Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

COLONIAL LOT # 57 - RED LION INN
Block 17, # 3.
June 17, 1932.

ADDENDA
COLONIAL LOT # 57 - RED LION INN
Block 17, # 3.
June 17, 1932.

This tavern was owned by John Crump at the beginning of the nineteenth century and insured in 1802 at which time it was 48 x 27 feet, one story high, and again in 1815 at which time the building had a brick kitchen behind the eastern portion of the house and a wooden one behind the western portion. It was then tenanted by two different tenants, who later purchased portions of the house.

The Red Lion Inn for a brief period had its name changed to Union Tavern in the patriotic fervor following the Revolution. A fence was built on the lot in 1808:

Anderson, Ro. Account book, etc.
No. 3 - 1806-1808.
Page 87.
August 1808.

Sundries dr To Merchandise Account
Union Tavern for 39 chestnut posts a 25 ea. -	7.50
for 145 oak rails a 4 -	8.06
these are for the dividing line between Harrison & myself.
Union Tavern dr To William Armistead for morticing and putting up 29 pannels posts and rails between Morrison & myself -	9.67
George Morrison dr To Union Tavern for half expence of our division fence -	12.61½

Mr. Charles is his "Recollections of Williamsburg" described the house as it looked before the War between the States:

"On the site now occupied by the new dwelling house of Mr. Bryhn, and the house next to the Cogbill house [E. M. Lee's] there stood up to a few years ago, a long one story and a half frame building with dormer windows, and tow doors opening on the street. The uptown door was the entrance to the part used as a dwelling, and the down town door was the entrance to the store, once kept there. The house was the originals. On account of its age it became dilapidated and a menacing fire trap, so it was removed not many years ago."

Mrs. Victoria Lee describes the Red Lion Inn which was within a few feet of her present home the "Cogbill house".

"The Red Lion, a story and a half house, stood a few yards west of the Blassingham House. The Red Lion was a rather long house, three doors opening on the Main Street. This old house had a very interesting interior, I remember a hunting scene painted above the mantel in the west living room. Like so many other houses in Williamsburg, this house was occupied during the war by three families of refugees. The Red Lion was only a few feet east of the house in which I now live."

Enclosed is a research report on the Red Lion Inn. In addition to the data given we have in our files several Red Lion Inn sign boards from 18th century taverns in England. This was such a popular name for taverns that in Essex County, England, alone there were thirty-two Red Lion Inns. They were also to be found widely scattered throughout the American colonies.

RED LION INN
Block #17 - Site 3
January 5, 1932

This tavern, the "Red Lion Inn" was one of Williamsburg's first public houses. Due to the fact that the house was involved in litigation during the eighteenth century a contemporary drawing of the Duke of Gloucester street elevation is still in existence. There is an insurance policy and a Coleman photograph (of a drawing) of this building also.

Francis Sharp received colonial lots #57 and #58 from the trustees of the city on May 15, 1713 but apparently did not build on them in the required two year period and the lots escheated. They were re-deeded on May 5, 1717 and on May 19, 1718 Sharp received a license to operate an ordinary in the house.

After Sharp's death his son John inherited the tavern which he leased to Thomas Penman, a carpenter, who was to do some repairs and building in lieu of rent. This agreement, recorded July 17, 1742 is as follows:

1742 - July 17 (Book V - Deeds)
Sharp, John - Planter
to
Penman, Thomas - Carpenter
Consideration: Yearly rent of 8 Pounds.

All that lot and houses commonly known by the name of Francis Sharp's in the city of Williamsburg, deceased, now in the possession of the above said John Sharp, son of the said Francis, and now in the occupation of the said Thomas Penman... Yearly rent of 8 pounds until such a time as there shall be a convenient brick chimney built either to the present Billyard house which is on the said lot, or to a house which the said Penman is to built 20 feet by 16 feet at the said Penmans cost except the said brick chimney which is to be at the cost of the said John Sharp, but in case the said Sharp should not comply in getting the said Billyard Room in order aforesaid for the use of the said Penman, then the said Sharp shall build a convenient kitchen 16 feet Page 2 by 12 feet with a brick chimney... The said Sharp is further to pull down the back shed which is now adjoining to the Mansion House on said lot, and rebuild it 2 feet wider, and pale in the said lot and put the said house in tenable order. Also to build a smoke house 8 feet square.

