Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

LOCATION:

Lot 163 lies on the southwest corner of block 29, with Nicholson Street on the south and Palace Green to the west. When sold, the lot has been included always in a group of three lots; namely, 163, 164 and 169. Hence, any deed which may apply to lot 163 will apply also to lots 164 and 169.

In this report, stress will be placed especially upon the corner section of lot 163 on which the apothecary shop was located. Other information is given on adjoining property whenever it seems necessary to the chain of title to lot 163.

HISTORY:

On November 5, 1716, the trustees of the city of Williamsburg through a deed of release, conveyed unto William Levingston from York County, but formerly from New Kent County, three lots in Williamsburg, being Nos. 163, 164 and 169. (York County Records, Deeds, Bonds, III, 204-205.) A building clause was inserted which stated that unless Levingston should erect one or more good houses within the space of twenty-four months, according to the Act of Assembly of 1705, the lots would revert to the city. (See: copy of deeds of lease and release given in the First Theatre House History, report of 1946, Department of Research.)

Levingston complied with the regulations about building on the lot or lots. It is known that he built a playhouse on one lot by 1718. From data to be found in the above cited report, it is seen that the play-house was erected on lot 164. The Act of 1705 required that some building be erected on each lot. Hence, Levingston must have built at least a small house on lot 163 within the two year period.

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In 1721 Levingston mortgaged to Archibald Blair,¹ for a period of five hundred years, the theatre building along with five lots, being Nos. 163, 164, 169, 176 and 177. On lots 163, 164 and 169 stood "...ye bowling green, ye dwelling house, kitchen and playhouse, & all ye other houses outhouses & stables &c thereon." (York County Records, Deeds, VIII, p. 107, September 27, 1770; Ibid., Orders, Wills, XV, December 16, 1723.)

From evidence which follows, it is obvious that Levingston could not pay off the mortgage made in 1721. On December 16, 1723, Archibald Blair foreclosed as mortgagee and took possession of the property. Robert Faldo^{fictitious party} had been allowed "to farm...two Messuages one house called y^e playhouse one Stable one Acre & half of land called y^e bowling Green and one Acre of Garden with ye appurtenances Scituate lying & being in W^msburgh aforesd."² (York County Records, Orders, Wills, XV.) On June 25th, 1723, Blair and Faldo had become involved in an "Ejections firma" in which Faldo appeared as ^{was fictitious} plaintiff and Levingston as defendant. Faldo brought suit because he was being ejected from the lots by Blair, though his term of lease was five years beginning June 24th, 1722 (See history of the First Theatre, 1946, Department of Research, for details of this rental agreement as given in Illustration #1C.)

There is a gap in the records relative to lots 163, 164 and 169 from December 1723 (when Blair foreclosed the mortgage and came into possession of the lots) until February 20th, 1735, when John Blair, executor 3 of Archibald Blair, deceased, conveyed unto George Gilmer¹ "all those three Lotts ... designed in the Plan of the said City by the Numbers 163, 164 and 169, being the Lotts and land whereon the Bowling Green formerly was, the Dwelling House and Kitchen of William Levingston and the House call'd the Play House, for the Consideration of the Sum of one Hundred fifty & five Pounds lawfull Money of Virginia..." (York County Records...Deeds, V, pp. 153-154.)

It may be well to note that in 1723 there were several buildings located on the lots. In the "Ejectione firma" court record, buildings as noted on the lots were: "one house call'd y^e playhouse one Stable." In 1735, Gilmer acquired: "the Dwelling house and Kitchen of William Levingston and the House called the Play House."

