Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

LOCATION:

Lots 269 and 270 lie on Nicholson Street in Williamsburg. They are so noted by number and also as "Davenport now Jackson" on Tyler's adaptation of 19th century plats of the city.

IN SUMMARY:

In 1716 the trustees of Williamsburg conveyed to Thomas Ravenscroft lots numbered 269 and 270 with the stipulation that Ravenscroft would build upon the lots within twenty four months. It is not known whether Ravenscroft complied or not. There is a gap in the title until 1739 when Joseph Davenport, first town clerk, was living thereon. An advertisement in the Virginia Gazette in 1738 refers to the "House of Joseph Davenport in Williamsburgh." Boundaries to property to the west indicate that Davenport held lots 269 and 270 at this time. Upon his death in 1760, he devised to his son, Matthew, his lots and houses in Williamsburg after the death of the widow. Matthew Davenport died intestate in 1777. His wife, Frances, was the administratrix. From 1779-1785 Mrs. Frances Davenport carried an account for repairs to the house with Humphrey Harwood, Williamsburg carpenter and brick mason. Such items as plastering and whitewashing rooms, passage, outhouse, setting up a grate &c are noted. From Harwood's repair work we know that there were at least seven rooms, a passage, stairs to the dwelling and a smoke house and outhouse as dependencies. The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a large building on what appears to be this lot. In 1800 Mrs. Davenport and her son, James, conveyed at least one of the lots to George Jackson. The lot is not named by number in the deed but according to bounds - it seems to be this property. Nineteenth century plats of the city indicate the lots by number and also "Davenport now Jackson." Records are not clear from 1800 to 1835. It appears that in 1835 Richard Booker was the owner. The writer has found no conveyance by Booker to another owner. There is a gap until after the Civil War when it was known as the Vest lot. Later the lot was owned by M. R. Harrell, who owned lots 266, 267 and 268 also.

LOCATION:

Lots 269 and 270 lie on Nicholson Street in Williamsburg. They are so noted by number and also as "Davenport now Jackson" on Tyler's adaptation of 19th century plats of the city. See: Map on opposite page.

HISTORY:

The first reference to these lots appears in a deed from the trustees of Williamsburg to Thomas Ravenscroft in 1716:

[November 17, 1716]

[Trustees of Williamsburg
to
Thomas Ravenscroft
Consideration: 30 shillings Current Money of
Virginia]

This Indenture made y^e Seventeenth day of Novem^r in y^e Third Year of y^e reign of reign of our Sovereign Lord George y^e grace of God of Great Brittain ffrance & Ireland King Defend^r of y^e faith &c And in y^e Year of our Lord God one Thousand Seven hundred & Sixteen BETWEEN y^e ffeoffees or Trustees for y^e Land Appropriated for y^e building & Erecting y^e City of W^msburgh of y^e one part & Tho: Ravenscroft of y^e County York y^e other said Wittnesseth that whereas y^e s^d Tho: Ravenscroft by One Lease to him by y^e ffeoffees or Trustees bearing date y^e Day before y^e date of these Presents is in Actuall & peaceable possession of y^e Premises herein after granted., to y^e intent that by Vertue of y^e s^d Lease & of y^e statute for transferring Use into possession he may be y^e better Enabled to Accept a Conveyance & Release of y^e Reversion & inheritance thereof to him & his heirs for Ever, y^e ad ffeoffees or Trustees for diverse good Causes or Considerations them thereunto moving, but more Especially for & in consideration of Thirty Shillings of good & lawfull Money of 2 Virginia to them in hand paid at & before y^e Ensealing & Delivery of these Presents, y^e receipt whereof & themselves therewith fully Satisfyed & paid they do hereby Acknowledge Have granted, bargained, Sold, Remised Released & Confirmed...do Grant, bargain, Sell, Remise, Release & Confirm unto y^e s^d Tho: Ravenscroft Two Certain Lotts of Ground in y^e s^d City of Wmsburgh designed in y^e Plott of y^e s^d City by these figures 269 & 270 with all Woods thereon growing or being, together with all Profits, Comodity's, Emoluments & Advantages whatsoever to y^e Same belonging or in any wise Appertaining TO HAVE & TO HOLD... unto y^e s^d Tho: Ravenscroft & to his heirs for Ever... under y^e s^d Tho: Ravenscroft... for Ever under y^e limitations & Reservations hereafter mentioned... that is to Say, that if y^e s^d Tho: Ravenscroft his heirs & Assigns shall not within y^e Space of Twenty four Months next Ensuing y^e date of these Presents begin to build & finish upon Each Lott of y^e s^d granted Premisses, if y^e same be not already done, One good Dwelling house or houses of Such Dimensions & to be placed in Such Manner as by One Act of Assembly made at y^e Capitol y^e Twenty Third day of Octor 1705 Intitaled an Act continueing y^e Act directing y^e building ye_ Capital & City of Wmsburgh. . . Then it shall & may be lawfull to & for y^e s^d ffeoffees or Trustees... to have again as of their former Estate. . .as if these Presents had never been made In Wittness Whereof John Clayton & Wm Robertson Gentt Two of y^e s^d ffeoffees or Trustees have hereunto Sett their hand & Seals y^e day & Year Above written--

