Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

DIGEST OF DATA

Shop: Built prior to 1755 on corner lot 40 x 56, sold for£120 in 1759. In 1773 "commodious and well situated", a watchmakers shop, a printing office. Harwood accounts may apply see text. Story and half wooden house, dormers, 4 foot high brick foundation. Store and residence 1860. Burned.

NOTE
Colonial Lot #20

Since Mr. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" says this was a wooden building on a high brick foundation there are two possibilities; one is that the original store was brick and a wooden house was erected on the foundations later. It also is possible that the original building was of wood but was large and well constructed which would account for the large consideration always paid for it. Excavation should determine this point.

Beall's accounts in Harwood's ledger begin four years before he purchased the building but while he was a tenant in it. Tenants often repaired the building which they leased on long term leases.

When this building is wrecked the brick part should be preserved until an archaeologist has determined that it is not part of the older building.

The Research Department records show the following:

That the lot at the southeast corner of the Duke of Gloucester Street and Botetourt Street was owned in 1759 by James Tarpley, merchant, who purchased it from Henry Wetherburn, the famous tavern keeper whose famous tavern-now known as the Richard Bland house- stood just to the east of it.

After Tarpley's death his executors sold the lot "with the storehouse thereon" to Halcot and John and James Pride in 1767.

The Virginia Gazette for October 14, 1773 shows that James Hubard, merchant, rented this property at that date. In 1774 the store was a watch and clock makers shop, run by Robert Bruce and later in this same year it was rented to Alexander Purdie, who-having just ended his partnership with John Dixon-started to publish his own Virginia Gazette here. In 1782 James Pride, who still owned the lot and building, sold it to Alexander Purdie's executors who resold it the same year to Sam. Beall.

Mr. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" describes the building on this lot as it looked before 1870 as a very old wooden story-and-a-half house with dormer windows, one end of which-the end toward the Duke of Gloucester Street^{reversed [illegible] on Charles lt. B}-was used as a residence, while the other end was used as a store. Its second floor was reached by an outside staircase. He adds that the building was destroyed by fire.

Colonial Lot 20 - Purdie's Gazette
^{(Block 9)}

1759, Aug. 23, Henry Wetherburn sold to James Tarpley¹ a part of lot 20 on the south side of the Duke of Gloucester Street. The dimensions of the lot sold to Tarpley were 40' x 56'. The western boundary of Tarpley's lot was described as Street L.

Wetherburn, Henry and Anne, his wife - Tavern Keeper
to
Tarpley, James, Merchant
Consideration: 120 pounds Current Money of Virginia

A certain part or piece of a lot of ground belonging to the said Henry Wetherburn, situate, lying and being on the south side of the Main or Duke of Gloucester Street in the said city of Williamsburg, denoted in the plan of the said City by the figures 20, to begin at the Northwest corner of the said lot and thence to run eastwardly and along the line of the said lot on the said main street forty feet for front, thence southerly into the said lot 56 feet by a line parallel to the street marked in the Plan of the said city by the letter L thence westerly 40 feet a parallel line to the first course and thence northwardly along the west side of the said lot to the beginning.
And all buildings … (York County Records, VI, Deeds, 212.)

The street west of Lot 20 is marked "Botetourt", and "L" on the Unknown Draftsman's Map.

1767, May 18, Thomas Everard and David Jameson, executors of James Tarpley sold to Halcot, John, and James Pride, for 450 pounds, Lot 20 - the same dimensions and boundaries as in the deed from Wetherburn to Tarpley of 1759 - with the storehouse thereon. (York County Records, VII, Deeds, 284-286.)

1774, Dec. 8, (Virginia Gazette, Purdie & Dixon)

WILLIAMSBURG, December 1, 1774.

…
Immediately after Christmas, I shall begin doing Business for myself, and intend to print a GAZETTE as soon as I am furnished with a moderate Number of Customers … those in the City who incline becoming Subscribers will be kind enough to leave their Names at my Office, which is the House formerly occupied by Mess. Tarpley, Thompson, & Co. on the main Street, and adjoins Mr. Robert Anderson's Tavern.¹ . . .
Meanwhile, I have opened a large and valuable Collection of NEW BOOKS, amongst them a great Variety for the Use of Schools; which, together with a well chosen Parcel of MUSICK, for the Harpsichord, Violin &c and a Number of STATIONARY ARTICLES, will be disposed of on the easiest and very best Terms . . .
ALEXANDER PURDIE

1775, Jan. 14, (Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Hunter) AS I am now busily employed in fixing up my PRINTING OFFICE, the Materials for which I have just received from Philadelphia, the Publick may depend upon being furnished, in the first Week in February, with the VIRGINIA GAZETTE printed by
Their obedient humble Servant,
ALEXANDER PURDIE

The first issue of 1775 is dated February 3.

1775, Oct. 13, (Virginia Gazette, Alexander Purdie, Ed. Supplement.) The CONSTITUTIONAL POST being now established, all letters for the Northward, or that are to be forwarded to the different parts of this Colony, North or South Carolina, Georgia, &c. must be sent to my office, the Hon. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, esq; having been pleased to appoint me postmaster in Williamsburg, under the authority of the GENERAL CONGRESS.
ALEXANDER PURDIE

1776, May 17, Alexander Purdie, advertised books and writing paper for sale at the Constitutional Post Office in Williamsburg. (Virginia Gazette, Alexander Purdie.)

1776, June 28, Alexander Purdie, D[eputy?] Postmaster, was appointed by the Postmaster General of the Constitutional Post Office as the proper person to receive accounts of the following [post] offices … (Virginia Gazette, Alexander Purdie, Card #2299.)

