Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

In connection with your interest in the Market Place and Market Square in the City of Williamsburg, we have found in the Southall Papers a legal document dated April 6, 1842 which deals with the Market House for the City of Williamsburg.

This document is the claim of John E. Pierce for twenty-five dollars from the Corporation of Williamsburg, for his services in repairing a lock on the Market House door and for unlocking the Market every morning at daylight and locking it at ten o'clock every morning.

The date of this Market House is indeterminable; however, from other records we are sure that hucksters were allowed to drive their carts and wagons in their carts and wagons in this square and sell their country produce. In the middle of the eighteenth century a blacksmith shop, operated by the owner of the tavern east of the square (the present Raleigh Hotel), provided service for those who brought their horses and carts to the Market. When Peter Rob Donoufville took over the management of this tavern he continued to operate the blacksmith shop until almost the middle of the nineteenth century.

These points might be interesting to have in mind in the development of the Raleigh Hotel property and in the painting of the Market Square.

MARKET HOUSE
Block 12.
June 22, 1932.

DIGEST OF DATA

Market House: Markets were held regularly in Market Square from 1710 until 1865. There have been three market houses, first built about 1757. The Powder Horn was used intermittently after the Revolution as a market house until 1885, except from about 1828 to 1853 when a second market house was built. No architectural data. Records en tile of the brick market in Charleston, S. C. built 1765.

The Williamsburg Market

The Act of 1699 which transferred the capital of the colony of Virginia from Jamestown to Williamsburg provided "That his excellency the governor, or the governor or commander in chief of this his majesty's colony and dominion, for the time being, is hereby impowered and desired, by letters patents, under the seal of this his majesty colony and dominion, to grant unto the said city of Williamsburg, the liberty and privilege of holding and keeping such and so many markets and fairs, at such time and times, and upon such conditions, and under such limitations, as he shall think fit." [Hening's Statutes, Vol. III, p. 428]

Evidently the directors named in the act for the purpose of laying off the city of Williamsburg, set apart some of the present Market Square at the time that they divided the city into blocks and streets, for in the Act of 1705 which amended the former act, new directors were authorized "to enlarge the market-place, and to alter any of the streets or lanes thereof, where the same are found inconvenient…" [Ibid., p. 431]

In 1710, Lieutenant-Governor Spotswood called the attention of the Council to the need for market days to be established in Williamsburg. Spotswood's recommendation implies that the great number of people who were in Williamsburg for Court or Assembly were inadequately provided for.

Whereas the Governor was pleased to this day to acquaint the Council of the inconveniencys which he observed the Inhabitants of Williamsburgh and the people resorting thereto upon publick Occasions labour under for want of Markett for Provisions, And that for the more effectual remedying thereof he was inclined to appoint Weekly Markets to be held there, and asking the advice of the Council how the same may be best established. This Board are thereupon of opinion that the settling Weekly Markets at Williamsburgh will be a very great benefit to the said Town, and the Neighbouring Inhabitants, and a Conveniency to the People of the Country who have occasion to resort thereto And it is refer'd to the next Council to consider the proper methods for establishing the same.[Executive Journals of the Council, Vol. III, p. 251]

In 1713, Spotswood made a plea for a market house. This time his request went to the House of Burgesses. …And I wish you you Joyned in Opinion with me, that to Give Some Assistance to this Infant Town, towards building a Market House, bettering the Landings…[Journals of the House of Burgesses, 1712-1714 etc., pp. 47-48] Again no action was taken.

In 1720, the inhabitants of Williamsburg petitioned the Assembly to take steps toward building a market house, but their petition was rejected.

On consideration of the Petition of the Inhabitants of the City of Williamsburgh complaining of the Irregularitys of their principal Street and of the want of a Market house and the Inconveniency of the Publick Landings and representing That the Chief Church of this Colony wants Some necessary ornaments and praying for a Supply out of the Publick Treasury for those Uses.—

Resolved

That the sum of One hundred and fifty pounds be given towards making Bridges and Causeways in the Main street and that the Money be paid to M^r Speaker, M^r Clayton and Archibald Blair who shall See the Same applied and Account to the Assembly for the Same, and that the other matters in the Said Petition be rejected.—

[Ibid., p. 283]

In spite of this feeling that Williamsburg needed a market house-whether to attract hucksters or to give shelter to their products is uncertain-the records indicate a spasmodic interest. It is quite probable that the reason for failure to take any action was due to the fact that Williamsburg was a good market only at the "public times." At such times, the streets of Williamsburg and the market place, perhaps, were crowded with wagons full of products and vendors of fish, game, meats, vegetables, and fruits. However, the records are silent on this point. The fact that there are no advertisements for these articles in 3 The Virginia Gazette implies that they were not only for sale in the shops. Too, it must be remembered that most families had their own gardens and stock, either in Williamsburg or on their plantations and farms near by.