Dr. Gilmer was an apothecary as well as a physician. In the issue of the Virginia Gazette (Parks, editor) of November 5th, 1736, Dr. Tennant reminded the public that rattlesnake root was available at the apothecary shop of Dr. George Gilmer's in Williamsburg. In the same issue reference is made to the home of Dr. Gilmer, in which Mrs. Skaife, wife of the Reverend John Skaife, died. In, May 1737, Dr. Gilmer gives the location of his shop in the following notice:

Williamsburg May 27, 1737

There being a Report industriously spread about the Country, of George Gilmer's Death, by some well-meaning People, and of his being so much in Debt, that nothing from England would be sent him this Year, if alive.
To obviate such scandalousandgroundless Reports, 4I take this Opportunity to acquaint all my Friends, that I can now, better than ever, supply them with all manner of Chymical and Galenical Medicines, truly and faithfully prepared, and at as cheap Rates as can be hand from England. Also Double-refin'd, Single refin'd, and Lump Sugars, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Bateman's Drops, Squire's Elixir, Anderson's Pills, SweetOil, &c. at reasonableRates; atmy OldShop, nearthe Governor's.
George Gilmer (Virginia Gazette, Parks, ed.)

In the light of records which follow in this report, the phrase, "my Old Shop, near the Governor's," cited from the above notice, is interpreted to mean that house or shop situated on the southwest part of lot 163, which lot is at the intersection of Nicholson and Palace Streets.

On June 20, 1745, Gilmer advertised his stock of drugs and other goods:

Just imported in the Ship Neptune, Capt. Crawford, from LONDON,
A Large Quantity of Medicines and Druggs, with Annodyne Neclaces, Barleys, Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Sweet Oil, Barber's ditto, Oil of Behn, Prunes, Sago, Stoughton's Elixir, Squire's and Daffy's Elixirs, Bateman's Drops, Lockyer's and Anderson's Pills, Oil-cloth, Scotch Snuff, Goldleaf, and Dutch Metal, Tamerinds, candy'd Ginger and Eryngo, Smelling-bottles, Hungary Water, Spaw and Pyrmont Waters, &c.
GeorgeGilmer. (Virginia Gazette, Parks, ed.)

In October 1745, among reports of deaths occurring in Williamsburg the following was given: ".. .And the next Day died Mrs. Gilmer, Wife of Mr. George Gilmer, one of the Aldermen of this City. . ." (Virginia Gazette, Parks, ed.)

Between 1745 and 1752, Dr. Gilmer advertised repeatedly in the Virginia Gazette various drugs and goods for sale at his apothecary shop in Williamsburg.

On December 4, 1745, Gilmer sold a portion of lot 164 to the Mayor of Williamsburg, the Common Council and Aldermen as indicated: 5

Whereas the said George Gilmer for the Consideration of Fifty Pounds to him in hand paid by Certain persons whose Names are Subscribed to a paper hereunto annex'd, did Covenant and agree to convey and assign unto them all his Right Title & Interest of and in the said play House, the Ground whereon it Stands together with six feet of Ground adjoining to the said Play House on every side thereof. And Whereas such persons have given and assign'd their Right to the said Play House and Ground adjoining unto the said Mayor Recorder aldermen and Common Council as appears by the paper before mentioned...That the said George Gilmer for and in Consideration of the Sum of Fifty Pounds aforesaid to him already in hand paid the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge Hath bargained, Sold. . . unto the said Mayor. . . during All the rest and Residue of the said Term of five Hundred Years yet to come and unexpired... (York County Records, Deeds, V, pp. 153-154.)

The use to which the playhouse (sold by Gilmer to the City Corporation) would be put, is noted in that it was known "that they have no public building within the city wherein, to hold their common halls and courts of Hustings, but have hitherto used the Court House of James City County on Curtesie ...." A list of subscribers, who endorsed the playhouse as a suitable courthouse for the City, follows in the record from which the above is quoted. (York County Records, Deeds, V, pp. 154-155.)

Dr. Gilmer is mentioned by Thomas Dawson in a letter to Lady Gooch, written on September 4, 1750, from the College of William and Mary: "Let me know. . .how Sir William likes his Retirement. . . [ms]. torn] their proper Compliments, as also D^r Gilmer, who says, he often looks at your former House. [ms. torn.]" (Dawson Papers, Library, College of William and Mary.)

