Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

The history of this lot is closely parallel to, and sometimes identical with, the history of Colonial lot 161, adjacent to it; because at times both lots had the same owners. The lots are numbered 162 and 161 in the plan of the city and in most of the recorded deeds, but on some deeds they are erroneously called 62 and 61, although the boundaries mentioned make it perfectly clear which lots are meant.

The first owner, Samuel Cobbs, received lot 162 from the trustees of the city of Williamsburg:

February 5, 1716

Trustees City of Williamsburg
to
Cobbs, Samuel

Consideration: 30 shillings.

Two certain lots of ground in the city of Williamsburg denoted in the plat of the said city by the figures 161 and 162.

Shall within the space of 24 months build and finish upon the said two lots one or more good dwelling houses according to an Act of Assembly 1705.

(York County Deeds, Book III, Pages 149-150)

It may be assumed that the required building was constructed, for when Cobbs sold the lots over three years later, the "consideration" had increased from thirty shillings to twenty-four pounds:

July 18, 1719

Cobbs, Samuel
Edith, his wife
to
Boush, Samuel, Jr.
Consideration: 24 Pounds.

Two lots of land with appurtenances situate, 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 along the Market Place to the Main Street, thence along the Main Street to the beginning, the same being taken up by the said Cobbs and acknowledged by the Feoffees of the said city. (York County Deeds, Book III, Page 297)

2

At some time between 1719 and 1738, the lots in question were separated and lot 161 became the property of James Geddy. In 1738, James Geddy bought 162 [incorrectly called 62 in the deed]:

Boush, Samuel
Frances, his wife
to
Geddy, James
December 8, 1738
Consideration: 30 Pounds.

One lot or half acre of ground lying and being in the City of Williamsburg and denoted in the Plan of the said City by the figures 62, and adjoining the lot whereon the said James Geddy now dwells. With all houses, woods, (York County Deeds, Book IV, Page 535)

James Geddy was a gunsmith who kept a shop in Williamsburg and who advertised his work in the Virginia Gazette at intervals between 1737 and 1739. There are additional notes on Geddy and his sons in the report on the Geddy House, and a reference is made there to the inventory of James Geddy, whose will was proved August 20, 1744. (Tyler's Quarterly, II, 205) He has been referred to in a previous report as "gunsmith and jeweller," but perhaps this is a result of confusing him with his son. The evidence, supported by his inventory, shows that the James Geddy who bought the Geddy and Norton houses was a gunsmith. The son James also lived in the Geddy House but moved from Williamsburg in 1777 or 1778. (See Geddy House history.)

Ann Geddy, widow of James the gunsmith, sold lot 62 (162) in 1750 to James Taylor, a tailor:

Geddy, Ann - widow, James City County
to
Taylor, James - Taylor, Williamsburg
November 17, 1750.
Consideration: 130 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

All that messuage, tenement lot or half acre of land situate and being in the city of Williamsburg and denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 62, formerly purchased by James Geddy late husband of the said Ann of Samuel Boush - Gent., Feb. 19, 1738, and by the said James given and bequeathed to the said Ann.
With all houses...also one moiety or half part of the well situate and 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 3 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, Book V, Page 402)

Two days later, Taylor mortgaged the property:

November 19, 1750

Taylor, James - Taylor
to
Holt, John - merchant
Consideration: 200 Pounds secured to Thomas Hornsby

...Whereas John Holt and James Taylor for the proper Debt of James Taylor did become bound unto Thomas Hornsby in the sum of 200 pounds current money for the payment of £100 on Nov. 17 next...James Taylor Doth Give Grant Bargain & Sell unto John Holt all that Lott or half Acre of Ground with the Appurt^s which the said James Taylor purchased of Ann Geddy lying and being in the City of Williamsburgh aforesaid described in the Plan of the said City by the Figures 62 with all Houses, etc...provided that if James Taylor shall cause John Holt on Nov. 17 next to be cleared & discharged of and from the Bond aforesaid, then these presents shall cease & become Void...and also that if default of the Condition aforesaid be made, then John Holt shall Have Hold and peaceably Enjoy [Lot 162 and houses]...that until Default James Taylor shall have and enjoy all and Singular the above... (York County Deeds, Book V, Pages 404-406)

Evidently, James Taylor continued to live in the house, for in 1752, the following advertisement appeared:

Virginia Gazette
William Hunter, ed.
February 27, 1752 ALL my Clients, or others, who may have any Business with me during the Sitting of the General Assembly, may direct their Letters to, or find me, at the House of James Taylor (Taylor) on the main Street, just below the Church, in Williamsburg.
Edmund Pendleton.

