Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

DR. GILMER'S APOTHECARY SHOP
Block # 29
January 2, 1932

[Final report, superseding report issued July 7, 1931.]

Dr. George Gilmer's famous apothecary shop stood on the corner of Palace and Nicholson streets on colonial lot # 163. This lot was part of three colonial lots, 163, 164 and 169 which were sold together throughout their history.

In the eighteenth century (before 1789) there were three buildings on this group of lots, the play-house (later the Hustings Court house) William Levingston's dwelling house and Dr. Gilmer's apothecary shop with the usual outbuildings.

A brief chain of title to this property follows as the dates of the probable erection of the several buildings have architectural significance:

1716 - November 5.	Trustees of City of Williamsburg to William Levingston. Lots 163, 164, and 169. Clause providing he should build and finish one or more dwelling houses in 24 months or the lots would escheat.
1721 - May 28.	WM. Levingston mortgages play house, bowling green, his dwelling house and kitchen or lots 163, 164, 169 to Archibald Blair. Mortgage foreclosed.
1735 - Feb. 20	John Blair, excr. of Archibald Blair, dec'd, sells lots 163, 164, 169 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.
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1745, Dec. 16	George Gilmer to City of Williamsburg, the play house with 6 feet of ground on every side thereof for £50. [This was then made into a Hustings Court house immediately and no longer figures as a part of Gilmer's property].
1755, Nov. 10.	George Gilmer, dec'd, by will to Peachy Ridgway Gilmer, the three lots 163, 164, 169, except so much of said lots as the Court house is built upon.
1759, April 13.	Peachy Ridgway Gilmer to James Tarpley & Thomas Knox, merchants, all those 3 lots of land 163, 164 and 169 now in the tenure and occupation of the said Tarpley and Knox except Court House. Consideration £ 360.
1760, Dec. 20.	James Tarpley, merchant to Thomas Knox, merchant all those 3 lots now in the tenure of said Knox, 163, 164, 169 except Court house. Consideration £ 237.
1764, Aug. 11.	Thomas Knox merchant to John Tazewell. Same for £ 450.
1772, Aug.	City of Williamsburg to John Tazewell all that part of parcel of ground whereon the play-house stood and 6 feet of ground on every side. This brings all this property 163, 164, and 169 back to one owner.
1779, Sept.	John Tazewell to Henry Tazewell. Same for £ 1200.

On the Frenchman's map three buildings are shown. The largest one which is the most northern of the three is the theatre, the one next south is probably Levingston's dwelling house as the little building on the corner of Palace and Nicholson Streets was Gilmer's apothecary shop as established by the following advertisements from the Virginia Gazette: 3

1737, May 27. - Virginia Gazette - William Parks, Ed.

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 scandalous and groundless Reports I take this Opportunity to acquaint all my Friends, that I can now, better than ever, supply them will all manner of Chymical and Galenical Medicines, truly and faithfully prepared, and at as cheap Rates as can be had from England. Also Double-refin'd, Single refin'd, and Lump Sugars, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Bateman's Drops, Squires Elixir, Anderson's Pills, Sweet Oil, &c. at reasonable Rates; at my Old Shop, near the Governor's.
George Gilmer.

1751, September 5. - Virginia Gazette- William Hunter, Ed. Imported in the Dutchess of Queensbury, and just come to Hand,
A large Assortment of Drugs with all Manner of Chymical and Galencial 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

The shop was built between the years 1721 and 1736 according to the historical record and was in continual use as a shop from that date until the property was acquired by St George Tucker. It is possible that the materials, if not the building itself were incorporated in St George Tucker's dwelling.

The following letter from George Gilmer to Walter King refers to work performed in this shop of Gilmer lived a the shop as so many apothecaries did or to work on the dwelling house north of the shop. Archaeological examination of the site should help to determine this point. 4

Aug. 6, 1752.

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 wainscotting my dining room, which with a handsome marble chimney piece &c with glass over it, will make it a tolerable room for an apothecary... (Dr. Geo. Gilmer's Letter Book, 1752. (from a Mss. copy made by Dr. Robert A. Brock.) - Letter From Gilmer to Walter King.)

Dr. George Gilmer was one of Williamsburg's leading apothecaries and doctors. His son George followed his father's profession and during the Revolution was a distinguished patriot. The apothecary shop has unusual historical significance to those interested in 18th century medicine, and to the numerous descendants of the Gilmer family.

The research department has a number of inventories of apothecaries and would be able to supply sufficient data for the complete interior restoration of all the apothecary's furnishings and equipment.

