Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

MRS. CAMPBELL'S TAVERN-SECOND THEATRE
Analysis of Research and Archaeological Evidence
Lots 21 and 22, Block 7

Documentary evidence clearly shows that this was the site of a Play House in 1751. Alexander Finnie, Tavern Keeper (Raleigh Tavern), solicited Play House construction subscriptions in the Virginia Gazette on August 29, 1751;¹ he purchased the lots (21 and 22) from Benjamin Waller on September 2, 1751 for 40 pounds current money of Virginia;² the "Company of Comedians" solicited additional subscription funds for "scenes and dresses" in the Virginia Gazette of October 24, 1751;³ and the Virginia Gazette ran the following announcement in the September 26, 1751 edition:

"September 26, 1751.
"By Permission of His Honour the PRESIDENT,
"ON Monday the 21st of October next, will be perform'd, at the new Theatre, in Williamsburg: The Tragical History of King Richard the Third; to which will be added, a Grand Tragic Dance, compos'd by Monsieur Denoier, call'd the Royal Captive, after the Turkish manner, as perform'd at His Majesty's Opera House, in the Hay-market." (Virginia Gazette, William Hunter, ed.)

The Play House was open again in the 1752 "season" by the Lewis Hallam company which arrived in Williamsburg in July 1752 and materially improved the Play House, "so altering it as to make it a regular house."⁴ The Lewis Hallam company purchased the building from Finnie on August 8, 1752 for 150 pounds 10 shillings current money of Virginia⁵ and altered it "…to a regular theater, fit for reception of ladies and gentlemen…"⁶

By May 19, 1753 the Hallam company had run badly into debt and Lewis Hallam transferred title to the property to John Stretch (Printer) for 5 shillings as security for the debts until October 1754¹ and apparently had no intention of paying for they left Williamsburg in the fall of 1753.² No evidence has been found of theatrical performances on this site after 1753.

On September 16, 1754 Benjamin Waller repossessed the property on the basis that his original conditions of sale to Finnie had not been met, namely: "…that if the said Alexander Finnie, his Heirs or Assigns should not within the space of three years next ensuing the date of the said indentiture build and finish on the said pieces or parcels of land, two dwelling houses each twenty feet in length and sixteen width with brick chimneys thereto or one good dwelling house… twenty feet in width and fifty feet in length with a brick chimney to front… the said pieces or parcels of land should be immediately reinvested in Benjamin Waller…"³

Waller, in the same instrument, conveyed the property to John Stretch for 10 pounds 15 shillings current money upon the following condition: "…that if the said John Stretch…shall not within the space of three years next…build and finish upon the said pieces parcels or land hereby bargained and sold to him one good dwelling house containing twenty feet in width and fifty feet in length at the least a brick chimney there to the said house to front with the row of lots in which it stands at a distance of six feet from the extreme western bounds of the said lots…"⁴

Research has not disclosed the exact use to which the property was put for the next few years, but on October 10, 1755 the following notice appeared in the Virginia Gazette:

"To be seen and heard, at the late Play House, in Williamsburg, that elaborate and celebrated Piece ofMechanism, call'dthe
MICROCOSM,
or
THE WORLD IN MINIATURE:"¹

It appears that Stretch improved the property in accordance with Waller's conditions of sale since it was not again repossessed by Waller but was sold back to Finnie on April 22, 1757, for 40 pounds sterling secured to and for John Stretch during his natural life, described "…With all Houses…Gardens…"²

The hastily built (albeit improved) Play House or Theater seems to have been altered into a dwelling, demolished, or have been removed from the site, for improvements are now "Houses"… "Gardens" rather than "appurtenances" and Finnie sold to Nathaniel Walthoe on December 15, 1757 for 450 pounds current money of Virginia³ the property having increased about 440 pounds in value in three years.