In the same year, James Taylor was having financial troubles, as the following advertisement shows: 4

Virginia Gazette
William Hunter, ed.
November 17, 1752

WHEREAS the Subscriber, in Williamsburg, has a great Number of Debts of a long Standing, and has laboured under several Inconveniences for Want of the same, he begs the Favour of all those who are indebted to him to pay their Ballances, immediately, in Order to enable him to satisfy his Creditors.
James Taylor.

N. B. A Quantity of Houshold Furniture will be expos'd to Sale, on the Tenth Day of December next: Six Months Credit will be allowed, the Purchaser giving Bond and Security, as usual, to
James Taylor.

In 1753, Taylor advertised his house for sale, and a couple of weeks later it was deeded to Thomas Hornsby:

Virginia Gazette
William Hunter, ed.
March 2, 1753 To be SOLD,
A LOT of Land, with a large Dwelling-House, Kitchen, and other convenient Out-Houses, all in good Repair, and most new, situate on the main Street in Williamsburg, joining the upper End of the Market Place: The Conveniences of the Houses and Cellars may be viewed, by any Person inclinable to purchase, and the Terms may be known of the present Proprietor.
James Taylor.

Taylor, James - Taylor
to
Hornsby, Thomas - Merchant
March 13, 1753
Consideration: 100 Pounds.

WHEREAS the said James Taylor is and stands Justly indebted to the said Thomas Hornsby by his Bond in which John Holt of the said City stands bound as his Security in the Penalty of Two hundred Pounds dated the twentieth day of November 1750 Conditioned for the Payment of 100 Pounds with Interest upon Nov. 20 next...And Whereas...James Taylor owes John Holt 91/3/11 dated 24 June, 1750, Conditioned for the Payment of 45/11/11½ of which James Taylor paid on Nov. 13, 1750, 9/15/2 which reduced the Money due to 39/6/6 which sum Thomas Hornsby paid to John Holt who hereupon assigned the Bond to the said Thomas Hornsby And Whereas James Taylor also owes Thomas Hornsby 110/19/2½...Now this Indenture Witnesseth 5 that James Taylor grants to Thomas Hornsby All that Lot or half acre of Land described in the Plan of the City by the figures (62) and was purchased by James Taylor of one Ann Geddy...
But if Taylor's debt to Hornsby is paid within a year, this agreement shall become null & void.
Until default, Taylor to continue living there. (York County Deeds, Book V, Pages 532-533)

Although James Taylor's financial difficulties were to culminate in a sheriff's sale of the property, he could not have known that when, less than two months after the transaction recorded above, he leased the house to Dr. MacKenzie and sold a portion of the land to John Bryan, who built a shop on it.

May 1, 1753

Taylor, James - Taylor
to
Bryan, John - Wig maker
Consideration: 57 Pounds 13 shillings and one penny half penny

All that messuage house and tenement, situate lying and being in Gloucester Street in the city of Williamsburg, and is between the end of the house belonging to the said James Taylor and which he has leased to Dr. Kenneth MacKenzie and the house belonging to the widow Geddy containing by estimation 16 feet long and 30 feet wide and is the land whereon the said John Bryan hath built a house and now keeps his shop. (York County Deeds, Book V, Page 535)

Although this date is some thirty years before the period of the Frenchman's map, a study of that map will help to interpret the meaning of the foregoing deed. (See Illustration #1) John Bryan's house or shop was evidently between the house of the widow Geddy (on the west) and the "end of the house" which James Taylor had leased to Dr. MacKenzie (on the east). This information corresponds with the location of buildings on the Frenchman's map, and John Bryan's shop could be the small square building shown on this map between the other two houses—though it is impossible to say whether the house of James Taylor was L-shape, as early as 1753. The dimensions, "16 feet long and 30 feet wide" would indicate an oblong, rather than a square, building as the one Bryan occupied. This deed records the first mention of the shop.

