Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

PLAN TYPE

The plan arrangement consists of a large hall at center,^* with a single room at each end. (It is suggested that the reader of this report follow the written discussion by referring to plans and drawing intended as explanatory illustrations.) There is no record of how the interior space teas assigned, but it is assumed that the Secretary may have occupied one of the rooms at the end. Humphrey Harwood's entry in his IBS Ledger, March 24, 1786 -- "To white-washing 3 rooms & a passage in the Secretary's office"^** -- suggests a hall or passage in addition to three rooms. The proposed plan arrangement shows such a passage as a place to wait before entry into any one of the three rooms.

Vertically, the building was originally one story, without basement, and there is no indication of use having been made of space within the roof slope. There are no dormers.

At sometime within the history of the building, presumably at the time when alterations were made by Humphrey Harwood (see Chronology), the floor level was raised, approximately two feet higher than the original level. This made possible the use of the basement (excavation required), possibly during the assumed time when talker Maury, schoolmaster, used the building as a residence. It is probable that the addition of basement windows, and an outside doorway to basement were spade at that time. The last two building alterations appear to be 4 specifically mentioned in the Ledger of Humphrey Harwood from 1784-86, pages 62, 63.

The use of the building as a Public Records Office terminated in December, 1779. From this time on the building served a series of new purposes of varied nature, such as a grammar schools Clerk's Office for Superior Court of Chancery of the Williamsburg district, Female Academy, and at various times as a residence.

BASIC DIMENSIONS

The Public Records Office Building is 56'2 ¼" in length (east to west), by 23'-5" in width (north to south).

The ceiling height of the main floor was 10'-10", before restoration.

Foundation walls are 1'-10" in overall thickness, while 1'-5 ½" is the prevailing wall thickness above the water table.

The four fireplaces had, originally, fireplace openings, approximately 4'-0" in width bar 4'-0" in height; all had been bricked to a smaller size of opening.

These dimensions were recorded in the field notes of the Department of Architecture, Colonial Williamsburg, under heading, Public Record Office. Measurements were made at site during restoration in 1938, under the direction of W. Reed.

The Public Records Office is not a reconstructed building. It was restored to its original appearance by "taking away" certain acquired and incongruous features; such as the wooden "storm porch" that formed a crude entry, the back porch of the mid-19th century. Windows had bean cut through the basement wall. These windows were bricked up 5 during the restoration operations; the outside doorway at the east end (a late addition) was removed and the end wall again made into a blank wall; the windows of the main floor were also returned to their "first form," the floor was prepared for a masonry floor, and at the original level as determined by water table and main doorway - sill level. This is an approximate summary of what was done to clean away the "lean-to" and other acquisitions of a century, and to reclaim its eighteenth century character without nineteenth century parts.^*

There remains, as had been intimated elsewhere in this report, the future removal of the wood residential wing, also the replacement of the temporary modern wood floor with squared Purbeck stone as pavement - when such a material is available.^**

LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO BUILD--1747

The authorization for building this structure appears to have been prompted by "The Secretary of the Colony," Thomas Nelson, keeper of Records, who on April 15, 1747 "moved for Leave to bring is a Bill, for erecting a building for the Preservation of the Public Records of the Colony, and the Question being put thereupon, Resolved in the Affirmative, ordered, that Mr Secretary Nelson, Mr Benjamin Waller, and Mr John Carter, do prepare and bring in the same."^***

Public Records Office - Williamsburg, Va. - After Restoration 1939

The dating of this building as of 1747 is loosely established by this bill and by the day-by-day discussion of it with amendments is the Journal of the House of Burgesses, 1742-1749. There are, however, no other records or descriptive passage, thus far made available to us, to provide a positive date for construction, or any physical description of the building or reference to its interior furnishing or equipment. It is known to have served as a repository of Public Records up to the tine of removal of the "books, papers and records of the General Assembly," etc., from Williamsburg to Richmond, first ordered December 24, 1779.