The charter incorporating Williamsburg in 1722, contains clauses providing for both markets and fairs:

…And further we of our Especial Grace, certain Knowledge, and meer motion, for us, our Heirs and Successors by these Presents, Give, and grant, to the said Mayor, Recorder, Alderman and Common Councilmen of the said City and to their Successors, for ever, full and free Licence, Power & Authority to have, hold, and keep two markets weekly in some convenient place in the said City, to be by them appointed (that is to say) on every Wednesday and every Saturday, in the week; and also two Fairs yearly…And we do for us and our Successors give and grant to the said Mayor, Recorder, and Alderman and Common Council and to their Successors for ever, all and every the Tole Profits, and Perquisites, arising, due or incident from or to the said Markets, Fairs, and court of Pipouder, …[William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. X(1), pp. 89-90]

There are few records that tell of the use made of the market Square. When the news of the victory of the Duke of Cumberland over the Scottish rebels in the battle of Culloden reached Williamsburg,

"…All the Houses in the City were illuminated, and a very large Bon-fire was made in the Market-pace, 3 Hogs-head of Punch given to the Populace; and the whole concluded with the greatest Demonstrations of Joy and Loyalty."[Virginia Gazette, Parks, July 18, 1746]

No doubt the lost records of the city would clear up the mystery of the market house, and perhaps the question of whether or not hucksters were attracted to Williamsburg. Plans were made in 1757 to build a market house. A notice in the Virginia Gazette reads as follows:

The Gentlemen appointed by the Common Hall of the City of Williamsburg, will meet on Tuesday next at the House of Mr. Henry Wetherburn, at Six O'Clock in the Evening, in order to agree with a Carpenter for building a Market-House in said City.[William Hunter, editor, April 22, 1757]

That there was some sort of market house in use thereafter is evident from an act of the Assembly in January, 1764:

…That it shall and may be lawful for the mayor, recorder alderman, and common-council, of the said city of Williamsburg, for the time being, in common-hall assembled, to levy and assess by the poll, on the 4 tithable persons inhabiting within the said city, all such sum and sums of money as shall be sufficient for defraying the charges and expenses of building a court-house, market-house, and prison…

And for the more equal and impartial assessment of such taxes, It is hereby further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That the said Mayor, recorder, aldermen, and common council, in common hall assembled, shall and may, as often as occasion shall require, order and direct the inhabitants of the said city to deliver in lists of their tithables to the clerk of the court of Hustings of the said city, within such time as they shall appoint, but not less than one month at the least, who shall forthwith cause a copy of such order to be fixed up at the doors of the church, court-house, and market house, of the said city; …

[Hening's Statutes, Vol. VIII, pp. 21-22]

A letter to the editors of the Virginia Gazette in 1768 contains information about the market that is equally tantalizing. In view of the above law, "market" must refer to a definite house rather than to the various shops.

July 7, 1768

To the PRINTER
SIR,
In all well regulated cities and towns the utmost regard is paid to the health and circumstances of the inhabitants, by those in power enacting such laws as deter butchers, bakers, &c. from exposing any thing to sale but what is good in quality, and at a certain fixed rate. We of the good town of Williamsburg, metropolis of Virginia! Have but too much reason to complain of being neglected in those particulars; for here meat for poverty not fit to eat, and sometimes almost spoiled, may hang in our market for hours, without any notice being taken of the venders of it; and any person may ask what price for his commodity that his conscience will allow him, which is generally exorbitant enough, especially on publick times, or when little meat is at market. And if a man has not got money enough to purchase a whole quarter of meat, the butcher generally demands a penny a pound extraordinary to cut it. In the same manner we are treated about all other provisions, the feller always taking advantage when in his power. In Norfolk, I have heard that the markets are so regulated there that good meat must only bear such a price as the Magistrates think reasonable; and the butcher is obliged to cut his meat upon a farthing a pound being paid more than he demands the quarter. An example worthy of imitation.— And the 5 Bakers are suffered to make their bread of what weight they think proper, and to put such unwholesome ingredients into it, and make it of such bad flower, as must be very prejudicial to the health of those who eat it. At this very juncture the bread they bake daily, and sell to the inhabitants, justly entitles them to the pillory, if they had their desserts. A good heavy fine, in all likelihood, would put a stop to their iniquitous practices, so detrimental to the inhabitants…
TIMOTHY TELLTRUTH

[Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon]