In the preceding year (1752), John Bryan and Alexander Maitland had advertised their business as follows: 6

Virginia Gazette
William Hunter, ed.
August 7, 1752

N. B. As we have at present imported from Great-Britain, a choice Assortment of Hair, Gentlemen and Others, who are pleased to favour us with their Custom, may depend on being well and expeditiously serv'd, after the newest and neatest Fashions; Ladies may likewise be supply'd with Tetes, &c.

Since Maitland is not mentioned in the deed of Taylor to Bryan, it can be assumed that Bryan was setting up his own shop.

After this, there is a slight gap in the records and no further mention of the Bryan property as a separate entity; but on August 18, 1760 when Ann Geddy deeded her property (Lot 161, nextdoor) to her son James Geddy, it was described as being bounded "on the East by the lot of Richard Corbin and Mann Page, Esquires..." (York County Deeds, Book VI, Pages 276-278)

How lot 162 came into the possession of Richard Corbin and Mann Page is explained in the following deed:

June 11, 1761

Corbin, Hon. Richard
and
Page, Mann
to
Walker, Hugh - Williamsburg
Consideration: 350 Pounds.

All that messuage, tenement and lot of land and premises with the appurtenances lying and being in the city of Williamsburg,^{in the county of York} numbered in the plan of the said city by the figures 62, which lot formerly belonged to James Taylor and was by virtue of an execution seized and sold by Thomas Reynolds late Sheriff ^{of York}to Richard Corbin and Mann Page, May 20, 1754.^{[Rec. June 15, 1761} (York County Deeds, Book VI, Page 348)

The name of Hugh Walker once more connects the histories of lots 162 and 161, for in September 1760, he and his partner, John Goode "of London" had "at their own proper cost and charge...repaired and improved" James Geddy's house on lot 161 and were about "to erect and build a shed to the same 16 feet long and 10 feet wide." (York County Deeds, Book VI, Pages 288-290)

7

Evidently, Hugh Walker, living nextdoor, took the opportunity to enlarge his property by buying lot 162 from Richard Corbin and Mann Page. Walker married Mary Thruston, daughter of Col. John Thruston of Gloucester (William and Mary Quarterly, Series I, Vol. 4 (1895-1896), Page 181). In the articles of agreement, Hugh Walker conveyed to Mary Thruston and to her father (perhaps this was necessary, because his fiancee was a minor, having been born in 1746) the Williamsburg property:

May 20, 1763

Walker, Hugh, of York Co. - Merchant
to
Thruston, John)
Thruston, Mary)
of Gloucester
^{500 pounds CM & [illegible]} Articles of Agreement ^{[Marriage of John & Mary]}

Conveys one lot of ground in Williamsburg denoted by the figures (62), with all houses, gardens ^{and Appurtenances thereon...with all household and kitchen furniture which shall [illegible] to the [illegible] with [illegible]}

(York County Deeds, Book VI, Page 537)

Mary Thruston Walker died some time after 1766 (William and Mary Quarterly, Series I, Vol. 4, Page 181). In 1767 it appears that Keith and Hatch, Tailors, were carrying on their business on the site in question:

Virginia Gazette
Purdie & Dixon, eds.
March 12, 1767 Nathaniel Keith & John Hatch,
Tailors,
PROPOSE, by the favour of their friends and the publick, to carry on their business in all its branches, in the shop opposite to Mr. John Greenhow's store, on the main street in Williamsburg, where Gentlemen may depend on having their clothes made in the best manner and newest fashion: Also, Ladies riding habits made in the most fashionable manner../

"The shop" could refer to the part of the property mentioned in the deed to John Bryan, Wig maker, where it was definitely stated that "the said John Bryan hath built a house and now keeps his shop."

In any case, lot 162 evidently reverted to Hugh Walker after the death of his wife, Mary; for in 1770 he and his wife, Catherine, deeded the property to Andrew Anderson, Surgeon. The conclusion is that Hugh Walker became a resident of Middlesex County, for the deed so describes him; and according to the Christ Church Register of that county, quoted by Lyon G. Tyler, Walker married Catherine Morgan in 1770 in Middlesex. (Name Data card for Neale house building; definite source not given)

8

August 15, 1770

Walker, Hugh - Merchant, Middlesex County
Catha[?]rine, his wife
to
Anderson, Andrew - Surgeon, Williamsburg
Consideration: 400 Pounds Current money

