1/ 2/0
3 pr Brass Candle Sticks	1/ 2/6
4 odd brass Candle Sticks & Snuff Dish	0/ 6/0
4 Brass Snuff Dishes 7/6 3 pr brass Sturrups	1/ 2/6
1 pr Brass Pistols 60/. 1 pr Pistols 26/. 1 Pestle & Mortar 5/	4/11/0
1 Silver hilted Sword 52/. 1 Shot bagg & powder horn 3/6	2/15/6
1 pr Money Scales & weights 1 pr Scizors 3/. 1 wine Glass 6d	0/ 3/6
4 pr Spoon Moulds 20/. 18 Gun Locks at 3/6 pr 63/.	4/ 3/0
2a
12 Pistol Do at 5/. 1 Square Walnut Table 12/6	3/12/6
1 Bottle Case with 11 bottles 10/. a parcel rough brass work for Guns 10/.	1/ 0/0
8 doz. files Sorted at 8/. 19 Small Do at 5d	3/11/11
1 Vol. Laws of Virga 10/. 1 Historical Dictionary 10/	1/ 0/0
The History of the World 7/6 1 Bible 5/. 1 Vol. Turkish Spy 2/6.	0/15/0
A parcel of old books 5/. 1 pr Holsters 7/6 1 old Clock 5/	0/17/6
A Case with Drawers 5/. 1 Dial plate 2/6	0/ 7/6
3 pr Bullet Moulds 5/. a parcel of Gun Smiths Tools & a Drawer in the Closet 7/6 2 pr Doggs faced with Brass 30/.	2/ 2/6
1 Compass Saw 2/6 3 hand Vices 7/6	0/10/0
1 Bench Vice 7/6 1 Do 10/. 1 Whites hand Saw 10/. 2 Screw plates 10/.	1/17/6
A parcel of Gun Smiths Tools in his Shop	2/10/0
5 Gun barls 30/. 2 Setts Curtain rods 20/. 1 Violin Damaged/7/6	2/17/6
1 pr Shoe Boots 10/. 1 large Stand Vice 26/. 1 Iron Anvil 60/.	4/16/0
1 Back Iron 7/6 2 Sledge hammars 4/. 3 hard Do 3/.	0/14/6
1 Steel Mill 10/. 1 Slack Tubb & 6 pr Iron Tongs 10/.,	1/ 0/0
5 Iron Smiths Stacks 10/. 2 Screw plates & 1 Brace 10/	1/ 0/0
1 Grind Stone and Trough 4/. 1 Cutlers wheel & 2 runners &c. 20/	1/ 4/0
1 Turner Laith &c. 7/6 a parcel of Nail Tools 2/6	0/10/0
8 1s rough Brass work 4/. 1 Frame Saw 10. 1 Founders Laith 5/.	0/19/0
7 pr Flasks 10/. 1 Sand Bench 5/. a parcel of Founders patterns 26/.	1/15/0
19 Milling pots at 8d ps 1 Coffee Mill 5/. 1 old Chest & 1 old Cubbard	1/ 1/8
1 Brass Tea Kettle 1/3 6 Chair Frames 12/	0/13/3
2 pr Smiths Bellows 50/. 200 1s Sheet Lead at 2d p £. 33/4	4/ 3/4
1 Iron Jack 40/. a Servant named Wm Beadle £ 10	12/0 /0
An old Negro woman named Betty	5/ 0/0
1 Negro boy named Jack	30/ 0/0

(York County Wills & Inventories XIX, 321-322)

[Illustration #2]

FROM FRENCHMAN's MAP 1782?

Illustration # 3 - Captain Martin's Account from Harwood's Ledger

Capt Robert Martin (that Marrid Widow Jackson)	Dr
1782
April 23rd	To 1½ bushs of lime a 1/6. Mending plastering 5/.	£: 7; 3
	To White-washing A Room 7/6	7: 6
Decemr 23	To 1 bushel of mortar at 1/6 & taking down a Grate 2/6	4:
	To plastering a fire place 3/9	3: 9
1783
May 29	To 2 bushs of mortar 2/6 & Repairg plastering 37. & whitewashg 4 Rooms, 2 passages a 5/. & 2 Cealings a 2/6 & 2 Closets & 2 porches a 1/6	2: 6: 6
	(Carried to folio 66)	£ 3: 9:

[Harwood's Ledger B, 1 - Research Department]

	Capt Robert Martin	Dr
1784
June 14th	To 6½ bushs of lime at 1/. Hair 9d & 1 Days labour 2/6	: 9: 9
	To plastering Porch & mending Steps & pinting shead 6/.	[blotted]
1787
June 27	To 6 bushels of lime a 1/. & 200 Bricks 3/.	: 12:
	To repairing Well 4/6. & labour 2/.	: 6: 6
		£ 1: 14: 3
	E. Excepted pr
	W. H. Exor