During the time when John Tazewell, and later Henry Tazewell, owned the three lots they had accounts with Humphrey Harwood, the mason and builder. The repairs of probable architectural significance are listed on the chance that they can be related to Gilmer's shop, the theatre or the dwelling house:

1777, October 10.
	John Tazewell - account with H. Harwood.
	To 100 Tile 8/9. 2 bushs of do 4/0.
	To Whitewashing 3 Rooms. & 2 passages at 5/	1:15:9
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1777,	May 28.
	To Whitewashing 4 rooms & 3 passages a 7/6 pr Room	2:12:6
1777,	October 2.
	To Whitewashing 6 Rooms, 3 passages, & 5 Closets at 7/6	4: 6:3
	October 10,
	To Whitewashing 4 Rooms, 3 Passages and 4 closets a 7/6	3: 7:6
	To mending Oven & Kitching backs 15/. Do well 12/	1: 7:0
	To Repairing Steps 12/ Layg harth & Mendg arch 6/. landary	1: 1:0
	To Whitewashing Sheloon 20/	1: 0:0
1779,	July 8.
	To 2 bushs of Mortar 12/ & Reparing Spring 15	1: 7:0

DR. GILMER'S APOTHECARY SHOP - BLOCK 29
July 7, 1931

(For a complete history of the colonial lots 163, 164 and 169 on which Dr. Gilmer's Apothecary Shop stood see reports on "The Theatre on the Coleman lot", "Colonial buildings on the Coleman lot", and the "St. George Tucker house", previously issued.)

When William Levingston, the builder of the first theatre, died without heirs his five hundred year lease to the property reverted to the city. The city deeded it to George Gilmer and his heirs on May 28, 1721 for the remaining period of the five hundred years. This grant was for the three lots 163, 164 and 169 including the play-house, the site of the Bowling Green and the dwelling house and kitchen of William Levingston.

Dr. Gilmer deeded the play house with six feet of ground surrounding it to the city for use as a Hustings Court House in December 1745 and retained the remainder of the lots.

On the corner of Nicholson Street and Palace Green he kept an Apothecary Shop until his death in 1755, at which time his son Peachy Ridgeway Gilmer inherited the property and later sold it.

The following items from the Virginia Gazette establish the location of the shop on the lots:

May 27, 1737

There being a Report industriously spread about the Country, to 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 scandalous and groundless Reports I take this Opportunity to acquaint all my Friends, that I can now, better than ever, supply them will all manner of Chymical and Galenical Medicines, truly and faithfully prepared, and at as cheap Rates as can be had from England. Also Double-refin'd, Single refin'd, and Lump Sugars, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Bateman's Drops, Squires Elixir, Anderson's Pills, Sweet Oil, &c. at reasonable Rates; at my Old Shop, near the Governor's.
George Gilmer.

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September 5, 1751

...To be Sold, at reasonable Rates, by the Subscriber, at his Shop, nigh the Court-House, the Corner of Palace-street, Williamsburg.
George Gilmer.

The Virginia Gazette carries a number of other advertisements listing in great detail the goods sold by Dr. George Gilmer, but none of these refer to the location of the shop.

In 1752, when he was still living on this lot Dr. Gilmer wrote the following in a letter to Walker King:

August 6, 1752.

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 wainscotting my dining room, which with a handsome marble chimney piece &c with glass over it, will make it a tolerable room for an apothecary... (From Dr. George Gilmer's Letter Book, 1752, from a Mss. copy made by Dr. Robert A. Brock.)

Dr. George Gilmer was one of Williamsburg's most distinguished apothecaries. His son George followed his father's profession but is noted most for his ardent patriotism during the Revolution. The site of this apothecary shop is of great interest to those interested in the medical men of eighteenth century Virginia (it is being noted in a published history on this subject) and to a number of descendants of the Gilmer family.

The research department has a number of inventories of apothecaries and would be able to supply sufficient data for the complete interior restoration of all the apothecary's furnishing and equipment.

COLONIAL BUILDINGS ON THE PRESENT COLEMAN LOT
Block # 29.
OCTOBER 17, 1930.

Shops, a bowling green, a court house, a theatre and dwelling houses with their usual outbuildings, have been located on this lot at various time in its history. Its nearness to the Palace made it a fairly desirable location. Its history is best traced by using the old colonial lot numbers, #163 and #164 on Palace Street, and #169 on Nicholson Street.

By an agreement between William Livingston and Charles and Mary Stagg, his wife, actors, a theatre was to be built by the former and actors, music and scenery were to be provided out of England for the enactment of comedies and tragedies. This agreement was recorded July 11, 1716, and November 21, 1716. Mr. Livingston purchased three ½acre lots and erected thereon a dwelling house, kitchen and stable. He laid out also a bowling alley and built a theatre, according to Dr. Tyler in "Williamsburg, the old Colonial Capitol."

In June 24, 1718, Governor Spotswood referred to eight members of the House who had slighted his invitation (Letter, Collection of the Virginia Historical Society, Vol. 11, P. 284): "These eight committeemen would neither to my house nor go to the play which was enacted on the occasion". Another early reference to the play house is in the Virginia Gazetteof September 10, 1736, in which a play by the young Gentlemen of the College is advertised to be performed at the Theatre the following week.

"...the house does not have appeared to 2 have prospered for in 1723 its mortgage was foreclosed, and Dr. Archibald Blair, the mortgagee, took possession of the property. Charles Stagg died in 1735 and after his death Mary Stagg earned a living holding dancing assemblies". (A History of the Theatre in America", (Arthur Hornblow, 1919.)