All that messuage, tenement and lot of land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg and denoted in the Plan thereof by the figures 62, bounded on the North by Nicholson Street, on the east by the market square, on the South by Duke of Gloucester Street, on the west by the Lot of James Geddy and conveyed to the said Hugh Walker by Richard Corbin and Mann Page Esq. by Deed bearing date June 11, 1761 and recorded in the County of York.
And all houses, buildings... (York County Deeds, Book VIII, Page 73)

Andrew Anderson, too, left Williamsburg, as so many of the occupants of this house seem to have done. In 1771, the deed disposing of his property describes him as "Surgeon of New Kent County:"

November 12, 1771

Anderson, Andrew - Surgeon of New Kent County
to
Hornsby, William, of Williamsburg, Merchant
Consideration: 500 pounds Current Money

All that lot or half acre of ground lying and being in the City of Williamsburg, in the Parish of Bruton and County of York, denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 62, and bounded on the North by Nicholson Street, on the East by the Market Square, on the South by the Duke of Gloucester Street, and on the West by the lot of James Geddy, which said lot or half acre of ground was sold and conveyed by Richard Corbin and Mann Page Esquires to Hugh Walker June 1761...and by the said Walker and wife, Katherine, to Andrew Anderson.
And all houses, etc. (York County Deeds, Book VIII, Page 177)

In 1773, Hornsby sold the lot to John Baker, a "surgeon dentist," whose name introduces some interesting data.

9

July 3, 1773

Hornsby, William - Merchant
to
Baker, John - Surgeon Dentist
Both of Williamsburg
Consideration: 425 Pounds Current Money of Virginia

All that lot or half acre of ground lying and being in the city of Williamsburg, Parish of Bruton, County of York, denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 62 and bounded on the North by Nicholson Street, on the East by the Market Square, on the South by the Duke of Gloucester Street, and on the West by the lot of James Geddy, conveyed by Richard Corbin and Mann Page to Hugh Walker June 11, 1761, and by the said Hugh Walker and Katherine his wife to Andrew Anderson August 1770, and by the said Anderson to William Hornsby November 12, 1771.
And all Houses, etc. (York County Deeds, Book VIII, Page 341)

Baker was evidently a traveling dentist who had practiced in Williamsburg before (Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, January 2, 1772; July 2, 1772; January 14, 1773), and who made a name for himself so that his reputation lingered after his departure from Williamsburg (Virginia Gazette,Dixon and Hunter, November 6, 1778 and Virginia Gazette, Clarkson and Davis, December 11, 1779). When he decided to leave Virginia, he advertised the Norton House for sale:

Virginia Gazette Dixon and Hunter, eds.
August 8, 1777 TO BE SOLD, and entered on immediately, a valuable House on the Market Square in this City, with 4 handsome Rooms below neatly papered, and a Fire Place in Each, with 3 Closets and 6 Rooms above, with dry Cellars under the Whole, a good Kitchen and Laundry with closets, a brick Dairy, Corn House, Smoke House, Stable, and Coach Houses, with a Flower and Kitchen Garden, well paled in, also a small House adjoining, with 2 Rooms and Fire Places, a Good Cellar and Yard, the whole in good Repair, with the above may be had all or any Part of the following valuable Furniture, viz. Mahogany Dining Tables, Pembrook, Card, Toilet and other Tables, large and small handsome Looking Glasses, an eight Day Clock, Mahogany Chairs with Brocade and Furniture Bottoms, green Passage Chairs, Carpets and Carpeting, a large Mahogany Plate Case, with Glass Doors, a Mahogany Bureau on Brass Castors, a Tea Urn with a Mahogany Stand, Bedsteads, and Curtains, Tea and Table China, Bowls, and ornamental China, japanned, glass, and Queen's Ware, a Brass 10 Grate, a Bath Stove, Handirons, Brass and Wire Fenders, a good Jack and a quantity of Kitchen Furniture, also a large imported Flour Mill, with a Variety of other Articles too tedious to mention. The Terms may be known by applying to the Subscriber, on the Premises, who intends leaving this State in a short Time, and requests those who have any Claims against Him immediately to apply for Payment, and all who are indebted to him, either by Bond or Account will be so good to discharge their several Balances as soon as possible.
JOHN BAKER.

According to the Architectural Department, the detail of this description does not apply to the house that stands at present on the site in question. However, since the Architectural Department describes the present structure as one of the early Republican period built upon colonial foundations, the foregoing advertisement assumes importance because of the information it gives about the house that was there in 1777.

