Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

A - KITCHEN.

The oldest of these two foundations, the one labeled "A" on the archaeological drawing, was of a building 12'-2" in width. The exact length could not be determined on account of the north wall having been completely destroyed when a 16' x 16' addition, with basement, was added at an undetermined time to the rear of the Taliaferro-Cole Shop. The remains of two adjoining fireplace foundations (a-1 and a-2) were found near the center of this building. The largest fireplace (a-1) was 5' in width and faced north into a room with a brick paved floor. The size of this fireplace in comparison with the size of the building seems to be strong evidence that this portion of the building was used for cooking purposes. Many pieces of broken china and fragments of meat bones were found in and around this area; a condition that is typical in the vicinity of old kitchens. Back of the large fireplace is a smaller fireplace (2'-6" wide and 18" deep), which faces south into what was originally 2 a 10'-0" x 11'-6" room. It is a reasonable assumption that this part of' the building was used as a laundry and the small fireplace was for heating water for washing purposes. In further support of this theory there was found the remains of a well, so constructed that it opened into a fairly large brick drain tunnel. This was located just 4'-0" from the southwest corner of the building foundation. It appears that this drain opening was built to receive large quantities of water dumped from large vessels such as tubs or buckets as a supplement to its use as a storm sewer. This area has very good natural drainage towards the south to a ravine which is only 50' to the rear of the property.

A sketch that accompanies an insurance policy, dated July 5, 1815, shows a 48' x 12' kitchen built in the rear of and adjoining the then existing 27' x 18' shop. The Frenchman's map made in 1782 - 86 shows the two buildings not joining; therefore, it appears that these two buildings were supposedly connected sometime between 1782 and 1815. If this connection was made between the kitchen and the original shop, the building would be 42' in length instead of 48' as stated on the insurance sketch. At the same time it is possible that there would have been a 6' error in measuring.

B - OUTBUILDING

Overlapping the south part of Foundation "A" and built on a slight fill was found the fragmentary remains of an outbuilding constructed after the kitchen had been demolished. The original dimensions of this foundation were 14'-6" x 14'-0", being very 3 roughly constructed of salvaged bricks.

C - BRICK DRAIN AND DRAIN OPENING.

The drain-opening located near the southwest corner of the Foundation "A" opens into a large well constructed brick vault-drain. Both appear to have been built at the same time as the brickwork of both is bonded together. The drain has its beginning at a well which is located about center and partly under the west wall of the original lean-to on the Taliaferro-Cole Shop. It runs southward to the ravine and according to its size, is capable of carrying a fairly large volume of water. It may be stated that the drain openings could have originally had an iron gate placed slightly below the then existing grade, but no evidence of this was found. The top courses of brick had completely disintegrated.

D - PROBABLE CHIMNEY LOCATION.

A fill of approximately 18" deep and roughly 4'-0" x 5'-0", was found about 15' south of foundation "B". It contained mostly brick bats and fragments of shell mortar.

Many of the bats were burnt on one side showing strong evidence that they may have been used in a chimney at one time. Nothing was uncovered to prove definitely that this was a chimney location. The width and thickness, also color, of the bats was the 4 same as in foundation "A".

It may be that this fill was dumped here after the good bricks were salvaged from the kitchen chimney. Just northwest of this fill was found a thin layer of wood ashes which suggest the bare possibility of having accumulated around a hearth. This layer of ashes was almost surrounded by a thin layer of shell mortar at approximately the same elevation. (See archaeological drawing.)

E - OUTBUILDING FOUNDATION.

Just south of D were uncovered fragmentary remains of a 26'-0" x 12'-6" outbuilding foundation. Salvaged bricks of several sizes and many bate were used in its construction. The bond was more or less English while the mortar was composed of yellow sand and lime. From the general appearance of this foundation it was probably built about the middle of the 19th century and was used as a stable or shed more so than living quarters. No chimney foundation was found.

To the west of this foundation is a 15' x 20' area of crushed brick which ranges from 1 to 9" in thickness. It was probably placed here as a rough paving to keep this area from getting muddy or washing during heavy rains.

F - EXISTING BRICK SMOKEHOUSE.

This building is of modern construction although it is said to have been built on an old foundation. The footing was exposed in several places, but no indications of older brickwork were found. The south end of foundation "E" was destroyed when this smokehouse was built which probably originated the idea that it was built on an earlier 5 foundation wall.

G - MODERN OUTBUILDING FOUNDATION.

Nine feet west of the existing smokehouse were uncovered eight brick piers of modern construction which originally supported 15' x 24' modern outbuilding. The brick sizes varied slightly and appear to have been salvaged from an earlier foundation.

H - SMOKEHOUSE.

