Governor's Palace Architectural Report, Block 20Originally entitled: "Governor's Palace - Landscaping Digest of Data"

Helen Bullock

1931

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1473

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library

Williamsburg, Virginia

1990

GOVERNOR'S PALACE — LANDSCAPING
Digest Of Date
November 9, 1931.

Avenues, Driveways and Walks
1737"that there be paid to Mr. Philip Fench the Sum of Ten pounds for laying and planting the Avenue to the Governors House."(Palace Book, page 197.)
1765"An elegant seat being enclosed with beautiful walks of trees."(Palace Book, page 236.)
1770John R. Thompson, in 1854, describing Palace as in Botetourt's time — "the approach is through an avenue of catalpas."(Palace Book, page 321.)
1775"carriage roads bordered with lindens that Dunmore had imported from Scotland."(Palace Book, page 264.)
1845Henry howe — "… the adjacent grounds, comprising 360 acres, were beautifully laid out, with carriage roads winding through them. Numerous lindens were imported from Scotland and planted; one or two of which now remain, and are almost unrivalled in magnificence and beauty."(Palace Book, page 320.)
c-1851"fine white gravelled walks."(Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
Canals and Waterways
1723Rev. Hugh Jones — "… a fine canal…"(Palace Book, page 152.)
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c-1816"part of a line between palace meadow & Carr's Hill parallel to the most northerly stream running down said meadow.(Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
Courtyard
1710"courtyard proportionate to house laid out and encompassed with brick wall.(Palace Book, pages 47, 70, 77.)
1710"handsome gates to,…"(Palace Book, page 77.)
Fences, Gates and Walls
1710"brick wall, four feet high with a balustrade of wood thereupon, around court-yard."(Palace Book, pages 47, 70, 77.)
1710"handsome gates be made to the said court-yard."(Palace Book, page 77.)
1723Rev. Hugh Jones — "finished and beautified with gates…"(Palace Book, page 47.)
1776"Repairing Fodder Houses & paling round Garden… 0:17:6."(Palace Book, page 290.)
1776General appoints 25 men to repair fences of park. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
1777"Repairing the pailing and railing Round the Pasture … 1:12:0."(Palace Book, 290.)
1777"60 foot of plank, 250 nails… 0:11:6."(Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
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1843line between palace meadow & Carr's hill believed to be on North side of ditch along meadow-side; far enough to prevent the dividing fence from interfering with ditch, object to have meadow drain properly without interfering with fence. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
Fish Ponds
1718 (?)"The fine gardens Fish Ponds &cr Are not so much regarded as Formerly".(Palace Book, page 126.)
1718 (?)"the governor to call for what money he pleased out of their Treasury, to be spent about his House, Gardens, Fish ponds, &c."(Palace Book, page 131.)
1718"if the Assembly did not care to be at ye Expence of the Fish-Pond & Falling Gardens, to take them to myself; those improvements hapening to be upon the Town Land…"(Palace Book, pages 133, 134.)
Gardens
1710laid out 254 x 144 feet and encompassed with brick wall. (Palace Book, pages 47, 70, 77.)
1718"The fine gardens Fish Pond &cr Are not so much regarded as Formerly." (Palace Book, page 126.)
1718"if the Assembly did not care to be at ye Expence of the Fish-Pond & Falling Gardens …"(Palace Book, page 133.)
1720"… to view all the Improvements that have been made Since Christmas 1717 in the Gardens for the Ornament and preservation thereof…"(Palace Book, page 141.)
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1723Rev. Hugh Jones — "fine gardens…"(Palace Book, page 47.)
1726Richard Hickman appointed to care for the House and Gardens … (Palace Book, page 160.)
1726Thomas Crease paid for assisting in putting in order the Gardens … (Palace Book, page 161.)
1749Examined for repairs … (Palace Book, page 219.)
1768Letter of Botetourt — "My house is admirable, the ground behind it is much broke well planted and watered by beautiful Rills, °"(Palace Book, page 256.)
177012 leaden flower pots
6 stone (earthenware)
Tubs & orange trees & roller for the tubs. (Bot. Pap., page 11.)
177022 large Bell glasses
1 small Bell glass
21 dozen earthen flower pots
1 Cap glass (Bot. Pap., page 40, P 2)
1770… the gardener is also continued that the garden, Park, etc., may be in good order for the next governor. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
1776John Farquharson paid for services and negro hire … (Palace Book, page 261.)
1776"Repairing … & paling round Garden … 0:17:6."(Palace Book, page 290.)
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Garden, kitchen
1710"convenient" kitchen garden laid out and enclosed with pales. (Palace Book, pages 47, 70, 77.)
Gardeners