On February 5, 1751, John Blair refers in his "Diary" to Dr. Gilmer: ". . .Spent the even^g (after a visit at Mr. Everard's) at Doct^r Gilmer's. . ." (Diary of John Blair, copy in William and Mary Quarterly, first series, VIII, p. 2). Dr. Gilmer's home is mentioned by John Blair on November 27, 1751: "The Gov^r&c. din^d at Dr. Gilmer's his birth day." (Ibid., VIII, p. 16.) On December 29, 1751, Blair made further mention of Dr. 6 Gilmer: "Doct^r Gilmer promised the Gov^r the perusal of Dr. Walker's Journal of his travels beyond y^e mount^ns."¹ (Ibid., VIII, p. 17.)

One cannot be sure (from the available material) that Dr. Gilmer lived next door to Thomas Everard, who apparently occupied lots 165 and 166. However, study of lots 165 and 166 seems to indicate that Everard was living on these two lots after 1742. There is proof by deed that Everard owned lot 172 in 1773. If Everard was on lots 165 and 166 in 1751 (the date of Blair's diary, then Blair's notes would indicate that Gilmer was a neighbor of Everard² and of the Governor at the Palace.³

The location of Dr. Gilmer's shop is given in an advertisement which appeared on September 19, 1751:

...A Large Assortment of Drugs with all Manner of Chymical and Galenical Medicines faithfully prepared...to be sold, at reasonable Rates by the Subscriber, at his Shop, nigh the Court-House, the Corner of Palace Street, Williamsburg. George Gilmer (Virginia Gazette, Hunter, ed.)

Here is a clear description locating Gilmer's shop as "nigh the Court-House, the Corner of Palace-Street, Williamsburg."

A letter from Dr. George Gilmer to Walter King⁴ dated 7 August 6, 1752, gives the reader a clear picture of the kind of house in which Dr. and Mrs. Gilmer¹ lived:

Worthy Friend:
... Mrs. Gilmer is perfectly satisfied with your conduct about her China and desires you will take your own time. I have just finished a closet for her to put it in as agreed on before you left us. I am wainscoting my dining room, which with a handsome marble chimney piece &c with glass over it, will make it a tolerable room for an apothecary... (Letter Book, 1752, Dr. George Gilmer - from a ms. copy made by Dr. Robert A. Brock, on file in Department of Research.)

In 1757, upon the death of Dr. Gilmer, title to lots 163, 164 land 169 (except that part which he had conveyed to the city for a courthouse) fell to Peachy Gilmer, eldest son of Dr. Gilmer. (York County Records Wills, Inventories, XX, p. 423.)

An account, "Medicines of D^r Gilmer's Estate," dated 1757, is found in a ms. apothecary invoice book (source unknown), pp. 29-37, Department of Research. A list of drugs and medicines is given amounting to a total of £544.5.6½. Among other Williamsburg accounts in the book are those of Dr. Machenzie (McKenzie?), Graham Frank, & Co., etc.

In April 1759, Peachy Ridgway Gilmer, Gent. of Louisa, conveyed his title to lots 163, 164 and 169 to James Tarpley and Thomas Knox, merchants and partners of Williamsburg. The amount paid was 360 pounds current money of Virginia. (Ibid., Deeds, VI, pp. 184-185.) Tarpley kept his part of the property about a year, then conveyed his rights to Knox for a consideration of 237 pounds. (Ibid., Deeds, VI, pp. 307-309.)

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The property remained in the hands of Thomas Knox until August 11, 1764. At this date Knox conveyed the lots to John Tazewell:¹

August 11, 1764.

Knox, Thomas-Merchant to
Tazewell, John
Consideration: 450 Pounds.

All those lots of land in the city of Williamsburg now in the tenure and occupation of the said Thomas Knox designed in the plat of the said city by the figures 163, 164 and 169, excepting so much of the said lot as the Courthouse of the said city is built upon. Being the same lots Thomas Knox purchased of James Tarpley... (York County Records, Deeds, VII, pp. 45-47.)