The Public Records Office building has also a special historical and architectural significance since it appears that the Virginia Colony was the first of the several British colonies of America to recognize the value of a separate "Building for the Preservation of the Public Records." From this time on the Records building was separate from the Capitol and the Virginia example was soon to be followed in the sister-colonies. The Secretary of the Virginia dominion had in his custody the care of the Records, and, neat to the Governor, was a person of much power and influence. His office was henceforth located within this building and officiated in the midst of these records. "All patents and other papers from the executive were issued from the Secretary's office, and all the executive records,

Doorway (before restoration) Public Records Office

EXTERIOR DESIGN (General)

The building exterior, as a design, nay be characterized as a one-story brick building with a pair of double hung windows on either side of a ventral pedimented red brick doorway. The steep hip-roof has two fine-appearing chimneys, each with a moulded brick top. The two end walls at the east and west ends were without windows, possibly as a concession to the need for storage space best provided for against blank walls. There were four windows at the front, facing the Capitols ^"?" glazed and three to the rear. The Flemish bond of ^glazed brick need on the exterior has a pronounced pattern and contributed to the building design. The architectural features of the exterior are separately discussed under the headings of doorways, windows, brickwork and so on.

ITEMS CONCERNING THE "BUILDING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE RECORDS," WITH RELATION TO ARCHITECTURE OF THE BUILDING.

It has been the practice in Virginia (early eighteenth century) to place the care and storage of records in the hands of the Secretary of the Colony. Virginia is said to be "the first British Colony to recognize the value of a separate Building for the Preservation of the Public Records."

William Stanard, of Virginia Historical Society (Mary Newton Standard, Associated? describes the "The Secretary as a patent officer ... next in dignity to the Governor ...."

"All patents and other papers from the executive were issued from the Secretary's office, and all the executive records, as well as those of the General Court were in his custody."^*

There are repeated references in old accounts to the safety of the records. In Hening, Statutes at Large,^** it was

"ordered for the present safety of the generall court and secretaryes office records, and for the convenience of the inhabitants of this county to have recourse to them they be removed to, and kept at Mr. Secretaries house, at Rich Neck untill some further orders can be taken for them.

Jamestown Records were moved to Williamsburg as late as 1700.

1700- Calendar of State Papers Vol. I, p. 73

(Colledge of Willm & Mary)

House of Burgesses,
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1700

Resolved,
That the Records of this Governmt, which stil remains at James City, be, with all Convenient Expedition., removed from thence to the place Appointed for Keeping the Secretary's office in his Majties Royal College of William and Mary.. Adjacent to the City of --- Williamsburgh,...."

When the records were moved to the Capitol is not indicated by existing documents. The unusual care exercised in preserving the various documents is shown by an entry in the Journal of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, 1727-1740.^*

1727-1740

Thursday, Nov. 23, 1738. A Petition of John Carter, Esq. Secretary of this Colony was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That for the Preservation of the Records, many of which were like to be spoiled by Dampness of the walls, he did in the year 1723, apply to this House, and obtained their Order for building a Chimney to his Office, and did not doubt but the House would have enabled him to provide Fire-wood; which has been a considerable expense to him for Fifteen Years;…

In 1746/47 fire destroyed the Capitol at Williamsburg. This building loss, by fire, was an incentive for erecting a separate building for records, with protection against fire.

On April 15th, "Secretary Nelson^** moved for Leave to bring in a Bill, for erecting a for the Preservation of the Public Records of this Colony ...."

Mr. Secretary Nelson, Mr. Benjamin Waller^* (later Judge of Admiralty Courts with office in the Records Building), and Mr. [ed.-^Charles] Carter (formerly Secretary of the Colony, quoted above), were asked to prepare and bring in a bill. The "Act for erecting a Building for the Preservation of the Public Records and Papers of this Colony," was extensively debated by the members of the House of Burgesses and the Council. There is, however, no statement in the records reporting the final passage of this bill.

We are compelled to assume, without documentary confirmation, that the Public Records Office Building was authorized and built at some indefinite time after the spring of 1747. (here are likewise no facts to report regarding the specific use of the building during the 25 years or so before the time of the Revolution. Meanwhile the decision had been reached to transfer the Capitol of Virginia from Williamsburg to Richmond. The Act for Removal of the Seat of Government was passed during May 1779. (Hening, Statues at Large, Vol. 10, p. 85.) The reasons for the removal to Richmond were aptly summarized in the phrase, "more safe and central." (Ibid. , p . 86.)

In December 1779 it was

1779-

"ordered That the Clerk of this House do remove, at the Public expense, the books, papers, and records of the General Assembly, as are in his possession, to the town of Richmond, in the county of Henrico ...."

(Journal of the House of Delegates, begun Oct. 1779 Page 108.)

1780-

June 7, (arrant to Alexander Wiley for packing up and removing the records and papers, & for his Services as Keeper at the Capitol ....

