Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

COLONIAL LOT #18
Block 10 - Sites 12, 13, 14.
January 7, 1932.

A house, probably of brick, was erected on this site before November 16, 1723 at which time Thomas Ravenscroft sold this colonial lot #18 with #19 and all houses for £ 200 to Cole Digges.

Dudley Digges (son of Cole) allowed Dr. Kenneth McKenzie to build a shop on his lot. This shop was probably west of the brick house on lot #18 and adjoining lot #17 which in 1745 belonged to the estate of Mrs. Joanna Archer and was leased by Dr. McKenzie.

This shop was an apothecary shop according to the Virginia Gazette:

1745/6 - January 23 (William Parks, Ed.) Just imported, from London, by the subscriber, in Williamsburg, A Considerable Quantity of choice Medicines, Chemical and Galenical, truly prepared; which are to be Sold reasonably, by
Kenneth Mackenzie.

Dr. McKenzie died in 1755 and Dudley Digges on July 21 of that year for five shillings and a yearly rent of £ 2 leased the shop to James Currie, a wig maker, with the following privilege:

1755 - July 21 (Book 6 - Deeds) Whereas the said Dudley Digges and James Currie have come to the following agreement that he the said Dudley Digges will grant a lease of the ground whereon, the said shop stands with an addition of ten feet more for the whole length thereof for the conveniency of building a shed to hold to the said James Currie or assigns for 14 years.

By a deed not recorded in York County, but referred to in a later deed, Digges sold lots #18 and #19 to William Withers, a merchant.

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William Withers on November 18, 1760 sold lot #18 and all "buildings, gardens and ways" for £ 350 to William Holt, merchant. At this time it was in the tenure of Mrs. Christianna Campbell, a famous tavern keeper. Evidently the building and the shop covered so much of the lot that he deeded a 2½ foot passage along the eastern boundary of lot #19 which he also owned.

In October 22, 1767 a merchant advertised a large assortment of dry goods for sale in the "large brick house nearly opposite the post office". This would be the brick house on #18 as Dr. Carter's house an #19 was so designated. The merchant was probably William Holt the owner of the lot.

The building was used as a tavern after this time according to the Virginia Gazette:

1771 - March 7 (Purdie & Dixon, Eds.) WILLIAM R. DRINKARD begs Leave to inform the Publick that he intends to open TAVERN in the House lately occupied by Mr. William Holt; nearly opposite the Post Office, by the ensuing April Court. Those Gentlemen who please to favour him with their Custom may depend on good Accomodation.

The following Virginia Gazette advertisement does not mean, necessarily, that the tavern was succeeded by a shop as many small shops were kept in corner rooms of taverns:

1774 - October 6, (Purdie & Dixon, Eds.) PATRICK BEECH, At the Brick Shop opposite Mr. Turner's Store, WILLIAMSBURG,
Begs Leave to inform the Publick, that he makes and sells all Sorts of Gold, Silver, and Jewellery Work, after the newest Fashions, and at the lowest Prices, for ready Money only. Those who are pleased to favour him with their Commands, may depend upon having their Work done in the neatest Manner, on the shortest Notice...

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During the nineteenth century this property was owned by Robert E. Griffith who insured it on June 15, 1815. A tracing of the original policy accompanies this report.

The following letter, written by Robert Anderson, an agent of the insurance society, to Griffith refers to this house:

1815 - August 4th - Williamsburg, Virginia.
[Letter to Mr. Robert B. Griffith, Philadelphia]

...I avail myself of the opportunity which the return of Mr. Andrews to the north presents, to reply to your communication of the 20th Oct last by the gentleman, and to inform you of the disposition which I have made of your house and lot in this place. The tenant of the past, has taken for the present year, a portion of the house at forty dollars. I have, however, according with my engagements to him, had some repairs put on the lot which amounted to $46.37... Some other repairs are now necessary... I have not been able to rent out the balance of the house--its confined yard (there being no outlet except through the dwelling) being a great inconvenience... The house is ensured in the Mutual Assurance Society of Va. (I believe for $800), and that Society has claims for annual quotas of $4 8/100 ea for 1813, 14, & 15...

Mr. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" says of the house in this section at the time of the Civil War:

"There were, when the War began, no more houses on this square fronting on Duke of Gloucester Street; but instead there were immense brick gable-ends of houses that bad long since been destroyed by fire. These foundations were often filled with water that afforded the small boys rare sport-boating in the summer and skating in the winter."