Another thing which gives importance to John Baker's advertisement of the Norton House is the fact that no record has yet been found of the actual sale of the house at this time. It apparently was sold shortly thereafter to William Pitt, and by him resold to John Hatley Norton, a merchant of Yorktown and Williamsburg; for in a deed to the adjoining lot 161, given by James Geddy on December 11, 1778, that property was described as bounded "on the East by the lot of John Hatley Norton lately purchased of William Pitt." (York County Deeds, Book VI, Page 48.)

During Norton's stay in the house, the following entries appear in Harwood's Ledger:

John H. Norton Esqr Dr

1779 May 8th	To 4 bushs of lime 24/. 30 bricks 6/. & laying a harth 20/.	£ 2	0
	To Repairing plastering in House & Nesacary 20/	1	10
	To Whitewashing 5 Rooms. 2 passages., & poarch & Nesacary a 30/	13	10
July 2	To 2 bushs of lime 16/. hair 2/ Mending plastering 24/ & Whiteng 5 Rooms a 36/	11	2
30	To 7100 Bricks a £13.15.0 160 bushs of lime a 8/.	161	12	6
	To 10 Days work takeing Down Kitching Chimney a 24/	12	0
	Carting 6 loads of Sand a 20/—& 16 Days labour a 20/	22	0
	To building A Stack of Chimneys, & Oven £55[?].0.0	50	0
	To Barrs of Iron for Kitching Chimney Weighed 73 lb a 18/ pr lb.	65	14
October 19th	To 9 bushs of lime a 12/. To Repairing larthing & plastering in Kitchg 180/	14	8
	To Repairing Plastering in office 40/ & 3½ Days labour a 24/	6	4
	To Seting up A Grate 100/ & 40 bricks 15/—365.15.6	5	15
		£365	15	6
11
1780	John H. Norton Esqr Dr
July 10th	To Cash paid. for half a drum fish for you 25 dollars or 2/6	L	2	6
	To 5 bushs of lime a [?] & mending plastering 6/6. & hair		13	9
	To Mending 2 Harthes 2/6, & labours work 2/6		7	6
	To White-washing 3 Rooms a 5/0		15
		£ 1	18	9

It is not known that Norton ever conducted a shop on this property, but during the time in which he was owner of the house, the following advertisement appeared in the Virginia Gazette:

Virginia Gazette
Dixon and Nicolson, eds.
October 9, 1779

October 7, 1779

I HAVE for SALE by the package, the following articles: Mens and youths leather shoes, a great variety of cutlery, mens and youths hats, worsted and thread stockings, mens and womens gloves, and assortment of needles and pins, Kendall cottons, German serges, shalloons, Dutch blankets, Bath coating, Irish linens, and good West India rum.
J. H. NORTON

A later record shows that Norton sold the property to Peachy Wills on November 15, 1781. (York County Deeds, Book VIII, Page 16. See page 13 of this report.) The name shown on Lot 162 on the Unknown Draughtsman's map is Wills. (See Illustration #2.)

The evidence of the Frenchman's map (See Illustration #1.) agrees fairly well with that of the insurance policies in the name of Peachy Wills (See Illustration #3, #4.), except that the drawings on the latter do not show the building at the rear of the lot on Nicholson Street. In the 1796 policy the house is described as a wooden structure. The policy of 1806 differs from the one of 1796 only slightly, but it is especially interesting to note that as late as 1806 the house is still described as wooden. The fact that the drawing specifies a one-story house does 12 not seem to agree with Baker's advertisement of 1777 in which he spoke of "4 handsome Rooms below" and "3 Closets and 6 Rooms above."

A letter written in 1806 indicates that Mrs. Wills was having financial difficulties at that time:

W^msburg, May 14th, 1806

D^r Sir,
At the request of My Aunt M^rs. Peachy Wills, I once more resume my pen to entreat that you will put into action your utmost Exertions, to dispose of all & every of the unsold tracts, & parcels of Land which you have been invested with...She is very far advanced in Life, has to encounter not only with the maladies incident to old Age; but also with those mental afflicitions that a Person accustomed to live for the first 40 or 50 years of their life in affluence must experience when they find themselves necessitated to live in penury & want...She is now verging on 3 Score Years & ten...
Ro. Greenhow.