[Harwood's Ledger, 66 - Research Department]

[Illustration #4]

PHOTASTAT COPY OF THE WILLIAMSBURG PLAT IN "WILLIAMSBURG, THE OLD COLONIAL CAPITOL" BY LYON G. TYLER

[Illustration #5]

TABULATION OF DATA FROM WILLIAMSBURG TAX RECORDS

Page No.	Year	Name	No. of Lots	Annual Value £ S d	Value of lots & buildings	Value of buildings	Tax £ S d
2	1785	Robert Martin	1	22/10/			1/2/6
8	1791	Ro. Martin's Est.	2	15/			/15/
9	1797	Robert Morton1	2	15/			/15/ ]
10	1801	Robert Martin	[2]	$ 50			$ .78
11	1806	Dunsford Wills[orWells]	1	70			1.10
13	1810	Dunsford Wills estate	1	100			1.56
15	1812	Dunsford Wills estate	1	100			1.56
32	1815	Dunsford Wills estate	1	100			3.[?]
35	1817	Dunsford Wills estate	1	100			3.[?]
39	1818	Dunsford Wills estate	1	100			3.—
43	1819	Dunsford Wills estate	1	160			4.80
50	1820	William Pearman	1	160	1800	1700	4.80
		Heretofore charged to Wells Dunsford Estate
70	1825	William Pearman	1	160	1800	1700	3.25
77	1828	William Pearman	1	100	1800[?]	1700	2.03
84	1830	William Pearman	1	100	1800	1700	2.03

[Illustration #6] TAX RECORDS (1832-1861)

Williamsburg Land Tax

Transfers for the Year 1832

Benjamin Bucktrout - 1 via James Semple, trustee for Wm Pearman

Page	Yr.	Name	No. of Lots	Annual Value	Value of lots & buildings	Value bldgs.	Tax	County Tax
87	1835	Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	?	650	600	.90
		Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	[100 ?]	*1800	1700	2...
94	1838	Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	45	650	600	1.[?]
		Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	150	*1800	1700	?
102	1840	Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	150	*2000	1800	3.75
		Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	60	650	600	1.50
109	1843	Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	100	650	600	?
		Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	150	*2000	1800	?
		Bucktrout Benjamin E.	1	100	1200	800	?
			Via Robert McCandlish, Trustee - Heretofore charged to Peter A. H. Bellett
116	1847	Bucktrout Louisiana T.	1	150	*2000	1800	3.60
		Bucktrout Benjamin Estate	1	100	650	600	2.40
		Bucktrout Benjamin Estate	1	50	333	308	1.20	Via William Durfey
121	1850	Bucktrout Louisiana T.	1	150	*2000	1800	3.60
		Bucktrout Benjamin E. Est	1	100	650	600	2.40
		Bucktrout Benjamin E. Est	1	50	333	308	1.20	Via William Durfey
7	1854	Bucktrout Benjamin E. Est	1		500	400	1.00	1.67
		Bucktrout Benjamin E. Est	1		300	250	.60	1.00
		Bucktrout Benjamin E. Est			250	200	.50	.84
130	1854	Joyner James E. In right of Wife			*2000	1800	4.00	6.67
139	1859	Smith Sydney			**2400	1700	9.60	13.50
		Guardian of L.E. Bucktrout			700	500	2.80	3.94
					Formerly charged to J. E. Joyner as Guardian
146	1861	Smith Sydney			**2400	1700	9.60	15.00
		Guardian, L.E. Bucktrout			700	500	2.80	4.38

"NEEL HOUSE" - Colonial Lot # 161 (also 61)

1716, Feb. 5 - Trustees to Samuel Cobbs. Consideration, 30 s. Lots 161 and 162. (Deeds & Bonds III, p. 249-150, York county records.)

1719, July 18 - Samuel Cobbs to Samuel Boush, jr., Consideration, 24 £. "Two lots beginning at a corner stone on the Main Street, and running thence up the Palace Street to another street, thence down the said street to the Market Place..." (Ibid, p. 297.)

1738, Dec. 8 - Samuel Boush to James Geddy. Consideration 30£. "...one lot... denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 62, and adjoining the lot whereon the said James Geddy now dwells..." (Book 4, Deeds. York County, Virginia, p. 535.)

1760, Aug. 18 - Anne Geddy, widow, to James Geddy, silversmith. Consideration, 100£. Lot # 161 and all houses... (Book 6-Deeds, p. 276-278, York County, Virginia.)

1778, Dec. 11 - James Geddy, jeweller of Dinwiddie to Robert Jackson, merchant. Consideration, 1600£ . Lot #161. (Book VI-Deeds, p. 48, York County, Virginia.)

Inventory of James Geddy was taken in this house November 19, 1744. See: Wills, Inventories, 19. York County Virginia, p. 321.