John Clayton Seal
Wil Robertson Seal

December 10, 1716 Reced of y^e within named Tho: Ravenscroft Thirty Shillings Currt Money of Virga being y^e Consideration for y^e Two Lotts within mentioned by me

John Clayton¹

[Recorded May 20, 1717 York County Court]

In the above quoted indenture Ravenscroft acquired lots 269 and 270 with the usual stipulation that he mast build one good house or houses on each lot within twenty four months or the property would. revert to the trustees of the city.

We assume that he built. However, nothing has been discovered further regarding these lots until 1739 when Joseph Davenport, first 3 town clerk of Williamsburg, was living thereon.¹ We do not know how long Davenport had held the property or how he acquired it whether from Ravenscroft or someone else. As the York County records have nothing further, it seems reasonable to believe that the property changes were recorded for this period in the General Court records. These court records were destroyed by fire during the Civil War period.

Davenport was living in Williamsburg in 1722. A copy of the charter of the city (1722) now preserved in the Library of William and. Mary College - indicates that it was in the handwriting of "Joseph Davenport, clerk." In 1736 the Virginia Gazette of October 1st refers to "Joseph Davenport, Postmaster."² In 1738 an advertisement in the same newspaper refers to the "House of Joseph Davenport in Williamsburgh" as a place convenient for those persons owing Dr. Henry Potter to bring their accounts:

Williamsburg, May 10, 1738.

WHEREAS the Subscribers, Doctor Henry Potter, intends in a short Time to go for England, to settle his Affairs: This is to inform the Publick, that all Persons who have any Demands upon his Estate, are desired to bring in their Accounts to his House in Williamsburg, or in his Absence to Mr. Joseph Davenport, at his House in Williamsburg, in order to be paid on or before the last of next June. . .³

In 1739 two deeds to lots west of this property convey the information that Joseph Davenport was living on property to the east: (1) a deed from Dudley Digges to Robert Wills dated June 18, 1739: ". . . three Lotts of Ground lying and being in the City of W^msburgh 4 and County of York adjoining to the Lotts of Joseph Davenport and wch the said Dudley Digges had then lately purchased of Thos Ravenscroft"; and (2) a mortgage from Robert Wills to Thomas Nelson dated July 18, 1739: "... All those three Lotts of Ground lying and being in the City of Williamsburgh & County of York aforesaid adjoining to the Lotts wherein Joseph Davenport Gent now dwelleth."¹

Davenport's will was recorded in York County on March 16, 1761.² He made certain provisions as to his real estate:

[December 19, 1760]

... I give Devise and bequeath unto my dearest wife the Use of all my Estate (Except as hereafter Excepted) for and during her life and after her decease I Give Devise and bequeath my lotts and houses and Slaves (Except the Negro Girl Nancy) unto my Son Matthew Davenport and his Heirs forever ... Joseph Davenport LS³

It is assumed that Mrs. Margaret Davenport, widow of Joseph Davenport, continued to live on the property according to her husband's will. At her death (time unknown) the property came into the possession of the son, Matthew, according to his fathers will.

Matthew Davenport was the writing master at William and Mary College in 1766, He was made Deputy Clerk of York County on October 18, 1773.⁴ He made a survey of the lots at College Landing and platted 5 them in 1774.¹ He served as Town Clerk in 1775,² and Clerk of Hustings Court in 1777.³ Davenport died in 1777.

Davenport left no will. An inventory of his personal property was filed.in York County court in November, 1777.⁴

Davenports wife, Frances, qualified as administrator of the estate:

[August 18, 1777]

On the Motion of Frances Davenport Widow who made Oath and together with Alexander Purdie her Security entered with and acknowledged Bond as the Law directs Certificate is granted her for obtaining Letter of Administration on the Estate of her late husband Matthew Davenport deed in due form.⁵

The Williamsburg Land Tax records which begin in 1782, list Frances Davenport's property thus:

1782-- Frances Davenport-----2 lots------------£2 ⁶

In 1782 the Frenchman's Map of Williamsburg indicates a large house on what appears to be lots 269 and 270. See: architect's drawing of the Frenchman's Map, Illustration #1.