1777, Mch. 28, (Virginia Gazette, Purdie [Hunter] & Dixon.)

WILLIAMSBURG, March 28, 1777.

The following Articles of Merchandise are for Sale at the Brick House next Door above Mr. Purdie's Printing Office, Wholesale or Retail, viz. PAPER, HATS, SHOES, LINEN, ready made SHIRTS, DRUGS and MEDICINES, best Bourdeaux WINE, and a great Variety of other Things, by
MILON & HORANCE.

1779, April 12, Alexander Purdie, will of:

April 12, 1779

…
I Give and devise to my Nephew John Clarkson one Mourning Ring of the value of Fifteen pounds sterling —

…
I give and devise to my Executors herein after named all the rest and residue of my Estate both real & personal to be sold by them …

…
I do hereby appoint my Friends John Minson Galt and Robert Anderson Executors of this my Will …

(York County Records, 22, Wills and Inventories, p. 419.)

1779, May 8, (Virginia Gazette, Dixon & Nicolson, Ed.)

To be SOLD to the highest bidder, for ready money, on Tuesday the 18th instant (May) at the late dwellinghouse of Mr. Alexander Purdie, deceased,
ALL his personal estate, consisting of a great variety of exceeding good household and kitchen furniture, 130 ounces of plate, two horses and saddles, a neat Italian riding chair and harness, and nine slaves, amongst them a carpenter, gardener, and cook. Also his printing materials and a few books. Likewise his dwellinghouse¹ and lots, and printing office, together with the unexpired lease of the adjoining house, used as a composing and press room. Possession of the dwellinghouse will be given the first of October, and the office immediately.

RO. ANDERSON, )

... J. M. GALT, ) Executors.

A deed quoted below shows that Purdie's executors sold Lot 20 to Samuel Beall, merchant, on June 20th, 1779. All deeds concerned with Lot 20 are quoted below:

September 17, 1782

Pride, James
James City County
to
Galt, John Minson ) Executors
Anderson, Robert ) Alexander Purdie.

This Indenture . . . between James Pride and John Minson Galt and Robert Anderson executors of the last Will and Testament of Alexander Purdie deceased on the other part for£600 current money of Virginia by the said Alexander Purdie in his lifetime to the said James Pride paid or caused to be paid the Receipt whereof the said James Pride doth hereby acknowledge and thereof acquit and discharge the said John Minson Galt and Robt Anderson their Executors and Administrators He the said James Pride hath granted bargained Sold aliened enfeoffed and confirmed and by these Presents doth grant bargain sell alien enfeoff and confirm unto the said John Minson Galt and Robt Anderson their Heirs and assigns forever all that piece or parcel of Land situate lying and being in the County of York and - [sic] on the Duke of Gloucester Street on the East by the Lott of Henry Nicholson on the South by the said Nicholsons Lott and on the West by by [sic] Pump Street being part of that Lott or parcel of Land denoted in the plan of the City of Williamsburg by the Figure or Number 20 and which said Piece or Parcel of Land was sold and . . . [sic] conveyed by Henry Wetherburn formerly of the City of Williamsburg to Messers Tarpley & Thompson of the said City Merchants and by the said Tarpley & Thompson sold to the said James Pride and all houses etc . . .

(York County Records, VI, Late eighteenth century records, Deeds, 139)

September 30, 1782

Galt, John Minson ) Executors
Anderson, Robert ) Alexander Purdie
to
Beall, Samuel - merchant
Williamsburg.
Consideration: 3000 Pounds.

All that piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the County of York, City of Williamsburg, being part of the lot or 6 half acre of land denoted in the plan thereof by the figures or numbers 20, and bounded on the North by the Duke of Gloucester Street, on the East by the lot of Henry Nicholson, on the South by the said Nicholson's lot, and on the West by Pump Street, being the parcel of land now in the possession of the said Samuel Beall, which was sold and conveyed by Messrs. Tarpley and Thompson, merchants to James Pride, and by the said Pride to John M. Galt and Robert Anderson, September 17, 1782.
All houses, buildings . . . (Ibid., p. 140)

[Oct. 21, 1782]

Indenture . . . between John Minson Galt and Robert Anderson Executors of the last Will and Testament of Alexander Purdie deceased in the City of Williamsburg of the one part and Samuel Beall of the said City Merchant of the other part . . . for£3000 paper Currency of Virginia by the said Samuel Beall to the said Executors in the Month of June, 1779 in the hand paid whereof the said John Minson Galt and Robert Anderson do hereby acknowledge and thereof acquit and discharge the said Samuel Beall his Executors and Administrators They the said Galt and Anderson have granted bargained sold aliened enfeoffed . . . that part of lot # 20 [boundaries same as in deed of September 17, 1782] now in the Tenure and Possession of the said Samuel Beall. (Ibid., p. )

In the twentieth century, Mr. Charles recalled the appearance of the house that stood on Lot 20 at the time of the Civil War:

A very old house stood, up to the seventies, at the north west corner of the square bounded by the Duke of Gloucester, Francis, Botetourt and Blair streets. This house bore every evidence of having been there in early colonial days. It was a story and a half wooden structure of moderate size, and was built on a brick foundation about four feet high, and had dormer windows. The end toward Duke of Gloucester street was used as a store, and the balance as a residence. It was destroyed by fire, and at that time, the upstairs was reached by steps on the eastern side of the house. The site of this old house is now occupied by Pender's store. (Recollections of Mr. John S. Charles, Typed notes in Research Department, p. 51.)