In May 1779 a court of admiralty was established, consisting of

1779-

three judges, any two of whom are declared to be a sufficient member, to constitute a court, shall have jurisdiction in all maritime causes, except ...."

(Hening, Statues at Large, Vol. 10, p. 98)

1779-

The court shall sit so often as there shall be occasion, at the Capitol in Williamsburg, until the general assembly shall appoint another place, or at, or in such house or place as the governour ... shall by writ of adjournment direct, in case an accident by fire ... shall make it necessary.

(Ibid... p. 100)

BRICKWORK

The brickwork of the outer walls was laid in Flemish bond, having an appearance not unlike Williamsburg brickwork generally -- of the latter part of the eighteenth century. The workmanship is good; the glazed headers are definitely pronounced and highly glazed, possibly made more prominent in pattern by the cleaning of the wall in 1939. The brick size, 8-¾" x 4" x 2-¾", is near to an average brick size of the time.^* The red color of the brick seems to be slightly deeper and more uniform in shade than the older brickwork of Breton Parish Church. Comparison was made by carrying color fragments from one example to the other so as to avoid reliance solely on "eye-memory." The two examples are surprisingly alike in glazed header pattern. The brick bend of the Records Office if Flemish below as well as above the water table. This is rather exceptional since most early foundations are characterized by- their having brickwork laid with English bond.^** When all 26 interior walls were freed of plaster the inside walls from basement floor to roof were found to be faced with the usual English bond.

MAIN ENTRANCE DOORWAY

A chief attraction of the house is the main entrance doorway laid with "robbed" and "gauged" bricks.^* Rubbed brick mouldings with extremely thin foists form a pediment. This is supported over brick pilasters of smooth rubbed faces 14" wide. These pilasters had neither cap nor molded base and are joined together at the top by a flat arch of gauged brick. (See photographs, Vol. II, M411, N5748.) The flat arch span is 5'3 ¼", while the door opening is 4'-2" in width. Most of the brickwork of this doorway is old and original. Brickwork was repaired and repointed. The flat arch is new, following the same arch in kind as at Carter's Grove.^** The door frame and the eight-paneled wood door are new, the original door and its frame had disappeared. The molded frame and door were patterned after the Carter's Grove example.

CHIMNEYS

The two inside chimneys were well preserved and required only minor repairs and some repointing. The two stacks are alike and are what may be termed "clustered" because of the T shaped section, two or three smoke passages (funnels) are clustered so as to form the irregular 27 shape. Eleven courses of brickwork are used to produce the chimney cap. This is sloped at the top, with brickwork of slope and outside corners produced by use of rubbed bricks. A detail drawing of the chimney brickwork may be examined in the building section illustration of the report. (See index.)

MASONRY WORK FOR WINDOWS

Window openings, at the inside jambs, are splayed; use having been made of regular bricks cut on the job and plastered. The original window jambs were believed to have been plastered (with limited woodwork as trim). Our illustration, N6750, shows interior of the windows of the south-east corner. Here the plastered jambs start at top of a dodo or chair rail cap, 34 ½" above original floor. Plaster jambs in the north-east window were carried down to the floor. It was believed that the recess was of a date, subsequent to the first construction. The splay jamb as of the south-east corner window was carried out. (See fuller discussion of windows elsewhere.)

All arches over windows and the front doorway are flat, composed of gauged brick, laid with narrow joints and probably with white lead as mortar in place of oyster-shell mortar used elsewhere. Gauged brickwork appears lighter in color and in appearance is "finished." Rubbed bricks -- made smooth by having been rubbed with stone and sharp sand^* -- were used as trim at all angles of the building and of chimney stacks above the roof. The water table (45 degree angle slope) was fashioned to this smooth surface by the same rubbing process; 28 also sub-sills of windows and window jambs. Most of the robbed brick for the entire building was retained, as it was found in good condition. Jambs and pilaster faces at sides of doors were repaired with new brick. Some few new rubbed bricks were also required for the water table and window jambs.

All mortar for brickwork of walls was what is termed oystershell mortar, with evidences of partly calcinated shells and with a tan-to-gray color. The usual width of mortar joint was approximately ½". There is a local tradition confirmed by examination of joints of old work, that for gauged brickwork, ground marble dust was added to a thin lime or putty mortar^* to achieve a joint only slightly over 1/16 of an inch in thickness.