Tyler's adaptation of the College Map - though much later in date shows lots 269 and 270 with numbers and "Davenport now Jackson" on each lot. This, evidently, was put on after Jackson acquired the property 6 in 1800. Consult Tyler's Map, frontispage.

Frances Davenport held the two lots until 1800 when she and her son, James,¹ conveyed to George Jackson:

[April 1800]

[James Davenport
Frances Davenport Augusta County to
George Jackson of Williamsburg
Consideration: $200 current money of Virginia]

THIS INDENTURE. . .One certain Lott or parcell of Land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg on the north back street containing one acre & bounded on the south by the said street on the west by the Lots belonging to the said George Jackson on the north by the Lands of Colonel James Southall and on the east by the Lott belonging to the estate of Peter De La Croix² at present in the possession of James Chaddick. . .

James Davenport LS
Frances Davenport LS³

Augusta May Court 1800
...
Williamsburg June 24th 1800

[Recorded York County Court July 21, 1800]

While Mrs. Frances Davenport owned and lived in the house, certain repairs and changes were made to the property by Humphrey Harwood., Williamsburg carpenter and brick mason. The accounts run from September, 1779 through June, 1794. Such changes as mending plastering, hearths, whitewashing 7 rooms and a stairway &c were done.⁴

We know from these accounts that Mrs. Davenport's house had four rooms below and three rooms above; a stairs, an outbuilding on the lot, a smoke house and a well.

Mrs. Davenport may have been a teacher. Harwood paid her for schooling in 1784 and again in 1785. In 1791 "Miss Randolph" was paid a professional visit by Dr. Galt at Mrs. Davenport's. In October 1794 "Miss McKensie" and "Miss King" were visited by Drs. Galt and Barraud at Mrs. Davenport's. Also, these doctors visited "Miss Douglas"at Mrs. Davenport's.¹ These ladies may have been boarding students at Mrs. Davenport's school.

In 1801 Frances Davenport's name no longer appears in the Williamsburg Land Tax lists. George Jackson - who had held four lots adjoining - now held five. Jackson's five lots are valued at $70 for tax purposes.²

It has been difficult to trace the title to this property after Jackson. It appears from a deed of trust of 1827 that Richard T. Booker had bought the property known as the "Raleigh Lot" containing about 12 acres. This land lay immediately behind the Nicholson Street lots on the north. At this time,, Booker gave a deed of trust to secure W. W. Webb.³ However, in 1535 Booker gave another deed of trust which stated that it covered "three Houses & Lots." The description of adjoining property would indicate definitely that 8 Booker held lots 269 and 270 though they were not so designated by number at this date:

[September 24, 1835]

Deed of trust to Richard Booker
to
William P. Underwood trustee to secure Richard Coke jr. R. R. Garrett, George B. Lightfoot, R. Hubbard, Sheldon & Maupin, W. W. Vest & Co. and Thomas 0. Cogbill... three Houses & Lots situate and being in the County of York adjoining the City of Williamsburg and bounded as follows on the East by the lot of John A. Deneufville Snr.¹ on the south by the north back street in the City of Williamsburg and on the west by the lot of Robert McCandlish now Occupied by Mrs Bowers also a lot on Duke of Gloucester street Also the following property conveyed by deed of trust made by the said Richard T. Booker to William P. Underwood Trustees for George W. Southall and bearing the date 20th day of September 1835 and duly recorded to wit:

All that lot or parcel of Land Containing twelve Acres commonly Called and known as the Raleigh lot situated on the north back street of the said city On the west and on the north by the aforesaid Raleigh lot on the east by the lot Called the Tan Yard. aryl on the south by the street aforesaid together with all the houses barns and stables situate thereon ...forever...until default... [given until September 25, 1837 to meet payments.]²

A picture of the "Bowers house" taken about 1890 shows a house to the east. This may have been the house in which Davenport, and 9 later Booker lived. See: Bowers House picture, Illustration #6 of House History of Lots 266, 267, 268 in Research Department.

Mr. John S. Charles, an old citizen of Williamsburg, recalled in 1933 the city as it was in the Civil War period. He had this-to say about a house which seemed to be located on Lots 269 or 270:

A few yards east of the Bowers house stood a small one story vine-clad cottage occupied by a man by the name of Curran. This house was removed or destroyed many years ago.¹

Illustration #1
From Frenchmans Map 1782?

Illustration #1
Lots 269 and 270 on Botetourt Street

Illustration #2
Lots 269-270

Illustration #3
Lots 269-270

Illustration #4

[Ret. YCC & Rec.
January 19, 1778]

Blovet Pasteur
Robe Nicolson
Wm Goodson

Illustration #5
Lots 269-270

Research Department, Colonial Williamsburg., Incorporated