At this time Dr. Archibald Blair died, and his executor John Blair conveyed the property to George Gilmer, a chemist, according to the deed recorded at Yorktown in February 1735. It was described at this time as the lot where the Bowling Green formerly was, being lots #163, 164 and #169 containing the dwelling house and kitchen of William Livingston, Surgeon.

The city at this time lacked a Court House, and the Council of the City petitioned the subscriber for the Play House:

"To the gentlemen subscribers for the Play House on the City of Williamsburg, the corporation of the said city show:
That they have no public building within the said city wherein to hold their Common Halls and Courts, but have hitherto used the Court House of James City County on curtesie: That the Play House stands in a convenient place for such uses and has not been put to any use for several years and is now going to decay: That the whole money gathered is not sufficient for a Prison, nor have they any way to raise Public money for a Town House, they shall always esteem and acknowledge it a mark of your special favour if you will be pleased to bestow your present useless House on this corporation for the use aforesaid, they intending to repair and alter it at their own expense." (W. & M. Quarterly, XXIV: 29.)

That the "Gentlmen Subscribers" granted the position of the city is evidence in a deed from George Gilmer, Gent., to the Mayor, Recorder, Alderman and Common Council of the 3 City of Williamsburg, conveying the portion of lots #163, #164 and #169 which contained the Play-house "together with six feet of ground adjoining to the said Play-house on every side", dated at Yorktown December 4, 1745.

Repairs to the Playhouse were ordered immediately, the Virginia Gazette of December 19, 1745 stating:

"The play House in Williamsburg is to be fitted up for a Court House by order of the Common Hall, that is to be new shingl'd, painted, weatherb^oarded, with five large sash windows, doors, floors, plaistering and good workmanship within, with apartments for the Mayor."

Studying the Frenchman's map (1786) there is a spotting of buildings which correspond fairly well with this data of 1745. This section of the map has some error or factor in it which makes determination of these distances by scaling it, impossible. However, the section was divided into 4 fairly equal lots along Palace Street the Court House being located in the southwestwardly lot. The small building indicated on the corner of Nicholson and Palace was evidently George Gilmer's apothecary shop according to the following advertisements in the Virginia Gazette:

May 22, 1737- A list of chemical for sale "at my old shop near the Governor's"-
George Gilmer.

September 19, 1751- George Gilmer's goods to be sold at his shop nigh the Court House, on the corner of Palace Street".

James Tarpley and Thomas Knox, merchants were tenants of the property in 1759 when Peachey Ridgeway Gilmer, heir to George Gilmer conveyed the property to them, with the exception of the Court House portion. This was in December, 1759. On January 1, 1760 James Tarpley also acquired a lot adjoining the Garden of 4 the Honorable John Blair. This he leased to Rebecca Bird, a spinster, on the 22nd of the same month and year. December 20, 1760 James Tarpley sold his interest in the three lots #163, #164 and #169 to his partner Thomas Knox, with the exception of the Court House land.

Thomas Knox conveyed the lots to John Tazwell in August 1793. In this time William Livingston who had been granted the Fee to the lots for 500 years died without issue and the lots escheated, John Tazwell then acquiring a patent to them in August 1772. The city also granted title in the Court House to John Tazwell in the same year.

John Tazwell transferred title to Henry Tazwell in October 1783 of the three lots, including all the buildings thereon. It was this complete parcel of lots that figured in subsequent transfers.

Henry Tazwell was executor of the will of William Rowsay, who was a tenant of those lots, prior to July 7, 1786. This is the period of the Frenchman's map, which shows the block with a very small building on the corner of Nicholson and Palace streets.

Edmund Randolph having acquired the lots from Rowsay's estate, sold them to St. George Tucker July 3, 1788 for the consideration of £ 100. This was far less than Henry Tazwell had paid for the lots in 1783, which had been £ 1200. The determination of the buildings, or the fluctuation in money value may account for this large price difference, or it may be that the Court House had burned in the meantime, judging by the following evidence from William Dunlop's "History of the American Theatre", London 1833:^*

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"This theatre was situated on the spot occupied now by the house of the late Judge Tucker. After its destruction by fire, another was erected by the old Capitol."

St. George Tucker insured his house on April 21, 1796 for $1600, at which time no mention was made of a laundry or stable. In his next insurance policy, issued June 17, 1815 the house is insurance for $5500, and although they are not evaluated a large building on the Palace street side of the lot is shown marked "Stables", etc.

By adjusting the building on the Frenchman's map to the scale of the present survey map (1 inch-100 feet) it is possible to approximate the location he gives of the theatre-courthouse site. This would be about 140 feet north of the corner of Nicholson and Palace street. The building would be about 60 x 20 feet in dimension. Within ten feet of the theatre site, south, is a small building about 16 x 14 feet.

The building that was the shop and dwelling of George Gilmer the apothecary and surgeon was 40 feet from the corner of Palace Street, on Nicholson. It was about 20 feet square.