It seems reasonable to suppose that the Play House ceased to exist on Lots 21 and 22 around this date in spite of the absence of specified documentary evidence because a Play House on Capitol Square was referred to as "The OLD THEATRE near The Capitol" in 1768.⁴ (It might be called "old" after about 10 years) On May 17, 1768 William Page, who kept the Blue Bell Tavern on the north side of the "Exchange" north-east of the Capitol, advertised in the Virginia Gazette (Rind ed.) as follows: 4

"The subscriber hereby informs his friends and the public, that gentlemen may be provided with good lodgings for themselves, and good stables for their horses, at his house, fronting the play house."¹

The phrase "fronting the play house" seems clearly to refer to the property transferred by this following deed, dated June 6, 1780, Samuel Major to John Draper, consideration 600 pounds, "One piece, parcel or lot of land situate lying and being in the city of Williamsburg whereon the Old Play House lately stood, containing 35 feet in length and 30 feet in breadth, and bounded by James Moir's line, in the Capitol Square and the street and all houses, out houses, etc…"²

Another pertinent record is that found in the ledger of Humphrey Harwood, B, p. 88: account of James Moir "1787 January 26, by Old Bricks in the play House…6.0.0"

There many records of the activity of Major, Draper, and Moir in connection with property on Capitol Square (which the Blue Bell fronts), but more adjacent to colonial lots 21 and 22. (across Waller Street)

The property, Houses and Gardens (on lots 21 and 22) purchased by Walthoe on December 15, 1757 were owned by him until 1774 (then sold To Mrs. Campbell). No records have been found to indicate its occupancy or use until 1765 on Duke of Gloucester Street.

In 1765 the house was rented by Mrs. Jane Vobe who had been maintaining it as a Tavern as is shown by the following excerpt from Governor Fauquier's letter to the Board of Trade and Plantations, November 3, 1765:

Wmsburgh Nov^r 3^d 1765.

"…I then thought proper to go to the Coffee house, (where I occasionally sometimes go) which is situated in that part of the Town which is call'd the Exchange, tho' an open street, where all money business is transacted.

5

…They [the crowd] follow'd him (Colonel Mercer) to the Coffee House, in the Porch of which I had seated myself with many of the Council and the Speaker who had posted himself between the Crowd and myself…"¹

There are many references in the letters and diaries of travellers establishing Mrs. Vobe's occupancy and on July 25, 1771 she advertised all of her household and kitchen furniture for sale² and later that she intended to leave the colony in a few weeks.³

The Houses and Gardens on lots 21 and 22 were then rented by Mrs. Christianna Campbell who advertised in the Virginia Gazette on October 3, 1771, the opening of a "…Tavern in the House behind the Capitol, lately occupied by Mrs. Vobe…"⁴

Mrs. Campbell kept the Tavern or Coffee House from this time until her death in 1792. It was often frequented by Washington who in his diary and accounts refers to dining and lodging therein. He also made frequent reference to attendance at plays and concerts from Mrs. Campbell's Tavern. She purchased the property (lots 21 and 22) for 589 pounds 10 shillings from Marmillod Walthoe (heir of Nathaniel Walthoe) on January 5, 1774.⁵

The removal of the Capitol to Richmond reduced Tavern trade to the extent that Mrs. Campbell refused guests in 1783.⁶

The house continued to be used as a residence on various ownerships until it burned in 1859 as is shown by land tax and insurance records.⁷

Archaeological evidence confirms the documentary evidence; Benjamin Waller sold the property to John Stretch on the condition "one good Dwelling House containing twenty feet in width and fifty feet in length at the least a brick chimney thereto" be erected within three years. He did not repossess the property. Insurance policies show a building variously described as 24 x 60, and 25 x 60 and foundations were found in the ground which measure 23 feet by 58 feet 9 inches.

East of the foundations of the Coffee Shop (presumed) on the west end of lots 21 and 22 was found a triangular arrangement of 9 inch brick walls. These bricks are of a different size than any found in the principal foundation, and are not laid as were chimney foundations. Research and study of the remains has not revealed the original purpose of this work, it does not relate to the Coffee Shop and cannot be construed to have been a part of the Theatre.

No conclusive archaeological evidence remains on lots 21 and 22 of the hastily built Play House. but there is evidence that a building with a partial basement (which could have been "a pit") existed southeast of the capitol across the "Exchange" from the Blue Bell Tavern.

^{On the Moire lot, southeast of the capitol and across the "exchange" from the Blue Bell Tavern, archaeological investigation revealed evidence of an excavation approximately 16ft by 38ft and 3 to 4ft deep. Such an excavation might have been made for a theater pit, but pits were usually square rather than rectangular in shape.}