Twenty-seven feet southwest of the Taliaferro-Cole shop there was located an 8'-2" x 8'-2" outbuilding foundation which was originally used as a smokehouse. This foundation was constructed mostly of bats with whole bricks used in the corners. The wall thickness averaged 9" with the bottom course having a 4" to 5" spread-footing only on the inside of the wall. The outside of the wall was flush and did not have a spread footing. The considerable amount of wood ashes found in the center was definite proof that this was a smokehouse.

The remains of a marl walk, running east and west, overlapped this foundation at a depth of 4" below the present grade. This walk was made many years after the smokehouse had been demolished or moved from this site. Since the Frenchman does not show it on his map, it is possible that this building existed prior to 1782.

I - EARLY BASEMENT FILL.

Just to the east of the existing Taliaferro-Cole House was located a rectangular fill which was at a depth of approximately 6'- 6" below the present grade. The east limit of this fill was 2 twenty-five feet from the existing Taliaferro-Cole House, while the west limits could not be determined with exactness but appeared to have been overlapped by the present house. The width was 17' and set back a distance of 7' from the south line of Duke of Gloucester Street.

Only about half of this fill was removed, but enough to determine the size and original construction of what appeared to have been an early basement. The only foundation walls found at this time in relation to this fill were located near the southeast and southwest corners. The short section of foundation found near the southeast corner were the remains of a 9" wall which was at a depth of 2' below the present grade and appeared to have originally been constructed for a building without a basement. In the southwest corner was a short section of 13½" wall with a footing elevation the same as the bottom of the fill. This wall ran under the present Taliaferro-Cole House and threw light on the possibility of finding additional evidence pertaining to this site. Several months later when the cement basement floor of the existing house was torn up, the remains of an 18th century basement fireplace as well as the bottom portion of the basement steps were discovered. This proved definitely that the fill was that of an early basement. Since the Frenchman's map does not show anything on this site, it appears as though this building existed and was demolished prior to 1782.

The debris which came from the fireplace was composed mostly of wood ashes, black earth and broken ale bottles. The rest of the fill consisted of black earth mixed with many brick bats and shell mortar fragments, also a few scattered pieces of broken china and 3 fragments of ale bottles. Some beef bones and a layer of oyster shells were found at the bottom of what was probably the original basement floor.

There is fairly good evidence that the building on this site did not originally have a basement under it but that it was dug at a later date when the fireplace and steps were added. The short section of wall near the southeast corner probably supported the building before and also after the basement was dug.

No evidence of brick sidewalks or floor paving was found.

K - LAUNDRY.

Twenty feet south of the oldest part of the Taliaferro-Cole House were uncovered the remains of an early 16'-2½" x 12'-½" outbuilding -which in all probability was built for a laundry. In the southwest corner was a 6'-1¾" inside fireplace, facing east, which had the fragmentary remains of a brick underfire. An area of brick paving in front of the fireplace showed evidence that the inside of the building was originally paved. The foundation wall was constructed of bats and had a thickness of 4" with the exception of the corners which were 9½" thick. From the general appearance of this foundation, it looked as if the original building stood on brick piers, which were connected by 4" brick wall. At the northeast and southeast corners were found indications of an addition that had 4 been built to the east. It was not possible to determine the length on account of the earth having been disturbed during the construction of a modern wing to the rear of the Taliaferro-Cole House.

There is no record of anything having been on this site and the Frenchman's map does not show a building here which makes it seem possible that this building existed prior to 1782.

The remains of brick walks of a later colonial period were found overlapping this foundation. This walk ran from the rear addition which was added to the original Taliaferro-Cole House and evidently was built after the laundry had been demolished.

L - KITCHEN

Approximately 21' South of the laundry were found the remains of the kitchen foundation. This was a 20'-2¼" x 18'-2¼" building with an outside chimney which centered on the south end. Just west of the chimney was fragmentary evidence of what appeared to have been a warming oven. Only a small portion of the wall existed, but traces of brick fragments and shell mortar indicated that it was built adjoining the chimney.

On the north end at the northwest corner was a small rectangular addition. Its dimensions were 9'-3" x 8'-6" and was probably built slightly later than the kitchen. Possibly it was used as a storage closet or pantry. The bricks were the same size and color as those used in the rest of the foundation.

Inside of the kitchen foundation was on 8½" brick wall which paralleled the south foundation wall at a distance of 3'0". Inside of this area was a level layer of crushed brick which are evidently the remains of floor paving across the south end of the building. This also served as a hearth in front of the fireplace. No evidence of brick paving was found in the rest of the kitchen.

The only fragments found on this site were a few broken pieces of 18th and 19th century china.