Penman evidently built the billiard house and in 1743 Penman had leased the property to Seth Seekright who brought a suit of trespass against John Burdett, another tavern keeper. In this suit the tow 82½foot lots were surveyed and a drawing with surveyor's notes recorded at Yorktown. A blue print of a tracing of this drawing is with this report. The surveyor's note follows:

1743 - May 16 (Book 19 - Wills & Inventories)

Seekright vs. Burdett
Surveyors Note:

In obedience to an order of York County Court dated the 16th of May, 1743, I have surveyed the lot in dispute between Seth Seekright, lessee of Thomas Penman, Plaintiff and John Burdett, defendant, as each party directed, that is to say, the lot No. 57 claimed by the Plaintiff and the Lot No. 58 claimed by the defendant according to the above plan, by which it appears that the body of the defendants house stands about 8 feet on the plaintiffs lot. The prickt line A shows the bounds of Burdetts lot as held by Mr. Kerr, taking in ____ 14 feet from Penmans lot: and the prickt line B. taking about 4 ft. more, was lately a line of pales of Burdetts.
Jos. Davenport- Surveyor City Wmsburg.

In the action of Trespass between Thomas Penman, Plaintiff and John Burdett, Defendant, this day came the parties aforesaid by their attornies and thereupon came a jury to-wit: Andrew Anderson, Edward Baptist, John Goodwin, Jr, Wynne Edward Dobson, Edward Curtis, William Fuller, Edward Peters, Edward Potter, James Goodwin, George Holloway and Hugh Orr, good and lawful men who were elected, tryd and duly sworn to say the truth in the matter in issue and upon their oaths they say that the defendant is guilty of the trespass in the declaration mentioned and they assess the damage of the Plaintiff by occasion thereof to 5 pounds.

Therefore, it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the said defendant his damages Page 3 aforesaid by the jurors aforesaid in form aforesaid assessed, and also his costs by him about his suit in this behalf expended and the said defendant is mercy, etc.

While Thomas Penman held the lease to the tavern John Sharp sold it to Henry Wetherburn on October, 1742 for £ 80. Penman died in September 1759.

Wetherburn evidently held this property and leased it to various small tavern keepers until his death. One of these was Stephen Buck, the tailor who advertises in the Virginia Gazette:

1766 - November 6 (Purdie & Dixon, Eds.) Stephen Buck Tailor from London, Begs leave to inform his Customers, and others, that he has removed from the Red Lyon to a house adjoining Mr. Attorney's; where he continued to carry on his business with the greatest expedition...
N. B. Ladies Riding Habits neatly made,...

Wetherburn, in his will probated December 15, 1760, bequeathed all his property to his nephew Edward Nicholson. His nephew evidently continued to lease the property according to the following in the Virginia Gazette:

1768 - March 24 (Purdie & Dixon, Eds.) Walter Lenox, Perukemaker, Begs leave to inform the Publick in General, and his Customers in particular, that he has moved to the house known by the name of the Red Lion, next door above Mr. Rind's Printing Office, where he carries on his business in all its branches, as usual; and as he has good accommodations for private lodgers, he will be much obliged to those Gentlemen who may please favour him with their custom, and they may depend upon the best usage for themselves and horses...

The next deed to the property was in the name of Henry W. Nicholson of James City County (probably an heir of Edward Nicholson) on July 10, 1789 conveying lot #57 to Samuel Crawley (a tavern keeper) for £ 200. At that time it was in the occupation of Page 4 Ebenezer Ewing and Joseph Bryan.

Ebenezer Ewing had the following account with Humphrey Harwood, which was doubtless for work done to this building:

1787 -(Humphrey Harwood Ledger)

June 12-	To White-washing 1 Room 4/6 & white-wash 0/6	0: 5: 0
August 22-	To repairing Cellar Steps &c 7/6 & labour work 2/6	0:10: 0
1788
July 8-	To Whitewashing 2 Cealings 5/	0: 5: 0
1790
November 15-	To 4 bush. of lime a 9d -mending Kitchen Back-grate &c	0: 6: 0

Penman vs Burdette, May 16, 1743