The German traveller, Johann D. Schoepf found provisions in Williamsburg very cheap in 1783-84. He wrote: "Provisions are very cheap: butcher's meat 2 pence; hog meat 3 pence the pound; a turkey-cock 2 and a half shillings; a turkey-hen 1 shillings; a dozen pullets 6 shillings." [Johann David Schoepf, Travels in the Confederation, 1783-1784, edited by Alfred J. Morrison, 1911, p. 81] ¹

The most definitive information about the market house and its products comes at the end of the century in a description of Williamsburg in 1795 by a resident, apparently St. George Tucker. He described the public buildings as "The hospital for lunatics, a church, the town and county court house, magazine, now occupied as a market house…" [William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. II (1), pp. 195-196] The author further says that "The Market, though not very regular, nor well supplied, yet furnishes excellent meats and poultry in their season. They have also fish, crabs, oysters, wild fowl, and excellent butter, vegetables, and fruits."

Just why the powder magazine was used as a market house cannot be ascertained. Several theories are offered for conjecture: The market house built c. 1757 was a wooden one and was burned. Or perhaps after capital was moved to Richmond, and there were no longer "public times", the house gradually rotted away due to disuse. Since the magazine was no longer needed for arms and 6 Ammunition after the Revolution, it could be used as a market.²

An account of 1820 shows that there was a place still being used as a market house in Williamsburg. It reads as follows:

December, 1820

Market House dr to Merchandise
1 pad lock for inner door 1.00. 1 stove for $10…$11
putting up stove 1.00 repairing walk &c 1.99…2.

[Ro. Anderson's Day Book, 1819-1822, No. 8, p. 37]

One writer as asserted that Williamsburg had a new market house in 1835. As this information is found in a Gazetteer, it should not be accepted until further research confirms his statement.³ He describes Williamsburg as "pleasantly laid out in parallel streets with a pleasant square."

On April 6, 1842, John E. Pierce's claim on the corporation of Williamsburg for $25. was presented to the Common Council held in Williamsburg. The body "Resolved that John E. Pierce be directed to procure a lock for the market house and to repair the door, and to unlock the same for market purposes every morning at day light, and to lock it at Ten O'clock A.M.—"Resolved that the said John E. Pierce be allowed the sum of Twenty-five dollars per annum as a compensation for the services required of him." [Mss. Southall Papers, William and Mary College]

The editor of the Williamsburg Weekly Gazette was in entire sympathy with the city ordinances concerned with the regulation of the market that was 7 to be kept in the Powder Magazine. The contents of his articles imply that this was a new of the "Horn" in 1857:

Oct. 7, 1857

Market Exercises. On Thursday last, the market exercises commenced. The Marketonians opened the meeting and seemingly without the least dispostion to chant or give gloria inexcelsis to the fathers for having so kindly considered their comfort and interest by having the relishable Horn minus mint and whiskey fixed for them on that morning. This Horn will be neatly prepared every day at sunrise under the direction of a clerk. The Horn however will prove a source of revivification to more than vendors of meat-even our citizens are allowed to participate in its comforts, all they have will have to do, will be to walk up to the Powder Horn and help themselves. On that morning we were present and never before did raw heads and bloody bones' present so little of the frightful. The dead meats we there saw were very nice and tempting, sufficient to excite the palate of the most luxurious epicure.

[Williamsburg Weekly Gazette, J. H. Ewing, editor]

The violators of these ordinances were the subject of a later sharp protest:

Forestalling. The market ordinance has been duly adopted by those you have put in office; you have said privately and publicly that those market laws were wholesome, a great convenience to our citizens, and still some of you will act the petty, the small potato. How hypocritical! O how abominable! Why don't you attend the market! and stop running out at either end of the town every morning, waylaying the hucksters. This is unfair 'tis dishonest. To engage the articles being brought to the market, you take the advantage of the honest man at the market house. This you have no right to do for tis a violation of the market, and when known is punished by fine. We make these remarks to warn hoping you will abstain from further underhandness, if not, surely an example must be made of you! [Ibid., October, 1857]

Apparently, the Magazine was still being used as the market house about the time of the Civil War. The reminiscences of a venerable citizen indicate that

The old "Powder Horn" looks much like it did in the "long ago". According to the writer's recollection, this historical structure had two stories, or floors; the lower front door was on a level with the ground, and the upper 8 floor was reached by a flight of steps, built on the eastern side of the lower floor. The upper floor was used as a church by the Baptists, before they built their present church, while the lower floor was being used as a market house before the War, and afterwards used as a stable until it was brought and restored to its present condition by the A.P.V.A. [Powder Magazine Notes, p. 111]

18.28