STONEWORK (STONE STEPS)

Archaeological excavations on the site of the Public Records Office revealed brick footings for semi-circular entrance steps. (Radius of lowest step is 8'-6".) (See illustration of footings, vol. I, Photo Files, N5743, N5744.) Fragments of stone steps were found at the time of the excavation. The stone was identified as "blue Shrosberry stone" and was similar to the stone advertised for, by John Fleeting to be used at the Capital.

Wanted about 280 feet of Purbeck, and 80 feet of blue Shrosberry Stone for completing the Piazzas of the Capitol at Williamsburg ....^*

The stone fragments that were found at the south side of the building also gave a clue to the nature of the steps design. The curve of the nosing and the scoring of the stone surface were reconstructed with exact duplication.

PAVING WITHIN OFFICE BUILDING. The floor within the office building (restored) was prepared as a concrete slab, to receive Purbeck flooring^** approximately 18" x 18" square at some future time when such stone can be imported. In order to make the building useable and more comfortable to the "life tenants", a temporary floor of rift-cut pine was laid in an east and west direction on 2" x 4" sleepers. (See architectural drawings for proposed stone floor design.)

A stone sill as threshold to the doorway of the building was also installed. Architectural Department examiners on the site observed no evidence of a mortised connection of doorframe and sill. The 30 condition of the brickwork at base of doorway and also of the wood door frame indicate a stone sill for this doorway opening.

^{See p. 48: sandstone (?). Stone for steps (see correspondence of Mr. ...[note illeg.]...K 9/46}

WOODWORK

CHIMNEYS, MANTELS, HEARTHS

The term chimney is understood to mean the whole structure of the flued fireplaces from base to top of building. In the public Records Office there are two chimney stacks of fair size. Each fireplace opening measures approximately 4'-0" in width and the same in height of fireplace opening. Their depth is uniformly 2'-0". The inside iambs of fireplace openings are straight-right angles and not sloped, in accord with most fireplaces of the mid-century. All of the fireplaces had been reduced in size by brickwork added through the years so as to obtain a size suited for a grate. There was a growing scarcity of firewood and an increasing use made of "Virginia coal" as fuel. The Palace, it may be recalled, provided for coal storage in one of the outbuildings. Humphrey Harwood, who had been kept busy during the 80's doing work on this building reported, "...March 15 [1786] To contracting Chimney in the Secretary's Office 10 ... :10: To 2 days Labour at 2/6 ... :5:" Other documentary references to chimney are: (January 5, 1786) "To makeing a fier place in Cellar of Secretary's office 7/6 ... :7:6 To 155 bricks at 3/ ... 2:6:6 same date To vaulting 3 Chimneys and Laying 3 harthes & 10 days labr. at 2/6 ... 3:8:0."

One fireplace connected with a chimney flue was found in the basement at the time of restoration at the west end of the building. It was apparent that it had been added as an alteration and was not original workmanship. We may, therefore, be quite certain that the entry of Harwood, "fier place in cellar," is fully supported by what 35 was found at the building. In adding this fireplace, Harwood built an arch over the fireplace which (as an arch) supported the hearth above. There were, therefore, only three fireplaces remaining that required vaulting and hearths - as noted above in Harwood's Ledger. The entries of Harwood were confirmed at the building and are complete in their accounting for all repairs to the fireplaces in his account with Walker Maury, entered in his ledger during 1784, 1785, and 1786.^*

Other fireplaces in the basement served merely as foundation support to fireplaces above.

All original fireplace mantels of the main floor had vanished so that, in restoring the building these had to be replaced with reproductions, using a contemporary example found in West St. Mary's Manor in Maryland. (See Photographic Files (Miscellaneous), Vol. IV, Architectural Department.) The two mantels of the middle room have a 5 ½" bolection mold, as a fireplace surround, while a simple torus mold with bead was used as the fireplace frame in the east and west rooms. All woodwork is of conventional yellow pine, mortised, tenoned and pegged together with 3/8" hand-shaped pegs.

All four brick fireplaces were carefully cleared of increments of brick lining, plaster and late mantel woodwork. They were then restored to a mid-eighteenth century appearance. Fireplace openings were designed with a low arch at the top, to be plastered. This arch slightly reduced the original opening. A wood block insert, in the brickwork, found when brick walls were stripped, determined with accuracy, the existence of the mantel and its height. No nailing blocks were discovered at the upper part of chimney breast, so that the absence of wood wall 36 paneling appeared to be confirmed.

PLASTERING

All interior masonry walls including partitions were plastered. A present-day plaster was used bat it was given a troweled oyster-shell lime surface. This was similar in appearance to old work. Masonry walls were first waterproofed with mastick before the first rough coat of plaster was applied. The insides of all fireplaces were plastered, retaining as much of original plaster as possible.