All the above written at my earnest entreaty, by my dear Nephew & all which I most earnestly beg may be put into execution as speedily as may be for the benefit of Sir
Your much obliged friend
Peachey Wills.

(Innes, Harry, Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Volume 25, Part 2, Number 166)

Although in 1809 Mrs. Wills seems to have sold or mortgaged the property to her nephew, Robert Greenhow, for the sum of $1000., it does not appear that Greenhow obtained a clear title:

September 25, 1809

Wills, Peachy - City of Richmond
to
Greenhow, Robert - Merchant
Consideration - $1,000.

....Witnesseth that the said Peachy Wills for and in consideration of one thousand dollars paid or secured by the said Robert Greenhow...hath granted, etc...unto him the said Robert Greenhow....all that Tenement or parcel of ground situate in the city of Williamsburg on the North side of the 13 Main Street bounded to the East by the Courthouse Square, to the west by the widow Dunsford's Lot and to the North by a Lane seperating it from S^t George Tucker's Tenement & now occupied by Roscow Cole and James Henderson which said Tenement or parcel of Ground was by her the said Peachy purchased of John H. Norton as by Indenture dated the fifteenth of November, 1781, and duly recorded in the Gen^l Court held in Richmond the fourth day of April following, by reference to which will more fully appear,... that the premises are free of Incumbrances...the lien of Roscow Cole on said Tenement for repairs & the unexpired Lease of James Henderson of another portion of it alone excepted. (York County Deeds, Book VIII, Page 16)

In contradiction to this deed, in 1810 the land tax records still list Peachy Wills as the owner of one lot, the annual value of which was then $130. In 1811, the land tax transfers record the transfer of one lot to Roscow Cole via Wills. (Virginia State Library Archives.) This would make it appear that the deed of 1809 to Robert Greenhow may have been a mortgage instead of an outright sale and that Cole may have taken over the property because of the lien he had on it.

Roscow Cole is listed as the owner of one lot from 1812 until 1820, when his property is increased by another lot "Purchased of W^m White, formerly charged to Wilson M. Cary and subsequently to W^m Hankins." After 1828 he is charged with three lots, the third "Via Leon^d Henley trustee for H. P. Guthrie." (Williamsburg Land Tax Records.) In 1835 he sold a lot to Beverly Tucker. (Manuscript in Tucker-Coleman Collection, available in Research Department.) In the 1838 tax record his "residence" changed to New York. From 1838 to 1850 Roscow Cole is charged with two lots. Cole's name does not appear at all on the 1854 record; but Peter T. Powell whose name is listed in 1850 as the owner of one lot, appears in the 1854 record with "2 Lots added together" and the explanatory note, "Formerly charged to Roscow Cole." (These facts tabulated in Illustration #4.)

The 1830 and 1839 insurance policies of Roscow Cole describe the "dwelling" portion of the house for the first time as a brick building, while the store portion (western wing) is still of wood. (See Illustrations 5 and 6.)

Peter T. Powell is the owner who was remembered by old Williamsburg residents as an occupant of the Norton House in the nineteenth century. The Recollections of John S. Charles, an aged Williamsburg resident, speak of the property thus:

The group of houses now known as the Peachy Block (at the time of which we write)¹ consisted then of only the houses fronting on the Duke of Gloucester street. These houses presented very much the same appearance as they do today, except in the wooden part next to the brick residence, which was the store of Mr. P. T. Powell, with cellar cap 14 and its folding doors opening on the street with iron bar across them. Down in the cellar the wet and dry groceries were kept, and whenever a mischievous lad came along and saw the cellar door open, being unable to restrain his desire for fun, shut down the end, put the iron bar across and hooked the lock in the staples provided for it; then moved on, stopping a short distance off long enough to hear the cries of the irate salesman locked in below while customers were waiting in the store above. (Recollections, John S. Charles, Pages 32-33, typescript copy in Research Department, dated 1933)

Mrs. Victoria Lee, another aged resident, writing of pre-Civil War Williamsburg, says:

To the east of the Neal house, facing the Court Green, stood the Powell house. Mr. Peter Powell owned this property and kept a store, which was a frame building, standing on the Main street, but connected to the brick house. This house, since its restoration², looks very much as it did then, except, of course, the store was there.

[Footnote to the above paragraph]: 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 his store may have been connected to the Neal house.