1720of Spotswood … (Palace Book, page 142.)
1726Richard Hickman appointed to direct gardener. (Palace Book, page 100 106.)PG correction 2/80
1726John Farquharson paid for services and negro hire. (Palace Book, page 281.)
Grass Plot
1779Notes by Jefferson on drawing of Governor's house. "The oval grass plot is 47½ f. long & 33 f. wide."(Palace Book, page 298.)
Green
1752King's birthday celebrated. Mr. Hallam, manager of the theatre, gave an exhibition of fireworks in Palace St. (Va. Gaz. #383.)
177040 Cherokee Indians dance on the green in front of the palace before a large number of spectators. (Abstract, Governor Palace.)
1776Mobilization of troops on green in front of Palace ordered by Gen. Lewis. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
1779Note by Jefferson on drawing of Governor's house. "Palace street is 200 f. wide. The rows of trees 100 f. apart, ranging with inner fronts of offices."(Palace Book, page 298.)
1782French officer describes as "handsome street planted with catalpas."(Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
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Implements
1768Fauquier Inventory — "3 flower potts … 0:1:6."(Palace Book, Page 248.)
17692 lb. lead & soldering a water pot gilding & painting a sun dial & making a new Cock (on Cupola) Lord Botetourt's account with J. Kidd, the upholsterer. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
17701 rolling stone for garden (Bot. Pap., page 11, P 9.)
1770for garden — weeding knives, asparagus knives, wheel barrows, garden shears, saws, watering pots, hatchets, baskets, spades, rakes, gravel rakes, hoes, edging knives, forks, dock iron, scythes. (Bot. Pap., page 40.)
1770for park — maddocks, grubbing hoes, pick axes, felling axes, broad axes, mauls, faggot bill, iron wedges, iron hoops, spades, saws, short forks, pitching forks, mauls, wooden rakes, line, logger, ladders, hay cutting knife, wheel barrows. (Bot. Pap., page 40.)
Orchard
1710ordered laid out and enclosed with pales. (Palace Book, pages 47, 70, 77.)
1723Rev. Hugh Jones — "… a fine canal, orchards, etc."(Palace Book, page 47.)
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Parks
1717Governor cuts trees on Custis' land to get a vista. Cut "all before him with such wideness" that Custis was irritated. Cut down 2 large oak timber trees. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
1771marl pit described — opened to get marl for making walks instead of gravel. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
1775Letter of Dunmore "… and they have taken possession of the Park (a considerable piece of land adjoining and belonging to the Governors house.)"(Palace Book, page 276.)
1776"to provide Barracks for the Continental Army stationed here to be built on that Part of the Park, which the governor lately gave up for the use of the Troops."(Palace Book, page 288.)
1776General appoints grass guard to protect public horses in the park of the Palace. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
1777"that added to this, there stands a publick Building in the center of the Park, which may be taken as an appendage to the Hospital."(Palace Book, page 292.)
Pasture
1710"be made on the said land and be enclosed with a good ditch and fence."(Palace Book, pages 47, 70, 77.)
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1727"Ordered … that the pasture fence be put in repair …"(Palace Book, page 162.)
1776"Repairing the pailing and railing Round the pasture … 1:12:0."(Palace Book, page 290.)
1816Auction of Palace lands. Robert Saunders purchases for $11.50 per acre — 364 acres of Palace land. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)
c-1816Boundaries of a 200 acres portion of Palace Land.
N. by Carr's hill, Henley Taylor's land, and a small piece of marsh at Capitol Landing.
E. Capitol Landing Road
S. 2 lots (Robert Waller's and Robert Garrett's.)
W. Portion of Palace land.
Line between palace meadow and Carr's Hill parallel to most northerly stream running down said meadow. (Abstract, Governor's Palace.)

N.B. By working with York records and laying out all adjoining properties on a map it would be possible to make a survey of the Pasture Land.

Seeds and Trees
1759Seeds imported and sold by Christopher Ayscough, gardener at the Palace.
Peas, several varieties; beans, several varieties; TUrnips; cabbage, several varieties; Cauliflower, several varieties; Brocoli; Colewort,; Radish, several varieties; Lettuce, several varieties; Endive; Onions; Leek; Chardoon; Celery, Mustard; Cresses; Charvel; Clary; etc.
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Kinds of seeds and trees mentioned in Abstracts and in the Palace Book.
Seeds: Clover (cask of)
Grape (cask of)
Rye (cask of)
Trees: Catalpas.
Linden.
Oak timber.
Orange.

Harold R. Shurtleff, Director
Department of Research and Record

bh
Report by:
Helen Bullock.
cc: Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin
Mr. A. A. Shurcliff
P. S. & H., Boston
and Williamsburg