It may be well to notice that there is a difference of 213 pounds in the value of the three lots from 1759, when Knox became sole owner, until 1764, when Tazewell became the owner. As the three lots were always sold together, it is not possible to know on which lot improvements were made. From a study of the Tucker House History (reports written in 1944 and 1947, Department of Research), it would appear that probably the improvements in building, etc., were made to the house once owned by Gilmer. Such opinion is based on deeds as quoted in the Tucker House History, which designate Gilmer in 1735 as owner of the "Dwelling house and Kitchen of Levingston and the House called the Play House." This house was located to the north of Gilmer's apothecary shop, facing upon Palace Street.

In 1776 and 1777, Humphrey Harwood, carpenter of Williamsburg, made certain repairs to the property of John Tazewell:

1776	October 14
	To 30 bricks 1/3 2 bushels of lime 1/3
	Seting up a Grate 5/. & labr work 4/.--	£ - 9.0
9
1777	October 10
	To 100 Tile 8/9. 2 bushs of do 4/0.
	To Whitewashing 3 Rooms. & 2 passages at 5/--	£1:15:9

(Account of Humphrey Harwood, Ledger B, p. 18.)

Harwood's repairs for John Tazewell continued to July 1779. (Ibid.) Although the account of Harwood does not designate specifically which property of Tazewell's was repaired, it is apparent that repairs up through October 1777 were made to Tazewell's property on the Palace Green (lots 163, and 164, subject of this report). John Tazewell did not acquire "Tazewell Hall" until 1778. The fact that Henry Tazewell, who later came into possession of lots 163, 164 and 169, paid John Tazewell's account outstanding with Harwood would indicate that the repairs were to the Palace Green property. Henry Tazewell would likely pay a bill on property in which he was directly interested.

Little is known about the property during John Tazewell's possession from 1764 to 1779. It is believed that John Tazewell lived in the Levingston house until 1778 or 1779. Tazewell bought the Randolph property, later known as Tazewell Hall in July 1778. (See Tazewell Hall House History.) Harwood's accounts seem to indicate that after making extensive repairs on his newly acquired Randolph property, Tazewell moved there. He conveyed the Levingston property to his nephew, Henry Tazewell,¹ as recorded in the following deed: 10

September 1, 1779.

John Tazewell
Sarah, his wife
to
Tazewell, Henry.
Consideration: 1200 Pounds.

Whereas the said John Tazewell purchased of Thomas Knox of the City of Williamsburg, and had conveyed to him by indenture bearing date August 11, 1764, the unexpired term of 500 years to commence May 8, 1721, of and in three lots of land in the said city (except such part thereof as the Courthouse for the said city stood on) as is herein afterwards described and noted an has since had conveyed to him that part of the said 3 lots of land on which the Court House of the said city stood by indenture from the corporation thereof bearing date September 27, 1770, and

Whereas William Livingstone of the city of York, in whom the fee of the said lots was, died without issue, whereby the said three lots of land became escheatable and the said John Tazewell having obtained a patent for the same, August 1, 1772.

Grant, bargain etc. All those three lots of land aforesaid situate lying and being on Palace Street in the said city of Williamsburg denoted in the plan thereof by the figures 163, 164 and 169, bounded by Palace Street on the West, by the lot of Thomas Everhard on the North, by the lots of John Blair, Esq., on the East and by the Market Square on the South.

And all houses, buildings, etc.

(York County Records, Deeds, Book VI, p. 227.)

John Tazewell evidently made further repairs (other than those accounted for by Harwood) and building during the period of his ownership (1764-1779). The valuation goes from 450 pounds to 1200 pounds.¹ One must bear in mind that this valuation was placed on three lots, 163, 164 and 169.

In September 1782, Henry Tazewell advertised certain property in Williamsburg for sale: 11

September 14, 1782.

TO BE SOLD,
To the highest bidder for ready money, on the premises, the 25th of this instant (September).

