Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

ELKANAH DEANE OR CARTER HOUSE
(Block 30, sites #l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Colonial lots #329, 330, 331, & 332.)
August 24, 1931.

Buildings on this site probably were erected between 1720 and 1722, as the first record (#378) of the property is dated July 11, 1720 at which time the trustees of the city deeded lots #331 and #332 [on Palace Street] to John Holloway for 5 shillings with a building clause. If buildings were not erected on the lots within twenty-four months, the property escheated. There is no record of the trustees of the city deeding the property at the end of the two year period so a house was probably erected in the interval.

The next record of the property is dated July 20, 1759 and is contained in a deed (#748) dated July 4, 1772. It refers to the purchase of the property from the estate of John Robinson, deceased, by William Carter. If this Robinson is the Honourable John Robinson, Esq. , who died in May, 1766, Speaker to the House of Burgesses and Treasurer to the Colony, it means that this building on Palace Street was a fairly pretentious one, which housed an important official of the Colony.

In 1761 William Carter had a dispute over the lot boundary with Robert Carter of Nomini Hall (who owned the "Saunders-Dinwiddie" house on the north) which was settled by the deed (#639) dated August 11 when William deeded to Robert the disputed portion north of Robert's palings for 5 shillings.

2

That the house was large and well-built is further substantiated by the following facts:

William Carter, the surgeon, lived in the house from 1766 until August 1771 at which time he moved to Gloucester. The house was mortgaged to James and John Carter on June 27, 1767 (#702). It was rented and later sold to Elkanah Deane, the famous coachmaker on July 4, 1772 (#748).

Deane paid £700 for the house and four lots on which it stood and also mortgaged it (#749) on July 14, 1772.

The following items from theVirginia Gazette refer to this house and to the buildings that must have been necessary to accommodate Deane's coachmaking and painting. Notice also that the house was large enough to accommodate lodgers:

"December 15 , 1768.

To be Sold, on very reasonable Terms, for Cash, or on 3 or 4 Years Credit, paying Interest for the Money. The Dwelling-House in Palace street, with four Lots of Ground, well enclosed, and in good repair, where the subscriber now lives. There is no situation in this city superior to it, for pleasantness and convenience.
William Carter." (Purdie & Dixon, eds.)

"August 29, 1771.

Dr. William Carter has moved to Gloucester, and wants to rent his house on Palace Street."

"October 24, 1771.

To be rented, the lodgings where Dr. John Sequeyra now lives. Also to be sold, or rented, the dwelling house and lots in Palace Street where Dr. Wm. Carter lately lived.
John Carter." (Purdie & Dixon, eds.)

3

"June 16, 1772 .

...Elkanah Deane, coach-maker, formerly of Dublin and New York, where he had the honour to make a coach, Phaeton and Chaise for his Excellency Earl Dunmore, is now removed with his family from New York to Palace Street, in this city, where he will make and repair all sorts of Coaches, handsome Chariots, Post Chaises, Phaetons, Curricles & Chairs, with harness of every sort. Being determined to do all his work in the best manner, he humbly hopes that these gentlemen that are pleased to employ him will pay cash. Having two or three spare rooms he will be glad to accommodate gentlemen with private lodgings."

"May 19, 1774 .
Carriages of various sorts and prices to be sold by ELKANAH DEANE, coachmaker, at his shop in Palace Street, Williamsburg who makes all kinds of coaches, chariots, post chaises, phaetons, curricles chairs, and chaises, with harness of every sort, carriages of every kind are repaired, painted, gilded and japanned, in the best manner, and on the most reasonable terms, for cash. Gentlemen or Ladies residing in the country, by sending their commands to said Deane, may depend on being well used, and their commands executed with the greatest care and dispatch. He returns his un-feigned thanks to those gentlemen and ladies who have favoured him with their custom, and is determined to make it his study to please all who are kind enough to employ him. Being in want of a few more JOURNEYMEN, he will give the following prices, provided they are good hands: For every chair body, single or double, according to my directions, I will give four pounds, for every chair carriage eighteen shillings, for every pair of wheels 22 shillings, and so in proportion for all other work. I would willingly take two or three apprentices who have been genteely brought up, and tolerably educated; no others need apply- Said Deane has some choice brandy, gin, rum, and several kinds of cordials; such as anniseed water, orange ditto, clove ditto, allfours, cherry brandy, and rasberry ditto; all which he will dispose of on reasonable terms, for cash, to those who will take a quantity." (Clementina Rind, ed.)

"May 26, 1774.

For SALE,
The improved SQUARE of LOTS adjoining the lots belonging to Mr. E. Deane, coachmaker in Palace street, Williamsburg. JOHN TAZEWELL, esquire, of this city, is empowered to sell- 4 If the purchaser, or purchasers, do not pay ready money, his word with approved securities, made payable to ROBERT CARTER, will be satisfactory." (Clementina Rind, ed.)

"November 4, 1775.

To be sold or rented; the house and lots of the late Elkanah Deane, pleasantly situated in the Palace Street, a well of good water on Premises, good garden and pasture at the back of the dwelling house, all well paled in, and with several springs of water and a run. The houses in good repair, some of them but lately built." (Dixon and Hunter, ed.)

"January 12, 1776.

William Holladay has taken Elkanah Deane's shop near Palace Street and will carry on the Coach and chair making business."

The lots were enclosed completely with fences and there were numerous outbuildings. These are shown on the Frenchman's map.

Some of these outbuildings were contemporaneous with the main dwelling house and others were built by Elkanah Deane to use in his coachmaking and painting business. At least one of the early outbuildings was destroyed by fire, according to the following evidence:

Virginia Gazette. July 30, 1767.

"Williamsburg, July 30.

Last Monday morning, early, a fire broke out in the stable of Doctor Carter, at the foot of his lot in Palace Street, which consumed it and a couple of horses, with some grain, etc. The fire had got to such a height before it was discovered, that Mr. Carter, in attempting to save his horses, ran a great risk of his life, by the fire blazing out soon after he had opened the door, which made it difficult for him to gain it again, and occasioned his being very much burnt. It is not known how the fire happened. Fortunately there was little or no air stirring, which in all probability saved the adjoining houses..."

5

This house is not mentioned by Mr. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" although it is supposed to have been in existence around the time of the War Between the States.

It is not mentioned in insurance policies for the Wythe House.

Other data may be found by inquiring of other old residents in town and by further search for insurance policies.