(Recollections, Victoria King Lee, Page 80, typescript copy in Research Department, dated 1933)

The transcript of title (in the Accounting Department) traces the ownership of the Norton House back to Peter T. Powell, thus linking the eighteenth century data with that of the twentieth century through a nineteenth century owner of the house.

SUMMARY:

There is every reason to believe that a house had been built on lot 162 by 1718. Samuel Boush bought it in 1719, and sold it in 1750. It was James Taylor who advertised the lot for sale in 1753 "with a large Dwelling House, Kitchen, and other convenient Out-Houses, all in good Repair, and most new." The question might be raised whether "most new" refers to the dwelling house or to the "convenient Out-Houses." Also in 1753, James Taylor sold to John Bryan a part of the lot on which John Bryan had built a shop. This part seems to correspond approximately with the small building shown on the Frenchman's map as a sort of addition to the western wing. In 1754, the lot and appurtenances were seized by the sheriff and sold to 15 Richard Corbin and Mann Page, who sold them in 1761 to Hugh Walker. Walker deeded the property in 1763 to his fiancée, Mary Thruston, and her father; but after the death of Mary Thruston Walker, title to lot 162 must have reverted to her husband; for in 1770 Walker and his second wife deeded the property to Dr. Andrew Anderson. The next year, Dr. Anderson sold the property to William Hornsby, who sold it in 1773 to John Baker, a dentist. It was Baker who gave a rather complete description of the house in a 1777 advertisement before he left Williamsburg. There is no record of Baker's actual sale of the property, nor of John Hatley Norton's purchase, but by December, 1778, Norton had bought it from William Pitt. The record of Norton's sale of the property to Peachy Wills is not available, but a later deed tells us that that sale took place in 1781 and was recorded in the General Court at Richmond. Peachy Wills owned the property until 1809 or 1810, and her insurance policies of 1796 and 1806 describe the buildings as wooden. Although there is a recorded deed of 1809 by which the title seems to pass from Peachy Wills to her nephew, Robert Greenhow, that deed mentions a lien on the property by Roscow Cole; and the 1811 land tax transfers mention the transfer of one lot to Roscow Cole via Wills. The evidence of Roscow Cole's 1830 and 1839 insurance policies shows conclusively that he owned the Norton House property. In the Cole policies, the main portion of the dwelling house is described as brick, while the western wing (extending along the street line instead of further back on the house as in the modern addition) is of wood. Some time between 1850 and 1854, the property came under the ownership of Peter T. Powell who is associated with the building in the nineteenth-century reminiscences of Mr. Charles and Mrs. Lee.

Architecturally, perhaps the most important facts of this house history are the 1753 advertisement of James Taylor, in which he speaks of the house or outbuildings as "most new;" the 1777 advertisement of John Baker, in which he gives a rather complete description of a two-story house containing ten rooms and three closets besides the cellars and out-buildings; the 1796 and 1806 insurance policies which describe the dwelling as one of wood; and the 1830 and 1839 policies which describe it as brick. The brick building can then be dated between 1806 and 1830.

Illustration #1 —	Drawing from Frenchman's Map.
Illustration #2 —	Unknown Draughtsman's Map.
Illustration #3 —	Peachy Wills' insurance policy of 1796.
Illustration #4 —	Peachy Wills' insurance policy of 1806.
Illustration #5 —	Data from tax records.
Illustration #6 —	Roscow Cole's insurance policy of 1830.
Illustration #7 —	Roscow Cole's insurance policy of 1839.

Illustration #1

FROM FRENCHMAN'S MAP 1782?

Illustration #2

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

Illustration #3

[Mutual Assurance Society Virginia State Library]

No. 128

Apr. 18, 1796

Peachy Wills residing at Williamsburg in the county of York insures

My Wooden Buildings on the Main Street at Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between the lott of M^rs Elizabeth Martin and that of the Court house Square in the county of York.

The dwelling house marked	A at 900	Dollars
The Store house marked	B at 100
The Kitchen house marked	C at 120
The Dairy house marked	D at 100
	1220

[Note: The position of the Store does not correspond exactly with the position shown on the Frenchman's Map. That is, the Frenchman's Map shows the Store portion in perfect alignment with the part marked A on this drawing.]