THE LOT and HOUSES in the city of Williamsburg, whereon Joseph Thompson now lives, adjoining the lots of the Honourable John Blair. On this lot is a good dwelling-house with four rooms on the lower and three on the upper floor, a good smoke-house, a dairy, kitchen and other convenient out houses, and a good garden well paled in. The situation is pleasant and healthy, and an indisputable title will be made to the purchaser.
HENRY TAZEWELL. (Virginia Gazette and Weekly Advertiser, Nicholson and Prentis, eds.)

It seems reasonable to assume that the above mentioned property of Henry Tazewell's was the same property conveyed to him by his uncle, John Tazewell, in 1779. An account of Humphrey Harwood's for 1783 strengthens this belief because of the similar size and number of rooms in the two houses described:

		HENRY TAZEWELL ESQR	DR
1783	nd
July	22	To 14 bushl of Lime a 1/	£--14.--
		To 300 Bricks a 3/. & hair 1/3 & 3 days labour a 3/	19. 3
		To Repairing plastering in House & plastering Porch a 3/.	6.--
		To laying 2 harths 5/. & Do. porch Floor 5/. & Steps 2/6	12. 6
		To whitawashing 4 Rooms & 2 passages a 4/.	1. 4.--
		To Do Closets a 1/6 & 1 Bushels of Whitewash 2/.	8 --
August	th
	4	To 6 bushs of lime a 1/. & hair E	6. 6
		To repairg Larthing & plastering in Dary & underpinning 6/	6.--
		To repairing plastering in Back Room to Kitchn 5/ & whitewashing it & Dary 5/. & 1 Days labour a 3/.	13. 4
		To 20 larths
Decemr	th
	19	To 80 Bricks 2/3. 3 bushls lime 3/. & Seting up a Grate a 1/6 & 1 days labr 2/6	15. 3
			£ 6. 4.10

(Ledger of Humphrey Harwood, B, p. 54.)

MAPS:

The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows a small house on the east side 12 of Palace Street between a long rectangular building on the north and a small building on the site of the Gilmer apothecary shop. This small house is evidently the Tazewell dwelling house.

HISTORY (cont):

Tazewell may not have sold his property, advertised in 1782, until late in 1784,or early in 1785. On December 13th, 1784, Tazewell had Humphrey Harwood make other repairs to his property:

	MR HENRY TAZEWELL
1784	th
Decr	13	To 4 bushl of Lime 4/. & 150 bricks 4/6	£ " 8. 6-
		To 1 days labr 2/6. & setting up a Grate 7/6	" 9" 6--
		To 1 Bushel of lime 1/. pr Your Man	" 1 --
		(Carried to Folio 97)	£--19----

(Ledger of Humphrey Harwood, B, p. 74.)

Sometime before December 1785 Tazewell's Williamsburg property (above noted) had been conveyed to William Rowsay:¹

December 17, 1785

FOR SALE,
THE HOUSES and LOTS in Palace Street, formerly the property of the Hon. Henry Tazewell. The buildings are in pretty good repair, and sufficient to accommodate a large family...Possession of the Houses and lots may be had in January...
WILLIAM ROWSAY (The Virginia Gazette or The American Advertiser, Hayes, ed.)

Evidently Rowsay did not sell his Palace Street property when advertised. He advertised again on May 31, 1786:

...
The subscribers Houses and Lots on Palace-Street...advertised some time past, are yet for sale....The houses and out-houses are now in good repair, and the lot under an excellent plank enclosure.
WILLIAM ROWSAY (Virginia Gazette, James Hayes, ed.)

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From the will of William Rowsay it appears that he was not living on lots 163, 164 and 169 in 1786. The Ms. will of Rowsay dated July 7, 1786 (Tucker-Coleman Collection, Department of Research), indicates that Rowsay held other lots and property in Williamsburg at the date the will was made, and that Rowsay was living in property other than the Palace Street houses. It seems strange that Rowsay did not mention the Palace Street lots and houses in his will. Could this have been because Edmund Randolph already had a mortgage on the property and was at the point of foreclosure?