M - BLACKSMITH SHOP

South of the kitchen, at a distance of 35'-0", were uncovered the remains of what appeared to have been the site of a blacksmith shop or forge. The only foundation wall found was a part of the north end and northwest corner. Its thickness was 17½" which evidently supported a brick structure. A fill of bats and shell mortar determined the location of the west wall which previously had been removed. This was in line with the west end of the Taliaferro-Cole House and Kitchen, and approximately 2'-7" east of the Nassau Street line. No evidence of the south or east wall existed, therefore, it was not possible to determine its exact width and length.

Inside of this foundation, about 5'-6" from the north end was found a 2'-7" circular depression, filled with coal dust and rusty iron slugs and scraps. This was probably where the wooden block which supported the anvil was located, the depression in the earth being caused by continuous hammering and later filled up with debris 6 after the block was removed.

Many small pieces of rusty iron were found scattered around in this area confirming the supposition of its use as the shop of a Smith and carriage-maker. There were only a few pieces of broken china or glass found.

N - OUTBUILDING.

South of the forge or blacksmith shop was uncovered the southwest corner of a building foundation which showed evidence of having been built at a slightly later period than the other foundations previously mentioned. Its thickness was 8½" with brick sizes the same as the forge. The remainder of this foundation, including the other three corners, had been completely destroyed. According to its location and general characteristics it appears to have been an addition to the south side of the forge.

O - OUTBUILDING

Two feet south of foundation "N" were the remains of still another early outbuilding. Only part of the north and west wall including the northwest corner existed. The other three corners and walls evidently were destroyed during the construction of a later building on this site. As the west wall approached the south end, the footing elevation stepped down to compensate for the slope or 7 hillside on which it was built. It may be noted that just to the north is the head of a ravine which runs east from Nassau Street. The remainder of this foundation had been destroyed and all evidence of its original location disappeared.

P - OUTBUILDING

This foundation is of a much later construction and was built to support a second structure on this site. This later building overlapped the two previously mentioned foundations - N and O -as well as a privy foundation at the southeast corner. The south wall was built along the slope of the ravine and was evidently built in the same location as the original south wall of foundation "O". It may be noted that this wall leans considerably to the south on account of being undermined by rains, etc.

Several sections of the east wall, including the northeast corner, were found which proved that the building which rested on this brickwork was 35'-0" x 18'0" and not colonial.

Q & R - PRIVIES

Remains of two early privy foundations were found east of foundation "P". The west end of one of the foundations acted as a support for the southeast corner of the late building P previously mentioned.

The size of this outbuilding was 10'-2¼" x 5'-9" and had a wall thickness of 13½". Only the south and west wall existed with what appeared to have been a 3'-4" opening on the west.

To the east, at a distance of 23'-6", were uncovered the remains of another privy. Only the south wall was found, which was 10'-1" in length and had a wall thickness of 13". The remainder of the foundation had been destroyed and there was nothing to indicate the width.

S - FORGE OR SHOP

South of the Taliaferro-Cole house and outbuildings, at the northeast corner of Francis and Nassau Streets, were found the remains of three buildings that existed at various times, on practically the same site. No foundation was found to designate the location of the first building, although a 15'-6" x 10'-6" hole or depression which was at a depth of 4'-9" below the present grade was found. This hole was filled with debris composed of fragments of shell mortar, brickbats and pieces of iron slugs such as are usually found around a blacksmith shop. This fill was well packed and supported part of two later foundations. Nothing was discovered to indicate the original purpose of this hole other than for a storage kiln. There evidently was a building over this area in order to keep out the rain, but nothing could be determined in regard to its location or existence.

The second building which was in this area was thought during field observation to be that of a shop or forge. The remains of an 18th century chimney were found straddling the south line of Francis 9 Street. This may have been a chimney to a forge since just to the west was a large area of crushed brick mixed with pieces of rusty iron slugs and wood ashes. This being well packed in more or less layers, gave the general appearance of having served as a gradually accumulated floor paving for a shop. On the south side adjoining the chimney was a short piece of wall which appeared to be the only evidence of the building foundation discovered.

Twelve feet north of the chimney was a 5'-½" x 4'-11" foundation that was probably the remains of another forge. Its wall thickness was with the center being filled mostly with wood ashes and black earth. It was built on top of the backfill of the 10'-6" x 15'-6" hole previously mentioned and its period of construction appeared to be the same as that of the chimney.

The third building on this site appears to have been an 18'-0" x 18'-0" dwelling with a 10'-0" lean-to on the east. This building was of a later period, probably early ^or middle 19th century. Many of the bricks used in its construction were salvaged from other foundations. Several older citizens of Williamsburg remember when the building was standing in a very dilapidated condition.

T - WELL

Just to the east is a well which appears to be approximately the same period as the latest foundation on site "S". It is constructed of salvaged bricks of various sizes which appear to have originally come from colonial buildings. No wellhead foundation was found although many fragments of lime mortar and brick bats were found near the top.