Illustration #4

[Mutual Assurance Society Virginia State Library]

Revaluation of the Buildings in & per Declaration No. 128, as per endorsement hereon

No. 646

May 12, 1806

Peachey Wills residing at Williamsburg in the county of York, my four Buildings now occupied by myself between the Lott of Wells Dunsford and the Court House Square in the county of York

Dwelling House	A at 900
The Store House	B at 100
The Kitchen	C at 120
The Dairy	D at 100

["Covered" seems to mean "roofed."]

Illustration #5

TAX RECORDS

1806 (p. 12) Peachy Wills 1	(Annual Value)	$ 70
1810 (p. 14) Peachy Wills 1	(Annual Value)	130
1812 (p. 15) Roscow Cole 1	(Annual Value)	130	(1811—Transfers—Roscow Cole via Wills—1)
1815 (p. 32) Roscow Cole 1	(Annual Value)	130
1817 (p. 35) Roscow Cole 1	(Annual rent of lots)	170
1818 (p. 39) Roscow Cole 1	(Annual value)	170
1819 (p. 43) Roscow Cole 1	(Annual value)	170
	Value of buildings	Yearly rent	Remarks
1820 (p. 47) Roscow Cole 1	$2000	170
1	1500	160	Purchased of Wm White, formerly charged to Wilson M. Cary and subsequently, to Wm Hankins
1825 (p. 67) Roscow Cole 1	2000	170
1	1500	160
1828 (p. 74) Roscow Cole 1	2000	170
1	1500	160
1	800	47.50	Via Leond Henley trustee for H.P.Guthrie
1830 (p. 81) Roscow Cole 1	2000	170
1	1500	160
1	800	50
1835 (pp. 88-89) Roscow Cole 1	2000	200
1	1500	160
1	600	60
1838 (p. 96) Roscow Cole 1	1500	160
(Residence changed to N.Y.) 1	600	60
1838 (p. 100) Beverley Tucker 1	2000	200
1840 (p. 104) Roscow Cole 1	2100	250
(New York) 1	800	80
1843 (p. 111) Roscow Cole 1	2100	210
(New York) 1	800	100
1847 (p. 117) Roscow Cole 1	2100	210
(New York) 1	800	90
1850 (p. 122) Roscow Cole 1	2100	210
(New York) 1	800	90
1850 (p. 125) Peter T. Powell 1	800	100
1854 (p. 131) Peter T. Powell 2 Lots added together	2500	Formerly charged to Roscow Cole

Illustration #6

[Mutual Assurance Society Virginia State Library]

ASSURED * ROSCOE COLE Policy No. 7581 Dated May 21, 1830

No. 7581 Revaluation of buildings formerly declared for assurance by Roscow Cole per declaration 5017.

I ... Roscow Cole residing at Williamsburg in the county of James City do hereby declare for Assurance in the Mutual Assurance Society ... My buildings on the main street and Court House Square in Williamsburg now occupied by myself—situated between the lot of William Pearman on the West, the Court House Square on the East and Streets on the South and North in the county of York ... valued ... as appears by their certificate hereunder, to wit:

The Dry Goods store	A	at	$1900
Grocery Store	B	at	550
Kitchen	C	at	200
Stable	D	at	150
			$2800

[East and West are reversed by mistake on this policy.]

[Illustration # 7]

[Mutual Assurance Society Virginia State Library]

Policy No. 10999 Date - April 24, 1839 Benjamin Bucktrout's lot on West

No. 10999 Revaluation ... by Roscow Cole as per declaration No. 7581.

We the underwritten Robert Anderson Special Agent and Lucius F. Carry and Albert G. Southall, Appraisers do certify ... the buildings are at present owned by Roscow Cole residing at New York and are occupied by Elizabeth Edloe and Pierce & Armistead.

The Dwelling	A	at	$2000
Store	B	at	1000
Kitchen	C	at	500
Stable	D	at	300
			$3800

Notes for Norton Cole and James Geddy House

March 7, 1967

Widow Jackson gave the Geddy House to J. M. Galt in trust for her daughter in 1781. She married Robert Matin who was taxed for one lot from 1782 to 1789 when he was taxed for two lots. His two lots went to Wills Dunsford who was taxed for two lots until 1806 when Peachy Wills was taxed for one of his lots she was taxed for this lot (Norton Cole) until 1811 when it went to Roscow Cole.

All the above two lots seem to be Norton Cole and James Geddy. May 18, 1962 Paul Buchanan