COLOR AND PAINT

HARDWARE

The hardware throughout the building is, in general, reproduction of colonial hardware of the second half of the 18th century. All of the original hardware of this building had vanished in the course of alterations by different tenants. Hardware for the time was determined by:

• (1)Hardware fragments (artifacts) found on the building site where excavations were carried on. These consisted of HL hinges, H hinges, parts of locks.
• (2)Evidence of lock and hinge types, advertised is the Virginia Gazette, 175-79.
• (3)Hardware examples in other contemporary buildings of Williamsburg -- more fortunate in the preservation of accessories, such as locks, catches, hinges, etc.

We are including herewith a copy of the Reproductions of Hardware Schedule used in the building.

LIFE TENANT

Miss Virginia Jones is the life tenant of the Public Records property (1945). To provide for household conveniences and for practical and comfortable living, the taro story addition, north-west of the Public Record Building, was reconditioned by refacing the exterior, adding modern plumbing, replastering, and by other additions and repairs. The details of these repairs and additions may be seen in the working drawing and specification files of the Department of Architecture, Colonial Williamsburg. When the property is later under the full control of Colonial Williamsburg, the wood addition is scheduled for removal.

CASES FOR STORING THE RECORDS

A collection of references would probably establish the manner in which "books, papers and records" were stored in the building. The mature of these "books, papers and records" is made somewhat clear by an act of May, 1779 establishing a hand office.^* Herein the nature of records kept in the Secretary's office was defined.

May 1779 - Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That an office shall be, and is hereby constituted for the purpose of granting lands within this commonwealth, into which all the records now is the secretary's office, of patents or grants for lands heretofore issued, with all papers and documents relating thereto, and all certificates of surveys of lands now is the said office, and not patented, shall be lodged for their safe keeping,...

Attempts to systematically care for the records is illustrated by the following document: 42

A Petition of Thomas Evarts was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the Burning of the Capitol, the Books and Papers belonging to the General Court and Secretary's office, were thrown together in great Disorder and intermixed with many of the Books and Papers belonging to the Council-Office and this House: That he was at very great Labour and Pains in sorting and separating the same; and praying that this House will make him such Satisfaction as is reasonable.^*

How the records were stored in the building intended for their preservation may be determined in part by the nature of the building plan. The absence of windows at the ends of the building suggests the provision of a blank wall against which books and records could be kept in cases, facing toward the fireplace. The prominence of the fireplaces is a hint of their use for drying the air - to counteract the dampness of summer as well as in winter. The Petition of John Carter,^** Secretary, in the year 1723, "for building a Chimney to his office" located in the Capitol "for the Preservation of the Records, many of which were like to be spoiled by Dampness of the Walls."^***

Just what these eases were like in their design needs to be made more definite by further investigation.^****

Here are items that seem to touch upon the manner of housing the Records.

September 28, 1777.

To ¼ day's Work of four Negroes in Removing Book-Cases from the Capitol to the Palace and Secretary's office. Virginia State Auditor's Papers, #184, Vouchers, 1777, 1778, Virginia State Library Archives.

Wednesday, July 18, 1781.

On requisition by letter from Mr. Beckley for assistance, in the removal of the public records to a place of security; the Board advise that the quarter Faster be directed to aid Mr. Coleman, who is entrusted by Mr. Beckley with the care of said records, in the procuring proper packages for them & furnishing waggons for their removal. Journal of the Council of the State of Virginia, vol. II, p. 327.

… where likewise may be had all Sorts of Blank Books, for accounts … Folio Paper cases, Pasteboard Files …Virginia Gazette, Hunter, Editor, Sept. 2, 1757.

OTHER RESEARCH

Since the building was used for a time and in part as an Admiralty Court, the room used for the court should be investigated. More information may be found at some time concerning the floor paving of the building as first built, also facts that may admit more light on the later uses of the building as a school, Female Academy, as office and residence of William T. Banks, Clerk of the Superior Court of Chancery for the Williamsburg District, and finally as a dwelling.

CHANGE OF NAME TO - THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE

Because of the uniformity of identification of this building during its colonial existence as The Secretary's Office, likewise the absence of any designation as the Public Records Office, other than to describe its use, it is suggested that the name of the building be changed to The Office of The Secretary of the Colony, or The Secretary's Office. See ^{page 1 (footnote)}.