Prior to July 3, 1788, Rowsay's Palace Street property had apparently come into the hands of Edmund Randolph. In a letter of St. George Tucker to Edmund Randolph, dated July 2, 1788, and in an indenture of sale between Edmund Randolph and Tucker, July 3, 1788, Tucker, purchased the "houses on the palace Street," which were those "whereon William Rowsay lately lived." (See: Letters, Coleman-Tucker Collection, Department of Research.)

The subsequent history of lots 163, 164 and 169 from July 3, 1788, when St. George Tucker came into the possession of the lots, can be found in the Tucker House History, (written in l947, Department of Research). See also the College Map (1791) and the Bucktrout Map (1803), Department of Research, for lots 163, 164 and 169 marked "Tucker."

IN SUMMARY:

Lot 163, on which Dr. George Gilmer kept his Apothecary Shop from 1735-1757, is on the east side of Palace Street as it intersects Nicholson Street. Lot 163 throughout its entire history was conveyed always along with lots 164 and 169. Hence, in writing the history of lot 163 it is impossible not to include the chain of title to lots 164 and 169 as well.

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In 1716, the trustees of the city of Williamsburg granted unto William Levingston lots 163, 164 and 169 with building clause according to the Act of 1705 which provided that a house or houses should be built on the lots before the two year period from date of purchase had elapsed. In may 1721, Levingston mortgaged to Archibald Blair the three lots on which were a dwelling house, kitchen, playhouse and bowling green. John Blair, as executor of Archibald Blair, on February 20, 1735, sold the lots whereon the Bowling Green formerly was, and the dwelling house and kitchen of William Levingston and the house called the play house to George Gilmer for 155 pounds. Gilmer sold off a part of lot 164, the play house with 6 feet of ground on every side thereof for 50 pounds. The rest of the three lots (163, 164 and 169) Gilmer bequeathed to Peachy Ridgway Gilmer in 1755. From Peachy Gilmer, in April 1759, the property came into the possession of James Tarpley and Thomas Knox, merchants. In 1760 Tarpley sold to Knox for a consideration of 237 pounds. In 1764, Knox conveyed the three lots to John Tazewell for a consideration of 450 pounds. From John Tazewell the title went to Henry Tazewell, nephew.

Doctor Gilmer located his apothecary shop in 1751 as on "the Corner of Palace street, Williamsburg." Gilmer's dwelling house is described by him in 1752 in some detail: "I have just finished a closet for her [Mrs. Gilmer]...I am wainscoting my dining room, which with a handsome marble chimney piece &c with glass over it, will make a tolerable room for an apothecary..." John Tazewell apparently had repairs made on the Levingston-Gilmer house in 1776-1777. In 1782, Henry Tazewell, who was owner then, advertised in the Virginia Gazette that there were "four rooms on the lower and three on the upper floor, a good smoke-house, a dairy, kitchen and other convenient out-houses, and a good garden well paled in." 15 Such property apparently was refinished by Henry Tazewell, owner, in 1783. When William Rowsay desired to sell the property in 1786, he advertised that the "houses and out-houses are now in good repair, and the lot under an excellent plank enclosure."

The Frenchman's Map shows what is undoubtedly Gilmer's shop on the corner of lot 163. To the north of this building, apparently facing upon Palace Street, is a small house which may have been the Levingston house which was later supposedly occupied by Dr. Gilmer and the Tazewells.

The College Map (1791) and the Bucktrout Map (1803) show the name "Tucker" on lots 163, 164 and 169.

APPENDIX

Illustration #1	Drawing from the Frenchman's Map showing archaeological excavations
	College Map

From Frenchman's Map 1782?

Photostat Copy of the Williamsburg Plat in "Williamsburg the Old Colonial Capitol" by Lyon G. Tyler

I am enclosing herewith a supplemental report on Colonial Lot 163 (Dr. Gilmer's Apothecary Shop Site), prepared by Mary Stephenson.